The rain fell on the city like a shroud.

It was cold.

It was wet.

It did not care.

Marcus stood at the window.

He looked out.

The glass was fogged.

His breath made a ghost.

The ghost faded.

Marcus watched it go.

He was a man of questions.

Or he had been.

Now he was a man of hands.

His hands shook.

They shook for days.

Then they stopped.

Now they were still.

Still was better.

Still was safe.

The office was dark.

Only the neon sign buzzed.

Red light.

Blue light.

Pulsing.

Like a heart.

A sick heart.

Marcus lit a cigarette.

The smoke curled.

It rose.

It died.

He took a drag.

It tasted like ash.

It tasted like old fear.

He needed the case closed.

It was not his case.

Not anymore.

But it was in his head.

It was in his blood.

He had to find the truth.

The truth was a bone.

It was sharp.

It cut.

He had to pull it out.

Or it would kill him.

Or it would kill them.

Who was them?

The town.

The people.

The ones who waited.

The ones who watched.

They watched with eyes.

Eyes that did not blink.

Eyes that did not sleep.

Marcus knew their eyes.

He knew their hunger.

He was their dog.

He was their leash.

He pulled the thread.

The thread led down.

Down into the dark.

Down into the mud.

The mud was black.

The mud was wet.

The mud was alive.

It moved.

It breathed.

It waited.

Marcus stepped into the alley.

The alley was narrow.

The walls pressed in.

The air was thick.

It smelled of rot.

It smelled of iron.

He walked.

His shoes squeaked.

Squeak.

Squeak.

Squeak.

The sound echoed.

It sounded like teeth.

Chattering.

Chattering.

Chattering.

He reached the door.

It was green.

It was peeling.

The paint flaked off.

Like skin.

Like old skin.

He knocked.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

No answer.

He knocked again.

Harder.

The wood splintered.

A finger of light appeared.

Then the door opened.

A face appeared.

It was old.

It was pale.

It was wet.

It was Eleanor.

She was the ally.

She was the anchor.

She held the rope.

Marcus entered.

The room was cold.

The room was bare.

A table.

Two chairs.

A lamp.

The light was yellow.

The light was dim.

Eleanor sat.

She did not move.

She did not speak.

She only watched.

Marcus sat.

He looked at her.

She looked at him.

The silence was heavy.

It was a stone.

It sat on his chest.

It crushed his ribs.

He had to speak.

He had to break the stone.

He opened his mouth.

His voice was a rasp.

It was dry.

It was cracked.

"Did you do it?"

He asked.

The words hung in the air.

They did not fall.

They floated.

They waited.

Eleanor smiled.

It was a small smile.

It was a thin smile.

It was a sad smile.

She nodded.

Just once.

The nod was slow.

The nod was final.

The stone on Marcus's chest grew heavier.

It grew larger.

It grew hot.

It burned.

He wanted to scream.

He wanted to run.

He wanted to die.

But he stayed.

He sat.

He looked at her.

He had to know.

He had to see.

The truth was a knife.

He had to hold the handle.

He had to cut.

"Who?"

He asked.

The word was a whisper.

It was a ghost.

It slipped out of him.

Eleanor closed her eyes.

She opened them.

They were dark.

They were deep.

They were wells.

She spoke.

Her voice was low.

Her voice was soft.

It was like wind.

It was like leaves.

It was like rain.

"You," she said.

The word hit him.

It was a blow.

It was a punch.

It was a hammer.

He felt it in his bones.

He felt it in his teeth.

He felt it in his soul.

He shook his head.

No.

No.

No.

It was not true.

It was a lie.

It was a trick.

He was not the killer.

He was the hunter.

He was the finder.

He was the man who saw.

He was not the man who hit.

He was not the man who killed.

Eleanor shook her head.

No.

No.

No.

She pointed at him.

Her finger was thin.

Her finger was white.

Her finger was cold.

"You did it," she said.

"You saved us."

The words were a brand.

They seared his skin.

They burned his mind.

He looked at his hands.

They were clean.

They were pale.

They were still.

But they were not his hands.

Or they were.

He did not know.

He could not tell.

The line was gone.

The line between self and other.

The line between guilt and grace.

The line was blurred.

The line was wet.

The line was broken.

He stood up.

The chair scraped.

The sound was loud.

The sound was sharp.

The sound was wrong.

He walked to the window.

The rain was still falling.

The rain was still cold.

The rain was still wet.

He looked at the city.

The city was dark.

The city was alive.

The city was hungry.

It ate the light.

It ate the sound.

It ate the hope.

It left only the bone.

Marcus looked at the bone.

It was white.

It was clean.

It was perfect.

It was the only thing that mattered.

The rest was flesh.

The flesh was rot.

The flesh was pain.

The flesh was fear.

The bone was truth.

The bone was rest.

He turned back.

Eleanor was gone.

The chair was empty.

The lamp was off.

The room was dark.

The door was open.

The night was in.

The night was black.

The night was deep.

Marcus walked out.

He walked into the rain.

The rain hit his face.

It was cold.

It was sharp.

It was clean.

It washed the dust.

It washed the blood.

It washed the name.

He was no one.

He was nothing.

He was the rain.

He was the city.

He was the bone.

He walked on.

His feet did not slip.

His mind did not spin.

His heart did not beat.

It was still.

It was empty.

It was full.

It was full of nothing.

Nothing was good.

Nothing was safe.

Nothing was free.

He walked to the park.

The park was empty.

The benches were wet.

The trees were black.

The grass was dark.

He sat on the bench.

The wood was cold.

The wood was hard.

The wood was real.

He put his head in his hands.

His hands were still.

His hands were quiet.

His hands were done.

He had found the truth.

The truth was a door.

The door was open.

The door led out.

Out of the self.

Out of the guilt.

Out of the pain.

Out of the fear.

He had sacrificed the self.

He had given it up.

He had thrown it away.

Like a stone.

Like a bone.

Like a name.

It was gone.

It was free.

He was free.

He was free to be nothing.

He was free to be the rain.

He was free to be the city.

He was free to be the dark.

He looked up.

The sky was gray.

The sky was low.

The sky was heavy.

A star appeared.

It was small.

It was faint.

It was far.

It was bright.

It was alone.

It was steady.

Marcus looked at it.

He did not blink.

He did not move.

He did not breathe.

He just watched.

The star did not move.

The star did not fade.

The star did not die.

It just was.

It just was.

It just was.

Marcus closed his eyes.

The darkness was warm.

The darkness was soft.

The darkness was kind.

He was in the dark.

He was with the star.

He was with the rain.

He was with the city.

He was with them all.

The community was a web.

The web was tight.

The web was strong.

It held him.

It held them.

It held the truth.

It held the lie.

It held the bone.

It held the flesh.

It held the pain.

It held the rest.

He was part of it.

He was the center.

He was the eye.

He was the hand.

He was the voice.

He was the silence.

He was the end.

He was the beginning.

He was the middle.

He was the nothing.

He was the everything.

The rain stopped.

The air was clear.

The air was cold.

The air was new.

Marcus stood up.

He brushed off his coat.

The dust was gone.

The dirt was gone.

The stain was gone.

He was clean.

He was whole.

He was complete.

He walked back.

He walked to the office.

The neon sign was still buzzing.

Red.

Blue.

Pulsing.

Like a heart.

Like a life.

Like a promise.

He went in.

The door closed.

The light was on.

The desk was clear.

The file was there.

The file was open.

The page was white.

The page was blank.

He picked up the pen.

The pen was black.

The pen was sharp.

The pen was ready.

He wrote.

One word.

One name.

His name.

Marcus.

Then he wrote the second word.

Gone.

He dropped the pen.

The pen hit the desk.

The sound was loud.

The sound was final.

The sound was done.

He looked at the paper.

The words were black.

The words were clear.

The words were true.

He folded the paper.

He put it in the file.

He closed the file.

He locked the drawer.

The key was in his hand.

The key was cold.

The key was small.

The key was heavy.

He put the key in his pocket.

He turned off the light.

The room was dark.

The night was in.

The city was there.

The rain was falling.

The rain was singing.

The rain was weeping.

The rain was praying.

Marcus walked out.

He walked into the night.

The night was deep.

The night was wide.

The night was free.

He was free.

He was the bone.

He was the star.

He was the rain.

He was the city.

He was the threshold.

He was the end.

He was the start.

He was the middle.

He was the nothing.

He was the everything.

He walked on.

He did not look back.

He did not look forward.

He did not look up.

He did not look down.

He just walked.

Step.

Step.

Step.

The sound was steady.

The sound was sure.

The sound was his.

The sound was the city's.

The sound was the rain's.

The sound was the bone's.

The sound was the star's.

The sound was the end.

The sound was the beginning.

The sound was the life.

The sound was the death.

The sound was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the light.

The light was the star.

The star was the eye.

The eye was the soul.

The soul was the self.

The self was the nothing.

The nothing was the everything.

The everything was the one.

The one was the all.

The all was the one.

The one was the end.

The end was the start.

The start was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark was the light.

The light was the truth.

The truth was the bone.

The bone was the rest.

The rest was the peace.

The peace was the end.

The end was the beginning.

The beginning was the now.

The now was the here.

The here was the there.

The there was the beyond.

The beyond was the light.

The light was the dark.

The dark