So the watching thing... it didn't have to be constant, right? Because Katchoo wouldn't disappear if Francine blinked, right? Right?

Nope, still there. So maybe it was -holygnaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah- safe to shut her eyes and throw her head back after all because it was that or stop breathing again.

There. Just red-flecked darkness and the sound of her own breath and also -holygnaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah- that.

And a distant chirpy beep like she had new mail or something, but frankly even if it was telling her the school was burning down and they should get the hell out, she'd answer it later.