I was taken aback, both by the foul small and the look of hatred on the disfigured face of the apparition before me. I involuntarily took a breath and nearly choked. The phantoms were closing in on me from all sides and if one sniff of them was this bad, I didn’t want to find out what touching one was like. I didn’t imagine it would end well for me.
When you’re in a bind, sometimes the slimmest of chances is the best you have. In that case, you just have to play the odds. Sometimes, however, you get a chance to stack the deck and that was what I fervently hoped I’d managed to do.
Summoning all my courage, I held up one hand and managed to croak out a word through my abused throat: “Stop!”.
The cold and terror made it hard to move but I was heartened by the ghost’s response. They seemed almost curious, hovering close but not approaching any closer. They reminded me of cats, curious but ready to pounce.
I threw back my cloak, trying to ignore the bitter chill, to reveal my stolen guard’s uniform.
Now that caused a reaction.