Lunatic Moss Studio

Project Hail BloodyMary AU

And what if Simon was brought onto the VAT to help solve space navigation issues and ends up falling for the chatterbox blonde scientist that acts as their boss’s lapdog.

This small fish, about 1.5-2.5 inches (4-6 cm) long, has been thriving for 100,000 years by cloning herself. She mates with males using the male's sperm as a key to develop her eggs for "waking up" the eggs' development. None of the sperm touches the egg, & none of the male's DNA is taken in. The baby is an exact copy of the mother, in other words, a clone. The molly began as a hybrid about 100,000 years ago when two very different fish species mated. These involved a female Atlantic molly & a male sailfin molly. Their hybrid daughter had a scrambled reproductive system that didn't follow the rules of biology or genetics. She passed her unusual egg-making method to all her descendants. So in essence, the Amazon molly's ancestor accidentally deleted the "split in half" step from the recipe, where 1/2 the DNA comes from the female & the other 1/2 from the male. She kept a full set of DNA from the original hybrid origin.

Normally, when a species reproduces asexually, you would expect mistakes or mutations to occur over time, which, over 1,000s of generations, should cause decline or extinction. But the Amazon molly cheated the system due to her secret weapon: gene conversion. Think of gene conversion as a built-in DNA proofreading & repair system. If one copy of a gene gets damaged, the fish can "overwrite" it using a clean copy from another part of her genome. This process removes harmful mutations & keeps the genome surprisingly healthy—even after 100,000 years of cloning. She does accumulate mutations faster than her sexual relatives, but her gene conversion prevents functional decay. Imagine photocopying a photocopy for 100,000 years. The image will get blurrier & blurrier, but the Amazon molly has a magical "restore original" button that keeps the copy crisp.

Examples (courtesy of the Random Noun Generator):

The Parrot Equation

The Cucumber Contingency

The Snowflake Principle

The Wilderness Directive

You are chased out of your village the moment your powers bloom at fifteen years old, and the skies turn black with your fear. A rock hits you between your shoulder blades just as you make it to the main road and you stumble, falling to your knees in a mud puddle at the very moment the skies open up.

“She’s cursing us!” the midwife who delivered you screams over the thunder. “She’s damning us with her!”

Your mother is crying, but she doesn’t raise a hand to help you. She did everything she could, keeping your Role a secret all these years. She won’t risk anymore with another little girl to take care of.

No one tells you that you have a choice. No kind stranger drags you out of the rain and into the warmth of their home where a wise sage tells you it is not how we are born, but what choices we make.

Instead, you take the little pack your mother hid for you in the depths of the forest and sling it over your shoulder. There’s money, provisions, and more wraps to cover the evil mark on your left bicep.

“Your destiny will find you,” your mother told you only hours ago. “I forgive you for it.”

She meant the words as a comfort, but you only heard condemnation in it. Without having killed so much as a fly, she is already blessing you with forgiveness.

I want to make a post to keep track of all the Goncharov score that’s been uploaded to tumblr, so I will link to all the one’s I’ve found so far and update with any new ones that come up (if you know any I’m missing please share the link!)

Main Theme uploaded by @caramiaaddio

Main Theme (End Titles) uploaded by @if-only-angels-could-prevail

Main Theme (Reprise) uploaded by @raccoonfink

Main Theme uploaded by @eternenty

General Soundtrack uploaded by @mortal-ghost

Shortened Main Title as used in the original theatrical release, uploaded by @somanyofthekids

Main Theme (Opening Credits) uploaded by @fireball-me

The Bridge Breaks uploaded by @nicewizard

The Clocktower uploaded by @dungeonmastersconsortium

Farewell Scene uploaded by @levuna (pointed out to me by @graduatedpillowmonster, thank you!)

Farewell Scene - Extended Version uploaded by @levuna

Tempus Fugit - “Clock Theme” uploaded by @trupowieszcz  (pointed out to me by @graduatedpillowmonster, thank you!)

Goncharov Theme in Minor uploaded by @mapplejuice  (pointed out to me by @graduatedpillowmonster, thank you!)

Katya’s Leitmotif (Vinyl Rip) uploaded by @unscharf-an-den-raendern  (pointed out to me by @graduatedpillowmonster, thank you!)

Andrey’s Theme uploaded by @the-frosty-mac (pointed out to me by @muzic4sewerratz , thank you!)

It Is True (Extract) uploaded by @hex-of-els (pointed out to me by @graduatedpillowmonster, thank you!)

Memories Of Water - Goncharov Soundtrack uploaded by @rismrus (pointed out to me by themself– please do feel free to toot your own horn!)

Katya’s Sonata uploaded by @arcanistvysoren

“For My Love” Andrey’s Serenade uploaded by @diagnosed-anxiety-disorder

Stolen Time uploaded by @avatar-of-the-vast

Sharing A Dance uploaded by @the-frosty-mac (pointed out to me by themself)

In The Boathouse uploaded by @madame-karenina

What Was And Will Be uploaded by @piano-flute

Overture on the Clocktower uploaded by @dead-minecraft-fandoms (pointed out to me by @mccoppinscrapyard, thank you!)

Privyet Goncharov uploaded by @rismrus (pointed out to me by themself)

Goncharov’s Gun uploaded by @netcup

Sofia’s Serenade to Katya, from the deleted scene in the boat where she sings “Come Raggio di Sol,” uploaded by @melongumi

Sofia’s Theme uploaded by @andrey-transgenderism

Icepick Joe’s Leitmotif uploaded by @whimperandabang

Waltz of the Pearls uploaded by @raynaonyourparade

Katya’s Theme uploaded by @fancydunamancy

Katya’s Theme (a different version) uploaded by @katyathemegoncharov

Katya’s Death Song (ночь, улица, фонарь) uploaded by @traumagician

Lovers Forlon - “Katya and Sofia Final Goodbye” from the deleted scene, uploaded by @colours-of-the-galaxies

Andrey On The Bridge uploaded by @reinbel

Palace Dance Scene uploaded by @lostlovepunk

Dirge of the Living uploaded by @paradoxicalpockets

Smoke and Mirrors uploaded by @andrey-shot-first

Goncharov, Alone uploaded by @khufiya-khaufnak-antariksh

If You Loved Me, You Wouldn’t Miss uploaded by @thetasteoffire who also provided a transcript in a reblog of this post (link)

Clocktower Confrontation uploaded by @rismrus

Goncharov’s Dream uploaded by @verochkasnightmarecorner

Love Theme uploaded by @literary-potat0

Time Motif (All Things Twist) uploaded by @oldbay-on-apples

Predatel'stvo (Katya’s Lament) uploaded by @lierdumoa

Shootout on the Old Bridge uploaded by @raynaonyourparade

This Is It uploaded by @angrycatlovesfandoms

Gonchorov’s Theme and Sofia’s Theme uploaded by @koalas-cave

Last Train uploaded by @minotaurlovesyou

Now Departing uploaded by @theshadowbastard

The Courtroom uploaded by @traegorn

Goncharov’s Death uploaded by @loruleyuga

Katya in Peril (Vinyl Rip) uploaded by @unscharf-an-den-raendern

Te Deum (Cathedral Scene) uploaded by @3liza

Katya and Sofia uploaded by @elluminis

Love Theme uploaded by @tweltchy

Katya’s Theme uploaded by @maebird-melody

The Betrayal uploaded by @kip-can-fiddle

Chase Scene uploaded by @fireball-me

Prayer Scene uploaded by @fireball-me

Delusions by the Clocktower uploaded by @sleeveace22

A Clockmaster’s Lament uploaded by @rismrus

If only time would stop for us uploaded by @fireflydragon2005

Apples at the Market uploaded by @raynaonyourparade

Four Seconds (The Clockmaker Reprise) uploaded by @lostinthewinterwood

Demise uploaded by @hyrixmusic

In The Church At Midnight uploaded by @composerinprogress

Departing Naples uploaded by MINDSSACRE

Dockside #2, one of the unreleased tracks, uploaded by @reptilemodernism

Unnamed Fragment from Goncharov’s death scene, uploaded by @quizshow1994

Bonus:

Cover of the song Goncharov (2010) by @idiopathicsmile  (pointed out to me by @graduatedpillowmonster, thank you!)

At Goncharov’s Gate (PC Version), song written for the PC game with a Super NES port released in 1994 for PC-DOS, uploaded by @badgraph1csghost (pointed out to me by @graduatedpillowmonster, thank you!)

Intro to Goncharov (Super Nintendo version) uploaded by @badgraph1csghost

You Think You Have Time, a remix of the original theme that wound up in Hotline Miami DLC, uploaded by @coolwitchaunt

Bonus Disc Menu uploaded by @turtrose

Goncharov 8-Bit Theme from the Goncharov NES game, uploaded by @moonset-music

Trailer for Goncharov (2022) directed by @madphantom

Live action FULL MOVIE: Goncharov (2022) directed by @madphantom

Blooper Reel for Goncharov (2022) directed by @madphantom

One of the official trailers was recently recovered by @talkshowhost1996

A soundtrack compilation is now available on soundcloud

Analysis of the music in the Ballroom Scene by @clarionglass

Commonly thought to be reptiles, dragons are actually descended from a genetic mix of horse and eagle.

Most terrestrial creatures in the world are tetrapods, evolved from a four-limbed fish that made its way onto land. Humans, horses, birds, and lizards all came from this ancestor. Thus, you could only expect terrestrial and airborne vertebrates to have four, not six limbs. But dragons have four legs and two wings. Now you might say “wait a second, what about the legends of wing-arm dragons?”

You’re thinking of wyverns, the extinct reptile-descended predators.

True dragons, the ones we have today, actually get their start as herbivores.

The first pegasus were a flock of horses enchanted with eagle wings by forces not yet understood.

These early pegasus were not able to fly, as they weighed far too much for their small wings. However, the wings did provide some manner of lift when climbing steep mountains, so the herd thrived and propagated into a pegasus similar to modern species.

Discarding their ruminant digestive system in favor of something more lightweight, these pegasus ate seeds, nuts and fruits. They’re much more aerodynamic than their predecessors, but must remain small as their diet does not provide enough calories to power a large body.

Though they were largely herbivorous, some groups experimented with omnivore diets. And one, finding that to be lacking, went full carnivore.

Called Xanthus by paleontologists, these carnivorous pegasus reverted many of their genes to pre-horse ancestors, splitting their hooves, sharpening their teeth, and turning much of their plumage into primitive quills. A truly terrifying creature, the xanthus was driven to extinction by its own apatite, and the descendants that out-competed it.

True dragons have reworked their hooves back into claws, and shed their flight feathers in favor of a membrane similar mythical pterosaurs. While the free finger of their bird wing was able to revert to a claw, the rest of their wing bones were too far removed from walking limbs to spread out into fingers, hence the dragons’ unique silhouette when compared to wyverns.

The similarities between modern dragons (left) and ancient wyverns (right) are an example of convergent evolution, much like flying fish and butterfly wings are closely related shapes with completely different evolutionary paths.

Speaking of evolutionary paths, there are many new entries of creatures descended from dragons.

The basilisk is one of a few hexapods to return to terrestrial life. Their wings descended into forelimbs that they use to grasp prey while running or climbing through tunnels.

@diamondot speaking for myself, i just decided to learn it one day a few years ago (i had a viking phase ok) and simply started with it. It's surprisingly easy since all the info is available on the net. Honestly, i don't remember where i started since it has been so long ago and now i just browse pinterest for patterns alone. Google tablet weaving or card weaving (same thing, different names) patterns and some basic explanations and yt vids for how to turn and weave the stuff. Things like

S and Z threading are there for a reason, so mind your card orientation. Start with some easy pattern like simple wave or diamonds above, 6 - 10 cards are good for your first project. Don't lose hope in initial stage. Streching and threading all that yarn can take anything between 20 minutes and 3 hours depending on how big is the pattern and how skilled you are. Since you need some lenghts to secure ends and to turn cards, use about 40 cm more than wished lenght of your final product. Secure lose ends after threading through cards so you won't end with a bundled mess. Streching/knotting them to something is one way. Taping each card threads together or using weights (check pictures below) is another way (good only for shorter stuff though). Cards could be made out of anything as long as they have smooth edges and rounded corners. Cardboard, thicker plastic sheet, literal cards cut into squares with holes punched through them, whatever. These are mine 2 decks, minus cards i am using atm.

When you start weaving and pattern looks like a total mess, try turning cards in opposite directions. It usualy solves the problem (all that forward/backward can be a bit tricky and mirroring motions/patterns/card orientation can be confusing at first seemingly messing all your work even though you are doing everything right technicaly, just in opposite order/direction). Don't lose your hope. I still manage to mess up like first 5cm of every other work i start. It's not an issue as that start usualy gets cut off anyway (the tension is not right for at least first 4 rows, aka 1 full card rotation, until all threads go up and down at least once no matter what you do. Don't sweat it). You don't need any fancy startup either. Historicaly, people used to weave like this and this and this:

I just strech the thing between 2 chairs myself. Door knobs work as well and so does staircase railing. Wherever you have some space. Long hair clips are your friend, especialy when you are done with weaving for the day and you don't want stuff to tangle

This website is where I learned, twenty years ago while u was intending on Sturtevant Wi.

These books are both great, Collingwood is more comprehensive, but harder to just pick up and weave from.

The thing is that the technique looks complicated due to the fact that there is 100 something and that number alone is scary. But. Actually several buts.

But number 1 - the technique is OLD. Meaning - while being somewhat tedious just like any other textile craft, it has been used and learned for a long long time and there's plenty of resources (check out links above or any youtube video explaining the process) of varying difficulty from complicated af to easy peasy lemon squeezy with closed eyes

But number 2 - there is only one core principle/step you need to understand and that is when some threads go from up to down or from down to up (aka when they cross), you need another thread going in between so they won't simply snap back again. That's it. That's the basic principle behind every weaving ever. What card weaving does compared to standard weave is that instead of a single thread going up and down in the single row, you get 2 or 3 or 4 or 6 or whatever number of threads your pattern calls for in the same row

But number 3 - the number of rows = number of cards. Simple as that. Cards turn around to make a cord like when you are twisting 2 or 4 or whatever numbers of threads to make a rope. If some of those threads have different colours, you get a repeating pattern.

But number 4 - card orientation or S/Z orientation or whatever other fancy name for the twisting direction simply means that if you turn all your card in the same way at the same time, which one of them will make the twisted rope in this / angle and which one will do that in this \ angle. That's it. That's the whole mystery between S/Z threading.

But number 5 - you can start with as little as 4 cards to make a custom set of shoe laces or a key strap or whatever and call yourself a weaver. Because you did that. And it was nice. And it was easy. You just turn and thread and turn and thread and then you keep repeating this while watching a movie or something. There's no need for the math finals level of concentration here.

But number 5 - no one, literally NO ONE starts with a pattern like this

No. Everybody starts with something like this

Keep it simple, keep it easy, make 10cm and be done if you want to. It's perfectly fine.

But number 6 - you don't need any fancy items for starting. No hooks, no needles, no loom, no anything. If you have 2 balls of yarn in different color or some remains of your old cross stitch project or whatever and some card-like stuff you won't be sad for making holes in it, you are all set. Back side of the sketch pad is good. Poker cards cut to squares are good. A sturdy enough sheet of plastic is also good. You remember that old pexeso pairs stack you didn't touch since you were 9? Guess what!

Introduction:

Visible mending is a decorative way to fix up an item. Instead of trying to make your mend as invisible as possible, the idea is to make it part of the garment's design.

Visual mending is not a single technique: it's more of a mindset. If you've got an item you love, it deserves to be mended, and if you're going to put that love into stitches, why not show them off?

That being said, there are some specific techniques that are popular with visible menders. Let's take a look!

Sashiko:

Sashiko is a type of traditional Japanese embroidery that is used to both decorate and reinforce fabric. In visible mending, sashiko is often used to cover up holes with patches or to reinforce thinning fabric. This technique uses a variation on the running stitch.

(Image source)

Some resources on sashiko:

SashiCo on YouTube: sashiko livestreams and information on the cultural aspect of sashiko.

Written tutorial by Upcycle Stitches.

Free sashiko templates by TheSpruceCrafts.

Fixing jeans with sashiko by Soluna Collective.

(Image source)

(Image source)

Embroidery:

Regular embroidery is also a popular technique to accentuate your mends. Check out my embroidery 101 post to learn how to get started. You can embroider patches, or use embroidery to hide or accentuate any stitches you've made to fix holes. Embroidery's also a great way to cover up stains.

(Image source)

(Image source)

Patches:

There are many ways to add patches to a garment. My tutorial on patches is a good place to start if you want to make custom-shaped patches to sew on top of your fabric. You can also sew your patch on the inside of your garment and have it peek out from beneath the hole you're trying to fix. Fun ideas for this are lace or superheroes.

(Image source)

(Source)

Darning:

Darning is a technique used to repair holes in fabric by using running stitches to weave extra fabric over the hole as to fill it up again. While traditionally darning is done in an invisible way by using the same colour of thread as your fabric, you can also use contrasting colours to accentuate your fix. Check out this written tutorial on darning by TheSpruceCrafts.

(Image source)

(Image source)

Conclusion:

Visible mending is a creative way to fix up your clothes and give them some personality at the same time.

You should be proud of the fact that you took the time and learned the necessary skills needed to mend your clothes! Show off what you did!

A fun side effect of wearing these obvious mends is that people will notice them. They'll remember your fixes the next time they're faced with a hole in their wardrobe, and it will make them more likely to try it for themselves.

Part 1, Part 2

TW: Violence, blood, mild body horror

As an obligatory reminder, this story stems from a prompt that was given to both me and @the-modern-typewriter! She made an amazing novella out of it on her patreon!! I hope you'll enjoy my version as well :) Sorry it's taken me...literally a year to make a third part.

The gunfire was so deafening that it almost covered the screaming. Almost.

Before they’d even crossed the threshold to the outside, the shots were head-splitting enough to send Eloise scrambling to cover her ears. All she could see from their current vantage point was a sliver of the courtyard framed by blue sky. 

It was too friendly a blue, too ordinary and ideal, for such an ugly day.

Someone pushed past them out into the open, wielding fists of fireballs and a battle cry. In moments, they dropped to the ground. The fire snuffed itself out as blood spilled from the hole in his head.

Whimpering, Eloise backed away from the space in the outermost wall where someone had blown open an exit, all jagged edges and crumbling concrete. It resembled a too-wide jaw; a yawning mouth cracked open and baring its teeth.

Her mind flashed to Frenzy’s mouth, stretched impossibly until it tore, and shuddered.

A hand caught the back of her neck, gently enough. Eloise still jumped. Artisan made a soothing sound. “You can do this.”

“I can’t.”

“You can.”

She was already shaking her head, murmuring something incoherent and horrified.

“Eloise.” 

His voice, calm as it was, snatched up her attention like the crack of a whip. She stared up at him in what she could only imagine was some terrible parody of a doe-eyed fawn bathed in blinding headlights.

Artisan’s hand rose from her neck to cup the side of her jaw. Given what those hands could do, it shouldn’t have been so grounding; so reassuring. 

He held her gaze. “You’re going to get us past the guns alive. And I’m going to protect you. Hey-” A gentle stroke of the cheek dragged her wandering eyes back up to his. Haunting. Beautiful. Eyes of endless depths she’d caught watching her read to him on many occasions. “You can do this. Take a deep breath.”

Eloise heaved in a clumsy breath that gusted out of her in the same second. Artisan’s lips twitched upward.

“Slowly. Match me.” Still cradling her cheek, Artisan demonstrated an exaggerated deep breath, then another. Eloise copied him as best as she could manage until she felt a little lighter. “Good.”

Eloise swallowed. “What if my power fails?”

“It won’t.” Artisan took a step closer, and it stole her breath all over again. “Close your eyes.”

Eloise gawked. “Wh-”

“Eloise.”

She squeezed her eyes shut, hugging her arms around her torso.

When he spoke again, his voice was a quiet thing, low and soft yet resonant still with all the power of, well, one of the greatest supervillains alive.

“When you are reading a book,” he said, “everything else around you slips away. You lose yourself in a world of inked pages, and nothing else exists. I’ve watched you pore over chapter after chapter, reading aloud on autopilot. Sometimes you forget that I am even in the room with you. And I’m me.”

“I-”

“Go to that place now. Focus only on your ability. We are going to walk out that door, and you’re going to camouflage our presence. They’ll look past us. We’ll walk away safely. Picture it.”

She did. Eloise allowed herself to imagine wrapping the two of them in enough influence to trick others’ eyes into skipping over them, seeing them as ordinary and belonging as the bugs in the grass. She pictured safety and steaming showers and warm blankets on her worn-but-still comfy mattress. She thought of home and books in her thrifted armchair; of pages that smell antique and crisp and make just the right sound when you turn them. 

Eloise opened her eyes. The fear still buzzed in her chest, but the world felt less like it was about to collapse.

Artisan gave a slight nod at whatever he saw on her face. “Good girl. Let’s go.”

In what felt both like an instant and an eternity, they were outside. Artisan kept a hand on Eloise’s shoulder to steady her forward, murmuring encouragements and instructions beside her.

Eloise tried to narrow her focus to just the two of them, willing the landscape to swallow them up into imperceivable specks of dust. They took two strides, three.

There were bodies everywhere.

Villains, even guards clamoring for escape, were mowed down. Snipers lined the roof, the watchtowers… A glance around revealed more on every side. They continued to creep forward with bated breath, dodging carnage with every new step.

Eloise’s toe caught on the leg of a corpse, and she squeaked, jerking away. 

Artisan grabbed her arm, pulling her close again. She could feel the perception barrier around them flickering. 

“Relax. Focus.” He said it like it was nothing. Like they weren’t staring down a firing squad, navigating a labyrinth of corpses and blood. “Close your eyes for me.”

The thought of being blind in the belly of so much danger made an embarrassing sound catch in her throat. 

“You’re distracted by what you see,” Artisan continued. “Close your eyes. Focus all of your attention on masking us. I will guide you. Eloise- I will protect you if you help me. I need your help.”

I need your help. 

The plea was simple, a disguise of its own, but it settled between her ribs all the same. Her eyes pressed closed. She concentrated on blending in. On protecting them both.

They were moving again. Artisan’s hands on her arms led her forward, weaving through the devastation with surprising grace. Despite his smooth guidance, she felt clumsy and staggering. If she tripped over another body… Her stomach squeezed.

Someone screamed. Eloise’s gaze snapped to them as she found herself clinging to Artisan’s side. The source of the shouting dropped to his knees, hands behind his head–a security guard from inside–leaking red from his side. “Please, it’s Mallard! It’s Mallard! I work here, I’m on your side! Please, help me, help–”

He dropped like a stone. Blood trickled down his forehead.

Eloise choked on words that wouldn’t come. The world seemed to tilt, fuzzy at the edges.

“Eloise-” Artisan’s voice seemed very far away.

She was only distantly aware of more gunfire as Artisan pushed in front of her.

Artisan hissed through his teeth, clutching his chest. He staggered back a step, a jarring contrast to his usual bird-like elegance. Eloise stared, horrified. 

“Cover us, cover us now,” he said, his tone bleeding with urgency.

“Are you-”

“Now, Eloise!”

His tone spiked fresh fear up her spine, and Eloise closed her eyes, covering her ears as she pictured the two of them fading into the landscape with the same ease as a smudge in a watercolor painting. The veil slid thinly into place, fragile, like stretched skin. Eloise trembled with effort.

At the same time, Artisan jerked her to the side as another barrage of bullets chased them.

Eloise squealed, bearing down on her focus as if sinking her teeth in.

“I’m trying!” she snapped, just in case it wasn’t obvious. Just in case the effort mattered at all.

“You can do more than you think you can,” Artisan said. “I can feel it in you. You can do more than affect just us. You can affect them. You can change what they see; how they see us. Reach out in your mind. Change their perception.”

She imagined her power stretching in all directions, each line a stream in a spider’s web. She tapped gently at the windows of each guard’s mind and left a new idea there, coaxing them to forget what they’d seen. To move past it. To completely disregard the villain and his volunteer accomplice.

The shooting slowed, then stopped. The concentration left her dizzy and wobbling, sinking her to her knees on the ground.

She only opened her eyes when Artisan scooped her into his arms.

“Don’t stop,” he murmured, walking on with her, “You’re doing beautifully.”

She stared at the hole in his chest, jumpsuit soaked through with blood. “You’re hurt- You should be dead.” Dumbly, too boldly, she pressed a hand over the wound. She’d blame the fatigue.

“Dead?” He clicked his tongue. “Not so easily done.”

She could feel the skin and muscle beneath her hand shifting, warping, weaving back together. Relief flooded her. “Oh.”

“Oh.” Artisan was smiling again. “Don’t lose your focus. We’re nearly there. You might not want to look.”

As they neared the final gate, the guards began to drop one by one. Eyes glazed over, necks twisted and wrenched out of place. Moving as if puppeteered, the last one standing buzzed open the gate, finally leaning into the fence’s barbed wire to cut through his own throat. The blood gurgling out was quiet as he, too, fell to the ground with a soft thud.

Eloise really wished she’d looked away. Her insides heaved.

The strain of keeping them unnoticed tugged at her every nerve ending with a plea for relief. She’d never pushed herself so hard before. Her vision hazed in a dark vignette.

“You didn’t have to kill them,” she said softly, closing her eyes. Her head felt cracked in two. “I wish you hadn’t.”

Just a little farther and she could let go…

Artisan stroked back her hair, carrying her through the open gate out into freedom. His voice was something silken and velvet, something wicked and monstrous. She could feel the smile there. “Oh, sweetheart, but I wanted to.”

She finally blacked out.