The blade of the knife caresses Javier’s throat like a lover, letting him know he is there but not doing anything to confirm he is there at the same time.

“We all have a story within us Toddard, yours became more as the window widened and we needed a hero to distract the beast from our true intentions. But now you’re an outdated flag flapping in the wind without a country to represent, desperately trying to find meaning in a world where you have no meaning,” Marty says as he presses his cold lips to Javier’s ear. “So rejoice, for I have given you a meaning. Rejoice, for I have plucked you from your nightmare and found a story that will be your completion,” he hisses.

Javier feels the cigarette burn his finger and jerks back suddenly with a hiss of pain.

“Are you okay Detective?” The young boy asks from across the table.

Javier stares at him, the confusion obviously written across his face. “K-K-Kevin, Kevin Waters?” Javier stammers.

Kevin smiles nervously as he places a hand on the glass of water in front of him. “Are you trying to freak me out? Is this how you t…”

Javier leaps to his feet, tossing his chair to the side. “SHUT UP!” He yells as he slams a fist onto the desks surface. “Tell me about the blogs, about the theme that was going through them!”

Kevin tightens his grip on the glass and smiles once more, “I guess you could say there was a theme going through the blogs,” Kevin says as he sculls the glass of water down as if it had been days since he’d last had any fluids touch his dry, sore throat.

“I know that part, but what kind of THEME Kevin!”

“S-S-Stress much Detective?”

Javier grips the table and thrusts it to the side and grabs Kevin by the throat. “ANSWER THE FUCKING QUESTION!”

“I-I-I, I can’t quite explain it, b-b-but if I had too I’d say It was like the room of mirrors you’d find in those old creepy fun parks. Actually that feels better than using the word them…”

Javier shakes him violently, “We’ve done this more times than I care to remember, and like every other time you losing me, now tell me everything or the next question will be the last question!” Javier says as he digs his revolver into Kevin’s head.