Part 36

The ghostly home erupted into action as Thomas threw himself into the monstrous Lowell Vern, driving his shoulder into Lowell's impossibly broad chest.

Vern staggered backward, more so out of surprise than from the force of the blow.

"What the- GET OFF ME!" Vern shoved the man away, but Thomas fought him.

The first punch was merely an announcement that the fight was about to begin. The second broke Vern's nose... but did little else.

Vern deflected the third, and returned it with an open-handed slap that took the strength out of Thomas's knees. He staggered... stumbled... grabbed onto a chair for support...

...then picked it up and swung it at Vern.

Vern saw it coming. He blocked it with one upraised arm. Vern's inhuman face twisted with pain as both wood and bone shattered, but it had been either an arm or his skull. With Thomas off balance, Vern kicked the legs from under the man and sent him sprawling... but not yet down.

Vern repayed his broken arm with a heavy stomp to Thomas' ankle. There was a snap, and a thud as Thomas dropped to his hands and knees. Vern jammed the heel of his boot down on Thomas's right hand.

"AAAH!"

Meanwhile, Maga, Angela, and the boy had charged Fenton Barney. Fenton mistakenly assumed they were trying to run past him. Instead, the boy attacked... kicking at Fenton's ankle while swinging his small fist in a wild arc-

-directly into Fenton's crotch.

"AAHG!"

Fenton fell back as the women rushed past.

But Oscar Bartleby was only a step behind them. One wide, gnarled hand clamped onto Maga's shoulder and yanked her back.

The baby slipped from her grasp... not dropped, but tossed. Angela snatched the infant from the air and darted past the yowling Fenton, with the boy right behind her. They ran for the back of the house.

Oscar had Maga by the hair now. She thrust her elbows behind her into his abdomen, but it was like poking at a rock with a tree branch.

"CALL THEM BACK!" Oscar snarled. "CALL THEM BACK!"

Maga called:

"GO!" Maga shouted. "RUN! RUN!"

"MAGA!" Thomas tried to rise, but Lowell Vern planted a black boot squarely on the back of his neck. "UNGH! MAGA-"

"RUUNNN-" Oscar choked off Maga's shout with an arm folded across her throat. She struggled, but was clearly caught.

David watched it all in stunned terror, unable to move... unable to think. He could only see and hear the chaos around him.

Gravious Thule had detatched himself from his corner and stood in the midst of the violence. His eyes swept from Oscar to Lowell... then followed the children.

"BARNEY! STOP ROLLIN' AROUND AND GET AFTER 'EM!" Lowell screamed.

"Boy!"

Fenton struggled to his feet and stumbled after the children.

"SOMEBODY GIMME SOME ROPE!"

"Boy!"

"I kinda got my hands full with this one!" Oscar sneered down at Maga. "Endanger my family, will ya? Selfish bitch! Now you're gonna watch yours burn! BURN!"

"DAVID!"

David blinked. Thule was shouting at him. He met the Pilgrim's gaze.

Thule jerked his head in the direction that Fenton and the children had gone.

"Follow them!"

"But-" David's eyes went to his father.

"He can't hurt you! And you can't stop him from hurting them! All of this has already happened! Follow the others!!"

"O...okay..."

David moved hesitantly at first, but the withering stare from Thule finally ushered him out of the room and after the children.