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Back in the car, I drove ahead slowly, looking carefully for any sign of additional ic I felt it before I saw it Evil intent A vile undertaking Soic, but I could feel it, clear as day The spell was in the stages of being cast, I’d bet my life on it Soon, the colorful jet of destruction would bloom over the street toward its intended victih I couldn’t be sure

I pulled to the side of the street again, watching If I couldn’t see theic could make people into zombies, it could also make people invisible

Adrenaline mixed with fear had me outside of the car in a flash, u a tent pole, too, just in case I needed to javelin solance at the skyrod in a storh my umbrella wasn’t far from…

I scurried toward a leafy bush at the side of the road A streetlight clicked on over

I tiptoed farther along and crouched beside another bush, looking out at the quiet street A srass stretching to the playground beyond On the other side was a tire business, its s dark and bays closed The burger joint was likewise closed, very peculiar for this time of day on a weekday

"I just want a nanized the voice ier from earlier in the day I couldn’t see him, but it sounded like he was on my side of the street

I patted esture than an atte in the car Not that I kne to do anything more than throw them at someone, but I sure would’ve been happy to have theo," soround side of the street, the one that emanated evil intent

"You’ve lost your ive me a name and you walk away from here"

"There’s three of us," Dr Evil yelled out I wondered if he had his pinky to his ardless"

The stranger’s laugh was low and hues Did they tell you that? My power is the saainst es," Dr Evil said "How does that feel, when your other half is ripped from you? I’ve heard it is a wound that doesn’t heal Think you’ll find another natural to sew it back up? That’s the only way to get peace, isn’t it? Join with anotheron cerew Dr Evil and his flunkies were about to throw their spell

"This is your last chance," the stranger said, warning clear in his voice I felt absolutely no intent--good, evil, or otherwise--co from his side "Who ordered , the evil intent was released It rocketed out from the side, a mishmash of murky colors and twisted patterns

"Watch out!" I yelled, stepping into the street and waving er’s location, the weave so fine and intense that it blurred into one color and obscured ic picked it up easily enough, though, and even if it hadn’t, I didn’t need to wait long to see it in action

The stranger’sbefore blinking out itself

I had no idea why I hadn’t seen the stranger before He was standing next to the street in front of the tire shop, plain as day And he could clearly see me I could tell because his head was turned, his face pointed in my direction

Fat raindrops pelted un Cold water soaked through my sweatshirt I barely noticed

Crack

A shock of death rolled toward me from Dr Evil I turned and threw up ht white arched arounda half bubble to my front The murky black-brown stream of badness sla the inco back out to follow the line of fire

Someone screamed, a hoarse, terrified sound It cut out suddenly Soer stared at me, immobile