The sound the monster made was otherworldly. Droplets of water and flecks of blood hit Miles as the shadowmire shook out its coat. Cringing at the combination of the screech and blood, Miles aimed to shoot again when the pistol was knocked out of his grasp for the second time. 
	Unable to keep his balance, the drunkard fell backwards from the force of the hit and stared up at the salivating monster in horror. He attempted to scoot himself back, hoping to put any distance possible between himself and the shadowmire while Elayra instructed him what to do.
	"It's already stupid!" Miles' response was automatic. Using insults was second nature to him. "There's nothing I could say about this idiot that hasn't already been said!"
	Neither Wonderlander got to see if Elayra's advice worked. The second the insult left Miles' lips, Elayra escaped, and he felt a change in the air that caused him more pain than his injured wrist. The portal died, and the shadowire seemed to die with it.
	"No, no, no!" Scrambling to the wall, Miles slammed a fist against the bricks, breathing heavily as he unleashed his frustration. The portal was gone, and so was his chance at world jumping. He gripped his bleeding wrist and started cursing again, unintentionally quoting some of the profanities on the surrounding walls. 
	"This can't be happening." Crippled by defeat, Miles finally sank down to a crouched position, gripping handfuls of his graying hair by the roots. He sat there for a full minute, muttering weakly about missing his chance. The sight of him babbling to himself while rocking back and forth was something better suited for an asylum.  
	"I'm not crazy," Miles began to argue with the wall, turning defensive as he did with Ghent and Elayra. He nodded to the scrap of fabric left behind and continued to argue his sanity. "[i]See?[/i] This is proof that they were here!" 
	Loosening his grip on his dripping hair, Miles reached for the evidence, freezing at a sound that made his blood run cold. The blast of sirens sounded in the distance, alerting him to the fact that the police had heard the gunshot, and they were close.
	Swearing underneath his breath, Miles forced himself to stand. Visibly shaken, he fled the scene, leaving the fabric and pistol behind in his hurry.