Kenneth awoke to misery. Yes, the birds sang and sunlight bolted through the shades and windows… His scene appeared rather light to the naked eye. The dark, already sensing his weakness, his desire to surrender succumbing to salvation or sacrifice, had taken root in his arteries, in all regions of his brain… his cells.

  His soul sensed the separation. Flesh ideally served only as housing for the energy defining him… He peeled his face from the pool of dry blood it rested in slowly, glancing at the clock… 12:07 PM. By his estimation, he had slept for at least ten hours, as the demon spoke within his dreams. He had already missed his appointment with his trainer, and was late to the theater.

  Kenneth was a mess.

  He required a shower, and then a doctor. He could not make himself leave. Besides, Evelyn would be by at three. He needed to see her, wanted answers. If what Racknell said was true… well, he needed explanations.

  Was the little demon right?

  How could he have been so gullible?

  When he had made his way to the washroom, he had a look at his nose. It was broken, but not too bad. Sure, it swelled, and smarted, no worse than the bops he had gotten playing soccer as a kid. He would be fine, at least his body would. All bets were off concerning his soul.