rocked gently, hoping the soothing gesture would calm his
querulous Enemy. He felt his Skin seething, constricting
around him until it threatened to rupture his organs, to cut
off his airway. Alex fought a rising tide of panic, knowing
that if he gave in to his fear, he would be destroyed. He
must not let his Enemy conquer him. "I'm stronger than
you," he whispered over and over.
Dr. Usher was preparing to leave for the day when
his office door flew open and Alex Greenway burst in,
closely followed by the doctor's secretary.
"I'm sorry, Doctor. I know you're on your way
home, but Mr. Greenway insisted on seeing you. "She
looked helplessly at the doctor as if to say, "It's not my
fault. How could I stop this madman?"
Usher took one look at Alex, his disheveled
appearance, his wild, frantic eyes. "That's alright, Vera," he
soothed. "I have time to see Mr. Greenway."
She left, closing the door behind her. The doctor
motioned to a chair near his desk. "Have a seat, won't you,
Alex?"
"Doctor! I don't know what to do anymore! It's
getting the better of me!," Alex exclaimed ,ignoring the
chair. He paced about the room, obviously distraught.
Usher's expression was one of concern. "I can see
how upset you are, Alex. If you want to talk about it I'll
surely listen. But my opinion hasn't changed. What you
need--"
23