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Alex noticed with a passing surprise that there was almost no pain. Not enough to stop or hinder him, anyway. Alex stood, shakily. And the squat man seized him around the chest and hugged him to him, squeezing the air and life out of his lungs. |
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Wiggling desperately, Alex wrenched free of the squeezing arms and dropped to the ground next to the still figure of Antonio. His squat attacker paused for a moment, sensing the kill. Then he dove for Alex, spreading his body out in a cloak to catch and trap his body. His look of anticipation changed to horror at the last moment, as he descended on Alex, whose hands held the silvery blade erect to catch the massive weight.
He screamed long and horribly as the cold steel rammed into his belly. In his throes of agony, he reared up off of Alex and plunged backward atop Antonio. He clawed at his soft belly until the knife pulled out. And then he knelt, staring stupidly as a bright red fountain of blood poured from his belly over Antonio's body. He wailed, like a hurt child, tears streaming from his eyes. Alex wanted to shut the sound out the sound but he couldn't. He watched as the big man swayed and keened his death song before slowly folding up and falling across Antonio. Alex crept close. The big man's eyes stared in abject terror, unseeingly. There was no movement from Antonio either. Gingerly, Alex felt for a pulse beat, but there was none.