contagion

I knew then I was going to die in the street without ever seeing Holly again. All because I tried to help an old woman, proving for all eternity that no good deed goes unpunished.

When I lifted up the skin, a fat kidney worm dripping with gore raised its bald, blind head and glared at me.

For an instant I saw before me the young girl this used to be.

She gave herself a hard twist and fell into a sitting position, staring at me with those maggot-filled doll__ eyes.

The sound of him drinking was indescribable__ike dirty runoff down a storm drain.

Remember. Observe, assess and act. No hesitation. No remorse.

__ighth one this week,_ he said.

What I learned in this tragedy was the eternal lesson of good people going bad.

Smiling, he handed Landry the bloody aluminum bat Warnick had used. __ime to die, old man,_ he said.

Drive. He__ already dead.

This place is Hell__ waiting room.

I thought if I loved you enough I could change you. I was so stupid.

I was a spectator who had gotten free admission to a freak show.

It__ not about winning, it__ about doing what__ right. And yes, we will do what__ right.

A riverless silence made the air heavy.

She played me with a bad hand, and I fell for it every time.

Even now I can__ describe the fear that contaminated my blood like black ink.

__here__ no time for right or wrong,_ I said.