It’s been an hour now of the tentacle monster throwing Justin and Colin all around the city. 

Colin is busy running, and Justin is busy… not using weapons he can create to stop himself from being beaten. 

We watch from the tunnel, Joy, Charlie, Master Mind and I. Joy is growing impatient. “He’s not using any powers!” 

“You said he wanted a friend,” Charlie tells her. “At least they’re running together now.” 

“But why isn’t he fighting back? In our adventures, he would be fighting back, finding cool places to hide and a way to attack. I saw at least five weaknesses so far.” 

“The monster doesn’t have weaknesses,” I remind her. “Because Colin needs the monster in his dream.” 

“Yeah, yeah, I know, I’m not jumping in,” Joy dismisses me. “But Dad should’ve…” 

Far below, as Colin and Justin duck into London side streets, Justin leans down and picks up a laser gun that was not there a second ago. Instead of firing it, he shows it to Colin.

Colin stops and looks at the gun. He takes it from Justin. 

“Hmmm…” Joy leans forward. “I remember this.” 

“What, Joy?” 

“When I was really small. I remember this.” 

Colin fires the gun at the tentacle. The tentacle stops, hurt. This did not happen when Justin fired at it. 

Colin lowers his weapon and takes a step towards the monster. Suddenly the tentacle attacks them, throwing the two through a store window. 

“He’s teaching Colin how to fight. That’s how he taught me. Exactly the same way.” 

Huh, I think. That’s interesting. But then, Joy continues, and I feel like my blood freezes in my veins. “That’s how I’ll teach my kids to fight,” she says. 

I can’t move. Charlie looks at her, giving her a long look. Then he says, “Joy, you can’t have any kids.” 

(To be continued…) 

—Told by Grampa Walt