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“Larry was dumb. He wanted power, but he was too lazy to take his own risks. So he tricked me into opening the door, because he thought he could control me. Afterward. When what was always inside me finally came ripping up to meet the waking world, all raw and naked and hungry.

“And he was so wrong it’s kind of funny.

“I live my life the way I was meant to now. I get up, and I get dressed, and I go out and meet someone new. And then we dance. And then I take what’s left of them home and sew it back together, and the whole thing starts over again.

“Winter’s better. They can’t smell you coming, at least not as well. But summer’s okay too, because by the time the cops find them there’s very little to even identify, and I’m gone long before they can.

“I keep my nose clean. I don’t get caught.

“But I’m lonely.

“And I don’t know how long I want to go on like this. But I don’t know how to stop, either. Or even if I can.

“So—

“—find me, Mike.

“And do whatever suits you, when you do.”

* * *

The parking lot behind King Fook’s. This is it, Adage thinks, through her haze.

At last.

She takes a last step, mainly for effect.

Sherri moans, runs straight into the back gate, scrabbles at it for a moment, then bounces back. It holds, locked tight for the night.

“God!” she screams.

Adage pauses to remove her coat, which is far, far too expensive to dry clean.

Sherri falls to her knees, sobbing, as much with anger as with fear.

And Adage starts to shake.

Sherri looks up, her cupped hands full of snot.

Adage throws her head back. The naked moon, visible at last, ripples in time to her shivering. A red joy cracks her ribs.

And Sherri just watches—

—as Adage rears up, full size, the corners of her mouth breaking open. Rips inch towards either ear. Impatient, she thrusts her hands inside, and pulls.

“Adage!”

To her right. From the elevators.

Sherri stumbles vertical, using the fence for support.

Adage turns, drooling blood.

In surprise: Mike?

He came.

The fence’s lock explodes.