Clay

JENNY stood beside him, the kids clustered around them, all watching the running lights of the silhouetted KREZ copter easing down toward the helipad. Its strobe was almost blinding. He leaned toward her and cupped a hand around her ear.

"Soon as it touches down, we get these kids on board. You too."

She gave him an uncertain glance. In the strobe flashes she looked devastated.

He added. "Randall will want that."

Still no reply. Jenny turned back to the carnage and the thing that was once her husband, and Clay saw the pain strip her soul bare.

She couldn't stay. Whatever love or loyalty she felt, Randall was gone, and she'd be gone too if she stayed.

"I won't leave him, Clay."

He stared at Randall, who had somehow found the strength to single-handedly wipe out at least ten draculas. But he was nearly dead himself.

"Jenny..."

"I'm not letting him die alone!" she screamed.

Clay noticed a change in the tone of the copter's engine and looked around. The skids hovered about a foot off the helipad, but instead of continuing to lower, they'd begun to rise.

What?

Clay saw the woman in the open bay pointing to Randall, who was putting the saw to one final dracula. The pilot was looking that way too as he throttled up to leave.

No fucking way.

Clay charged forward and jumped onto the skid, tilting the copter. The woman scuttled back as the pilot looked around. The bay was lit by an overhead fixture. Clay leaned into the light. He didn't have to fake a fierce expression--his teeth were already bared in rage--as he gave the pilot a good look down the bore of the MM-1. He pointed toward the roof.

"Down or you're dead!"

He knew the pilot couldn't hear him so he spoke slowly and carefully, giving him ample opportunity to read his lips.

The copter resumed its descent.

When it hit the deck, Clay motioned the kids forward, ducking and squinting against the wash from the blades, Jenny led them up in a bunch. The strobe gave their approach an old-time movie look. Together they hauled the children up and in, one at a time, until all were aboard. Then he motioned to Jenny to follow but she shook her head. He was tempted to grab her and toss her in but spotted Adam approaching with the baby in his arms.

Aw shit. Adam was bleeding.