Chapter 5

Silver hoops pierced both nipples. A dark cloud covered his torso, tiny black spots that swept up from the waistband of his pants to billow out across his abdomen into a cloud of bats. They looked almost real, bursting from him in search of food. As they rose up his chest, they grew larger, more distinct; I saw eyes and sharp teeth cut out of the shapes, and each wing ended in a long claw. The cloud rose before him, washing his pale skin with color, before tapering to one large bat at the head of the pack. It flew directly under Rist’s left nipple as if aiming for the ring above it.