The arm stretches a little further, but there's only so far it can go before it loses all cohesion. It falls limp, no bigger around than the fingers sprouting from its top like twigs.

For a long, suspended moment, it's quiet. Just the sound of Nimona's rattling breaths, and an odd, barely audible fizzle like the edge of paper caught in a fire. The smoke around her thickens. Slowly, the glowing eyes start to dim.

And then, the smallest voice.

"Help."