2

Runt was in the basement. She lay flat on her back stretched out like a body in a coffin with her hands clasped around a glowing object, the light so strong it shone between her fingers, making her skin look transparent.

Evazee ran to her side and felt for a pulse. Her heartbeat was shallow and irregular. “Guys, get that thing out of her hands.” She pulled back Runt's eyelids. Her eyes stared with little response from her pupils, which had stretched to inky black circles.

Ruaan and Zap knelt on either side of the small girl.

Zap prised her fingers back, but each time he got one free the rest would clamp down harder.

Ruaan swatted his hands. “Shove off. Let me try.”

Zap tucked his hands in his armpits with his eyebrows cocked.

Ruaan held Runt’s fingers in one hand and tried to wedge his other hand between her skin and the object. The tip of his finger slipped past hers and touched the glowing pendant. He shot back as if he'd stuck his finger in a live socket. He smacked into a wooden storage crate and fell to his knees groaning.

Evazee frowned at Ruaan on the floor. “It's no use. We have to take her upstairs.”

Zap side-stepped along the wall, keeping as much space between him and Runt as he could. He pulled Ruaan to his feet and shoved him towards Runt. They lifted Runt between them and carried her to the lift.

Evazee was about to push the button to close the door when she heard a thin growl. It raised the hairs on the back of her neck, even though it was a pitiful sound that held little promise behind its threat. She peered out of the lift, changed her mind about investigating and pushed the button quickly.

“We're taking her upstairs. Once she's settled, you two are coming back to find out what is growling down here in the dark.”