Juan flinched looking up at Mrs. Cloud. "What?"
Mrs. Cloud stared down at Juan with unpitying eyes. "Do you need me to cut up your ears or something? I doubt that would help with your actual hearing, but it will at least satisfy my overflowing need to make you feel just a bit of pain as of right now."
A tainted smile appeared on her face. "Would you like to give it a try?"
Juan edged away from Mrs. Cloud, making sure to keep a distance between her and the monster that could eat her up at any moment. Her hands, trembling in fear, were hidden away from Mrs. Cloud's line of vision.
There was something about her gaze that was telling Juan to run. Something about it telling her to hide any sign of insecurity, any unfilled hole in her confidence. Her gaze had always been so piercing but it became painfully clear after she took a beating from her very delicate-looking hands.
