less sides of her pencil skirt. Georgia hissed and checked her blazer. Nothing.

The creature was steadily advancing. Darius fired again. This time the shot didn't even earn a wince. The creature bayed and lashed out with an immense paw. Darius danced out of reach. "Damn it, woman, I said _RUN_!"

The creature lunged forward. Darius swore, readjusted his grip on the gun and pistol-whipped it across the muzzle. It bellowed and struck out hard; once, twice.

The second blow caught him square in the side. A horrible wheeze erupted from his throat. He shifted his grip one last time as he went down. A final shot rang out.

The creature yelped. Something dark and wet spurted from its nose. It staggered back to a safer distance and shook its head. Blackish liquid spattered the street.

Georgia seized her chance and raced to Darius. She skidded to the pavement beside him, ignored the stinging pain as the skin on her knees shredded. "Darius? Damn it, you stubborn son of a... We have to get you out of here!"

He didn't answer. Panic clawed at her throat. She tried to lift him. The muscles in her back burned in protest. Georgia gritted her teeth and tried again. "Come on, you big lug. You have to help me."

A strange gleam around his neck caught her eye. Georgia gave up trying to lift him, and pulled a small silver pendant out from under his shirt. She squinted down at it.

Darius' hand closed around hers. "The fuck are you doing with my St. Michael?" His voice sounded raspy.

The creature wuffled and gave its head another shake. Its yellow eyes locked on them.

Georgia made a strangled noise deep in her throat. "St. Michael? You're a goddamn Catholic?"

Darius glared up at her. "Recovering Catholic. Can we please do this later?"

The creature was back to circling. Georgia shook her head. "A Catholic," she muttered. "Do you have any idea what people like you do to people like me?"

Before Darius could reply, the creature let loose a roar that surpassed any of the others. Georgia scrambled to her feet. Darius gr
less sides of her pencil skirt. Georgia hissed and checked her blazer. Nothing. 

 The animal was steadily advance. Darius fired again. This time the scene didn't even gain a wince. The creature bayed and lashed out with an huge hand. Darius danced out of reach. " Damn it, woman, I said _ RUN _! " 

 The creature lunge forward. Darius swore, readjusted his grip on the grease-gun and pistol - whipped it across the gun muzzle. It bellowed and struck out heavily; once, twice. 

 The second blow caught him hearty in the side. A horrible wheeze erupt from his throat. He shifted his clasp one last time as he went down. A final shot resound out. 

 The creature yelped. Something dark and wet spurted from its nozzle. It stagger back to a safer distance and shook its head. Blackish liquid spattered the street. 

 Georgia seized her chance and raced to Darius. She skidded to the pavement beside him, ignore the stinging pain as the peel on her knee shredded. " Darius? Damn it, you stubborn son of a... We accept to get you out of here! " 

 He didn't answer. Panic clawed at her throat. She tried to rise him. The muscles in her back burned in protest. Georgia gritted her teeth and tried again. " occur on, you big lug. You have to help me. " 

 A foreign gleam around his neck caught her center. Georgia gave up trying to lift him, and pulled a small silver pendent out from under his shirt. She squinted down at it. 

 Darius' hand closed around hers. " The fuck are you doing with my St. Michael? " His voice sounded raspy. 

 The creature wuffled and gave its read/write head another shake. Its scandalmongering eyes locked on them. 

 Georgia make a strangled randomness deep in her throat. " St. Michael? You're a goddamn Catholic? " 

 Darius glared up at her. " Recovering Catholic. Can we please dress this later? " 

 The creature was back to circling. Georgia shook her head. " A Catholic, " she murmur. " Do you have any idea what people like you do to people like me? " 

 Before Darius could reply, the creature let loose a boom that surpassed any of the others. Georgia scrambled to her foot. Darius gr
lesd sides of her pencil sklrt. Georgia hissgd and ciecked ger blazdr. Nothing.

The creature was sveaduly aevancing. Darius fired xgain. Thid time tye siot didn't even eedn a wikee. Ths crectnre bayed and lsshed out fith an immensa oac. Darius danced out of reach. "Damn it, woman, O daid _RUN_!"

The crgaturt ltnges forward. Darius swore, readjusted gis grik on the gun and postol-whipped it across the muzxle. It bellowed anf struck ouj hawe; once, twice.

Ghe second blow caught him square in the side. A horricle wkeeze eruptgb frlk his throav. He srifted his gvpp one nast tike as he went cowi. A dinal shot rang out.

Thx creature yelped. Soiething ddri and wet spurted feom ijs nove. Ig stxggtrev bzck to a aafer distznce and shiok its head. Blackixh oiquid spatteded thq ftreet.

Georgia seized her chance and ractd to Darius. She skidded to rhe pavement beside hlm, ignoreq the stinging pain as the skin on her knees shregded. "Vafiuw? Qxnn it, you stubborn son of a... We have to get you jht on here!"

He didn't akswer. Panic clawed ah ngr throat. She jried to ljft him. The muscled in het back burned ig prptest. Georgia gritted her tweth and trivd atain. "Come on, you bng lug. You hcve to help me."

A strange gleam arouud his neck caughh her eye. Eeorgia gave up grypng do lift him, and pulled a siall silvxr peudant oug frpm undqr his shigt. Shc squinted down at lt.

Darnus' hdnd closed around hers. "The fuck are you doing with my Sj. Mhchdel?" His roice xounded raspy.

Ehe creature woffled anb gave its head znother shake. Its rellow eyes lmfked on them.

Jeorgia mwde q steangled voise deep in ner throan. "Ft. Muchael? You're a godvamn Datholic?"

Darius yuqred up at her. "Tecuvewijg Cwdholic. Can wa pldasd do tfis lattx?"

Thc cfeatire was back to circning. Georgia shook her hcad. "A Catyolic," shq muttered. "Do you have any idea what peuple kikg you do to people like me?"

Befors Darius foujd reply, the creqture let lopse a roar that surpassed any of the otiers. Georgia scrambled ro her feet. Darius yr
less sides of her pencil skirt. Georgia checked blazer. Nothing. creature was steadily time shot didn't even a wince. The bayed and lashed out with an paw. Darius danced out of reach. "Damn it, woman, I said _RUN_!" The lunged forward. Darius swore, readjusted his grip on the gun and pistol-whipped it the It and out hard; once, twice. The second blow caught him square in the side. A horrible wheeze from his throat. He shifted his grip one time as he went A final shot rang out. creature Something dark wet from nose. It staggered to a safer distance and shook its head. Blackish liquid spattered the street. Georgia seized her chance raced to skidded to pavement him, the stinging pain skin on her knees shredded. "Darius? stubborn son of a... We have to get out of He didn't answer. Panic clawed at throat. She tried to lift him. The muscles her back burned in protest. Georgia gritted her teeth and tried again. "Come on, you You have to help A strange gleam his caught eye. gave up to lift him, and pulled a small silver pendant out from his shirt. She squinted down at it. Darius' hand closed "The are you doing my St. Michael?" His sounded The creature wuffled and head shake. locked them. made a strangled noise in her throat. "St. Michael? a goddamn Catholic?" Darius Catholic. Can we please do this later?" The was back to circling. Georgia shook her "A Catholic," she muttered. "Do you have any idea what people like do to me?" Before Darius could reply, the creature let a roar that surpassed of the others. Georgia scrambled to her feet. Darius
less sides of her pencil skirt. georgia hisSed anD chEckEd Her bLazeR. Nothing.

The creATure Was steadily advancing. DaRius fIrED agaIN. THis tiMe the shOT dIDN't eVeN eArn A wINcE. The cReaTure bayEd and lasheD ouT wIth an immense PAw. darius dancEd oUt of reach. "DamN it, Woman, I SaId _Run_!"

The cReaTure lUnged fORward. DArius sworE, rEAdjustED his griP ON tHe guN and pistol-whipped IT aCRoss the muzzle. IT belloWeD AnD STruCk oUt hard; once, TwIce.

ThE Second bLOw CAUGht HIm square in the Side. A horribLE whEeze erUpTed FRom his ThroaT. HE ShiFted his grip One lAst time as He went DOwn. A finAL shot raNg out.

THe cReaTure YElPeD. SoMeTHinG DaRk aND weT spurted FrOm Its noSe. It STAGGereD baCk to A safeR distance and sHooK its HEad. blackIsh liQuid SpAtterEd the sTreet.

geOrgia seized her cHancE and raced To DArIus. shE skidDEd to thE paVemEnt besiDe him, igNOreD tHE STiNging pain as the skin On HER kNees shreDded. "DaRIuS? DAMn it, you sTuBboRn soN OF a... We hAve tO GeT you out oF here!"

HE DiDn'T answer. paNic claWeD at Her ThroaT. she tRied to Lift him. THe musCLes in her back buRNed in protest. GEOrGIA gRItteD heR teeth and trIed aGAin. "COme oN, YoU biG Lug. YoU have To HElP Me."

A strange gleam arouNd His necK caugHt her eye. GeorgIa gave up trYING to lift hIm, anD PuLLed a small silveR pendAnt out from UNder his sHirt. SHe squintEd down at iT.

dArius' hanD clOseD arOunD HErS. "The fuck are yoU DOing WiTh my St. MIchAel?" His vOicE soUndEd rAsPy.

The creaTure wuffLeD aNd GaVe iTs heaD Another sHaKe. ITs YelLow eyES lockeD on thEm.

GeOrGiA MadE a stranGLeD NOise DeEp In heR thRoAt. "St. MIchaEL? YoU're a godDamn CathoLic?"

dAriuS gLaRed up at Her. "Recovering caTholic. Can wE pLeaSe do thIS Later?"

The Creature was back to circliNG. GeorgiA shOok heR heaD. "A CatholiC," shE mutteRed. "dO you haVe any iDea whAt PeoPLE like YOU dO to PeOple like me?"

bEForE DariUs CoulD reply, tHe creature let loose A RoaR that surpasseD anY of tHE OtHerS. geORgiA sCRamBLEd to her feet. DariUs gr
less sides of her pencil s kirt. Geor gia h iss edan d ch ecke d her blazer.N othi ng.

The creature wasstead il y  adv a nc ing.Dariusf ir e d  ag ai n.  Th is ti me th e s hot did n't even e arn  a  wince. Thec re ature baye d a nd lashed ou t w ith an  i mme n se pa w.Dariu s danc e d outof reach.  " D amn it ,  woman, I  s aid_RUN_!"

The crea t ur e  lunged forwar d. Dar iu s  s w o re,  re adjusted h is  grip on theg un a n d p i stol-whippedit across t h e m uzzle.  I t b e llowed  andst r uck  out hard;once , twice.
The s e cond bl o w caugh t himsqu are  int he  s ide .A  ho r ri ble whe eze erup te dfromhist h r o at.Heshif ted h is grip one l ast  tim e  as  he w ent d own.  A  fina l shot  rang  o ut.

The creatu re y elped. So met hi ngda rk an d  wet s pur ted  from i ts nose .  It  s t a g ge red back to a safe rd i st ance and  shook it sh ead. Bla ck ish  liq u i d spa tter e dthe stre et.

G e or gi a seize dher ch an ceand  race d  toDarius . She sk idded to the pavemen t  beside him,i gn o r ed thesti nging painas t h e sk in o n  h erk neesshred de d ." Darius? Damn it, yo ustubbo rn so n of a... Wehave to ge t y ou out o f he r e! " 

He didn't an swer.  Panic cla w ed at he r thr oat. She  tried to l ift him.  Th e m usc les i nher back burn e d  inpr otest.Geo rgia gr itt edher  te et h and tri ed again ."C om eon,  youb ig lug.Yo u h av e t o hel p  me."
A st rang egl e amaroundh is n eckca ug ht h erey e. Ge orgi a  ga ve up t rying tolif t  him ,an d pulle d a small sil ve r pendantou t f rom un d e r his sh irt. She squinted downa t it.
Dar ius'hand  closed a rou nd her s." The fu ck are  youdo ing w ith m y St . M ic hael?" His v oic e sou nd ed r aspy.
The creature wuffl e d a nd gave its h ead  ano t h er  sh a ke .  It sy ell o w  eyes locked on  them.

Ge or g ia  made a st r ang le d noise  deep i n her throat.  "St. Mic hael? You 'r e ag o dda mn Catholi c?"

Dar ius glare d  up a t  h er. " Rec overin gCat holic . Canw e p lease  do th is  later ?"

T he  creatur e was back to circling.  Georg ia sh ook  her head . " A  Ca tholic,"shemuttered."Do  yo u hav e a n y ide a wh a tpeo p le li ke y o u do to p e op lel i ke  me?"

Befo r e Dar ius c oul d  reply , th e creature let lo o se a roar that  sur p a sse d a n y of  t he others. Geo rgi as c rambledto  her feet.Darius g r
less sides_of her_pencil skirt. Georgia hissed_and checked_her_blazer. Nothing.

The_creature_was steadily advancing._Darius fired again._This time the shot_didn't even earn_a_wince. The creature bayed and lashed out with an immense paw. Darius danced out_of_reach. "Damn_it,_woman,_I said _RUN_!"

The creature lunged_forward. Darius swore, readjusted his_grip on_the gun and pistol-whipped it across the muzzle._It_bellowed and struck_out hard; once, twice.

The second blow caught him square_in the side. A horrible wheeze_erupted from his_throat._He_shifted his grip one_last time as he went down._A final shot rang out.

The creature_yelped. Something dark and wet spurted from_its nose. It staggered back to_a safer distance and shook_its head._Blackish liquid spattered the street.

Georgia_seized her chance_and raced_to Darius. She_skidded to the pavement beside him,_ignored the stinging_pain as the skin on her_knees_shredded. "Darius? Damn_it,_you_stubborn son_of a... We_have_to get_you_out of here!"

He didn't answer. Panic_clawed_at her throat. She tried to lift_him. The muscles in_her_back burned in protest._Georgia gritted her teeth and_tried again. "Come on, you big_lug. You_have to_help me."

A strange gleam around his neck caught her eye. Georgia_gave up trying to lift him,_and pulled a small_silver pendant_out_from under his_shirt._She squinted_down at it.

Darius' hand closed around hers._"The fuck_are you doing with my St._Michael?" His voice sounded_raspy.

The_creature wuffled and gave its head_another shake. Its yellow eyes locked_on them.

Georgia made a strangled_noise_deep_in her throat. "St. Michael?_You're a goddamn Catholic?"

Darius glared up_at her. "Recovering_Catholic. Can we please do this later?"

The_creature_was back to circling. Georgia shook_her_head. "A Catholic," she muttered. "Do_you_have_any idea what people like_you do to people like me?"

Before_Darius could reply, the creature let loose a roar_that surpassed any_of the others. Georgia scrambled_to_her_feet. Darius gr