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Pluto narrowly misses me as he reaches out, too late.

I rise higher and higher, the temperature dropping.

A man’s menacing laugh fills the air, his words making my blood run cold.

“Burn the city down!” he commands.

The rumble shakes through me as the talons cage me in.

Below, red and orange flames spread, flying from its chest and out its mouth, setting the city alight.

My scream dies out as its claws tighten, restricting the air in my lungs, suffocating me in its grip.

Pressure builds in my chest as I struggle for breath, vision blurring, eyes watering.

My mouth falls open, desperate for air.

The last thing I hear before darkness takes over is the deep voice of a man.

“Not too tightly she is no good to us dead Malika.”