“Rachel, call Alex and Maria," he bit out. Yasna could see his eyes flickering from the dashboard to the rapidly approaching intersection to the side mirror, judging distance and speed. "Tell them it's going to get bumpy back there.”

His hand hovered over the turn signal, then turned it on, signaling a left-hand turn.

“No cars coming," he muttered, eying the T-intersection ahead.

“Thank God." Yasna chewed her lip. Kincaid was only yards behind them, a clawlike hand reaching for the rear bumper. Just when Yasna thought they must brake or blow through the intersection and into

Washington Park, Jeremy hauled the wheel around to the left, banking the truck and its burden in a long, looping turn that brought them up onto the curb for several heart-stopping moments before they settled on the street again.

“Hal” Jeremy howled, his face fierce with glee.

“Take that, you stupid bastard!" A new glance in the mirror showed her that Kincaid had fallen behind by several hundred feet.

“What?” Rachel asked, shoving her phone into her purse.

“Turned on my signal, showing that I was going to go left. He thought I was lying, so he was cheating to the right. I caught him off balance.

Double-crossed him, and went left anyway. Takes a while to slow down when you're going that fast," Jeremy chortled, taking another left onto

Cottage Grove Avenue.

"Don't get cocky, kid," Joshua warned.

“He's coming again, faster than ever. And he looks pissed." He leaned forward and opened the glove compartment. Yasna's eyes widened as she saw the slim, deadly form of a handgun resting there, as mindless and vicious as a rattlesnake. Josh picked it up, Looked it over, and rolled down the window.

“How far to the expressway?" Rachel asked from behind them.

“Two miles, maybe three," Jeremy gritted through his teeth. He jerked the wheel sharply to the right, trying to deke the pursuing demon.

“But the way he's coming, he's going to catch us by the time we hit 63rd

Street. Dammit!"

“Calm down, Jeremy," Josh said. Yasna could not believe how he could sound so serene. "Slide over to the left a bit, so when he catches us, he'll be on my side."

"I don't suppose those are silver bullets in there, are they, Dad?"

Despite the choking fear, Yasna laughed hysterically at the joke, as did Josh and Rachel.

“Sorry, Pumpkin," he replied. A broad grin flashed across his face, making him suddenly, unexpectedly handsome in Yasna's eyes.

“I think I left them in my other jacket," he said to more giggles.

“Here he comes," Jeremy said. At the Last moment he jerked the wheel to the Left. From behind came a lurch, as if a heavy weight had landed on the trailer.

“God, he's fucking huge," Josh said. Yasna agreed helplessly. The monster behind them was at least eight feet tall, and in the strobing glare of the passing streetlights, his skin looked dark and slimy, as if he were covered in corrosive acid. He drew pack one massive fist and punched through the wall of the trailer, then began to peel strips of metal away, as if he were some sort of horrible burrowing insect.

Shouts and scream reached their ears from inside the trailer, then were lost in the howling wind.