“But Peter had seen too much, knew too well that men-kind didn't need an excuse to be cruel and murder one another.”

“My name's Peter. Can I play too?”

“The boy planted his hands on his hips and a broad smile lit his face. "My name's Peter. Can I play too?”

“Mama," Peter cried. She didn't look up. The door shut.”

“The truth is there is no Devil making you torture, rape, murder, and sodomize one another, or making you destroy the very land that feeds you. There is only you.”

“Men-kind shared this world for but a blink, then, sadly, they became enlightened, found science and religion. The new world of men left little room for magic or the magical creatures of old. Earth’s first children were driven into the shadows by flame and cold iron, by man’s insatiable need of conquest.”

“Almost lost you," he thought, surprised to find himself blinking back tears. "Been through too much, me and you. We're going to finish this thing together.”