Damon didn't even dare breathe. Neither did he look at the creature in front of them. He shut his mouth and pinched his nose closed, his other hand gently doing the same for Leona.
He could feel her trembling, even though she remained completely still. The others had frozen too—motionless, not even a twitch. Each one of them kept a hand over their mouth and nose, holding in their breath.
The creature made no sound. Its maw hung open, revealing a long, grotesque tongue that slid out—slowly reaching for Damon. It slithered across his face in a deliberate, testing motion. The thing had no eyes—completely blind to the world around it.
He felt the sticky drag of its tongue trail across his skin, thick with vile-smelling mucus that burned his senses.
Still, he didn't move.
His lungs tightened, screaming for release as the air within begged to be let out.
Even his shadow stood still—as though it were lifeless.
