It was getting to the end.
This was almost the last one. Hardly anyone was left.
That was good, it was definitely good, because suddenly it was all very, very tiring.
There was nobody else around, just the old man, and he was right where he was supposed to be. That's what was amazing about people. They were almost always right where they were supposed to be. They were so predictable. And "predictable" was another word for soft.
That was a good one, wasn't it? Who said that? Why was it so hard to remember stuff like that? Stuff like who said "predictable" was another word for soft.
Oh, well. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered except what had to be done here and now. And fast. There would be more people soon. There wasn't much time.
It had to be now.
The old man's back was turned. And he had something in his arms. Oh, that was just too perfect…
Go!
Three silent footsteps. Pick the knife up, the long, beautiful knife on the butcher-block table. Three more steps. He heard something. He's turning…
Slash down. Now! He's surprised. Oh, yes, he is. And he's staggering. This won't be hard, he's too old to fight you…
He's bleeding. He can't believe what he's seeing. He can't believe you're here and you're so strong. He can't believe he's going to die. None of them ever believed they were going to die.
Use the knife again. Stick him. Slice him. Slash him open and make sure he can never feel or think or ever, ever, ever tell anything he knows…
But the old man is strong, too. God, how can he be this strong? And why is he still struggling? Doesn't he know it's pointless to fight? It's pointless to struggle against death. Death always wins Stop fighting me!
Is he really this strong? Are you weakening? Is that possible? Are you getting weaker? No. No, no, no, no, no! You're just tired. You just need some sleep.
But no time to sleep.
No time.
You have to run. People are coming. They'll be here soon.
Sleep when it's all done. Sleep when you're safe. Sleep when it's over.
And it's almost over.
The old man wasn't fighting anymore. He wasn't moving anymore. He was perfectly still.
It's almost over…