I don't want to kill...

( But he hears her, is the happiness of it, the one blessing in their game. Hears the violent shift of air, as she approaches, feels his umbrella tumble, collapsing down, and leans to catch it before he can be touched, shrieking: )

Don't hurt me —

( — and he's gone with his umbrella, dissolving in dark spores of mould that burn quickly into ash, spreading over the graveyard of bones. )