Outrun. Outlast.

Hit him quick, get out fast.

Still unable to hear, Thornton had only the words repeating inside head. Advice he'd been given from all manner of people, just cycling over and over and over again.

He held his breath as the ropes wrapped around Zeke and hoped, for just a split second, that the disarm would hit as well. When it flew over the boy's tumbling body, though, Thornton muttered frustratedly under his breath. So close. SO CLOSE.

But being unable to hear, and the momentary frustration, meant that the red sparks flying at him were coming too fast to dodge or shield against. Throwing up an arm to shield his eyes at least, Thornton let the spell hit him, wincing at the sparks. Vision fuzzy, Thornton cast at the last place he'd seen Zeke.

"Rictusempra!" The spell was off and flying before he could really think. He needed a moment to compose himself and hopefully that would buy him time.

Maybe he could at least snatch a stalemate from the jaws of defeat.