Autor hears her scream as if he's underwater, fuzzy and distended across the air. The man holds his attention--the man, and the ruler in his hand. Autor doesn't need to see his face to recognize him. When the man reaches out to him, starting to melt where he stands, the boy scream is torn from his throat quickly enough to make it ragged.

Autor trips over the flour bag in his scrabble to leave, but he manages to bolt, taking the sake route Oswin did in his fleeing.

Options:

Last choice?

-or-

Start?