He had watched as the ships flew in and devoured the once beautiful city of his people in a barrage of falling bombs and piercing heat rays. He had failed his people, he had failed the Mensia.
“Yes young Tim,” said Death to him, / “What is it you desire?” / “Is it life you want? / Or death you wish? / Or whom should I retire?”
My hair is thin and the colour of ash, / My body bent now, / No longer as straight as a poker,
Hostage 28 sat ridged as his wife lay motionless beside him. / He had now been sitting next to the cold body of his dead wife for the last hour, waiting / for a chance to do something, anything.
Looking out over the hostages, he drank in their fear. The salty, dark smell entered his nostrils and travelled through his system, relieving him momentarily of the pain in his arm.
He left the room like it had been before his presence. Dingy, small and no trace of a man who would later be known as the Death Collector.