A Disturbing Portent

“Trust me,” He whispered, kneeling down on his haunches, “It’s best not to get involved in this. I know that you’re just a pawn in this game, but pawns are meant to be sacrificed.”

Desperation turned to a resolution to at least endure this with some sort of dignity. Sarah ceased her struggles and, with monumental effort, managed to roll onto her back in order to face the interloper directly. Defiance marred her usually serene face as she stared him down with daggers and the fury of ten hells. She did not have time to process or care for whatever nonsense he was spouting. Sarah squared her shoulders and attempted to pull herself into an upright position, using the walls of the entryway of their house as support. She took deep, measured breaths as she did so, and a hint of surprise cracked the strangers rugged, emotionless visage. Any hint of surprise, however, was hidden instantly as he compensated for the shift in momentum by offering her the beginnings of a threat.

“If it makes you feel any better, there are others who would have ended this visit by violating you four ways to Sunday, so consider yourself lucky that I got to you first."