flailed. His right arm screamed from the pit.
The hole began to shrink.
Sock Puppet Jesus’s mouth moved faster. Still no sound. The hole narrowed,
wrapping tightly around Rory Parker’s arm.
Jesus kept chanting.
The hole closed completely.
Luke’s right arm went limp. No sound came from the puppet.
He stood up.
Rory rolled over. The goatee on the right side of his face had been burned
off. His arm was gone, cauterized at the elbow by the fire. Sock Puppet
Satan was back in Hell.
“Come on, wake up,” Luke said to his arm. It didn’t move. He picked it up
and let go. It dropped to his side. “Jesus.”
The crown of thorns that was on top of the puppet’s head fell off and
withered into nothing.
Roger set the camera on the desk and ran over.
“That was awesome, man,” Roger said, hugging him.
“I can’t feel my arm,” Luke told him. “I think he may be gone.”
“Let’s get you to a doctor,” Roger said, leading him to the elevator.
“You ruined everything!” Rory Parker shouted as they left. “I was so
rich!”
Rory grabbed the jackhammer with his left hand, the only one he had left.
The tool was heavier than he’d expected, but it was the only weapon within
reach. He began dragging it toward the men, using the one hand he had
left.