It rained. The alley behind his building was soaked in red light. Vireon stood in shadow, his voice a silk noose.
"You've seen the cracks, Julian. You've heard the voice beneath the stone."
Julian gripped a broken pipe. "Get the hell away from me."
Vireon laughed. "Hell? Oh no. I offer you purpose."
He reached forward. Julian swung. The pipe shattered. So did his ribs. Vireon didn't hit him—he simply commanded his bones to break.
"Serve me… or die forgotten."
Julian spat blood. "Kill me."
"Not yet."