The monster began to suck life out of him. It felt like every bit of fluid was being sucked out of him. His cells were being broken down, his flesh melting away from within. It was painful, but the worst part wasn’t physical. It was the utter desolation that came with it, the suffering, the longing for existence to just end, and the certainty that it would go on like this forever. He knew now why the faces inside these cells had looked so utterly desolate. It wasn’t just the agony of life being sucked out of them. It was because this world thrived on the misery of unending suffering. It had begun, he understood now, ages ago, and would continue forever onward. Never ending. He would die, yes, but the misery would go on. Misery triumphant. Every noble ideal or belief, every notion of love and right and good … all of it defeated by the world that now was and always would be.

He thought of Olena, and the anguish was even worse.

There had been no monstrous sentries left to impede his return to the truck. The fight against Ray and Bubbles had drawn them all off. Franny reached the truck and looked toward the front of the building. What he saw terrified him.

Bruckner reminded him of their purpose. “Let’s get this done, mate! Old fucker looks like he’s about to croak.”

Bruckner gave Franny a boost into the back of the truck and slammed shut the drop gate. Franny untied the makeshift sling and rolled up the sheets to form a pillow beneath Tolenka’s head. The old man had stopped struggling and the sunken chest seemed to be barely moving. Franny laid a hand on the age-spotted skull and the few remaining wisps of hair were greasy beneath his fingers.

“It’s going to be over soon. One way or the other,” he said and wondered if the Russian could hear him or even understand.

Bruckner slid open the window that divided the cab from the truck bed. There was a lurch as he threw it into gear and they reversed away from the hospital. Once he could, Bruckner turned and started down a street where all the buildings seemed to be weeping a strange viscous blue material. As the truck passed the buildings swayed and bent as if looking down to regard the passing vehicle. Franny shivered. He wasn’t sure Bruckner was seeing this.

“Drive faster!”

“I’m trying. Bloody piece of shit.”

“Or at least get us off this street! Now!”

Bruckner threw them around a corner. Franny grabbed Tolenka and buffered him so he didn’t hit the side. He feared what such a blow might do to his fragile grip on life. The slack mouth worked and a grating sound emerged, “Ma … ma … ma…”