Slumped in the corner with his hand on his chest Simon felt his heartbeat starting to slow.

Fifteen minutes perhaps. That was what he had left, and then it would be all over.  He had been a man with a death sentence. Someone had bought him more time, but he couldn’t complain if that time was running out.

Through blurred vision he saw a figure approach. Large. Familiar. Almost comforting, if he could forget the way they’d parted.

He must be at the gates of hell already, if that man had come to welcome him.

“Fool Bright?”

The Phantom knelt down beside him, pressing something to his neck with a gloved hand. “Easy there, sir. You’ll be alright in a moment.”

“Rubbish.” He barely felt the prick of the syringe. “We’re dead. Why else would you be here?”

“I heard you were going to be poisoned by my organization.”

“And you came to finish the job?” He looked up at Fulbright’s face– which almost seemed real with his vision distorted. “How Generous. You know how much I hate waiting.”

Fulbright threw the syringe away and rested a hand on Simon’s neck. “Quite the opposite, sir.”

Simon’s vision started to clear.

–

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