[He'd given the other boy several chances. Many more than he might have if their paths had crossed one year ago, instead. But the time for being patient had passed.

Coming to a stop upon one of the steps, Kit placed his free hand upon the railing at his side and braced himself. Then, precisely when one of Vincent's feet was still in the air, he began...]

I see clearly a coward before me.

[There it was, a mounting pressure behind his eyes practically summoned by his choice of words, or perhaps the decision to speak them aloud. Could that strange otherworldly something read their minds?

And how was it behind them now? It didn't matter. Kit pressed on, letting the feeling of impending doom slip ever nearer, like Death stalking toward them down those stairs.]

Just as I saw you collapse. [His hand clenched the railing more tightly as the pain intensified. Black dots spotted his vision. But he did not surrender.] The same thing happened to me.

You saw someone who wished you dead, didn't you?

[Was that what that feeling was?

It was so close now, almost like...if he turned, he'd be face-to-face with the something and it would rip his tongue straight out of his mouth for daring to speak so boldly.]