" Mary removed her hat and gloves, the truck already toasty."Oh, no. We're not going anywhere near the Thruway." She looked at him, shocked. "No, I'm ...not an idiot, just hear me out. One, with that storm, it's always possible the Thruway will be closed, and we don't want to chance that. Two, if your parents call the cops, having to go through a toll both with you will be just too risky. Three ... well, when, and I do think it'll be when, we have to abandon the truck and use good old Red Rider. . not...”“Jeremiah’s last words,” Sándor said, his quiet voice rumbling with so much bass, he sounded more like a subwoofer, “were to tell Angela to run. His last words ... were an attempt to save her, while he died.” The gargoyle, still squatting with his two lower arms resting on his knees, raised his two higher arms out in front of him, and slowly grabbed the air, as if grabbing Jeremiah again. “I did not kill a monster. I killed a person. It had to be done, but that does not alleviate the. To the south east a ring of hills hides well a tended valley, in it’s flat lands the ancient rice fields lay, watched by an even older home, whose caretaker is young, but wary. He keeps a sword with him, it’s name is Mokusatsu, and as long as he holds it ready, no weapon against him may find it’s mark. This man often goes to this nameless river to look up to shimmering heaven above, contemplating the pale beauty of the moon, which no earthly treasure can match. And it is often that he awakes on. “Yes, Miss, I will take care of that for you. Don’t forget dinner is promptly at six PM and the master doesn’t shirk from chastising latecomers.”She put the phone down less than gently and punched the pillow with her tiny fist like it was Mark’s face or the unnamed cook’s backside that deserved a whipping in the worst way. Quickly, she sat at the dresser and checked her face to make certain her eye shadow was just right and that her lipstick was perfect. Hopefully, this James creature would be.