otus couldn't flee any further. She couldn't stop the transformation from consuming Gus like a flame. She had never deserved contempt more in her life.

"I was doing my best!" she screamed, at nobody in particular. She couldn't look at Iron, couldn't bear to see the display of living body-horror taking place before her eyes. "I gave up my whole life to help you, Iron! This whole time I've been doing what you said, fighting to get you back to a world I've never heard of and care nothing about! I should've left you on the side of the road!"