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Nothing but dead grass, rocks, and open plain lay between hway Unfortunately, the road lay two miles off I couldn’t run forever, but I didn’t see anywhere to hide I just knew I had to get away I thought I heard footfalls behindon h to turn and look

I ran blind My foot caught on a rock, and I stu ontoover uson not ten paces behind My vision blacked as the shade wrapped around s

For aand then my whole body burned, not with the fire that searedehat all, and--

Oh, shit, I saw the light What a rip-off My life didn’t flash before h

Except I didn’t see a tunnel either, and I hurt

A sharp sting on my left cheek reinforced the notion that uson stared down at ive me another whack Shit, I’d al o?" I croaked

He lowered his arers "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust"

Great Crazy Bible talk I ached all over Not even the tiot salmonella from some bad chicken felt like this When he reached into his pocket, I flung h I have no idea how--to finishhi in his hand squeaked when he squeezed it I peered throughme Butch’s play pizza "You dropped this"

After so a sick rush of relief to uson extended a hand to help ht about what I’d done

As alked--well, he walked; I limped--back toward the house, I squeezed the pizza in a nervous gesture "How did you get here?" I wondered aloud

Had he tracked ave me the means to transcend my earthly prison," he said in a voice that sent shivers down uided oodyou from there was easy"

"So you’re the one who’s been hunting me?" A chill rolled over me Maybe he intended me to lead hi Ferguson in prison

"I’ you While I’d never choose to sully myself with you or your causes, I am the Lord’s hand and I work His will I don’t pretend to understand His agenda He sent reat evil, so tell me what you’d have me do"

It took me a moment to process that "You mean you’re not here to kill me?"

His icy eyes didn’t even flicker "I am here to banish the forces of Hell back to the eternal fires fro"

"Um" I exhaled slowly The house ca of Hill’s Science Diet and the fuzzy dog bed "Maybe you want to come in then?"

"I await your orders," he said

There’s nothing scarier than a fanatic

"Chance," I called unsteadily as we ca rooreat evil He also just saved uson said, "if you count the ti, I saw that he earing a black sweatshirt Shit I dropped into a chair, feeling like death warmed over

Chance crossed the floor in four steps, cast a questioning glance at Ferguson, and knelt beside ht?"

I told hiht?" Chance shook his head "Only you could go out for dog food and come back with a uson?" I braced ht fire with fire, if we used hiet to a phone Maybe he was toying with us I couldn’t begin to comprehend ent on behind those zealous eyes

Chance straightened slowly, asking in an undertone, "Did you bu him in the house?"

"You wonder why I’e half s that "I’ve bathed in the Lord’s light God’s Hand is not bound by your laws I see farther I do not bla to interfere hat you do not understand, but prison bars will not holdHis work"