Neal drags in a breath when the music stops, feeling like he's filling lungs that that just expelled a gallon of water. He gets enough awareness back to see the thing kill that woman, cutting off her screaming as sharply as the music. He staggers again, the horror of it overwhelming. A whole life, a whole network of relationships and memories and plans, broken that carelessly. It stirs a little flare of rage, enough to jolt him to his senses a little, but he doesn't avoid the body. He catches her, draws her up in his own arms with his eyes still on the monster. His skin crawls at the close contact, but he keeps his eyes on that... thing, as he lays the dead woman down on the table with gentle respect.

Then he starts backing up again, not as quickly this time. Maybe if he runs slow enough, maybe if he keeps its interest, it will follow him out of here. Away from other people. Maybe.

He wants to let the chips fall where they fall, let the unlucky roll the dice, but a glance at the dead woman on the table and the way her head lolls like the monster's keeps him in place.