Suddenly, outside, a cloud shifted, and a sharp blast of sunlight shot through the window. Barely over the horizon, the sun blazed with magic-hour intensity, throwing a spotlight onto the creature on the steps. It didn’t shriek or sizzle or smoke. It blinked at the intense brightness and threw an arm across its face in a bizarrely human gesture. From her close vantage, Ana could see how the crenulated flesh on the creature’s arm began to turn grayer in the sunlight. The skin, drying. Ever so subtly turning to stone.
