"There are ways and ways of doing that, oddly enough. But I'd thought to start with terrifying her into submission, then moving into utter annihilation if she proves -- unreceptive."

There's a moment -- skinniness, ragged jeans, and coltish grace aside -- where Michael's presence seems to cut through the room, more real than the walls and the floor and the air itself.

It fades.

"I've been here before, Sam. Somewhere else."