"Be silent," rasped the bounty hunter low, "or you'll call yonder devils down on us."

"You're fearless!" whispered Bryn in awe.

He shook his head, "Being brave is acting despite fear, and I'm afraid."

The boy nodded his understanding. Through the fog and humid air, the hellish shapes drew closer. The bounty hunter and Bryn retreated deeper into the shadows, away from any light.

"The doors will only hold so long," a raggedy woman rasped, "and Huck can watch his supplies dwindle. Decadent tub of guts," snarled the wraith-like woman, "break our deal, our covenant!"

"Laetitia, the beast," one growled as one mad with hunger, "we should flee!"

"NO," she roared, hellish flames in her eyes, "our cousins live as royalty as we skulk through the night. Equity he preached; yet, they live like the aristocrats, they purport to despise!" She strode away with the chilling creatures in tow, "I will have his head, and to the Devil with that FREAK!"

They listened to their footfalls fade, and into the vapor choked night they departed. Cassidy listened. Screams filled the darkness, deadened by the fog. All around them they moved to secure patients. He needed an army, but they would have to escape first. Blood splattered against windows. Sounds of battle surrounded them. Thorncrown Hospital became an abattoir, and when lanterns spilled from the reaping, flames turned it to chaos.

Beyond the edges of the hospital, they were adrift. Patients screamed in the thick fog, devoured alive. Others were pushed about; packs of the hunched figures corralled them into herds. A lick of wing, dart of shadow, and into the night they'd disappear, hunters being hunted. Despite the monster that plagued the abominations, most of the escapees were rounded up into a mass. A large wagon, specially constructed, rolled up to the conflagration's survivors. They recoiled from their wardens, who would fall upon one of their number, and devoured them alive. Safety of the cage was better than the bloodcurdling gazes or rending fangs.

"We have to save them," Bryn shook, "if they get away, they're all done for, Cass."

Cassidy nodded. The fire had set things in motion. Eyes, blue as the dawn over the desert, seized everything in hopes a plan would form. A large team of horses pulled the heavy wagon; driver now helped the others. If he could only get to the reigns, thought the bounty hunter. They were a lot of them among the fog, and despite the writer's flourish, a six shooter could only kill so many.

"I still want that kiss," breathed the nurse, and lips parted in a smile. Cassidy turned, but she had already seized him. Regardless of a delicate, buxom frame, she possessed an abominable strength. She pulled him to her, fangs long, but held back confused. Huck's medicine had failed to take hold.

Around them black forms congealed. Hellfire gleam in rapacious eyes cursed the air with their damnable light. Bryn squeaked. Gaze left Cassidy to find them. The bounty hunter pulled free. Self-satisfied, lustful thirst fell away, and she hunched, predator among predators. Around them ugly laughter became the spectral brush of maddening hunger. Before them, among the devilish figures, another came. Flames in the raggedy woman's eyes blazed, mouth wide in a malicious grin.

"I see one of Huck's princesses has graced the low with her presence," Laetitia bowed deep, but the pallid face seemed to swim closer. Dark forms seized the nurse, who possessed great speed and strength, though succumbed to their greater numbers. Cassidy pulled the boy away. The lady in rags came close to the curvy woman, drew in her scent, "You've gorged yourself this night!"

"Oh, Laetitia," sneered the nurse, "living in squalor, eating the scraps. Why Huck ever let you tail along, I'll never know." She laughed.

She moved through the fog back to her, steps a liquid grace, "Huck, his little counsel, and you live off us. I see all his words of an equitable world for us were deceits. You live at the top, never having to do anything. You and your ilk broke the compact, but you have no idea what it is to get your hands dirty!" Laetitia took one of the nurse's delicate hands, examined it, and gave it a light kiss. The raggedy woman's mouth opened, and she bit off two fingers. Cassidy felt his stomach turn, for it sounded like a dog biting a carrot.

"You'll pay for this, bottom feeder!" swore the nurse.

Laetitia turned away, smiled, "Bring me her pretty head."

"You dare not," she shrieked, but they fell upon her.

The mass of dark lines had gathered for the display. As the nurse was torn to pieces, hateful cheers of the crowd were high spirited and pleased. This is the sound of an execution in Hell, Cassidy groaned. Blood splattered as bones splintered; yet, all ghoulish creatures' eyes were on the spectacle. One of the survivors, who meandered, followed the bounty hunter. Others screamed from their cages, cried, or whimpered, mind past their sane limits.

Cassidy turned to the man, hand on the revolver, "Mister, are you here to help or get in the way?"

"NO, no," he held his hands up, hoary brows waggled in surprise, "I see you mean to get out of here, and I mean to leave." He paused on the edge of mind wondering, "I use to be a waggoner!"

Cassidy, who was unaccustomed to good fortune, waved him up, and counted the small blessing. Into the air Laetitia held aloft the nurse's head, rest of her body turned to gray ash. The bounty hunter saw the horrid spectacle had concluded. He tried to lift the boy, chair as well, up to somehow ride, but it proved too heavy. Legs pounded on the hard pan, veiled by the warm mist. He turned to see eyes of molten, demonic flame that burned through the fog.

Back into the horses the bounty hunter stumbled from the impact. Teeth snapped at his throat, but he struck with an elbow. The team that was hitched to the wagon reared in terror, and the waggoner tried to gain control in futility. Out into the desert the survivors flew. Part of a wheel struck Cassidy and his ravenous assailant. They rolled in the fog, as Bryn tried to grab the ghoulish figure's foot.