And a rock gets winged at the back of Louis's head with shocking accuracy. It's only a pebble, but it's a good hit - and somehow, it also completely knocks the wind out of him, like he's been punched in the diaphragm. No pain, apart from the back of his head, just a sudden, vicious emptiness in his lungs.

It only bounces once off the wooden floor but it's scooped up again with unerring dexterity by Coraline, as she sweeps past him on her way into the doorway first, and turns to look at him again, a fresh smug grin all over her face.

"I got what I wanted." Then she winks at him, steps backwards into a beam of sunlight and-- disappears. Just like that.

Someone refuses to take the high road.