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Trevor turned。 His eyes were like holes drilled in a glacier； black gouges going down deep into the ice。 His face looked hollow； haggard； used up。 His skull seemed to be trying to wear right through the skin。
〃He saw me；〃 said Trevor。 〃He saw me in here。〃
〃Who？ When？〃
〃My father。〃 There was recognition in Trevor's eyes； but no warmth。 Looking into them was like falling through the void again。 〃He saw me e in here that night。 He talked to me。〃
Oh man； thought Zach； bad trip。 Bad； bad trip。 〃Where were you？〃 he asked cautiously。
〃Birdland。〃
Of course。 Where else？ 〃No； I mean 。 。 。〃 What the hell did he mean？ 〃I mean； where were you on the space…time continuum？ When were you？〃
〃This house。 That night。 I saw my mother dead。 I saw my brother dead。 Then I came in here and Bobby was alive； was sitting on the bed deciding whether to kill me。 He saw me； spoke to me； and decided he couldn't do it。 It was my own fault。〃
〃I don't understand。 You mean you woke up and talked him out of it？〃
〃NO！ He saw me the way I am NOW！ He talked to ME NOW； and then he went and HUNG HIMSELF！ LOOK AT THIS！ DON'T YOU SEE？〃 Trevor gestured wildly with the hammer。 A tiny gobbet of gore hit Zach's already…bloody lip。 He shrank back against the wall and surreptitiously wiped it away。
〃He talked to you at age twenty…five？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃He was haunted by your ghost。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Shit。〃 Zach's head was beginning to clear a little； it almost made sense。 He thought of loops； which were puter programs designed to repeat a set of instructions until a certain condition was satisfied。 Zach had previously suspected that hauntings； if they existed； might operate on much the same principle。 This was borne out by most of New Orleans' famous ghost stories； in which the ghost usually appeared in the same place and repeated the same actions again and again； such as pointing at the spot where its bones were buried or rolling its decapitated head down the stairs。
The idea still seemed to make sense somehow。 This was one hell of a plicated program； but maybe Trevor had managed to break into the loop。
A drop of blood landed on Zach's chest； trickled in a wavy line down his ribs。 Then Trevor reached out and laid the head of the hammer ever so gently against Zach's face。 He traced the curve of Zach's jawline with it； stroked the underside of Zach's chin with the claw。 The metal felt cold； slightly rough； horribly sticky。 Trevor's face was exalted； nearly ecstatic。
〃Trev？〃 Zach asked softly。 〃What are you doing？〃
〃I'm getting ready。〃
〃For what？〃
〃The puzzle of flesh。〃
Whatever that means。 〃Okay。 I'll help you with that if you want。 But could you put the hammer down？〃
Trevor just looked at him with those drilled…ice eyes。
〃Please？〃 Zach's voice was little more than a hoarse whisper now。
Very slowly； Trevor shook his head。 〃I can't；〃 he said； and raised the hammer high。 His eyes never left Zach's。 They were full of lust； pleading； naked terror。 Zach saw clearly that Trevor didn't want to be doing this； hated doing this； he saw just as clearly that this was the only thing in the world Trevor wanted to be doing。
He also saw the trajectory of the hammer： next stop； Zach's own beloved pineal gland； the spot where his third eye would be。 Zach slid off the other side of the mattress； scrambled around the bed； and tried to get to the door； but Trevor followed and blocked him。 The hammer crashed into the wall； tore through a drawing。 Brittle fragments of paper sifted to the floor。
〃WHAT ARE YOU DOING？〃 Zach yelled。
〃I'm finding out what it feels like。〃
〃WHY？！〃
〃Because I'm an artist；〃 Trevor said through gritted teeth。 〃I need to know。〃 He caught Zach's right arm and forced him back against the wall。 Trevor was only slightly bigger and stronger； but he seemed to have the mother of all adrenaline rushes pumping through his veins。 He raised the hammer again。
〃Trevor…please； I love you…〃
〃I love you too； Zach。〃 He heard genuine truth in Trevor's voice； saw the hammer descending and flung himself sideways。 The blow glanced off his shoulder； and the muscle sang with pain。
Trevor pulled the hammer back。 Zach got his left arm up； grabbed Trevor's wrist； locked his elbow and held Trevor's arm away with all his strength。 It was slippery with sweat and blood； hard to hang on to。 He stared deep into Trevor's eyes。
〃Listen to me； Trev。〃 His heart felt like a ripe tomato in a blender。 He gasped for breath。 Trevor strained against him。 〃Why do you need to know how it feels to kill somebody？ You have an imagination； don't you？〃
Trevor blinked； but did not stop shoving his body against Zach's。
〃Your imagination is better than Bobby's。 He might've had to do it to find out how it felt。 You don't。〃
Trevor hesitated。 His grip on Zach's arm eased the slightest bit； and Zach saw his chance。 Fight back for once！ his mind screamed。 Don't think about what he'll do to you if you fuck up！ You'll be dead for sure if you don't try； and so will he。 Just DO IT！
Zach let out a long wordless howl and drove his knee straight up into Trevor's crotch。 At the same time he shoved Trevor's arm backward as hard as he could。 The angle of the knee thrust was bad； but it caught Trevor by surprise and threw him off balance。 Zach twisted Trevor's wrist brutally； and Trevor lost his grip on the hammer。 It sailed across the room； hit the opposite wall with a loud crack； thudded to the floor。
If Trevor went after it； Zach decided； he would make a break for the door and try to get out of the house。 Maybe Trevor would follow him。 Maybe things would be saner outside。
Trevor's eyes were very wide； very pale。 He stared at Zach with something like admiration； something like love。 His gaze was hypnotic； Zach could not make himself move。
〃Fine then；〃 Trevor said softly。 〃I always imagined doing it with nothing but my hands。〃
He lunged。
Zach dodged aside and managed to get to the door； then through it。 Trevor was right behind him； blocking the way out； driving him down the hall。 He tried for the studio； thinking he could go out a window。 Trevor caught a handful of his hair and yanked him off his feet。 Zach's neck snapped back。 He stumbled heavily against Trevor； and Trevor pinned his arms。
〃I just want to know how you're made；〃 Trevor breathed in his ear。 〃I love you so much； Zach。 I want to climb inside you。 I want to taste your brain。 I want to feel your heart beating in my hands。〃
〃It can only beat in your hands for a few seconds； Trev。 Then I'll be dead and you won't have me anymore。〃
〃Yes I will。 You'll be right here。 This place preserves its dead。〃 Like hitting a SAVE key； Zach thought； and that reminded him of loops again。 Had some kind of homicidal loop been set in motion in Trevor's head？
And if it had； how could he interrupt it？
He felt Trevor's sharp hipbones pressing into his buttocks； Trevor's arms wrapped tightly around his chest。 For a moment the contact was nearly erotic。 He thought Trevor felt it too； his penis was stirring against the back of Zach's leg； growing half…hard。
Then Trevor lowered his head an