The four Blood Boards returned with Candi and Tao in tow. Tao seemed to be in shock, stunned, or possibly drugged.
    "She reacted really poorly to the attack," Candi explained.
    "You would thought that, with the character she plays...."
    "She's obviously much more frail than we considered. Can we get in now?"
    "Jeez, Candi, you're in a bit of a hurry, aren't you?"
    "Just nervous, is all."
    Off in the distance, unseen by the Blood Boards, a large figure loomed in the shadows, a woman standing next to him. He seemed to be holding someone in his arms.
    "So," Rick said. "Candi. What happened?"
    "I told you, there was an attack. Where's Dawn?"
    "She's in the... did your accent change?" he asked suddenly. Something was wrong.
    She struck, sending him flying backwards. He went through the door, which wasn't terribly sturdy, hit the floor and pulled himself upright, going for his board. "Dawn, Stu, Stan, go!"
    In the other room, Candi was closing in for the kill.
    "Everybody, run! Run!" Rick shouted.
    Almost nonchalantly, she reached out, grabbed one of the boys, and snapped his neck. The other three in his team dove towards her.
    "Stu, Stan, grab her, go!" Rick commanded. The four of them moved out as fast as they could.
    Only seconds later, in the house, Candi stood amid a pile of corpses, blood everywhere. She blinked, shook her head. "What happened? Horace just grabbed my shoulder, and...." Her surroundings finally coming clear, she began to scream.
    Outside, the man being held by the large one raised his head. "Okay, they're moving. That way."
    "I see them. Go deal with it," the woman told him.
    "Don't worry."
    "They're moving slightly too fast...."
    For a small part of the world, time rolled backwards. The four slid back toward the house, and when it stopped Stu was trying to wrestle Blaise to the ground; Dawn simply stared in shock.
    "Run!" Stu yelled. "I can't hold him for—" Snap.
    Stan tried to grab Blaise's head; he didn't last any longer than Stu had. Dawn took a couple of faltering steps.
    Rick stepped between her and Blaise. "No. No, you're not doing this."
    Crunch. "Of course I am." Thud. "It's not even really hard." Crack. "I thought he trained you?" He glanced over at Dawn. "I hope you're watching all of this, it's all for your benefit." Snap.
    "No!" she screamed, seeing him drop Rick's lifeless body. Energy poured from her as she tried to rewrite reality.
    Gretchen stepped out from the shadows with a smile. "Perfect."

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