Sera leapt back.
The cords coming out of the parasite hit the floorboards where she had been standing. The barbs dug in and stuck, anchoring for another launch. Pieces of blood and flesh splattered with each movement. The parasite retracted, then snapped forward again… this time even faster.
It was aiming for her legs.
Her hand flexed again. She shifted her balance and moved in an unhurried step that took her out of range without effort. The tendrils missed and scraped along the floor, stripping thin curls from the wood.
The laughing host body gave one more twitch and went still.
But the parasite did not stop.
It kept striking at her, over and over. Each impact sounded wet and hollow. It left streaks of sludge behind where it smeared across the boards. Its hooked ends grasped at nothing, desperate to anchor in flesh.
She let it try.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
On the fourth, she stepped in instead of away.
