The first officer turned back towards the doorway, Simon’s voice from the hall shocking him into action. The second officer, frightened and anxious, squeezed on the trigger of his gun. Blake’s bullet-ridden body fell to the ground, blood gushing from the various holes. “Damn,” Blake gasped, as life slipped out of his shell.

“BLAKE!” Simon screamed from the hallway, tears dripping down his face. They had barely known each other, and yet — in many ways — Blake had been his best friend, his closest ally.

“Containment! Containment!” shouted the Man In Black, as jolted by these events as the officers. And, as Simon could see in the man’s eyes, scared of what might happen next. And, Simon thought, he should be.

Simon sniffled, trying to dry his eyes. “Blake once killed an archangel with his bare hands,” he said. Simon could feel a fire burning deep in him, begging to escape. “And he had no where near the frakkin power I do.” Simon’s eyes exploded into balls of fire. “You’re all going to gorram pay now.”