"We can't just leave them behind bro" Stanley hissed at me once we had gotten out of the loading dock.

"I know, even if I don't agree with you. What's the plan? Hopefully since you are so insistent that we save them, you at least have some sort of plan."

"Well... I was kinda hoping you would be able to help with that bro. I got as far as break the locks on the boxes and hope for the best." He shrugged.

"Of course.... okay, we are working with a giant monster who theoretically is infested with a parasite right?"

"Yep, he's definitely on the network, although there were a lot of signals throughout so I'm not sure if he was a full parasite or a half one like me. I can't think of why he would betray his fellows though if it's a full parasite situation. Unless.... there were news reports about a possible serial killer in the area a while back. I remember my mom was talking about pulling me out of school because it wasn't safe. They never caught him, but his thing was leaving behind a bodies inside of a trunk, sometimes alive, but most of the time dead. The living victims talked about how they were locked in that trunk for days, even weeks, and they could hear other people around them every once in a while. Was a real messed up story dude."

"You are thinking that man was the same serial killer? I'm inclined to agree, since you said the parasite uses its host's brain, and I'd imagine any of their idiosyncrasies would have also carried over. But if that's the case, why wouldn't this "Three" the spiders were talking about have sent a group to deal with him?"

"Maybe they did, and that's how he grew his "collection" to the size that it is." Stanley scoffed. "That guy was a monster even before he became a parasite, and the world would be better without him in it. Look, there's probably propane somewhere in here. Can we use that?"

"Not without hurting the people in his collection. The explosion would would cause damage to the structure and could collapse it. We'd never be able to get them out." A woman's scream echoed from the loading dock. It sounded like The Collector had begun its work.

"Come on then, we don't have time to waste bro. What do we do?!"

"Its a horrible idea, and I only mention it because it seems we have no other option, but we could maybe lead him to the tank storage area and detonate it there. While he seems intimidating and strong, I don't think he's very fast. We can probably outrun him and trick him. Plus if the fire begins to spread, we should have time to rescue anyone that's trapped in those boxes before the whole building goes up. Do you think you can tell if what's in the box is a human or a parasite?"

"Probably. The connection I have is inconsistent, but it's easier the closer I am to whoever it is. I believe in us! We can save them dude! Let's do it!"

As confident as he was, I knew our chances still weren't the best. We were relying on so many things going right. Another scream of pain echoed out. But could I really stand by and let other people suffer while I survived? Damn it. What if my sister was one of the people in there? What if she was the one getting hurt right now?! I can't let that happen. I turned to Stanley and nodded. We both quickly arrived at the door from the loading dock to the store. I steeled my nerves and shouted as I opened the door.

"Hey fatso, why don't you come over and pick on someone who's asking for it. With the screaming and such, I can only imagine what the neighbors think. So leave her alone, and come after me." He had the woman pinned down, and was standing over her. He looked up as I shouted.

"Another pretty? I'll be right with you, but first I must return my collection back into its box. He raised up the woman by one arm and casually slung her into the open trunk next to her, slamming the top shut and locking it. "I was growing slightly bored with this one anyway. Some variety is always appreciated, especially one so eager to sacrifice themselves. I've got a nice little box ready for you, it suits you perfectly little mouse. Bright crimson and blue highlights, just like a hero. Ohhh and once I'm done with you, you will be perfect. A few slices here, a couple snips there, and your face will be perfectly symmetrical. Everything in its place. Everything I wanted."

"You'll have to catch me first. That might actually take some effort, which would be surprising from you."

"Why you little." He charged me. While he wasn't as fast as some of the other morphs the parasites had done were, he was still managing to keep up well with me. And worse was, he was starting to gain on me slightly. My strategy of knocking over shelves wouldn't work on this one, he was too strong, but maybe I could trip him up somehow? I looked around as I continued running and spotted something ahead.

We passed by an area filled with liquid soaps. That would do it! I quickly grabbed a few, spraying and dumping them behind me as I ran. A crash sounded behind me as I kept bolting for the propane area. "Why you little..... stop moving! You are breaking everything!" Thunderous steps followed, seemingly faster than before, as if the anger had made him quicker. Stanley hopefully had already slipped in and started freeing people. I just needed to buy time, and hopefully send this bastard to hell in a fiery ball of death.

We had reached the propane. I stopped and turned to see the monstrosity bearing down towards me. I slammed open the pressure release valve on the tank, letting gas into the atmosphere. Now I just needed to cause a spark. Grabbing matches, I struck one, and threw it near the tank right as The Collector got close, ducking behind one of the shelves for a bit more cover as I ran.

A small hissing sound, which quickly rose to a piercing whistle. And then I blacked out as the explosion went off.