Unfortunately, the boys had more than one enemy to deal with. Bright eyes appeared in the windows of other houses. One in particular was able to smash through the window, crawling out and landing hard on the cobblestone. However, it scrambled to its feet and let out an earsplitting shriek, baring its teeth. It approached both Salem and Joe slowly, as if it knew it had them already. They were out of breath, and they had nowhere to run where it couldn't find them. Joe's eyes widened and he brandished his tiny blade in a threatening manner. The knife wasn't going to do anything against those claws and fangs, but Joe thought he at least had to try. So, rather than stalling, Joe ran at the creature, and it likewise returned the gesture by bolting at Joe headfirst on all fours. Joe stopped when he realized what a futile effort he was making and began to pedal backwards, and fell abruptly.<br/><br/>The creature leaped for Joe, and was smashed into by a roiling mass of nearly transparent shadow. The creature hissed and spat in protest, deprived of its easy prey. In response the shadow wrapped around the creature's body, squeezing it with an immense pressure. Joe looked up in shock as the shadow continued to squeeze the life out of the thing that attacked him. He heard a chorus of cracks coming from its body, and when the creature went limp, the shadow released it and it fell to the ground. The mass then dissolved into the earth, leaving the dead body of the creature and Joe looking stunned. The corpse bubbled and then dissipated large puffs of smoke.<br/><br/>He immediately snapped back to reality and ran to Salem, looking at the original creature that had scared them shitless. "The good news is," Joe panted, holding his knife more confidently. "They die." His old smile returned as he started breathing like a normal human being again. Having air was nice, Joe decided as he looked at the oncoming enemy. He also looked above Salem, noticing the circling gargoyle. He kind of wanted to throw his knife at it, but what would mean losing his only weapon, and that would not be good.