She looked at the fruit.
For one dangerous second she wanted to believe it.
Then she heard the real Yan Cijin shouting from somewhere outside the illusion.
"Bai Li, left!"
Bai Li smiled.
The false world broke.
The real monster was already at her left.
She ducked.
A claw swept past.
Yan Cijin fired her crossbow.
The bolt struck one of the shoulder eyes.
The monster shrieked.
Bai Li stepped in and cut the other shoulder.
The creature twisted.
Its tail hit Bai Li in the ribs.
She flew sideways and struck the ground.
Yan Cijin ran toward her.
"Bai Li!"
Bai Li raised one hand.
"Stay back."
The monster opened its mouth.
A black pulse formed.
Bai Li rolled.
The blast carved through the concrete where she had been.
She came up on one knee and drew the revolver.
Bang.
The first round destroyed another shoulder eye.
Bang.
The second hit its jaw.
The third was held.
Bai Li waited.
The monster lunged.
She moved backward.
It followed.
