Page 50 of Styx

need to bring back that pain.

I think your anger helped you that day.’

Styx closed her eyes again and tried

with all of her might to remember.

Her face was a mask of concentration

and as her hand touched the water,

I saw it. Something was forming

between her hand and the water.

At first, I thought it was another eel.

But instead, this creature was small.

A tiny red shell formed,

and then two large angry pincers.

Two beady little eyes

and many, many legs.

Styx held the thing up in wonder

as it moved its pincers this way and that.

I stared at it in fascination.

‘What were you thinking about

when you made that?’ I asked.

She looked up at me as she set

her creation onto the rock.

It moved sideways quickly

until it was hidden in a crevice.

‘I was thinking,’ she said,

looking at me with a wry smile,

‘how infuriating all of this is.’

I let out a surprised laugh

and Styx’s smile widened.

She reached down and picked up

a small stone in her fingers.