"God, you fuckin' asshole," I snarl, because he's not right behind me, he's standing there, and they're swelling up around him, that boy at in lead. They're howling, all of them, a dull roar under that sharp howl coming from the boy's gaping mouth.

I take a step toward Mike, another, raising my gun and aiming for the boy's head when I pull the trigger, hoping it'll jumpstart Mike back into moving his ass.

"You keep fuckin' running, you dumb shit," I shout, taking off toward the church and praying to God he's following.