1 00:00:00,100 --> 00:00:00,160 Speaker 1: Two: 2 00:00:35,460 --> 00:00:41,240 Speaker 1: Always close the circle. Written in the margins: But then we'll be out of a job, 3 00:00:41,380 --> 00:00:45,940 Speaker 1: ha. Written below that in another color: Not funny. 4 00:00:48,160 --> 00:00:53,660 Speaker 1: Eight months later, Kelter sat at the bar, his bar, drinking a glass of 5 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:59,260 Speaker 1: something. No one remotely connected with work knew he came here, which was why he 6 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:04,480 Speaker 1: liked it so much, except for the barkeeper, Dreus, but she was all right. She knew 7 00:01:04,500 --> 00:01:10,380 Speaker 1: when to talk, and she knew when not to. There had been a lot of the latter lately. 8 00:01:11,620 --> 00:01:17,020 Speaker 1: He emptied his glass, then tapped the side. Walking or driving? 9 00:01:18,420 --> 00:01:23,980 Speaker 1: He squinted one eye, testing his vision. He shook his head a little. Eh, maybe not 10 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:29,580 Speaker 1: then. Kelter was drunk right now, but not a drunk. People needed him. 11 00:01:30,020 --> 00:01:35,300 Speaker 1: Well, one person anyway. He stared hard at the bottom of his empty glass. 12 00:01:36,340 --> 00:01:40,740 Speaker 1: The door swung open and the first licks of autumn air swirled into the bar. It 13 00:01:40,780 --> 00:01:45,120 Speaker 1: brought the sound of an approaching truck engine with it. A big truck by the sound 14 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 1: of it. Kelter ignored it. Maybe just one more. He could always walk home. 15 00:01:52,220 --> 00:01:56,020 Speaker 1: Someone sat down at the other end of the bar, but didn't order anything right away. 16 00:01:56,560 --> 00:02:02,400 Speaker 1: The door swung open again. The truck engine idled outside. He looked up, covertly 17 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:07,760 Speaker 1: sliding one hand to press against the thick part of the wooden bar. Old habits never 18 00:02:07,820 --> 00:02:13,740 Speaker 1: died. A woman stared at him from four seats over. Behind her, two men in 19 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:19,360 Speaker 1: black suits stood casually by the door. Kelter glanced over at Dreus. Her hands were 20 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:24,300 Speaker 1: out of sight too, somewhere beneath the cash register. Can I help you? 21 00:02:25,540 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 1: Kelter tuned out their conversation and watched the men by the door. One of them was 22 00:02:30,060 --> 00:02:35,360 Speaker 1: a little shorter, fatter than the other. Then he dismissed them. They were only the 23 00:02:35,420 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 1: third and fourth most dangerous thing in the room. The most dangerous thing in the 24 00:02:41,100 --> 00:02:45,300 Speaker 1: room smiled warmly. Her teeth were uncommonly white. 25 00:02:47,180 --> 00:02:52,800 Speaker 1: Yes, you can help me actually. I'm going to rent out your bar for an event tonight. 26 00:02:54,020 --> 00:02:59,620 Speaker 1: I don't do that. Kelter winced. The wooden bar was a good conduit, but there wasn't 27 00:02:59,660 --> 00:03:04,220 Speaker 1: much material to work with. One of the men opened the front door and slipped 28 00:03:04,300 --> 00:03:06,740 Speaker 1: outside. Kelter cleared his throat. 29 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:15,040 Speaker 1: Dreus, the rate is, uh, what, four hundred an hour, right? He hoped she would take 30 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:19,860 Speaker 1: the cue. Dreus shot him a confused look. It was an enormous sum of money. 31 00:03:21,140 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 1: Four-hour minimum, of course, if I recall correctly. The man in the suit 32 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:32,320 Speaker 1: came back inside and casually handed the other man a rivet gun, keeping another for 33 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:36,580 Speaker 1: himself. The rubber hoses snaked back out the door, preventing it from closing 34 00:03:36,620 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 1: completely. The two men leaned back, smug, holding the weapons in plain sight. They 35 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:48,460 Speaker 1: were still only the third and fourth most dangerous things in the room. The bar's 36 00:03:48,540 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 1: other customers tentatively rose from their tables, uncertain if it was wise to walk 37 00:03:53,420 --> 00:03:58,300 Speaker 1: past the men or risk sticking around for a confrontation instead. When the first 38 00:03:58,380 --> 00:04:02,040 Speaker 1: steel worker made it out the front door without incident, the rest of the place 39 00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 1: quickly emptied. It's six hundred an hour, actually. Plus what those 40 00:04:07,900 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 1: customers you scared off owe me. 41 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 1: She looked the armed men up and down, then took off her apron and shot a glance at 42 00:04:16,360 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 1: Kelter. He tried to grin apologetically. Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone. 43 00:04:23,220 --> 00:04:28,340 Speaker 1: Then she left through the back door behind the bar. Kelter let out the breath he'd 44 00:04:28,380 --> 00:04:33,860 Speaker 1: been holding. At least the people in the bar wouldn't have to die tonight. The woman 45 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:38,960 Speaker 1: got off her barstool and walked over to him. Her heels clicked against the tile. She 46 00:04:39,020 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 1: sat down again, still leaving one seat between them. Smart. Getting in 47 00:04:44,860 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 1: close with a summoner was always a crapshoot. They could transmute you as well as 48 00:04:49,700 --> 00:04:54,420 Speaker 1: anything else. Nasty way to kill someone. He'd gotten lucky with the kid in the 49 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:59,500 Speaker 1: sewers. It didn't work if the other person put up a mental defense first. But if you 50 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:03,340 Speaker 1: did it fast... Hi, James. 51 00:05:05,100 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 1: He didn't know who she was. She was part of the family, he knew that much. Which one 52 00:05:10,580 --> 00:05:15,980 Speaker 1: was anyone's damn guess. Didn't matter. She wanted something, and he'd have to 53 00:05:16,020 --> 00:05:21,920 Speaker 1: listen. Don't call me that. I'm Kelter. She nodded 54 00:05:22,020 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 1: as if she were expecting he'd say that, then leaned over the bar top to grab at a 55 00:05:26,820 --> 00:05:31,260 Speaker 1: bottle of something on the other side. She lingered there, showing quite a bit of 56 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:36,780 Speaker 1: skin beneath her outfit. By hook or crook, she was going to snare him. 57 00:05:37,420 --> 00:05:43,060 Speaker 1: Damn family. One of the suits must have noticed his hand on the bar because they 58 00:05:43,140 --> 00:05:47,840 Speaker 1: started getting twitchy. The rivet guns rose halfway to point in his direction. 59 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:53,460 Speaker 1: Hands where I can see them, sir. Kelter gritted his teeth and took his hand off the 60 00:05:53,500 --> 00:05:59,300 Speaker 1: bar. The woman slid back onto her barstool and pulled the cork out of a bottle, 61 00:05:59,540 --> 00:06:04,940 Speaker 1: filling two glasses with dark red liquid. James, my name is Sasha de 62 00:06:05,060 --> 00:06:10,552 Speaker 1: Coutier, and I have a job for you. She spoke without preamble, 63 00:06:10,852 --> 00:06:15,352 Speaker 1: swallowing the first glass of wine in one go. She grimaced and then pushed the 64 00:06:15,392 --> 00:06:19,532 Speaker 1: bottle and second glass right off the counter. They shattered behind the bar. 65 00:06:20,452 --> 00:06:26,452 Speaker 1: Expensive way to send me a message. You know I got a mailbox, right? [laughs] Oh, 66 00:06:26,552 --> 00:06:32,492 Speaker 1: I won't be paying her. These people are beneath us, James. Sasha waved one hand 67 00:06:32,532 --> 00:06:38,452 Speaker 1: through the air as if wafting her promise away. It was that simple. Kelter narrowed 68 00:06:38,492 --> 00:06:44,172 Speaker 1: his eyes. He might be able to melt her skin off. You could do something with air. 69 00:06:44,752 --> 00:06:49,952 Speaker 1: Not much, but something. Most people didn't know that. Of course, it would be the 70 00:06:50,012 --> 00:06:54,172 Speaker 1: last thing he ever did. The suits would plug him full of holes, and that would be 71 00:06:54,252 --> 00:07:00,252 Speaker 1: it. Still, it wouldn't put her skin back on. I'm retired. Find 72 00:07:00,292 --> 00:07:06,032 Speaker 1: another closer. Sasha ran a finger along the rim of her glass. She seemed 73 00:07:06,092 --> 00:07:11,872 Speaker 1: disappointed it was empty. Kelter looked her over. She was pretty, but not 74 00:07:11,952 --> 00:07:15,192 Speaker 1: gorgeous. Pampered. That felt right. 75 00:07:16,752 --> 00:07:22,552 Speaker 1: No. That was all she said, tossing her short dark hair and 76 00:07:22,632 --> 00:07:28,332 Speaker 1: leveling a humorless gaze at him. I want you, but I don't need you, Kelter. I 77 00:07:28,412 --> 00:07:33,532 Speaker 1: have better closers. The pay is eighty thousand dollars, and you'll get to kill a 78 00:07:33,612 --> 00:07:38,112 Speaker 1: child. The hell? Who did she think he was? 79 00:07:39,752 --> 00:07:45,532 Speaker 1: I said no. He got up from his stool. It was an unbelievable 80 00:07:45,592 --> 00:07:51,532 Speaker 1: amount of money, but it was also just words. Good deals don't start at the end 81 00:07:51,592 --> 00:07:56,552 Speaker 1: of a rivet gun. The suits lifted their weapons, and Kelter heard the chambers 82 00:07:56,612 --> 00:08:01,092 Speaker 1: pressurize. If he could just sever the connections to the idling truck outside 83 00:08:01,172 --> 00:08:07,092 Speaker 1: somehow... Yeah, then he could deal with Sasha. She was family though, 84 00:08:07,512 --> 00:08:12,072 Speaker 1: no summons. He'd have to close quickly, end it with brute force, and hope he could 85 00:08:12,132 --> 00:08:17,992 Speaker 1: take the suits after. Then... Stop. Sasha raised her hands but didn't 86 00:08:18,092 --> 00:08:23,252 Speaker 1: step between him and the suits, he noticed. He wasn't worth all that. The suits 87 00:08:23,392 --> 00:08:28,792 Speaker 1: lowered their guns just enough to be obedient. Kelter lowered his sweating palms. 88 00:08:30,652 --> 00:08:36,572 Speaker 1: You want this job, James. You just don't know it yet. She moved closer to him, 89 00:08:37,032 --> 00:08:42,912 Speaker 1: heedless of the risk, however minor. Sasha fixed her dark green eyes on him, and his 90 00:08:42,972 --> 00:08:48,092 Speaker 1: body betrayed him a little. She was prettier than he'd given credit for. 91 00:08:49,232 --> 00:08:55,072 Speaker 1: I can pay extra if that's what it takes. She moved 92 00:08:55,172 --> 00:09:01,072 Speaker 1: one hand along his forearm. Kelter let her do it. He'd hate himself for that 93 00:09:01,132 --> 00:09:02,972 Speaker 1: later. No. 94 00:09:04,772 --> 00:09:10,752 Speaker 1: I have a wife. And for the first time, Sasha looked uncertain. She pulled her 95 00:09:10,832 --> 00:09:16,232 Speaker 1: hand back, letting it hang in the air just in case she needed it after all. Then she 96 00:09:16,272 --> 00:09:22,152 Speaker 1: looked back at the suits. The not fat one shrugged. I didn't 97 00:09:22,352 --> 00:09:28,152 Speaker 1: know that. She turned back to Kelter. Her words held 98 00:09:28,192 --> 00:09:34,172 Speaker 1: an air of danger, but not for him. He was still standing there. Why 99 00:09:34,212 --> 00:09:39,472 Speaker 1: was he still standing there? He should have walked away the moment they walked in 100 00:09:39,512 --> 00:09:45,032 Speaker 1: the bar. He was still standing there because it had been eight months. 101 00:09:45,872 --> 00:09:51,712 Speaker 1: Eight long months. Sasha de Coutier moved a little bit 102 00:09:51,772 --> 00:09:52,332 Speaker 1: closer. 103 00:09:54,032 --> 00:09:55,032 Speaker 1: Why'd you quit? 104 00:09:56,672 --> 00:10:02,412 Speaker 1: Something got to you, James, and I think I know what it was. She 105 00:10:02,472 --> 00:10:08,432 Speaker 1: put one high-heeled foot on top of his, then pressed down. 106 00:10:10,552 --> 00:10:14,592 Speaker 1: How'd you walk out of that sewer with a broken ankle, James? 107 00:10:16,652 --> 00:10:22,632 Speaker 1: It took a long time. It hurt. It still hurts. I 108 00:10:22,692 --> 00:10:24,812 Speaker 1: retired. Hmm. 109 00:10:27,551 --> 00:10:33,152 Speaker 1: She flicked her eyes up to his and moved closer still, reading his stoic posture as 110 00:10:33,232 --> 00:10:38,292 Speaker 1: invitation to press against him. I closed the circle. 111 00:10:39,432 --> 00:10:40,132 Speaker 1: Hmm. 112 00:10:42,492 --> 00:10:44,972 Speaker 1: I closed the circle. 113 00:10:46,592 --> 00:10:51,852 Speaker 1: Sasha suddenly stepped back, her face placid, with only the curl of a smile hinting 114 00:10:51,892 --> 00:10:57,812 Speaker 1: at satisfaction. Kelter turned his head, trying to hide his shame. He wanted 115 00:10:57,872 --> 00:10:58,532 Speaker 1: this woman. 116 00:11:00,172 --> 00:11:06,152 Speaker 1: I believe you, James. I do. But that's not what I mean. You need to hear 117 00:11:06,212 --> 00:11:12,152 Speaker 1: this. The summoner, the child, she's killed seventeen people. You don't 118 00:11:12,212 --> 00:11:16,812 Speaker 1: have to kill her yourself if that's not your thing. I'll send a team. 119 00:11:17,972 --> 00:11:20,092 Speaker 1: Kelter couldn't look up from the floor. 120 00:11:21,792 --> 00:11:27,632 Speaker 1: Why me? He heard her walking away. Because the last living 121 00:11:27,692 --> 00:11:32,792 Speaker 1: person she spoke to said her monster came to her in a dream. 122 00:11:33,812 --> 00:11:36,872 Speaker 1: What does that mean to you, James? 123 00:11:38,812 --> 00:11:44,792 Speaker 1: The door closed, and he was alone. It would mean something impossible. 124 00:11:45,632 --> 00:11:51,292 Speaker 1: It would mean the circle wasn't closed, couldn't be closed, because the 125 00:11:51,372 --> 00:11:57,272 Speaker 1: rules had changed. Damn. It would mean he 126 00:11:57,352 --> 00:11:59,052 Speaker 1: wasn't retired anymore. 127 00:12:01,592 --> 00:12:06,612 Speaker 1: Kelter opened the door to his apartment. It was dark inside. He'd forgotten to leave 128 00:12:06,652 --> 00:12:12,312 Speaker 1: the lights on again He glanced at the bedroom door, slightly ajar, 129 00:12:12,712 --> 00:12:17,452 Speaker 1: then walked into the kitchen instead. A drink. He needed a drink first. 130 00:12:18,452 --> 00:12:22,792 Speaker 1: Kelter had to squint to make the room stop spinning, had to steady himself with the 131 00:12:22,852 --> 00:12:27,752 Speaker 1: wall just so he didn't pour his drink all over the counter. He looked back at the 132 00:12:27,792 --> 00:12:32,432 Speaker 1: bedroom, trying to think of some reason why he didn't need to go in there yet. There 133 00:12:32,492 --> 00:12:38,352 Speaker 1: was no reason, of course. There was no reason to do anything. He was retired. That 134 00:12:38,432 --> 00:12:43,892 Speaker 1: was kinda the whole point. Well, he'd been retired until about an hour ago 135 00:12:43,972 --> 00:12:49,332 Speaker 1: anyway. Kelter took a deep breath and pushed open the door to the crypt. 136 00:12:49,472 --> 00:12:55,072 Speaker 1: [sighs] The air was a stagnant 137 00:12:55,172 --> 00:13:01,092 Speaker 1: pâté of mashed vegetables, dirty laundry, and human waste. It didn't matter how many 138 00:13:01,152 --> 00:13:06,312 Speaker 1: times he opened the window, the smell had sunk into everything. His wife was sitting 139 00:13:06,372 --> 00:13:12,012 Speaker 1: up in bed, looking at the wall next to him. "Hey, Lin. 140 00:13:13,911 --> 00:13:14,952 Speaker 1: Sorry about the lights." 141 00:13:18,292 --> 00:13:23,032 Speaker 1: Kelter walked over to the wall she was looking at. A painting of a flowery meadow 142 00:13:23,092 --> 00:13:27,292 Speaker 1: hung there. He took it off the nails, set it gently on the floor, and thumbed 143 00:13:27,332 --> 00:13:31,792 Speaker 1: through the stack of paintings leaning against the wall in the closet. He selected a 144 00:13:31,852 --> 00:13:36,732 Speaker 1: painting with huge puffy clouds over a calm sea. The sun was setting in the 145 00:13:36,792 --> 00:13:39,552 Speaker 1: background. "What do you think of this one?" 146 00:13:42,492 --> 00:13:46,712 Speaker 1: Kelter hung the painting and sat down on the bed next to her. It had been a 147 00:13:46,772 --> 00:13:52,632 Speaker 1: wonderful eight years with Lindsay, and it had been a very long six years after. He 148 00:13:52,672 --> 00:13:57,012 Speaker 1: wrapped his fingers around her hand and lay down next to her, closing his eyes and 149 00:13:57,032 --> 00:14:02,932 Speaker 1: pretending they were sharing a special quiet moment, when in reality all they had 150 00:14:02,992 --> 00:14:08,912 Speaker 1: now were quiet moments. [sighs] "Come on, let's get you in the bath." 151 00:14:10,072 --> 00:14:14,532 Speaker 1: It took him almost fifteen minutes to get Lindsay undressed and in the bathtub. He 152 00:14:14,592 --> 00:14:19,791 Speaker 1: washed her with the sponge. Long years of practice guiding his hands. Even as drunk 153 00:14:19,832 --> 00:14:25,752 Speaker 1: as he was, the movements came easy. "I did something stupid today, Lin. 154 00:14:26,932 --> 00:14:29,652 Speaker 1: Broke a rule. One of the big ones. 155 00:14:32,872 --> 00:14:38,092 Speaker 1: It's a job. It's a job. Pays well, too. 156 00:14:39,252 --> 00:14:45,152 Speaker 1: We could use the money. Maybe if..." He stopped. The 157 00:14:45,312 --> 00:14:51,292 Speaker 1: sponge fell from his hand. He looked down at Lindsay. She was so frail now. 158 00:14:51,712 --> 00:14:57,372 Speaker 1: Her body was covered in bleeding sores. It didn't matter how much he moved her. It 159 00:14:57,432 --> 00:15:02,472 Speaker 1: must hurt so bad. "I miss you so much." 160 00:15:03,652 --> 00:15:08,172 Speaker 1: He bowed his head. "I miss you so damn much." 161 00:15:09,892 --> 00:15:15,532 Speaker 1: Not this living corpse, the real person. The person that had died six years ago. 162 00:15:16,352 --> 00:15:22,312 Speaker 1: She'd just left her body behind. If he could just... If he could just talk 163 00:15:22,372 --> 00:15:27,952 Speaker 1: to her again, dance with her again. Hell, he was dying to have sex. 164 00:15:28,712 --> 00:15:33,592 Speaker 1: There were a thousand tiny moments he missed, a thousand tiny things that made a 165 00:15:33,632 --> 00:15:39,372 Speaker 1: relationship. Whatever was left, it wasn't a relationship. Just 166 00:15:39,852 --> 00:15:45,772 Speaker 1: more chains, binding him to a life he no longer wanted. Lindsay just 167 00:15:45,852 --> 00:15:50,992 Speaker 1: lay there in the bathtub, her head lolling to the side, glassy eyes looking up at 168 00:15:51,032 --> 00:15:56,252 Speaker 1: the ceiling. Kelter wasn't sure if it was the booze or the depression, but he 169 00:15:56,292 --> 00:16:01,312 Speaker 1: reached out with both hands and pressed them against her. He willed life into her, 170 00:16:02,192 --> 00:16:08,172 Speaker 1: as if that could actually work. Nothing happened. Of course nothing happened. 171 00:16:08,992 --> 00:16:14,792 Speaker 1: But a thought entered his mind, a thought so depraved it 172 00:16:14,852 --> 00:16:20,812 Speaker 1: made him sick. And yet, Kelter closed his eyes and pushed on Lindsay, not 173 00:16:20,852 --> 00:16:25,871 Speaker 1: with his hands, but with his mind, pushing like he was trying to will break a 174 00:16:26,152 --> 00:16:32,152 Speaker 1: summon. He was shocked by how easy it was. There was no resistance 175 00:16:32,212 --> 00:16:37,292 Speaker 1: at all. He could... He could... Lindsay's body thrashed once in the bathtub and he 176 00:16:37,412 --> 00:16:41,932 Speaker 1: stumbled backwards, slamming into the wall. Kelter buckled over, covered his mouth, 177 00:16:41,972 --> 00:16:43,152 Speaker 1: and tried not to puke. 178 00:16:44,892 --> 00:16:50,872 Speaker 1: He had... He had will broken her, like a... like a damn monster. It shouldn't have 179 00:16:50,912 --> 00:16:56,152 Speaker 1: been possible. Kelter stood up, a storm of emotions raged within him. This was 180 00:16:56,192 --> 00:17:01,432 Speaker 1: wrong. It was worse than wrong. It was sick. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." 181 00:17:02,112 --> 00:17:06,972 Speaker 1: But then he put his minds on her shoulders again and tapped her mind with his will. 182 00:17:07,652 --> 00:17:13,272 Speaker 1: He had to know. Tears poured down his face. There was no 183 00:17:13,332 --> 00:17:18,932 Speaker 1: resistance at all. Nothing at all to push back against his own thoughts. 184 00:17:20,012 --> 00:17:25,552 Speaker 1: She was completely empty. And for the first time in six years, he 185 00:17:25,672 --> 00:17:27,052 Speaker 1: finally admitted the truth. 186 00:17:29,012 --> 00:17:30,512 Speaker 1: Lindsay was gone. 187 00:17:33,752 --> 00:17:36,052 Speaker 1: Three, mind the family. 188 00:17:37,692 --> 00:17:42,652 Speaker 1: Written in the margins, in dark ink. What, no jokes? 189 00:17:43,712 --> 00:17:49,692 Speaker 1: In red ink. Not here. In dark ink. Good, you're 190 00:17:49,732 --> 00:17:50,152 Speaker 1: learning. 191 00:17:51,952 --> 00:17:57,232 Speaker 1: The morning sun raked across Kelter's brain. He'd forgotten to close the drapes. 192 00:17:57,252 --> 00:18:03,132 Speaker 1: [groans] He rolled off the couch onto the floor with a thud, 193 00:18:03,692 --> 00:18:09,172 Speaker 1: and every part of his body moaned with him. Part of him hoped he'd black out last 194 00:18:09,232 --> 00:18:14,192 Speaker 1: night and forget everything, but the memories clung to him like toilet paper on his 195 00:18:14,252 --> 00:18:19,992 Speaker 1: boots. His wife was dead. But unlike most people, she hadn't 196 00:18:20,052 --> 00:18:24,892 Speaker 1: been courteous enough to start rotting. He pulled himself off the floor and walked 197 00:18:24,952 --> 00:18:30,812 Speaker 1: into their bedroom. Only her bedroom now. Lindsay was laying in bed, 198 00:18:31,252 --> 00:18:36,772 Speaker 1: eyes closed. He wouldn't kill her. Couldn't. Even a muddy 199 00:18:36,852 --> 00:18:42,292 Speaker 1: reflection of Lindsay was something to remember her by, but he didn't hope 200 00:18:42,592 --> 00:18:48,312 Speaker 1: anymore. His hope had finally died somewhere between the fourth and fifth drinks 201 00:18:48,392 --> 00:18:54,272 Speaker 1: last night. He left the room, no longer his wife, just another 202 00:18:54,332 --> 00:18:59,712 Speaker 1: burden now. Kelter walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. Huge 203 00:18:59,772 --> 00:19:04,592 Speaker 1: mistake. It looked like he'd done a partial summoning in there. He closed it before 204 00:19:04,632 --> 00:19:08,932 Speaker 1: too much of the smell could escape. There was a light knock on the apartment's front 205 00:19:08,992 --> 00:19:13,532 Speaker 1: door, followed by the sound of running feet. Kelter shambled over to find an 206 00:19:13,592 --> 00:19:18,112 Speaker 1: envelope wedged under the door. He opened the door, but whoever had dropped it was 207 00:19:18,172 --> 00:19:24,112 Speaker 1: already gone. So he opened the heavy envelope and found both good news and bad. 208 00:19:25,612 --> 00:19:30,252 Speaker 1: Enough money for two years' rent and a potential death sentence. 209 00:19:31,852 --> 00:19:36,592 Speaker 1: The death sentence was written on monogrammed stationery. Two letters at the bottom 210 00:19:36,652 --> 00:19:42,012 Speaker 1: read S.D. The note itself read, Your advance, 211 00:19:42,452 --> 00:19:48,212 Speaker 1: fifty-two Pillar Avenue, ten AM. Don't be late. Now that 212 00:19:48,292 --> 00:19:53,392 Speaker 1: money was in his hands, he was truly committed. He could try to return it, but then 213 00:19:53,432 --> 00:19:59,012 Speaker 1: he'd have to wade into hell itself. Fortunately, hell was only a few minutes away. 214 00:19:59,732 --> 00:20:04,872 Speaker 1: That gave him enough time to run some errands. Kelter parked his car in the parking 215 00:20:04,932 --> 00:20:10,612 Speaker 1: lot near Drea's place. The bar had no name. The metal sign above the door simply 216 00:20:10,672 --> 00:20:15,512 Speaker 1: read, Bar. For the kind of people who came here, that was all they needed to know. 217 00:20:16,232 --> 00:20:21,392 Speaker 1: It was early. Too early for the employed drunks to be off work. Too early for the 218 00:20:21,472 --> 00:20:25,992 Speaker 1: unemployed drunks to wake up. There was no one inside when he pushed open the door. 219 00:20:26,712 --> 00:20:30,512 Speaker 1: But when he closed it, a woman in her forty-somethings popped up from behind the 220 00:20:30,572 --> 00:20:36,232 Speaker 1: bar. Drea looked like she worked for a living. The burn scars on her 221 00:20:36,332 --> 00:20:41,252 Speaker 1: arms and neck told a story Kelter had never asked about. You got those kinds of 222 00:20:41,312 --> 00:20:46,352 Speaker 1: scars doing steel work. But you didn't do steel work if you could summon. 223 00:20:49,352 --> 00:20:55,252 Speaker 1: Still alive? Good. I thought that might be the last time I saw you. Kelter 224 00:20:55,452 --> 00:21:00,732 Speaker 1: smiled and set an envelope on the counter. I play by the rules. 225 00:21:01,312 --> 00:21:03,612 Speaker 1: Besides, I didn't want to ruin your place. 226 00:21:06,072 --> 00:21:11,172 Speaker 1: Well, by the look of things, she didn't like the house wine. She pointed at the 227 00:21:11,232 --> 00:21:14,992 Speaker 1: floor. Shame she didn't drink it. I piss in that one. 228 00:21:16,532 --> 00:21:22,052 Speaker 1: Kelter thought it best not to follow up on that. So he nudged the envelope instead 229 00:21:22,092 --> 00:21:22,912 Speaker 1: and took a seat. 230 00:21:24,492 --> 00:21:29,832 Speaker 1: What's this? Drea pulled the envelope toward her and looked inside. She dropped her 231 00:21:29,912 --> 00:21:35,412 Speaker 1: mop and brought a hand to her mouth. I'll be damned. She was good for the money 232 00:21:35,532 --> 00:21:41,112 Speaker 1: after all. Kelter put his hands in his pockets. Guess so. Drea 233 00:21:41,432 --> 00:21:46,912 Speaker 1: stared at the money a little while longer, as if making sure it was real. Her smile 234 00:21:47,012 --> 00:21:47,892 Speaker 1: slowly fell. 235 00:21:49,852 --> 00:21:52,752 Speaker 1: I thought I told you not to do anything stupid, Kelter. 236 00:21:54,392 --> 00:22:00,132 Speaker 1: I didn't. Not yet, anyway. She threw the envelope of money at him. He 237 00:22:00,212 --> 00:22:06,052 Speaker 1: fumbled but caught it. Give it back. Whatever they want, tell them no. Kelter 238 00:22:06,172 --> 00:22:09,732 Speaker 1: spread his hands. It doesn't work like that. 239 00:22:13,772 --> 00:22:19,332 Speaker 1: Yes, it does. I asked around. She's a nobody. A third-rate member. Not even. She 240 00:22:19,432 --> 00:22:25,312 Speaker 1: married in. She's family. And I'm trash by comparison. We all 241 00:22:25,432 --> 00:22:30,892 Speaker 1: are. He pushed the envelope back toward her. Drea hesitated but snatched it up and 242 00:22:31,012 --> 00:22:35,931 Speaker 1: put it in the register. She slammed the drawer to make it go away. Then she looked 243 00:22:35,952 --> 00:22:39,491 Speaker 1: at the register for a moment longer, just in case it tried to get out. 244 00:22:41,312 --> 00:22:46,032 Speaker 1: I don't think she knew you could summon. Drea turned her attention back to him. 245 00:22:46,772 --> 00:22:52,112 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, I don't make that known. She set down a glass and poured him something 246 00:22:52,192 --> 00:22:57,092 Speaker 1: he hoped wasn't the house wine. How long's it been since you summoned? 247 00:22:59,792 --> 00:23:01,792 Speaker 1: Fifteen years, maybe. 248 00:23:04,132 --> 00:23:09,752 Speaker 1: I got drunk as hell with these guys I knew. I was into one of them, Ian. 249 00:23:10,192 --> 00:23:16,152 Speaker 1: Hated his friends, though. So we're drinking, and, you know, one of them tells me to 250 00:23:16,232 --> 00:23:22,172 Speaker 1: summon something. I don't know how they found out. Ian probably told them. Anyway, 251 00:23:22,712 --> 00:23:28,552 Speaker 1: he's cute. I'm drunk. So I take the dare. We go downstairs, out behind the 252 00:23:28,592 --> 00:23:34,532 Speaker 1: apartment, and I summon a Vexis. You know, one of those spindly things. 253 00:23:34,632 --> 00:23:40,552 Speaker 1: You can kind of make it talk. I know what a Vexis is. They were useful. Not 254 00:23:40,612 --> 00:23:45,392 Speaker 1: only were they a fast summon, needing little material, but they didn't just kind of 255 00:23:45,452 --> 00:23:51,412 Speaker 1: talk. They could talk if you were good. Excellent as diversion or lures 256 00:23:51,472 --> 00:23:55,852 Speaker 1: for something meaner. You could use them to call a person's name from around a 257 00:23:55,932 --> 00:24:01,932 Speaker 1: corner, and then Stupidest thing I've ever done. Never did it again. And 258 00:24:01,992 --> 00:24:07,092 Speaker 1: then what happened? Huh. Nice try, closer. Like I'd tell you. 259 00:24:08,252 --> 00:24:13,692 Speaker 1: Drea took a drink straight from the bottle. Seriously. What happened? 260 00:24:17,172 --> 00:24:22,952 Speaker 1: I made it sing a drinking song. One of Ian's friends tried to touch it. I panicked, 261 00:24:23,032 --> 00:24:23,452 Speaker 1: and then 262 00:24:25,344 --> 00:24:26,244 Speaker 1: I closed the circle. 263 00:24:28,484 --> 00:24:29,044 Speaker 1: Good answer. 264 00:24:31,564 --> 00:24:35,884 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, we never hooked up, so I guess it wasn't the thrill he was looking for. 265 00:24:36,904 --> 00:24:42,664 Speaker 1: The conversation fell silent after that. Drea seemed troubled by her memory, so 266 00:24:42,724 --> 00:24:46,784 Speaker 1: Kelter finished his drink and left her to it. Will you be back? 267 00:24:48,584 --> 00:24:54,544 Speaker 1: Yeah, soon. Drea nodded unconvincingly. Don't 268 00:24:54,584 --> 00:24:55,804 Speaker 1: bring your friends next time. 269 00:24:57,363 --> 00:25:03,164 Speaker 1: Kelter walked back to his car and steeled himself. Now it was time to enter the 270 00:25:03,204 --> 00:25:08,984 Speaker 1: Torax den. He put his hands on the steering wheel and let out a long, slow breath 271 00:25:09,044 --> 00:25:10,844 Speaker 1: before putting the car into reverse. 272 00:25:13,324 --> 00:25:17,324 Speaker 1: He had to roll down the window and keep one arm on the door. Ever since the handle 273 00:25:17,444 --> 00:25:21,564 Speaker 1: broke, it didn't stay closed on its own. He really needed to get that fixed at some 274 00:25:21,604 --> 00:25:26,524 Speaker 1: point. He looked in the rearview mirror and was glad he did. A man in a gray suit 275 00:25:26,664 --> 00:25:31,404 Speaker 1: stood right behind his car. He was fumbling with papers in his hands, making his way 276 00:25:31,504 --> 00:25:37,444 Speaker 1: around the car. Excuse me. Sorry, excuse me. The man walked over to the driver's 277 00:25:37,464 --> 00:25:41,744 Speaker 1: side window and the papers he was holding spilled out of his hands onto the ground. 278 00:25:42,864 --> 00:25:48,244 Speaker 1: Are you James Kelter? Yeah. The man in the gray suit reached into his coat and 279 00:25:48,344 --> 00:25:53,644 Speaker 1: pulled out something shiny and black. A gun. Kelter slammed the car door into the 280 00:25:53,684 --> 00:25:57,784 Speaker 1: man just as the gun went off. Then he leaned out the window to grab him, but the man 281 00:25:57,924 --> 00:26:02,044 Speaker 1: stumbled backward out of reach, so Kelter ducked back into the car below the window. 282 00:26:03,064 --> 00:26:08,904 Speaker 1: Boom, boom, boom. The man in the suit fired his gun into the car as Kelter scrambled 283 00:26:08,944 --> 00:26:13,364 Speaker 1: into the back seat. His heart raced. He had no idea if he was hit. He crawled onto 284 00:26:13,404 --> 00:26:17,504 Speaker 1: the floorboards and pressed one hand to the rear car doors and formed a connection. 285 00:26:18,124 --> 00:26:23,664 Speaker 1: Something fast. He needed something fast and small. He closed his eyes and found the 286 00:26:23,704 --> 00:26:28,304 Speaker 1: frequency of the correct plane, imagined the body of the creature he wanted. The 287 00:26:28,344 --> 00:26:33,324 Speaker 1: bond fell into place and he moved away from the door quickly. Half of the door fell 288 00:26:33,384 --> 00:26:38,884 Speaker 1: away with a chitinous plop. There was the sound of a scuttling insect on concrete. 289 00:26:39,664 --> 00:26:43,924 Speaker 1: Kelter didn't stop to watch, but by the time he heard the screeches, he was already 290 00:26:43,984 --> 00:26:48,884 Speaker 1: out of the car, on the other side to use it as cover. He commanded the blood weevil 291 00:26:48,944 --> 00:26:53,364 Speaker 1: to attack. The man in the gray suit fired three rounds into the thing. It screamed 292 00:26:53,624 --> 00:26:58,684 Speaker 1: horribly, gnashing its spiked mouth at him. It left a trail of bright red blood as 293 00:26:58,744 --> 00:27:04,644 Speaker 1: it chased the man. It was far too slow to actually catch him. But he hadn't summoned 294 00:27:04,704 --> 00:27:10,044 Speaker 1: it because it was fast. He'd summoned it because it was loud and frightening. 295 00:27:10,904 --> 00:27:15,024 Speaker 1: The man stepped up to the broken creature and executed it with a final shot to the 296 00:27:15,064 --> 00:27:20,224 Speaker 1: head. A mess of bright red blood and insect parts splattered the pavement. Its 297 00:27:20,324 --> 00:27:26,184 Speaker 1: horrible wailing finally stopped. Just in time for Kelter to grab the man's neck. 298 00:27:26,764 --> 00:27:31,944 Speaker 1: He formed a summoning connection with the man's own flesh. The man in the gray suit 299 00:27:32,004 --> 00:27:37,464 Speaker 1: had just enough time to turn his head and look surprised. Kelter broke the 300 00:27:37,504 --> 00:27:42,504 Speaker 1: connection and his neck exploded in a fountain of gore. The man's head flopped to 301 00:27:42,564 --> 00:27:48,264 Speaker 1: the side, unsupported, and his body collapsed to the ground. Kelter breathed 302 00:27:48,324 --> 00:27:54,264 Speaker 1: heavily, standing in a spreading pool of human and summoning remains. He was covered 303 00:27:54,324 --> 00:27:59,504 Speaker 1: in blood. A family of four turned the corner and walked by the parking lot. 304 00:28:00,664 --> 00:28:06,444 Speaker 1: Morning. He waved at them with a gore-soaked hand, still catching his breath. They 305 00:28:06,484 --> 00:28:10,964 Speaker 1: didn't seem eager to stick around for a chat, though. Kelter checked to make sure 306 00:28:11,004 --> 00:28:14,984 Speaker 1: the blood weevil was actually dead. Even though he couldn't feel a bond, it was 307 00:28:15,064 --> 00:28:20,144 Speaker 1: always wise to check. Not all of his contracts had been rogue summoners. Some of 308 00:28:20,204 --> 00:28:24,884 Speaker 1: them were just regular people who'd made careless mistakes, or were too squeamish to 309 00:28:24,944 --> 00:28:30,704 Speaker 1: check the corpses to make sure they were actually corpses. It was dead, so he got 310 00:28:30,744 --> 00:28:34,984 Speaker 1: back in his car and tried to close the door. It didn't latch, though, and bounced 311 00:28:35,044 --> 00:28:40,744 Speaker 1: right back open. That broken door had actually saved his life. Maybe he wouldn't fix 312 00:28:40,784 --> 00:28:46,544 Speaker 1: it after all. He backed up the car, ignoring the bumps as he rolled over something. 313 00:28:47,464 --> 00:28:52,844 Speaker 1: This is why he didn't take these jobs. It was just another day working for the 314 00:28:52,904 --> 00:28:53,424 Speaker 1: family.