It was passing within about fifty yards of their gates when it stopped moving.  A burst of gunfire echoed through the pre-dawn silence, penetrating their gate and reaching their ears.  Sam began to run toward the gates.  “That’s gotta be our guys.  God help them if that thing has been following them all this time!”

Allistor was right behind him as he reached the gates.  Instead of the slide bolt that had been on the original doors, there was a thick beam made of steel about the thickness of Allistor’s thigh.  It looked like it weighed a literal ton.  But when Sam grabbed it and tugged, it slid easily along its track.  When it cleared the left-hand door, Sam pulled it open just far enough to stick his head out.  Another tremor passed through them as the thing began to move again.  Its new direction sent it directly away from their gates.

Sam pulled his head back in.  “I saw Michael and Ramon!  They’re heading toward the forest.  What the hell are they thinking?”

Meg said, “Doesn’t matter.  We need to help them.  They led that thing away from us once already.  We owe them.”

“No question,” Sam said.  “But we don’t all need to go.”

Allistor stepped forward.  “I’ll go.  I saw those guys shooting at it yesterday morning.  They weren’t doing any damage.  Maybe the spear will get its attention.”

Sam said, “I’m going too,” causing Meg to gasp.

“No offense, old man.  But you aren’t exactly a spring chicken anymore.” Sean smiled to take the sting out of his words.  “Let one of us younger specimens go tease the giant death machine thing.”

Sam glared at the deputy, then nodded.  He stepped back from the door without a word.  Allistor could see it was killing him to stay behind.  He put a hand on the man’s shoulder.  “You’ll need to be ready to lock these doors if that thing turns around.”

Not waiting for a reply, he dropped his pack and dashed out the door.  Sean and Robert Edward were right behind him, each with a rifle in hand.  Sean also carried a long blade of some kind in his belt.

They ran as fast as they could toward the towering monster.  It never noticed them, solely intent on the prey in front of it.  Allistor held a finger up to his mouth, signaling for silence as they approached.  Both men lowered their rifles, and Sean slung his over his shoulder before drawing the sword.  Allistor took the lead, dashing up behind the titan and ramming his spear into its ankle with all of his strength and speed.