'GET UP,' THE THOUGHT RUNS THROUGH HIS HEAD IN A FLAT VOICE BUT HE IS PARALYZED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SHOWER. HE CAN FEEL PAIN RADIATING UP THOUGH THE BASE OF HIS BODY, UP HIS TAILBONE AND SPINAL CORD LIKE A PIKE SQUELCHED IN. STUCK ON A PIKE AND LEFT TO ROAST IN THE SUN. BURNING. SEARING. 'GET UP.' "DID YOU FALL DOWN?" SAYS A VOICE FROM JUST OUTSIDE THE BATHROOM, SOMEONE STEPPING IN. HE CAN'T LOOK UP. THERE'S BLOOD SPIRALING THROUGH THE WATER SUCKING DOWN THE DRAIN BENEATH HIM. HE IS CLENCHING INTO THE FETAL POSITION. THERE'S A SOUND LIKE A BEATEN DOG FROM SOMEWHERE HIGH UP IN HIS CHEST. CAN FEEL HIS MOUTH PULLED BACK INTO A LONG TIGHT HOLE LIKE SCAR TISSUE, A THIN LIPPED SMILE-LOOKING GRIMACE. HE THINKS OF THE DOG IN HIS CHEST PANTING LIKE HE'D SEEN DOGS DO WHEN THEY WERE HAPPY. HE THINKS OF THE WHITES OF THE DOG'S WILDLY ROLLING EYES. "OH." THIS MAN'S NAME IS JORDAN OR JOEY. HE COULDN'T PULL THE SHOWER CURTAIN CLOSED WHEN HE FIRST GOT IN AND NOW JORDAN OR JOEY IS STANDING THERE IN THE OPEN BATHROOM DOORWAY STARING INTO THE BOTTOM OF HIS SHOWER WHERE HE IS HIDING. HE WANTS TO TURN FLUID AND MELT DOWN THE DRAIN INTO THE SEWER SYSTEM, AWAY FROM HIM STARING. THE PHANTOM PIKE STABBED UP INTO HIS INTESTINES IS WHITE HOT NICKEL. HE IMAGINES HIMSELF COOKING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. SIZZLING SLOWLY. "ARE YOU OKAY?" JORDAN OR JOEY'S VOICE AND WORDS SAY ONE THING BUT HIS SNEERING FACE SAYS SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFFERENT. THE CEILING LAMP BEHIND THEM THROWS HIS SHADOW OVER HIS PRONE BODY, BLACK, THICK, LIKE A TIRE TREAD CUTTING ACROSS THE CENTER OF HIM. HE SAYS, 'I'M FINE PLEASE LEAVE' BUT IT COMES OUT AS A HIGH-PITCHED WHINING FROM SOMEBODY ELSE. SOMEBODY IN HIS BODY THAT ISN'T HIM. HE REFUSES TO BELIEVE THIS IS HIMSELF. (HE THINKS OF JORDAN OR JOEY'S ENTIRE HAND - ENTIRE FIST - INSIDE HIS BODY PUSHING FORWARD HARD AGAINST THE SLAMMED-DOWN RESISTANCE. HE THINKS OF HIM REACHING UP FURTHER AND PUNCTURING THROUGH HIS DIAPHRAGM AND CLAWING HIS WAY UPWARDS TO HIS HEART AND SQUEEZING TIGHT UNTIL IT RUPTURED IN HIS FIST LIKE AN OVERRIPE PEACH.)