"I'm not entirely sure what that even is, so no. We don't," Eugene replied lightly, looking over his shoulder and trying to tamp down his growing unease. They were moving reasonably quickly for a couple of guys covered in bandages, but it was still slower going than he'd like. Even with the lights, there could be monsters--or worse, patients--lurking in the shadows.

"Huh? Oh, right. Last night a man with a really stupid helmet tried to make me a little shorter. He--"

But he never got to say what else Loki had done. A swirling mass of shadow in the shape of a person--a kid, really--emerged from the darkness and headed straight for the Once-ler.

"Look out!"