John tried hard to walk as fast as he could to Peter’s office. But he continually looked up at the windows above him.
As he passed an alley he briefly looked in. He stopped dead in his tracks.
The homeless man stood in the alley. His dirty army coat was wide open in the front and long tentacles writhed from under it. A large fang filled mouth split his torso from beltline to neck. The man’s head lay limp to one side. He mouthed words but the voice that came forth was Marie’s.
“Daddy, keep going. You must stop him. He sees you.”
The homeless man leapt from the alley. The maul of fangs chomped hungrily for John.
John stumbled back from the alley and into the street.
When the homeless man hit the sunlight he vanished.
John stood in the street. His arms shielded his face as he braced for the attack.
A car screeched to a halt inches from John.
“Get out the way, dumbass,” the driver yelled.
John slowly lowered his arms.
A police officer on the sidewalk grabbed John and pulled him out of the street.
“What do ya’ think you’re doin’?” the officer asked.
“Uh, I don’t know.” John stared down the alley.
“How ‘bout you get movin’ and stay out of the street.”
John nodded and continued on his way.
As he turned the corner of Peter’s block he noticed someone leaving Peter’s building. It was Marianna.
She looked around as she walked down the sidewalk. She wore a gray woman’s business suit and her hair was down. She disappeared around the far corner of the block.
John ran to the end of the block.
Marianna was nowhere to be seen.
John went to the door of Peter’s building and pushed the intercom button for his office.
He waited for Peter to respond.
“Who is it?” Peter answered.
“It’s John. Open the door.”
“John? What the hell…”
Static interrupted Peter.
Marie’s voice emerged from the intercom.
“Daddy? You need to stop him. He sees you and wants to come.”
Fear sent John staggering away from the intercom.
The door buzzed.
John threw open the door and ran inside.
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