Miriam didn't scream. She wasn't about to waste time on that. She twisted away from the reflection. She wrenched the door open, ready to run into the impossible dessert.

Instead she ran into the man who was standing there.

Miriam didn't see his face. She was eye level with his chest. She didn't look up. She didn't flinch or stop. Instead she re-acted. She pushed with all her strength, throwing her weight into his middle, trying to get past him.

He moved, dropping his arm so it hooked around her stomach. He raised this arm and lifted her back into the room with ease, despite her struggling. He used his foot to close the door. His hands were full trying to prevent her from hitting his head or biting him.

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She screamed. He had nothing to protect his legs from her kicks, so she kicked as fast and as hard as she could. She regretted taking off her shoes earlier but didn't care if the impact broke her toes.

"Okay, okay. Where might you be going? Relax. Relax!"

Miriam didn't relax. She was more panicked than ever. She threw all her weight sideways, trying to unbalance him. She bent her knees and slammed her head into the side of his face, so hard she heard ringing. This made his hold on her loosen. Just enough for her to bite his arm, not caring that some of her lip was in the way. He didn't let go. She didn't stop biting. Not even when she tasted blood, although it might have been her own.

"Oh that's it!"

He caught a handful of her hair and ripped her teeth from his arm. She had to spit out some of his skin. He forced her face upwards and stared into her eyes. His eyes glowed.

She closed her eyes. Too late. She tasted something bitter over the copper of his blood in her mouth. She felt the weakness spread. Her head felt heavy, then numb.

Miriam fainted.