back for the solid blow. The creature muscled through the pain and opened up wider to bite my foot. I raised my boot in the air to avoid it. But the beast adjusted and swiped my other foot from underneath me with its jagged claw. I flew sideways and fell hard onto my back. The impact sent the cane bouncing out of my hand. The beast scurried on top of me, bypassing my legs and mounting me in an instant. I felt all of its weight pressing down on me. Its sharpened claws scraped against the exterior of my suit. I felt tiny legs along its underbelly, insect-like, wriggling along my torso. It pinned me down as I struggled to get the large, bony beast off me. No use.

The terrifying creature opened its mouth, showing me the gap where I had knocked out a few teeth. A sickening stream of saliva dri...

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