Lazarus, sitting next to Grace, wondered again about their destination. He had been directed to find this short woman with brunette hair. It was a beacon from his inner mind that she was in trouble. Matthew and Lazarus found a jeep and gassed it up at a gas station which was still in working order and rushed hell bent down the freeway toward Nevada. They drove through the many cars littering the path. He sensed some creature was about to devour her. Getting closer to the bright casino lights, Matthew opened the window and somehow jumped on top of the car, yelling and screaming like a mad man. Sammy barked from the back of the jeep.

When they saw the huge scaled worm about to smother Grace, he yelled, but Matthew was quicker. He shot several large fireballs at the beast. It hit along its massive body and then he saw the worm's sightless eyes stare at him and Lazarus felt his blood freeze with terror. Yet Lazarus honked his car's horn feeling the rush of magic mixed with his terror and exhilaration.

Lazarus wanted to attack this beast. He almost stopped the car because he wanted to look into the creature's eyes. He wanted to battle and kill this beast. Yet his rational mind prevailed. When the large worm rushed and dove into the sand and disappeared into the hills, he steered the car toward Grace, who flew to the front entrance of Buffalo Bill’s casino. Matthew jumped back into the passenger seat.

For the next few hours they sat in a food court in a place called the Dog's House. They ate hamburgers and hotdogs. Sammy sat close to his feet to eat. Bob talked about how they tried several times to escape the Casino, but the Giant Worm killed all who tried to flee. Only a handful of people were still left from the eighty who were ensnared in the hotel. Some of the tourists decided to leave anyway by themselves, rushing into their cars and flying down the road, but they all died in the maw of the creature.

Bob said, "You were the only ones who actually made it inside here. But I have a question for all of you. How did you do those things?"

The Whisky Pete's manager looked at them as if they were not people but superheroes who did powerful deeds, but Lazarus didn't feel that way.

Lazarus said, "I don't know. I think we all acquired our powers after the disaster. Does anybody here have powers?"

Bob shook his head. "No, we're all the same. Except, there is somebody here who is not right."

"What do you mean?" Matthew said. The big man was eating his second hot dog. His hand was smeared with mustard and relish. He knotted his brow.

Bob said, "After the sandstorm, he changed. He was once a blackjack dealer who would never hurt a fly. But he changed. This man became violent and hair grew all over him. And I swear he was not the same person."

Lazarus said, "As if the man became a wolf."

"Yes," Bob said.

"Where is this man?"

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"His name is Eugene and we have in trapped in a storage room."

Lazarus said, "He is already gone. He escaped as soon as you left him alone."

Bob said, "How can you know this?"

"He is a Grog and he went to his master," Matthew said.

"What is a Grog?" Bob looked at them with an incredulous face.

"A creature that was once a human, born from magic. These Grogs become mindless animals which only destroy and kill. You are lucky he didn't come back and kill you."

Bob said, "I can’t believe you."

He stood and motioned for several of the other people waiting in the lobby to come follow him. They moved to a back area of the casino at the back of the dealer tables and slot machines.

Lazarus noticed there were only a few children here. And realized that most people didn’t stay here for a vacation, but traveled to the bright lights and money of Las Vegas and children never came along on these excursions, because Las Vegas was an adult playground and children didn't have many places to go except the casino Circus, Circus.

A couple in their mid-twenties followed close behind them. He was tall and thin and she was a beautiful blond girl who did not look like she was twenty-one. They both had the look of shock, fear and desperation as if death lingered in the air.

They went down several flights of stairs. Most of the people stayed on top of the main floor. Bob had the burly man follow them.

He said, "I had several of the men contain Eugene when he changed. He still looked human until we placed him in the storage room."

"When did you feed him last?" Lazarus said.

Bob said, "I don't remember."

Before they entered the last corridor on the way to the vast storage room Lazarus noticed Grace and Lawrence following them and he told them to leave and go back to the main casino room.

Lawrence jutted his chin upwards. "I go where Grace goes."

She looked at the little boy and shook her head. "You’re right. I shouldn't have him down here. Come on, Lawrence, let's go back."

"I want to see the man-beast."

"No, let's go. Sammy, I want you to protect Lawrence."

Sammy padded closer to the little boy. Lazarus watched them go. He knew he would have to separate Lawrence from Grace, because where they were going was more dangerous than this place and a little boy needed to be in a safe area. Bob continued, going toward a brightly lit corridor.

"Eugene is down here." He pointed toward a metal door now closed and bolted. Bob produced a key and was about to open the door when Matthew stopped him.

"Let me do this."

Bob didn't argue. They all saw the power Matthew possessed and he was large, built like a linebacker. Lazarus was surprised how this man, who was a vagrant for years, was still huge. Matthew took charge, grabbed the keys from Bob and opened the door.

The hinges screeched as Matthew pushed opened the door. He rushed inside and Lazarus followed close behind. Several bright lights were on showing a rack of destroyed metals shelves and debris. The walls were covered with claw marks along the surface. Lazarus looked around but couldn't see the hole until he was almost on top of it. The hole was in the corner of the room and a cool breeze came from the opening.

Bob said, "Wow! Eugene did this?"

"He’s not human anymore. He is a beast."

Bob gaped around the wrecked interior. "What could we have done?"

"Nothing, he would have killed somebody. From what I have seen these Grogs usually go in packs and he went home to the calling of his Alpha male."

Bob said, "They have a leader? I don't want to meet this creature."

Lazarus said, "I hope you won't."

"What are we to do?"

"We first need to find a destination and then leave."

"What do we do about the Giant Worm?"

Lazarus said, "Leave the creature to us."