Intaglio Dragons All The Way Down

chapter 32: Hanna’s Dream



Hanna crouched in the sand, staring down at them. The man cradled the woman in his arms, their eyes closed as if in sleep, the way two children might rest: like spoons. Her hand was tucked in his, his mouth pressed in a final kiss to the back of her neck. Hanna reached up, wiping away unexpected tears.

They were both dead.

Taking a shuddering breath, she hoisted herself to her feet, eyes taking in the rest of the destruction as she began to walk once more. In the distance, there were faint grey bands – rocky cliffs – rising out of the water. There was flotsam littering the sand, the winged figurehead of the ship rocking gently in the waves off shore.

Everything destroyed…

Hanna’s eyes rose up the long stretch of beach, to the cliffs, and from there into the sky. Above her head, two birds wheeled lazy circles against a shimmering expanse of blue. She squinted, caught in the sight, her feet stumbling to a stop.

She turned back toward the figures on the beach, throat aching. There was something about them that bothered her more than the others she’d seen, but what it was she couldn’t say. She lingered uncertainly. The waves insistently lapped at her shoes, and with a resigned sigh, she began walking again.

There were other people who needed her.