31

They were getting ready to move for the Valiant, everyone energized. As they prepared to move it was Shadow who noticed one of the elderly ladies sitting back in a corner covered in blankets. She had not moved o spoken since they had entered the dwelling and he now wondered if she was OK.

Frank took a step towards her as well and Dean grabbed his mate's wrist. He felt… wrong about this. The entire thing had felt a little hinky to be honest and right now he wanted to back away with his hackles up.

The Predis agreed. She smells wrong.

"Come on old mother" Howard said, one of the men who had held pack things "It's time to go. Gladys love?"

"Come on old girl" Howard's son Andrew stepped closer and as he passed Dean he tried to seize Andrew's arm but he skirted around him. "Hey, I know Aunty Gladys. She is just nervous around people."

Dean swung to look at his father who was moving quickly toward them "Howard, Andrew! Step back."

Dean and Frank backed up and left the area along with the Predis, trying to calm the old lady who had regressed back into the blankets like she was scared.

As Andrew reached for her she responded by spitting at him like a wild animal and he stepped back with shock. "What the hell! Aunty, it's me."

"HEY!" Jack yelled with alarm "GET AWAY FROM HER!"

But Howard was already standing over Gladys. "Who the hell do you think you are, old lady?! Now, I'd like you to apologize to my…"

GLADYS LUNGES AT HOWARD AND TAKES A MONSTROUS BITE OUT OF HIS NECK! SHE PULLS BACK TO REVEAL A MOUTH FILLED WITH TINY RAZOR SHARP TEETH.

Everybody freaks as Howard crumbles to the floor. Gladys rockets to her feet, knocking her blankets back to the floor. Blood covers her face and chest. "You're all going to fucking die!"

Thor is the first to react. From behind the table, he whips his axe at Gladys that knocks her head sideways.

THWACK!

BONES BREAK AND BURST FROM HER NECK.

Impossibly, Gladys is still standing. She lets out an inhuman scream and scrambles across the room, knocking tables and chairs over in her wake.

Jack pulls yells to everyone with his arms out "Don't move! Everyone in the clear where we can see you!"

But Gladys not only moves, she scurries up the wall like some kind of fucking bizarre cockroach. Jack can't believe his eyes. But he gets over it real fast, as the lady rushes toward him across the ceiling… upside down.

Kathy pumps her shotgun as she steps in front of Jack, trying to take her down, but she can't track her fast enough. Instead she blows enormous holes in the ceiling, a rain of plaster. Gladys drops down right in front of Kathy who struggle to cock the gun "Fuck!"

Gladys smiles sweetly before slapping her clear across the room! The shotgun clatters to the floor at Jack's feet. He snatches it up and aims it at Gladys who turns calmly to face him.

"Shoot her, Jack!" Thor yells.

Jack's about to fire, when the old lady's eyes go all write and with a sickly sweet smile she hisses "You'll never save them."

Jack freezes, stunned by her words. He can't get a clear shot with the others behind her… shit.

"SHOOT THE FUCKING BITCH UNCLE!" Ifan roars.

Gladys rockets straight at him! But Ifan is too afraid to move. He clamps his eyes shut, bracing himself for the end.

BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!

A rain of bullets rip into Gladys, taking her down like an animal. Ifan slowly opens his eyes. Gladys lies dead in a smouldering, bloody heap at his feet.

He turns to see Martha with smoke rising from the barrel of her silver plated 45. If everyone wasn't so shocked, they'd probably be wondering why this woman is packing such serious heat. Martha knows she will have to thank Ianto for the gun she told him she would not need with so many He-Men around.

"Somebody help me!" Sandra is on the floor with her husband, Howard. Blood pours freely from his neck. Ifan stares at the dying man - a moment of hesitation - then he rushes to help. "Press your hands over the hole!"

Sandra looks fearfully up at Martha who is reloading as Sandra cups her hands over the hole in his neck, desperately trying to stop the flow of blood leaking out between her fingers. Thor scrambles over with a first-aid kit and together he and Ifan get to work on Howard's neck. . A few feet away, Shadow helps an old man, bruised and bleeding, to his feet as the poor old man repeats over and over again "The fuck was that?! What the fuck was that!?"

Jack does not reply as he steps around those working on Howard and calmly aims.

BAM!

Jack walks away as Sandra screams with horror at what is left of her husband's head.

"Sorry love." Kathy sighed softly "Gotta shoot 'em in the head. It's the only way."

.

.

Ianto stood frozen in place as other turned to look at him with concern, the noise of alarm he had made was like a high pitched whine.

That was too damned close.

What the hell was that then? How had that happened?

We don't know Tadda. She had no bites.

Well it was something. Something contaminated her. Look at water source. Food. Pet?

Yes Holdfast, came Jack's strong reply, I agree