Стив и Призрак

And anyway, it didn't matter that he had to leave New Orleans so soon. The city was in his blood. He would be back; there was always time.

Ghost closed his eyes and tried to send Steve strength.

For a few minutes they stood outside the hospital in the cool dawn.

Just before they left the room, Nothing had pulled the shade up. As the first ray of light touched the bodies of Zillah and Christian, their flesh began to smolder and crumble. In less than an hour it was only ash.

The fresh bloodstains were like badges. The smell of them twisted his heart, but he wore them with pride.

Nothing hated to leave so soon. He had spent only two nights here, one of them puking his guts out. It wasn't fair.He smiled, though it barely touched his lips. Fair? How long had it been since he expected things to be fair? If you wanted something, you didn't wait for the world to deal it out to you; you took it.

He nibbled at Christian's torn heart and pronounced it bitter.

"I did it the way I wanted to," he told them, and no one had anything to say to that.

He thought of never again having anyone tell him what to do.
<…>
Life was his now.

But even that was worth something. Nothing was amazed at how calm he felt.