"I'm not sure. Some kind of potions or powders, I guess. Something he could have mixed into the gruel."

"But aren't potions and powders witchcraft? Wouldn't that make the reverend a heathen?"

"People aren't always what they seem. Like the reverend said in church, evil can take all kinds of forms."

"Reverend Crane can't be evil. There has to be an explanation for this."

"How can you still think that?" Samantha said. She turned around and put both hands on Prudence's shoulders. "He killed your parents. He killed at least three of the children. He turned most of the others into babies. And you saw what he did to Miss Brigham. How can you still think he's innocent?"

"You don't understand. He's been like a father to me. There must be a reason for him to act this way."

"I knew I shouldn't have let you come along."

"I-" A growl from the trees interrupted their argument. One of Pryde's dogs leapt out from the brush, knocking Prudence over. Samantha swung her club, hitting the dog in the side of the head, but it didn't seem to notice. The beast snapped at Prudence's throat and raked its claws across her dress. Samantha hit it again in the head, knocking the dog off.

"Get out of here. I'll hold it off!" Samantha said. The dog turned its attention to her, nipping at the end of the club.

Prudence gave Samantha a long look and then bolted as fast as her chubby legs could carry her. Samantha, meanwhile, swung the club once more; this time the dog jumped back to avoid the attack. Its jaws grabbed Samantha's arm, teeth sinking into her flesh. Her scream echoed through the night air. When the beast let go, Samantha bolted into the forest.

She couldn't see anything in the dark, branches lashing against her face as hard as the reverend's whip. Still she kept running, the dog charging through the brush behind her and gaining fast. When she risked looking back, she saw the monster's yellow eyes glowing with rage.

She burst through the trees and tumbled down a bank onto the beach along the sea. The waves roared as they pounded into the shore. Samantha froze with indecision, her knees weakening at the sight of the roiling water. She looked back and saw Pryde's dog at the edge of the trees, readying itself to leap down and finish her.

With no other way of escape, Samantha ran into the water and paddled as hard as she could. Her feeble strokes did nothing against the current and soon she was exhausted. Waves plunged her down into darkness and then flung her into the air like a cork escaping a bottle. The current tore her away from the shore, carrying her out into open water. The last thing she heard was the mournful howl of Pryde's dog.




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