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Why was I spending it alone? Because I was sad, and Eh of this

Just as I turned to leave the roout

A hollow

I stopped, waiting for another hit of pain I needed more information The intensity of the pain corresponded to the nearness of the hollow and the frequency of the hits with its strength When two strong hollows had been chasing us, the Feeling had been one long, unbroken spas time before I felt another--nearly a minute--and when it came, it was so faint I wasn’t even sure I’d felt it

I crept slowly out of the room and down the hall As I passed the next doorway, I felt a third twinge: a little stronger now, but still only a whisper

I tried to open the door carefully and quietly, but it was frozen shut I had to yank on it, then rattle the door, then kick it, until finally it flew open to reveal a doorway and a rooht I approached the ice cautiously and peered across it, and even in the weak light, I saw the hollow right away It was crouched on the floor, encased in ice up to its ink-black eyeballs Only the top half of its head was exposed above the ice; the rest of it, the dangerous parts, its open jaws and all its teeth and tongues, were all caught below the surface

The thing was just barely alive, its heart slowed al maybe once perstitch of pain

I stood at the mouth of the room and stared at it, fascinated and repulsed It was unconscious, immobilized, totally vulnerable It would’ve been easy to climb onto the ice and drive the point of an icicle into the hollow’s skull--and if anyone else had known it was here, I’ stopped me It was no threat to anyone now, this creature Every hollow I’d come into contact with had left afaces in er be Jacob the hollow-slayer I didn’t want to take this one with me, too It wasn’t my business anymore

I backed out of the room and closed the door

When I returned to thehall, it was nearly dark outside and the rooaslamps to be lit for fear they’d be seen froathered around a few candles at the big oval table, soed on the table itself, talking in low voices and peering down at so

At the creak of the heavy doors, everyone turned to look atin her chair and squinting

"It’s only Jacob," said another shadowy forhs, Bronwyn said, "Oh, hullo Jacob," and returned her attention to the table