"Let me see your hands?"

The Tall Man tried to sound soothing to me.

I was so drowsy I was beginning to be a bit goofy.

"I'd rather not. The last time someone asked for my hands I got back two severely burned hands. Besides I'm fine it will heal. it's not a big deal."

"You have second degree burns. Are you in any pain?"

"No they just sting a little bit like I said I'm going to be fine."

"I just want to examine them."

Then it all went south after that.

"Oooh mama. Sweet stars of Nazareth.

Man that burns."

"I thought so. I have just the thing for that."

"No, please I don't mean to insulting but I really don't want your help. Your idea of curing me is probably sticking me with a bunch of needles anyway. Just back off, walk away, leave me be, whatever. I can take care of myself well enough."

"I will do no such thing. All I'll give you is a single dose of medication. I've invented it myself. It helps with regeneration. Those nasty burns will clear up in a instant."

"In a instant. That sounds sort of funny to me. Is it a pill, a liquid or a powder?"

"It's a serum I've developed and it comes in many forms. It usually comes in liquid form but I've made it especially to be taken in other ways.It was meant to cure a specific kind of cancer. However it didn't work out quite as planned. It's quite safe I assure. I've even tried it myself. It does wonders for the skin".

"You sound like a beauty peddler."

"Yes I suppose I could make alot of money selling this particular serum but as you know I have no interest in money. Here give me your hands".

He gently took my reddened and blistered hands once more.

"So may I ask why you're being so nice?"

"You saved my life. Surely that has to count for something. I'm just returning the kindness. It's called compassion you should try it sometime".

"So do...you really love here?"

There I was trying to kill the awkwardness again.

"Yes I do most of the time.You didn't think I lived in the woods did you?"

"Hey I'm not one to judge. Whatever floats your boat and suits your fancy but you know this place is certainly very classy and it uh suits you".

"Why thank you. I'm so glad you approve. You can stay here if you like."

"For what reason? It seems ever since I've come here strange things keep happening one after the other. I don't know if I like it.So give me some good reasons and maybe I'll reconsider."

"Well you did say you wanted peace quiet seclusion. This place is very secluded. Hardly anyone ever comes here and it is ever so quiet. It's as Silent as the grave here. I could provide you with suitable living quarters. You'd be given plenty peace and privacy rest assured."

"So you're literally asking for a roommate?".

"Something of that nature, yes".

"Well I'll really have to think about it."

"Very well". he replied with a sigh.

"Well don't sound so disappointed. I just said I'd think about it. I didn't say I wouldn't. It's just I need to focus on this case. It's just as important for me as it is for you. I want these killings to stop just like you do. Nobody messes with my town. They mess with my town they mess with me."

"That's the spirit Maggie".

"Hey only my friends call me Maggie. Remember?"

"Aren't I your friend... yet?"

"Yes I suppose you are. So what about this medication Jeb?"

"Oh yes it's a ointment. One dose should be all you need."

"Yeah I should hope so. I'm not dosing up on some strange drug I don't know anything about."

"Would you like to apply it yourself or should I?"

"I'd rather do it myself thank you."

He produced a plastic bottle with a pale gold substance inside from his inner suit pocket.

"It might prove to be quite difficult with those hands. "

It dawned on me that I needed both hands to apply this weird lotion stuff and both of my hands we're somewhat compromised.

"Fine but if you get fresh with me I'm out of here".

He took a white handkerchief out of his front suit pocket while he flipped the lid open on the top of the bottle.

The gold substance sparkled slightly and oozed out onto to the handkerchief.

It was thick like lotion and it had strange waxy smell to it.

He then dabbed my wounds with the handkerchief ever so gently.

"So have you thought about staying here...at all?"

"Yes of course I've thought about it."

"I know you've thought about it but have you come to a decision yet?"

"It's been like 5 minutes. You nearly died, I almost got all the life drained out of me.

Give me a few minutes, so I can take a breathe, may be regain my strength.

Besides I can't even think straight right now.

I haven't even seen the rest of the place anyway. So cool it."

"So you're undecided".

"No I've thought about it and I haven't come to a decision yet. Oh please just leave me be".

Everything was getting blurry around the edges like Vaseline on a camera lense.

I wasn't making any sense.

"Perhaps you are right. Perhaps you should rest. Recover your strength, your energy and your life force. After all that link with the sentinels could have killed you. You are very fortunate to be alive."

"I do hope you didn't...drug me".

"What reason would I have to drug you?"

"Experiments, sexual gratification."

He chuckled hoarsely to himself.

"You're very funny. I admit I am a monster, a murderer at times, and yes I've done my fair share of experiments but I am not a predator at least not of young women.

I prey upon men mostly. Men who are foolish enough to think they can defeat me."

"So you have a thing for men huh?"

"No it isn't like that. Allow me to rephrase that, I don't prey on men, I challenge them and then I crush them out of existence".

"A little cat and mouse?"

"Yes I like to allow them a little room to escape but the moment they head for the exit I block it. After I block the way out then I kill them".

"Wow. Thank you for those gentle words. That makes me feel so much better. You really put it into perspective for me.

Yes I'd love to stay in the home of a mass murderer. Nothing spells home more than the smell of Death and formaldehyde.

Oh is that a hint of blood in the air, that's my favorite scent. Oh the low lighting and chrysanthemums and the scent of decaying flesh really gives the whole place a touch of class and elegance by the way.

The owner just happens to be a murderer, but no big deal, nobody's perfect. Oh I don't feel well".

"Are you finished with your mocking tirade?"

I tried to sit up but I felt like my feet had fallen in a invisible hole.

"You don't have to awnser. Save your strength. You need rest."

I could feel the strength of his hands steady me and he was slowly leading me somewhere.

"Don't touch me! Get your hands off me!"

I started frantically whirring my arms around like a loose windmill. I was trying to use a few of my karate moves but I was too loopy to manage to even do that properly.

The lights started to glimmer so fast I could hear the electricity sizzle.

There was a rush of voices that swiftly cane flooding into hallways. There was a thousand murmurs, a million whispering voices, ghostly, vague and resonating.

The world became dark and the room melted into ribbons of black.