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Withanother wave of her arm,Annelisebegan to strangleRök.Hisdisbelieving face turned purple.Veinsbulged in his temples.

Thewhites of his eyes burst red as the blade plunged again.Rök’sblood spurted.Themannequins were covered in it, battering his head and horns with glee.

Poppyscreamed, “Stop!”Shecouldn’t reach a pouch, and he was running out of oxygen.Ifhe couldn’t defend, they would take his head.

Rök.Goneforever.

Whenall is lost, clarity is found.Threerealizations hitPoppy.

Whatwas at stake.Whatshe coveted.Whatshe feared?—

Röksomehow thrashed his mighty body to the side.He’dloosenedAnnelise’shold!

Hismove must’ve startled the doll, interrupting her telekinesis;Poppywas able to snag a pouch, receiving the magic.Shefreed her arm enough to fire onAnnelise. “Getaway from him, you bitch!”Magicshot from her.

Thedoll fired back with one hand, resuming her hold onRökwith her other.

Poppy’scontinuous beam battledAnnelise’stelekinesis—one force blazing, one invisible.Thestalemate drainedPoppy’sstrength like water through a colander.I’mfighting her.I’mfueling her.Fightingmyself.Herbeam sputtered to nothing, yetAnnelisetoo seemed weakened.

Rökmanaged to beat away the others, tossing them down the hall!

Withthe tide turning,Poppyyelled and freed herself from the wall.Sheran toRökjust as he staggered to his feet.

Whenthe dolls gathered for another attack,RökyankedPoppybehind him, roaring, “Letoff, you little pricks!”

Suddenlythey . . . did, backing away.HadAnnelisecocked her head to listen for something approaching?

Howcould dolls even hear?Becausethey fucking can.

Rökglanced back at her. “Youokay?”

Shakynod. “Wehave to get out of here.”

HISSSSSS.StStSt.HISSSSSS.

“What’sthat hissing, witch?”

Poppyknew that sound.

Thealiens had come.

NINE

Fivenew nightmares loped down the hall.Thesparse light reflected off their black exoskeletons and dripping fangs.Witheach hiss, viscous liquid drizzled from their two mouths.

Annelisegave a curtsy to the newcomers; then she and the other dolls disappeared.

Rökrushed to secure his sword, placing himself betweenPoppyand the new threat.Hesucked in a breath as he raised his weapon.Thatredheaded doll had stabbed him through twice, barely missing his heart.

Thefive monsters readied, their massive heads bobbing left to right, their tails flicking.Theywere bigger than he’d thought they might be.Servesme right for rewatching on my phone.Heglanced over his shoulder. “Sowhen you said aliens, you meantaliens.”

Wide-eyed,Poppysaid, “Uh-huh.I’veseen them before but never quite like this.”

“Forblood, they have?—”

“Oh, yeah.”

Wouldspatter ignite the carpet?Atthe very least, slashing them would dissolve his sword.Withreluctance, he sheathed the weapon that had seen him through twoAccessions, his confidence that he could keepPoppysafe taking a hit.