James followed Jerred and Anna closely as they went, but almost wanted to hand off the kid and go back for Vernon when he heard the sound of someone crashing through a building. Looking back and realizing who it was, he bit back a curse and sped up. He knew he couldn't go back, that these kids were mankind's future. But there were so many who were probably already dead, who wouldn't make it to the inner gate despite the best efforts of him and his comrades. He could still see the remains of the other child in his mind, and that image was why he ignored all his instincts, the pulling of every fiber of his being to go back and save Vernon. But because he was inside a building, something inside him told him that Vernon would be OK.

"No time for being a smart ass, let's just move!" He shot forward quickly, soon spotting where the skirmish line had been drawn to try and hold back the flow of titans until all the survivors were found. "I can see safety!"