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The net is broken People cling to it in clu They’re all staring wide-eyed at the turbulent water below

The sea churns and explodes as a multiheaded sixer beast shoots up in a cascade of water Its six living heads all have their s

One of its heads sees rabs and bites several people with its six live heads It then disappears back into the bay with the bleeding, squir victims

The dark water splashes and swirls as the last victim’s hand disappears into the vortex

Everyone below the bridge is in a panic They crawl over each other, trying to get away fro has this been going on?

Ju up, I rush over to the ladder that was pulled up to try to keep the talent show audience hidden beneath the bridge A thought pops intoand huue?

I can’t let all those people die just because there’s a chance of so I unlatch the ladder and drop it down the side They need to get out of there They are now al fruit in this war

Our people scra over each other There are asto escape as there were people ere taken by the ain, and another sixer jumps up froreedily grabs people with its six jaws and drags the screa people down below, into the depths

‘Come on! Get back up here!’ I wave to the nearest people on the nets They may be safer on the battlefield than where they are now

As people begin clih the chaos to the other escape routes around the bridge and lower the ladders People begin strea up the ladders as soon as they’re in place

The els and locusts pause ht to look What now? When this is all over, I never want another exciting ain

Soe It’s Uriel His wings look off-white in the bright artificial light with a web of stark shadows

My ears ring from the lack of sound I peel back my headphones

‘The trial by contest is over’ He speaks in a regular voice, but in all this silence, it sounds like he’s shouting ‘Raphael has proven hier’

Just as he says that, soe People back away as soon as they see the six heads with the seventh lying liel near the sixer crashes onto his knees His face is turning red, and he’s sweating Blood dribbles out of his e

More people screaet away froe island We herd together like frightened ani Then choking They try to flap their wings, but they tu out of theirand choking noises as they writhe on the bridge

It’s the apocalyptic pestilence

66

‘Raffe!’ I try to get his attention ‘Get off the bridge! These el falls out of the sky,Blood drips out his mouth, ears, nose, and eyes as he writhes on the concrete