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                “Good? Bad? I’m the guy with the gun.”

                                Ashe, Army of Darkness

                Blam!

                Blam!

                Blam!

                The big thing barely moves as the shots punctuate into his body through his back. I startle from the sound and glance through his thick legs to see Patrick holding the pistol, its barrel smoking. His face is tight in professional killing power, but when I glance up at the big thing, I don’t see anything.

                It doesn’t blink.

                It doesn’t speak.

                It doesn’t respond at all.

                It just stares.

                I turn back to Slate and push on her shoulder. I roll her away from the monster as I push up to my feet. I turn around, the sun from the horizon burning down onto us as I back away from the beast. My hands go up in front of me, my Wing Chun coming to the surface.

                But the beast doesn’t really move. It just suddenly appears closer. Its giant hand comes out at me, reaching for my face. I don’t block the hand; I just gently guide it to the side. I surge forward like a wave and slap the beast on the side of the jaw. My palm knocks its face just an inch to the side, but then it turns back to me.

                It reaches for me again, but my wrist stays next to its wrist. When it moves for me again, I redirect it just inches from me. This time, I punch it in the chest with my fist. I move back, risking its longer arms to get away.

                It doesn’t blink.

                It doesn’t speak.

                It doesn’t respond at all.

                It just stares.

                And then it steps forward. Not at me, but to balance itself.

                Patrick drives into its leg with his shoulder, his thick frame colliding with the beast like a linebacker tackling a brick wall. The beast’s giant, wide eyes slowly turn, its wide mouth unmoving as it focuses its attention on Patrick.

                The soldier grabs onto the monster’s leg, trying to take it to the ground. But strength against strength, he doesn’t budge it. But the monster reaches down, grabbing Patrick around the back of the head. Its huge hand covers the back of his head while the red tendrils flare out.

                Only once chance.

                The tendrils reach inside Patrick. I can see them penetrate inside his ears, his nose, his mouth.

                “Help us.” I whisper. “We’ve found him.” I say out loud.

                The sky goes dark.

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