My shadow's hand reached toward me, fingers made of darkness promising relief through surrender, each digit trailing wisps of void.
I jerked back, nearly dropping Astro, my arms straining with his weight.
"Stay away from me."
My shadow tilted its head, amused, the movement disturbingly fluid. "I'm part of you. Can't stay away. Can't escape. I'm every doubt you've ever had given voice."
The other shadows continued their assault on the freed wolves, their whispers creating a constant susurrus that grated against my nerves. More were moving toward the bone-trees, drawn by the promise of silence. Of ending the whispers.
I needed to stop them. Needed to do something. But what?
How did you fight your own fears made manifest?
Then I felt it.
The air changed. Thickened. Like invisible pressure building around us, making it harder to draw breath.
Something was watching.
