“Come on!” Imani pleaded, “We can’t give up!” The rest of the people looked at her blankly as she struggled to get free. “Your fungus is back, you’re not untouched. Let’s go back and show the village!” The only reaction evinced from the villagers was a series of resigned sighs. Imani was about to protest again when she heard light footfalls from beyond the trees. “What was that?” she gasped and closed her eyes to listen.
“Scavengers come to get us.” The Villagers moaned piteously, “The swamp has finally come to free us from suffering.” Then they began to sing a dirge for themselves.
“Now!” a voice commanded from the shadows. Imani struggled to look up just in time to see a brief flash of green before suddenly being pulled down into a whirlpool and being submerged in darkness.
***