As Eddie sat in the hospital chair, he couldn't help a feeling a 'deja - vous'. He felt like he had lived this part again sometime before, the only difference was that it wasn't an unidentifiable memory but one he could place exactly in his past. He could still see himself waiting in the hospital back in the USA, waiting for Rey to recover from the… the what? He never could find a proper name for what Jacob had done to Rey. Hell he named it and he preferred not to think of it too often.
When Chris told him about Rey after their match, he was mad as hell for not being told sooner. He had left the arena running, barely changing into street clothes. There were so many questions filling his head and at the hospital they gave him little answers. He was told to wait until a doctor would come to fill him in.
Chris was with him but Eddie had chosen to sit separately. He didn't want to see anyone, or hear any ones excuses. He was angry for not being told, but what made his teeth gnash was Dave's involvement. He couldn't figure out why the hell he had disappeared. What had he done to Rey? Because that is how it seemed to them, like Dave had done something to Rey and then he had vanished out of guilt or remorse or whatever reason. The entire WWE was out looking for Batista while Eddie and Chris waited at the hospital.
Chris heard the elevator doors open and Mark Callaway walked right up to him. He stood in front of the sitting Canadian and judging from his gaze, there was nothing new to report.
"Mark, what are you doing here? Go rest. It's late. We probably won't be able to see Rey until morning."
Mark just looked at Eddie sitting alone in the far corner of the waiting lounge.
"Do you think I did wrong?" Benoit asked "About not saying anything earlier?"
"No. Besides Teddy already knew." He answered briefly still looking at the Mexican far away.
"So what are you doing here?"
"I'm not sure yet" he mumbled almost to himself.
"What does that mean?"
Mark didn't answer. He turned his gaze on Chris.
"How's Eddie?"
"He has been sitting there alone… I think…" but didn't finish his thought. He wanted to say that Eddie was probably thinking of Rey's past, of how much he had seen the small man suffer in the hands on those lunatics, how he had seen him struggle to survive, but he bit his tongue. Mark didn't know and he didn't have to know. So Chris fell silent for a while.
"Eddie's not good" he said finally to Mark's question. "Too many memories I guess."
"You are lying" Mark spat back as he got up from his chair. "But it's OK. I understand." He put his hands in his pockets and took few steps away leaving Chris taken aback. Before leaving him alone again, Mark turned and spoke loudly so that Eddie could hear him.
"Call Adam"
"Why?" Eddie asked from a distance.
"Because if I'm right, he is the only one who can save Rey"
"Save Rey? From what?"
Mark just smiled bitterly.
"Just call him. He has to be here…"
And walked away. Both wrestlers watched him leave and then looked at each other. They had completely forgotten about the tall Canadian back home. Someone would have to tell him soon and neither man wanted to be the one to bear bad news. Chris buried his face in his palms. Eddie stood up fed up with just sitting idle and walked to find a pay phone.
He dialled Adam's cell phone.
"Hello?"
"Hello homez…"
"Eddie? Is that you?"
"Si… listen homez… I have to… you need to…' but Eddie couldn't find the right words to tell him.
"Oh no…" he heard Adam hopelessness on the other end of the line. "Please tell me… Eddie please… is he…?" he dared not think of it.
"No he is not dead. Adam, I am worried. I don't have a clue what's going on. They said he had whiplashes on his back! Chris saw him… it was like someone had taken a whip and unleashed his fury on him. And Dave is gone. He picked up Rey from the hospital yesterday and last time he was seen leaving his room covered in blood. Rey was in his room when they found him… Adam… I am scared… and I don't know what to do…"
Adam heard Eddie sob. Somehow he knew this phone call was bringing bad news. The moment he had heard its ringing, the dream had popped to his mind. And then he knew that something bad had happened to Rey.
"Adam he needs you…" he ended saying, not sure what he was asking him though. He wasn't sure if Mark's words were affecting him or if it was something else, however he felt that Adam's presence was necessary.
Adam paused. He closed his eyes and felt despair rising up his throat. There was nothing he wouldn't do for his soul mate. Nothing.
"I am coming"
Mark walked among the hospital corridors silently keeping his hands in his coat's pockets. He had found out what had happened to Rey in full details and he didn't like it one bit. There was something different in the air, something he preferred not to think about. He wished he was wrong about what he thought it was. He hadn't seen it before, nor witnessed it, but he sure had read about it in dusted books and heard the stories from old crazed mouths. He was told what he ought to do; only he didn't want to do it because of what it entailed for everybody concerned. He didn't deny his own fear.
'Fear is good sometimes… helps you survive'
That's what someone had told him, a very long time ago. That someone was now dead, and Mark doubted he would have been able to help even if he were alive. It was his mentor, someone that had taught Mark everything he knew on demons and the occult.
Having chosen the gimmick of the Undertaker for the WWE was not a random choice. It was his mentor's idea and it was a brilliant one too. It provided the perfect cover and the perfect excuse. They had spent years working together, Mark learning everything he could and the old man teaching, and sometimes being taught. It was the old man that had mentioned demons to Mark and had showed him how to fight them back to the bowels of hell.
Too bad the old man had to die to save him.
Too bad nobody would ever know about him.
He stood before a window looking out the night and the city. Europe had a different air from the USA. It was a different world, a different universe at times, but under the stars and the dark sky, it was just like every other city of the damned.
And he knew. He had seen a lot of them.
He… he just wished none of this had happened to him or his friends. Before dying his mentor had reminded him how hard this 'job' can be.
'You have to be ready for everything… ready to fight, battle with all you've got… but remember Mark, there are times when one man can not defeat the mightiest demon. And you my child, you have to remember that you are just a man. At times like these you must be ready to kill. Even if it means killing your own child; for if those demons come to earth, there are no words to describe the destruction they'll bring upon mankind!'
His eyes fell upon the moon… the silver moon that would soon become full. Mark had to hurry. He would have to find out who he was dealing with tonight and take action… even if it meant…
'No…' he gritted his teeth chasing away his morbid thought. Tonight he would have to find out the demon, and then he would have to wait for Adam. If his intuition was right, he would hold the solution, he would have to be the key to saving Rey's soul. He had to…
His steps brought him back to the lobby where Benoit and Eddie stood. A doctor was with them speaking in low tones, making it impossible for Mark to discern but judging from their reaction Rey had to be alive. But there was also a hint of a nasty surprise, a dark glow in their eyes. As he approached the doctor was leaving shaking their hands.
"What did he say?" Mark asked.
Benoit was quick to reply.
"He said he's doing just fine. There was a lot of blood loss but they managed to restore him to his normal levels."
He paused shooting a side glance at Eddie who stood eerily silent.
"And?"
"He had whip lashes on his back… thirty three of them… and knife stabbings on his chest."
Chris finished his sentence and sighing leaned against the wall. Mark just looked at Eddie coldly.
"Did you call Adam like I said?"
"Yeah, I did." Eddie spat back. "He said he is coming. He should be here tomorrow early afternoon"
"Good. Now, let's go."
"Go? Go where?" Chris asked surprised.
"See Rey"
"We can't" he stuttered. "The doc said he's heavily sedated."
"All the better for us" he finished smirking and lead the way to Rey's room.
All three came to a halt in front of Rey's door.
"What do you want to do in there? He can't hear you essa! He is sleeping."
"If he is who I think he is, he won't be asleep" and stepped inside leaving the other two stunned in silence.
Rey's room was dimly lit with no other furniture other than the bed, the nightstand and no windows.
'Good' Mark thought. 'Windows are bad. They let the dead get in'.
Rey lay on the bed chest down, his torso wrapped up in clean bandages to cover the freshly patched up wounds and his eyes closed, apparently sleeping ignorant of his surroundings. While Eddie and Chris stood by the door a little uneasy about what was happening, Mark came a stood by the bed. Rey's face was turned to him, but still he didn't wake up. Mark searched his jacket's pocket and took out a small wooden cross hanged from a leather cord. He wrapped it around his hand and held the cross firmly in his palm.
Eddie and Chris heard him speak some words they couldn't understand, in some foreign language and they took a few steps forward towards the feet of the bed. Whatever Mark was saying, or chanting in a low whispering voice, was deeply affecting Rey.
He was still seemingly asleep, but his colour had changed to a light shade of grey and his breath was coming out deeper and slower. They noticed Mark one hand with the cross hovering above Rey's forehead and his other hand in the air above his back. He too had his eyes closed, and a drop of sweat ran down his face, but he didn't stop. The words now came out clearer from his mouth, echoing in the walls of the bare room. Chris looked blankly at his Latino friend who shared his exact feelings; surprise, a little bit of fear and anxiety.
As Mark's words became clearer they also became louder. Once he finished whatever he was chanting, he turned and looked at the two men.
"What I am about to do may scare you. I don't want you to panic. Just remember it's for Rey's sake… Trust me… trust in me and what I am doing…When I begin, he will wake up but it won't be Rey. At this time, he will try to escape and harm us. That is when I want you to hold him down. Chris, you'll hold him down from his ankles. Eddie… you will grab his hands and keep them immobilised for as long as I need."
"Hold it… are you saying what I think you are?" Chris asked. "This is ridiculous."
"I don't understand…" Eddie added not willing to follow either man's course of thought. Chris turned angrily and made it clear even for Latino Heat.
"Mark over here thinks Rey is possessed."
"Possessed?"
"Yes… from what Mark? An evil spirit? The devil?"
"That is the point. I need to know who we are dealing with before I try to take it out."
"Oh you will try to 'take it out'? Who are you? The exorcist?" Chris asked sarcastically.
"Something like that. Listen… we don't have time to play 20 questions. We have to do this part at least tonight."
"This part?" Eddie asked numbly.
"Yes. I will force IT to reveal its name to me. For the second part, we will need Adam's help… now, please, either help me or leave." Mark's tone of voice left no choice. They came closer to the bed, each man taking his own position. Mark rapped again the cord around his hand and adjusted the cross tightly between his fingers and his palm. He brought his hand above Rey's forehead. When he spoke again, his voice was strong, confident, commanding.
"Lord, have mercy
Christ, have mercy.
God, the Father in heaven.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world.
God, the Holy Spirit.
Holy Trinity, one God.
Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Deliver us, O Lord.
From all sin,
From your wrath,
From sudden and unprovided death,
From the snares of the devil,
From anger, hatred, and all ill will,
From all lewdness,
From lightning and tempest,
From the scourge of earthquakes,
From plague, famine, and war,
From everlasting death.
God, by your name save me, and by your might defend my cause.
God, hear my prayer; hearken to the words of my mouth.
Save your servant.
Who trusts in you, my God.
Let him find in you, Lord, a fortified tower.
In the face of the enemy.
Let the enemy have no power over him.
And the son of iniquity be powerless to harm him.
Lord, send him aid from your holy place.
And watch over him from Sion."
Mark paused. He took a deep breath and shot one last glance at the two men, who still were in disbelief. But Mark knew that what would follow would change their lives forever.
"I command you, unclean spirit, whoever you are, along with all your minions now attacking this servant of God, by the mysteries of the incarnation, passion, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, by the descent of the Holy Spirit, by the coming of our Lord for judgment, that you tell me by some sign your name, and the day and hour of your departure. I command you, moreover, to obey me to the letter, I who am a minister of God despite my unworthiness; nor shall you be emboldened to harm in any way this creature of God, or the bystanders, or any of their possessions."
Rey's face became distorted with rage, hate and spite. He opened his eyes and hissed angrily. Mark was not surprised to see the man's eyeballs completely covered with the unworldly colour of blood red. He let out a scream with a voice coming straight from the bowels of hell. Eddie's and Chris' heart both sank in horror and still in disbelief. However when Rey spoke again, his voice was not his own. It was a low, coarse, cunning and scornful one directed to Mark.
"UTUG XUL
ALA XUL
GIDIM XUL
MULLA XUL
MASQIM XUL
ZI ANNA KANPA"
Eddie shivered at these words, and although he couldn't understand them, somehow he could feel how evil they were. He was about to speak and ask what had he said, but he didn't have the chance. Mark immediately grabbed Rey from the back of his neck with his free hand and held his down on the mattress. He ignored the hissing gargling sounds emitted from Rey, and pushed the wooden cross onto Rey's forehead. Instinctively Chris grabbed Rey's ankles and Eddie followed his example and gripped his hands and held them down.
Rey started to toss and turn, hiss and moan.
Mark spoke again
"Be silent evil one. Your spells will not work on me. I command you, unclean spirit, in the name of our Lord that you tell me your name." he almost shouted.
Rey stopped fighting and a sickening laugh came out of his mouth. His blood eyeballs darkened still, and the evil spoke at last obeying the command it was given.
"Aaa…sssss….mo…daaaaiiii" it hissed, its voice trailing and then laughter again, making their skin crawl.
Mark laid his hand on the head of Rey, and said.
"They shall lay their hands upon the sick and all will be well with them. May Jesus, Son of Mary, Lord and Saviour of the world, through the merits and intercession of His holy apostles Peter and Paul and all His saints, show you favour and mercy. May the blessing of almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, come upon you and remain with you forever."
Then he said some words unknown to the Eddie and Chris, words spoken under his breath, silently like a breeze that seemed to have a great effect upon the evil spirit. Again it hissed in anger and terrible wrath and before Mark could say his last Amen, it spoke.
"I shall return. You can not defeat me. I shall return to claim once more what is rightfully mine"
"Amen" Mark whispered finishing his prayer. Then Rey's body went limb and is eyes closed, falling into his deep slumber. A few moments passed before either man released Rey. They were plainly stunned to the fact of what they had just witnessed. It was then Eddie realised he was holding his breath and he was pretty sure, Chris was doing exactly the same thing. He opened his mouth to speak, but Mark stopped them.
"Not in here. It is still listening. Out…" he ordered and the others followed.
They were sitting a few paces away from Rey's room, all three silent. Eddie was staring at the door. Chris was finding the floor much more interesting than the door, and Mark was starring into the void, his mind absent to the present, thinking, trying to find the right key to the small man's absolution. It was Eddie who broke the silence.
"I… I can't believe it…"
"If you can't believe it then Rey is truly doomed."
"What was that?" Chris interfered but Mark did not respond to the question asked. It had hit bull's-eye. Really what was that? He knew who IT was. His mentor had seen it, he had fought it in the past and he had taught his pupil about it. He knew what he was required to do, but this way was not an acceptable option.
No… killing Oscar was not an option.
He had to find another solution…
There had to be another way other than the ritual death of salvation as dictated in the Book of Tobit and in the Malleus Maleficarum.
He got up and started to leave.
"Hey where are you going?" Eddie asked.
"Look for another way to end this."
"Another?" they both asked in surprised.
"What was the first way?" Chris asked.
"It doesn't matter. It is not an option."
"What are we supposed to do when Rey wakes up?"
"The best thing to do is take him away from here."
"Oh! And how do you suggest we do this?" Chris once more asked in sarcasm. "He is in a hospital. If we try and take him out, someone is going to notice. And, let's not forget Vince, the company, the roster, the production… Mark… Come on!"
Chris had a point. Getting Rey out of here would be a difficult task. And even if they somehow did manage to get him out, they would have to find a place to hide until Mark found a way to fight this demon.
"You just don't get it do you?" anger flashed wildly in his eyes. "You don't have a clue what we are dealing with do you? This is neither a game nor a movie where everything ends well, and they all live happily ever after. This is Asmodai… And he… IT is a demon, it is one of the kings of hell…" he paused not really shocked with the look he was given , one of surprise and disbelief. "Make no mistake. This IS Satan!"
He started to leave again.
"Wait for Adam first, and then take him out of here and get him to a motel or something, somewhere… anywhere… as long as it is far away and isolated. But whatever you do, just do not let Rey wake up. If he wakes up before I come, then we have a big problem."
And left in a hurry.
"De puta madre!" Eddie cursed and banged his fist on the wall. "How are we going to do this? I still can't believe what's happening… I feel like I am trapped in a nightmare, expecting to wake up any minute now. Mierda!"
"Eddie calm down. I'm having some trouble believing it too, but…"
"But what?"
"What if he is right? You saw what happened in there. And he seemed to know what he was doing. You have to admit that whoever lies in that room, he sure is not out Rey Rey."
"What are we going to do?"
"We don't have many options, do we? We have to do as he told us, take it one step at a time and pray to God that he makes it and we don't get caught. Listen… I'm going to back to the hotel, take some of our stuff, then find a place to hide Rey. If I have time, I'll come back, if not I am going to pick up Adam from the airport and meet you here. I'll tell him everything. In the meantime, you can stay here, and keep an eye on Rey."
"What do I do when he wakes up and it's not Oscar but this 'Asmodai'?" Eddie asked, his eyes innocently open wide baring holes in Chris' heart.
"You're gonna have to find a way to keep him sedated. I trust you Eddie. If anyone can do this, you can. If anybody comes and asks, find a way to get rid of them until we come."
He put his hand on Eddie's shoulder and gave him the most sympathetic look he had available. It was true that the facts were going faster than anyone could grasp, and they didn't have time to process them properly. And perhaps it was for the best. If they could just for one second just hold still and think about everything unrolling before their eyes, then either man would go crazy. Dealing with the powers of the supernatural and the occult was beyond their wildest nightmares. It took a certain amount of control, knowledge and inner strength for someone to be able to look straight into the abyss and not get lost in its labyrinth. And both wrestlers did not have what it took.
But Mark did. And he was not really sure if he would eventually find a way to save Rey's soul from the beast.
One thing they all knew was that they couldn't let him perish into the flames of hell and let him suffer for an eternity.
"Eddie, whatever happens… you have to remember that it's our friend in there. We have to do whatever it takes. We cannot loose him."
And he too left, leaving the Mexican standing in the empty silent corridor alone and frightened.
How could anyone start to deal with such a thing? This was uncharted territory for him. He did believe in God, but his faith was not as strong as Rey's. How can a man with so much faith and love, with such an innocent heart end up the puppet of the Beast? For as long as he could remember, Rey had always had a spark in his eyes! They were so clear, like mirrors, always reflecting love, happiness and hope. He never let anything bring him down; he always looked at the bright side of life, at everything positive and he had such a way of transmitting these feelings to the people around him! That is why he was so popular among the boys in the roster. It was impossible to hate him.
So then, why? How? It was true, he didn't know much about the devil and hell, but he always thought that if one's belief in God was strong, there was no way of becoming a pawn in Satan's game.
If this indeed was a game!
He had so many questions turning in his mind, swirling around like a twister but he chased them away. If he kept this pace, soon he would end up being a permanent patient in the psychiatric ward of this hospital. He decided to look around. It was very late, and no one was around. With a little luck, he would find the place where they kept the drugs. Maybe there he would find a sedative… just in case they would need to keep Rey knocked out.
He hoped the occasion would not present itself.
The flight was taking too long. He didn't remember the trip to the UK ever being as long as this time. From the moment he had boarded the plane, he had started counting the minutes to landing in London. He had no idea what was expecting him. He had thought all possible scenarios but none even came close to the truth. His mind had stepped over the red zone and he had lost all capability in putting two and two together. Which was weird! Back when Rey was fighting for his life in the hospital after his ordeal with Adam's father, he didn't remember feeling or acting so frantic or unreasonable. But this time, he had a strange gut feeling of emergency, like a bright red alarm had switched on the moment Rey had left the country. And this feeling only got worse when Rey called him from the hospital and told him all the weird things that had taken place. However Rey hadn't given him the chance to react. He had hung up the phone in hurry leaving him with a bizarre sense of goodbye, like they would never see each other again.
When Eddie had called later, he hadn't said much. Only that it was imperative to fly as soon as possible to his meet his love. The sentiment of a life and death situation lingered, but it was really Eddie's tone of voice that brought Adam over the edge.
When he landed finally, it was afternoon and the sad dim sky left no margins of hope. The rain and thick black clouds were menacing, like they were omens of bad things to come. He didn't wait to pick up his bags, because he had only a small one and he had taken it on board with him. He had left the USA in such a hurry, that he had hardly packed a few clothes. Once he passed the passport control and got out in search for a taxi, he was stopped suddenly from the familiar sight of the Crippler waiting patiently by the exit.
Adam was both relieved and alarmed to see his fellow Canadian. But once he took a closer look into his eyes, all traces of relief vanished. If Chris was here, then things were much worse than he expected. He swallowed hard, his dry neck almost hurting. His heart was pounding and he did try to put his racing breath in control. He approached him fast with pleading eyes.
"Am… Am I too late?" he stuttered. No other words were uttered. He didn't think of greeting his friend, nor thank him for the trouble of picking him up. But Chris was not offended. He could very well understand the tornado raging inside the tall man. How would he explain what had happened? How would Adam react? The blond man's eyes were red and he was this close in bursting in tears.
"Chris! Am I too late?"
"No… I don't think so…"
"What... what does that mean?"
"It's a long story… and complicated. Come, we will talk in the car on our way back."
They got into a taxi, both sitting at the back. Once they left the airport area and entered the highway that would lead them to the hospital, Chris figured it was explaining time. Keeping his voice low, he reckoned it was best to start with a question.
"Adam, what do you know so far? Has Rey told you anything?"
"I… I talked to him on the phone sometime yesterday. He was at the hospital. He told me what happened on the airplane and then at the hotel room, about his dream, the incident with his wrists… he… told me how scared he was whatever was threatening him… but he didn't give me any chance to understand. He just hung up… and I never had the chance to ask him anything. That's as far as I know…"
"Well," Chris picked up the story lowering his voice more so that the driver could not hear was they were saying. "Dave picked him up from the hospital"
"Who? Batista?"
"He was supposed to pick him up and drive him to the hotel. Rey was not medically cleared to wrestle so he would stay and rest, and miss last night's show... I overslept and I was one of the last to leave the hotel for the arena. As I was leaving I swear I saw Dave sneaking out half naked, blood on him. I called out to him, but when he saw me he took the stairs running. That's when I heard a woman shouting from Dave's room. I ran over there and that's when I saw Rey…"
At this point he stopped. He had to find the right words to describe what he had seen, but in the end he figured that the best thing was to just say it, without the gory details. Adam didn't need those. He was already too stressed out.
"He had whiplashes on his back, the doc said thirty-three of them and stab wounds on his chest. We took him to the hospital where the doctors said he would be fine… but that is not why Eddie called you…"
Again he stopped. This was the most difficult part to explain. How would he take it? How would he accept the bitter reality?
"Please Chris, just say it… I'm dying over here."
"Adam…" he sighed. "Mark Callaway came to visit… and… he…well…"
"Fuck Chris what?" he shouted startling the taxi driver.
"All three of us went in Rey's room and there Mark started chanting, praying in some weird language. Soon Rey, although heavily sedated woke up, but he was not Rey…"
"I'm lost. What are you talking about? I don't understand"
"Adam just shut up and let me finish… Rey woke up but his eyes, they were red… I mean his eyeballs were all bloody and his voice was so unworldly, so scary… evil… Mark said some prayers and that's when it got really freaky… Rey was acting like a possessed one… like… like that girl in the movie… the exorcist… shit man… it was terrifying. We had to hold him down with all our strength so he wouldn't hurt us or himself. Mark asked him his name and this thing hissed like a snake, a guttural voice and said it was Asmodai…"
Chris had to pause to catch his breath. Everything was coming back to him, all the details, all the emotions, the sickening details… it was too much…
"We… we asked Mark who this Asmodai is… he said it is… one of the kings of hell…"
To his surprise Adam did not say one word. He just turned his gaze away towards the country outside at the rain that fell hard on the windows. Chris was not sure what he should do. He thought of leaving him some space but there were more that ought to be told.
"Adam! I know how this sounds but there is no time. Mark has left us with some instructions to…"
"How does he know? Why do you do what he says?"
"Trust me… he wants to help. It was he who came and told us about Asmodai and the possession. It was with his help that we figured out what we were dealing with. And it was he who didn't want to end this last night…"
"End it?" Adam asked surprised.
"Yes. Once he found out his name, he told us there was a way to end it but he couldn't accept it and as far as I could tell, the first way of chasing IT away was…"
"What?"
"Killing Oscar…"
Adam's eyes filled with sorrow and despair. His heart sank deeper and no words came to him; no sentences to express his broken heart.
"I know how it sounds… And I know how hard it is to believe it, but we have to trust him. If there is a way to save Rey and spare his life he is the only one who can find it… but WE have to act fast…"
"What do you mean?" his voice broke.
"We have to sneak Rey out from the hospital and take him to a motel just outside London. Mark will meet us there and hopefully this will be over before dawn."
Adam turned his gaze away again and looked outside but the country side that lead to the big city seemed dead and empty. It held no beauty, no meaning to him. He just wished he had the time to think. He had so many questions and so many doubts. But one thing he never doubted was Rey's love and his own.
The city lights appeared in the far horizon and for the first time Adam had two exact opposite feelings. One half of his heart longed to see Rey again so bad, and the other half didn't from fear of what he would find.
So he sank deeper in the back seat and wished he could cry his pain out.