Don reappeared near the crawling bodies of the injured churchgoers. They moved slowly now, each dragging their broken limbs, still intent on reaching the door.
Without hesitation, Don moved toward one of the women, her body trembling as she pulled herself forward with one arm.
His hand rose from the shadow at her side, fingers cold and dark as night. He grabbed her by the face, her eyes widening as she felt his presence.
**Whoosh.**
Her soul drained in an instant. The sound echoed softly in the empty church, a hollow and eerie noise. The woman's body convulsed briefly, her skin paling, her eyes dimming. Her body slumped forward, lifeless, the life force completely siphoned from her.
The others didn't react. They didn't even pause in their efforts to follow Sister Rose's orders, crawling mindlessly toward their tasks.
