The snare activates, drawing Persephone from sleep like a bolt of lightning along her spine. Blinking in the dark light, she shifts, sliding down the broad branch until her feet are free and she drops to the ground. She lifts her head and scents the air, running her tongue over her teeth.
She finds him, cold, naked, large hands struggling with the poison-dipped wire around his ankle.
“Help me,” he demands, eyes not yet shifting to desperation.
Persephone smiles, black-painted fingers dancing across the knives on her belt. “No.”
“No?” A flash of fear in his orange-flecked eyes. “She’ll kill me!”
“No, she won’t.” Persephone crouches down to wait.
NOTE:
Day 3! I decided to participate in Inktober this year (a month-long art challenge on Instagram, created by Jake Parker) by writing short stories based on the prompts. Instead of drawings, my ink will shape words! 😉 I may be too ambitious (a new flash story every single day in October?!), but it sounds fun. I give you, #wordtober! Also, in addition to the official prompts, I’m using Holly Dunn’s #greekmythtober prompts for names.