Deliver Us From Evil

ORIGINAL ENDING

Fedir Kuchin fell backward with Shaw on top of him. And he hit him, once, twice, the blows accelerated, raining down on the dead man until there was no face left, only tissue that had been turned to pulp as Shaw’s knuckles cracked and his hands bled.

“Shaw! Shaw!”

Reggie tried to pull him off, but he used one big arm to knock her off her feet. Then seeming to realize what had happened, Shaw jumped up and raced to Katie. He straddled her, pumped her chest, then pinched her nose and blew air into her mouth. He pumped and blew. Pushing down on her chest, forcing air into lungs that refused to expand.

“Shaw, stop! She’s dead. Stop! Stop it! You can’t bring her back.”

Shaw was covered in the woman’s blood. Every time he dipped his lips to hers he collected more of it on him. When Reggie tried to pull him off, he turned and, enraged, flung her five feet in the air. She landed with a hard thud and stayed there, her chest heaving, tears pouring down her face.

Shaw slowly turned back to Katie James. But he didn’t push at her chest. He didn’t blow into her mouth. He just sat there on his haunches, staring down, rocking back and forth.

He reached down, gently lifted her up and held her.

Just held her.