"I can't see you any more," Cally said. "I'm sorry. I know - you thought we were close. But I have a life of my own, and - I'm sorry."

YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ME boomed the voice of Senor Gallo in her mind, FOR YOU CREATED ME.

"Jesus! I've heard it, right? I've heard that same damn line before, and you know what? I don't believe it any more," snapped Cally. "You're not my fault. Why would I want you to exist? You're a pain in my ass."

I EXIST BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT I DID insisted the great demon bird. I AM HERE BECAUSE YOU IMAGINED ME, I AM POWERFUL BECAUSE YOU FOUGHT ME. I ATE THE BODIES WHEN YOU KILLED.

"Lies, you goddamn feathery freak! I didn't kill them!" shouted Cally. "Gabe did, stupid ass Gabe. He was hitting on me, the fucking pervert, when he was engaged to Mary. So I told him he wasn't tough enough to handle me, and I dared him to kill all those people to show me different. It was a joke, for God's sake!"

THEY STILL DIED laughed the bird. YOU KNEW. YOU KNOW THAT ANY OF YOUR JOKES CAN TURN UGLY. AND YOU CALL ME A MONSTER? I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE.

"FUCK YOU!" screamed Cally. "If I could kill you without you getting some new freaking superpower, I'd do it. You hear me? I'd kill you, I'd dance on your bones, I'd make your feathers into a mattress. ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?!"

YOU DRINK BLOOD the rooster gloated, shaking its venom-spiked comb. Acid dripped from its beak as it laughed. YOU KILLED THAT WOMAN IN PHEONIX. SHE HAD CHILDREN. MONSTER.

"I don't know what you're talking about," whispered Cally. She collected herself. "I'm leaving. I don't want to see you again. Not to fight, not to try and kill you, none of it. I'm done. Don't bother me."

YOU CAN'T FORGET - began the rooster. Calico flipped him the bird and walked off, or maybe stalked off. "I can forget whatever the fuck I want," she said.