Victor dove toward the ground and grabbed the eyeball where it had rolled to a stop.
It was still warm and moist.
"HEY!"
His shout echoed through the corridor causing the Root Child to pause mid-motion.
The vines froze and Aria hung limply for a fraction of a second before the dragging stopped.
Victor held the eyeball up with both hands.
The creature turned slowly toward him, tilting its head.
Victor extended the eyeball outward with a steady look while the Root Child took a single step forward.
The vines retracting from Aria loosened and then, it slowly lowered her body to the moss.
The creature approached Victor cautiously, as though wary of startling him.
When it was close enough, the Root Child extended its hand.
Victor placed the eyeball back into its grasp.
The moment its vines wrapped around it, the creature let out a low, satisfied trill.
It didn't seem angry anymore.
It cradled the eye almost affectionately as the labyrinth stilled again.
