The giant skeleton did not relent. Its free hand hammered its own ribs again and again, trying to crush whatever had crawled inside.
Tabulae did not hesitate. She grabbed the flag where it snagged inside the rib, fingers closing on dark gold fabric.
Then the whole ribcage gave way.
Bone cracked. The sound carried through the dark like dry wood snapping in a fire. Still it did not stop.
A shard of broken bone tore across her arm. Heat flashed, then white pain. Skin split. Flesh peeled.
Her forearm opened enough that she saw pale bone under it, a glimpse that did not feel real until the blood came fast and slick.
Tears flooded her face. She wanted to wail. She was just a teenager.
But the world did not spare infants either, not when parents did not care, not when hungry men wanted what you had.
She bit her lip hard. Blood trickled down her chin. Only a strangled whimper escaped.
