Page 57 of So Insane

Frankie and Shawna stood and rushed for the exit, but Benny outpaced them, shoving them to the ground, and then turning to face them. “No! You can’t get away!”

He grabbed Shawna and picked her up, holding her in the air in front of him.

This time, Frankie intervened, shrieking and scratching and clawing at his eyes. “Let her go, you bastard!”

He released Shawna and pushed both of them to the ground once more.

Turk continued to keep Benny at bay while the girls put distance between themselves and the killer.

“The entrance is just behind us,” Michael said, “we can lead the girls outside, and the police can help us with Benny.”

“All right,” Faith replied. “Take the girls and get them out.”

“What are you going to do?” Michael asked.

“I’m going to stop him,” she said. Seeing Michael’s alarm, she added, “Don’t worry. I plan on surviving today.”

“You plan on it?”

“Yes,” she said. “Now go.”

He looked back at Benny, who stalked them, grinning, certain he had them trapped now. Then he said, “Okay. If you die, I swear to God, I’ll haunt you.”

“That’s not how it works,” Faith said with a smile, “but all right. Now get out of here!”

He rushed after Shawna and Frankie and led them toward the tunnel. Benny's smile faded, and with a snarl, he sprinted after them.

Faith and Turk lunged at him, Turk leaping into the air, fangs bared, Faith diving into his waist and wrapping her arms around him. He cried out and stumbled, but managed to keep his feet, even as Turk bit into his arm.

“No!” he cried out, “You guys are cheaters!”

He threw Turk off of him and lifted his fist to hit Faith. She saw a bullet wound in his shoulder. Apparently, one of Michael’s shots had hit him after all.

She shoved her thumb into the wound, and Benny's eyes flew open wide. He gasped and backed away from her. "Owie!” he cried, “Owie, owie, owie!” His lower lip trembled a moment, but then his eyes narrowed. “You!” he cried out.

He rushed at Faith, and Turk leaped in between them, once more dancing around him, biting and snapping and just avoiding Benny's kicks and lunges.

Faith approached again, but Benny moved quickly, desperation lending him strength. He kicked out, catching Faith in her ribs and driving the air from her lungs. She collapsed to the ground, and Turk leaped in front of her at the killer.

Benny caught him in the air, and with a snarl of rage, he drove his fist into Turk’s skull once, twice, then a third time. After the third blow, Turk slumped, dazed, and Benny tossed him away.

Faith got to her feet, but her ribs burned. Benny glared at her, approaching cautiously. “I’m going to kill you,” he said. “I’m going to kill you for letting the trespassers get away.”

Faith’s ribs ached. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could fight. Benny also breathed heavily, the wound in his shoulder starting to take its toll.

He glared at Faith and said, “I’m going to kill you and your stupid dog. Maybe I’ll kill him first and make you watch.”

That was the final straw for Faith. She looked to her left and saw the pile of explosives she had seen when she first entered the cave.

That gave her an idea.

Faith pulled her pocket flare out of its pouch on her belt. She cracked the flare and it roared into life, fizzing and sparking with light.

Benny looked up at her, confused. Then he realized, and his eyes widened in horror.

“Now, Turk!” she cried.

Turk leaped in between Benny's legs and bit down hard on his groin. Benny emitted a sound like a teakettle boiling and fell to the ground, beating at Turk's head.

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