to watch me go.
 
 Finally, I reached the entry hall. The sorcerer was nowhere to be seen, but
 
 I still obeyed his will.
 
 I unlocked the five latches on the front door one at a time. Then I swung
 
 it wide and stepped out onto the porch. Six more agonizing steps took me
 
 down to the sidewalk and another dozen took me to the curb.
 
 Then my body stopped with an unsteady jolt.
 
 “Remember to look both ways,” the sorcerer’s distant voice echoed in my
 
 mind—an intrusive, violating feeling—unlike the familiar snarl that echoed
 
 back in response.
 
 But despite my rage, my head turned left. Then right. I was truly alone.
 
 My foot lifted off the still warm pavement and stepped onto the dry, dusty
 
 asphalt of the street.
 
 I stopped short when I reached the middle. Every part of my soul
 
 screamed in agony, but I couldn’t move a muscle more. I just stood, petrified,
 
 beneath the deep yellow glow of the streetlights.
 
 Then a shadow swept over me, and my already pounding heart
 
 accelerated to a breakneck pace.
 
 With an ominous shudder, the street shook as something landed behind
 
 me.
 
 I couldn’t turn my head or even tilt my eyes, but I still could sense the
 
 overwhelming power of the thing. The signature of its magic smelled of deep,
 
 sickly pungent flowers and tasted of overripe fruit. It sounded like the
 
 deafening buzz of millions of cicadas and felt like sap creeping over my skin.
 
 As I stood there, unable to move, an enormous, blurry shape methodically
 
 moved into the corner of my transfixed gaze. Something of unimaginable size
 
 and horror.
 
 Step by shuddering step, it shifted into view, blocking the light from the
 
 streetlamps.
 
 A shudder quaked through me.