Regina's latest breath was cut off with a sharp rasp as the entire body stiffened. The Nightcap bubbled and bulged itself into one, clumping mass between the crocodile's jaws, bigger and bigger, as big as it could, like some kind of grotesque balloon. It quivered greatly with the effort, those vice-like jaws not yielding any inch easily, and then quickly collapsed, pulling in on itself and retreating to the girl's scalp.

GO. NOW.

It rolled her, forcing her to raise herself up. Amid groaning, the Nightcap lifted up and reeled backward, wasting no time on grace or sense to get itself away from that mouth and those teeth. Falling over itself, it kicked and dragged itself by knees and elbows, masses of formless black draping over useless, crying eyes.

"Achh– gnuh, hruh–!"