The night was quiet and the breeze was gentle. Valve moved like a shadow across the dunes, her narrow legs gliding like silk pulling along the sands. It was a clear night; the stars gleamed like faraway diamonds strewn across a black cloak. If it weren’t for them there would be no light at all—the moon had refused to show its face tonight. Perhaps it was ashamed of the blight that happened upon the already meager grass that grew in spare patches across the land.

She had not eaten in a week’s time, which was just slightly longer than she was comfortable with. Her skin clung to her ribs a bit more than usual, but Valve knew that this would pass.

A call broke the silence and Valve suddenly found herself opposite a mare she had not seen in years—A’idah. Her dark eyes poured over the red mare and she noticed her belly, low and swollen with the promise of new life. She was pregnant, and nibbling at the blighted grass at her feet.

“A’idah!” Valve called out to her. “Don’t!”

But it was already too late.

VALVE
slenderman x black heart machine