"...!"
Aria, frozen, stared back.
Her lips parted, but she couldn't make a sound.
As the monster's black gaze fixated on her in her hiding spot, a gurgling growl rose from its throat, signaling its awareness of prey within the crevice.
A heavy sound followed.
Gulp.
The creature swallowed, as though its throat had already deemed her food.
The monster didn't wait.
Its webbed hand slammed into the gap.
CRACK!!
The stone around the opening cracked.
Aria's body moved before her mind did.
She shoved herself backward through the crevice, scraping her shoulder raw against the rock, then dropped out the other side onto a narrow ledge.
The landing knocked the air from her lungs but she didn't stop.
BOOM!
Behind her, the crack exploded inward.
The fish-like creature forced its upper body through, scales tearing against broken stone, lidless eyes locked on her.
Its jaw opened and closed with a wet snap.
Aria didn't wait to check it as she ran away.
