the sound of crying permeated the air. it pierced through the rain and echoed through the forest. a woman lay against a tree a newborn wailing in her lap, her faint breath the only testament to her continued life. if one looked closely, through the dirt and dried blood, it was obvious that she was very beautiful. a few paces from the dying woman, a tall man faced a young boy, perhaps 9 or 10. the boy was stark naked with an unnatural grin plastered to his face. he was not human, that much was obvious from his eyes, his right eye was completely white while the left was pitch black.

"what do you want?" the man's voice was tired and defeated, his sword sheathed and held limply to the side.

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"for her life?" the boy asked, gesturing to the dying woman as his smile grew even wider. he stood there unblinking, and though his eyes never changed a singular emotion was written plainly across his face: hunger. "have you named the child yet?"

"no," the man almost whispered. thunder crashed in the distance.

"then I want the boy. the boy for her life, is it a deal?"

silence.

"yes."

the wailing stopped.

the woman gasped and opened her eyes.

the naked child was gone.