A pause took over.
"A..."
The snake's tongue slid across the white surface.
"A BREAK? BREAK? BREAK?"
IT chuckled loudly.
"YOU CALL SELF-SACRIFICE A BREAK? DELIGHTFUL. YES. DELIGHTFUL."
Malik, again, didn't care for IT's mockery.
"…I'm sure you… enjoyed watching me."
ITS moons for eyes brightened.
"'ENJOYED.' ENJOYED. SUCH A SIMPLE TERM. TOO SIMPLE. TOO SMALL FOR WHAT I AM. I NURTURE. NURTURE. NURTURE CURIOSITY. I DEVOUR. DEVOUR. DEVOUR PATTERNS. YOUR REACTIONS—YOUR REACTIONS—YOUR REACTIONS ARE THE MOST JUICY, JUICY, JUICY FEED. FEED. FEED."
The words filled his mind so completely that the cold almost felt nonexistent.
