She swung on Adam, grazing his​ cheek, although he barely felt it. If only he'd had a little more firepower, Adam thought. If only he'd been able to wail on her just a little bit longer, perhaps he could have...

     She struck him again, this time a little harder. Adam actually staggered back a little bit from that second blow.  

     Tindriss smiled. 

     "I will so enjoy destroying you," she said, "tearing you apart, bit by bit."

     Adam was finally able to raise his arms to fend off the Coal-Maiden's third blow, but it was such a weak defense. She broke through it easily to smack him full in the jaw.  

​     "Awk!"

​     He threw a punch of his own. She blocked it, then slapped him in the face. She grew stronger with each passing moment. Adam lifted his arms in defense a second time. Tindriss feinted with her left fist, then landed a hard right to his skull. Adam retreated, still defending himself with his arms. She smacked him hard, then again, then a third time, a fourth, fifth.   

     "How does it feel, Adam Forwarder?" she almost whispered. "How does it feel to be on the losing end?"

     "I...I..."

     She smacked him again. "I intend to take your life, Adam Forwarder."

​     "Th...That's im...impossi..."

​     "I know. You're nothing like a true human being. That's what I'm going to try and do, though. I'm here to see if I can do the impossible. ​I want to see if I can destroy even you."

​     Uh...Uh..."

     Tindriss smiled, and it was a smile as wicked at the Wicked Witch of the West's.

     "Let's get started, shall we?" she asked.

​CONTINUE