[*laugh* No, just delayed due to some Christmas traveling. Although, I would have waited to give him a chance to react one way or the other anyway.]
John tries to make a dash around the monster, staying at what he feels is outside the range of its tentacles.
Unfortunately, he's wrong.
The monster flings one of its tentacles sideways, unrolling it to an amazing length, neatly snatching John off the ground as he tries to run by. He can feel the strength of the tentacle around his chest like an iron band as it tenses, then throws him against the side of the diner.
Derek can hear ribs crack from his hiding place, and John feels the sharp pain as he breathes.
John gets unsteadily to his feet and half stumbles and half falls into the side door to the kitchen. The monster rushes in after him.
