Mark started to turn, but not before Julie, whom we had all forgotten about, leapt off of the couch and onto Mark's back. My brother staggered back and cried out as Julie reached around, her hands going for his eyes. Mark caught her thin wrists, but before he could throw her off, Tony surged up from the floor and punched him. Mark started to fall, but as he did, his hand flashed out, catching Tony by the neck. As the three of them fell to the floor in a screaming, cursing tangle of arms and legs, my paralysis broke.

Spinning around, I opened my door and entered so fast I...