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“That’s your mistake, Thin Man,” I said. “Whenever has
a fact flouted a dream, let alone a nightmare? But I’ll leave
you to your folly, for now.”
The thin man was then joined by a second, identical thin
man. “I think we’re gonna be just fine. We’ve fried bigger
fish than you, big man.”
I shifted my gaze to the newcomer. “Wrong on both
counts, I’m afraid.”
“You don’t seem at all curious as to why you’re still
alive,” said the first. “Doesn’t that strike you as the least bit
odd?” He was growing visibly annoyed by my indifference.
By the conclusion of our time together, he would be
begging for my indifference. I made no outward show of my
anger, but I was in immense pain from the rage that ate away
at my innards. I could still hear the weeping of my sisters.
Even now, they were alone, without their brother, buried
in the smoking ashes of my past. And my father’s rage and
indignation—I could feel it, scorching and dreadful.
“You see,” continued the first, “my brother’s been
studying all this supernatural hoodoo. And the way he
figures it, if we keep you here, like bait you might say, we
can pick off all the killers that come for you, one by one.
You probably also noticed that we took out quite a bit of
insurance in the form of some hired men. They’re the best
money could buy, my man. So, whoever comes lookin’ for
us is gonna have a small army to fuck with. We’ve already
nixed about seven names from our list, so far. Unfortunately,
the last fish swallowed our bait, so we had to find another
worm. That would be you, in case you were wondering. Not
a bad play, huh, big man?” He was desperate for me to feel
desperate, but all I felt was the weakness of the chains I’d
been wrapped in and the loss of my family.
A third thin man joined the previous two. “I see you’ve
been speaking to my brothers. Please, don’t let their crudity
give you any confidence in the prospect of surviving us.
You’re here until the wheels fall off, I’m afraid.” Clearly the
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