Vacation I (The Endless Storm)

“John Slayton.” she whispered.

She didn't know how long she'd been on the roof of the car. The Sightless had finally begun fighting her and she had repulsed them, but she'd been at the top of her form then, and had to actively defend herself. Now she was surrounded again, and had apparently come out of her reverie moments before she was about to be dismembered.

It didn't happen, though. The Sightless who surrounded her gazed at her, slack jawed. Their sockets were burning with hatred, she could tell, but they made no move against her.

“What are you waiting for?” Limbless was screaming at the others, waving what remained of his arms frantically. “End her!”

Slowly, the monstrosities surrounding Alyssa backed off, clearing a path between her and her adversary, who was nearly frothing with rage. “Insubordinate traitors!” it spat. “Overpower her! She is not yet in the prime of her power, she can be captured!”

They weren't listening, and Alyssa wasn't about to turn down the opportunity she had been given. “What's the matter, John?” she smiled mirthlessly, “Buddies aren't backing you up anymore?”

It gasped then, hissing as it did so. “How!?” it demanded. “You dare speak the true name of a follower of the Unknowable!? You will be destroyed for your insolence!” he whirled from Alyssa and began the hymn anew, mutilated arms raised in praise to the even-now increasing column of hateful light. She could hear his voice trembling, though he was shouting his cursed language as loud as he could. The others had stopped speaking, had stopped even adding to the hymn, but the storm had not diminished. Still, there was only one to stop.

She took a step forward, and then the column exploded. Her reflexes were good, but the fury of the storm could not be matched. It expanded, devouring everything. She ran, but it was not enough. The storm had her.

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