The ball flew through the air. Towards Jeremy. He tried running through the knee-high water, to get into a better position to catch it, but one of the other boys pushed him. He fell face-first into water. He tried to right himself as quickly as he could, but one of the other boys, perhaps the one who had pushed him in the first place, kicked him, making him inhale some of the water. He managed to push himself up to take a burning breath, only to see that many of the boys had gathered around him, trying to ruin his chance. The ball was only moments away. He reached up, trying to catch it.

His fingers brushed against it, but the sudden burning as he did so surprised him. He reflexively pulled back. He lost his chance. The ball fell towards the water.

A piercing shriek filled the air as the ball touched the water. The ball glowed painfully bright for a moment before dimming, the shriek from the creature inside it still filling Jeremy's ears. His arm was numb from touching the ball. His mind was numb with the knowledge of what would happen next.

The rotund woman at the edge of the field was standing, her white and black dress a stark contrast to the dull water. She raised her arm, pointing at Jeremy. Then she said it. "Off with his head."