Cherringham--The Curse of Mabb's Farm by Matthew Costello

uneven.
    The intruder lugged a large jerry-can — and began pouring fluid from it along the side of the barn.
    The smell was strong and instant — gasoline .
    And Jack felt a rush of adrenaline go through his body. This amount of fuel — the place would go up like a bomb.
    The figure had stopped, put down the can and was rooting around searching pockets …
    Jack knew instantly what they were looking for. Matches — or a lighter.
    He needed to act.
    Had to stop them now.
    He got up from his crouched position and started to run, both knees sending up a sharp spike of pain.
    And as he ran, he saw almost in slow motion the figure now just yards ahead of him strike a match … then clumsily drop it into the mud. Then the figure took out another—
    —and just before the match sparked Jack had crossed the yard and hit hard like a linebacker, his shoulder catching the person in the small of the back.
    Oof! That hurt …
    His tackle sent both of them crashing to the muddy concrete together, matches spilling, legs flailing, bodies hitting the hard ground, Jack’s hands ripping at the hoodie and pulling it back, and the intruder’s face suddenly visible and Jack saying — in shock and total surprise—
    “ You? ”

17. The Curse Revealed
    Sarah had stepped into playground fights when kids’ tempers got out of control but this little fracas was off the dial.
    She watched the coven’s conflict unfold with a mixture of horror and amusement.
    Charlie had leaped off his four-wheel and grabbed hold of one of the flaming torches. He now waved it around like some kind of medieval warrior — a drunken warrior.
    As he roamed the circle of stones in a fury, the Gifted Ones started alternately shouting and hurling handfuls of salt at him.
    Not the demon they’d expected …
    In the middle of the circle, Tamara remained tranquil, ignoring Charlie, bravely trying to finish the “un-cursing”.
    “Spirits of the Stones! I command you — relinquish your hold!” she repeated to the corners of the circle, occasionally ducking as Charlie’s fiery brand swept over her head.
    She’s keeping her cool … I’ve got to say that for her, Sarah thought.
    Sarah meanwhile kept firm hold of the shotgun which luckily Charlie had dropped when he slipped in the mud during his first angry attack.
    With the practised ease of an army brat, she’d broken the gun and ejected the cartridges.
    “You crazy lot — get the hell off my land with all this crap!” shouted Charlie, hurling a flare at the weedy warlock with the long hair when he poked his head round a stone.
    This is actually comical. Definitely ready for YouTube, Sarah thought.
    “There is evil here, Charlie Fox, and you cannot deny it!” shouted Tamara. “The souls of the cursed cry out for release!”
    “No! No!” wailed Charlie. “That’s a load of—” another swing of the torch, “Bollocks!”
    Sarah could see now that Charlie was losing it, his eyes wild and his arms flailing. It wasn’t just the drink — she suddenly realised. Something else … this was a man close to breaking point.
    She didn’t hear Jack arriving from behind. But he came not a minute too soon, his hand on her shoulder as he passed by her and walked straight towards the circle.
    “Charlie,” he said gently. Jack must have talked to so many men also at the end of their tether. Again: “Charlie,” his voice not loud but still cutting through the mayhem.
    Sarah saw Charlie turn now, confused by yet another unexpected arrival.
    “You?” he said, wiping his eyes with his forearm. “God! What are you doing here?”
    “Like we said the first time, Charlie. Here to help.”
    “Nothing helps. Nothing can help.”
    Sarah watched as Jack approached him carefully.
    “I think this will. Or at least it might help you understand what’s been happening.”
    He looked around at Tamara and her group, now frozen, watching Jack.
    Then she watched as Jack turned back and called down the hill.
    “Come on,” he