William pulled Joe half off the bed and then glared at Frank challenging him to rescue Joe…to stop him.  

But there was nothing Frank could do.   

Tears of frustration burned his cheeks and he closed his eyes.  

He could not watch.

* * *

Joe could feel rougher hands this time and he shivered from their touch… Frank?

No…

…something didn’t feel right…

Frank didn’t feel right.

He wanted to fight…to push away…to ask something…

What?

Anything…

But he felt too cold. 

And he felt too hot.

Joe was burning…burning in flames of ice.

He felt as if icicles flowed in his veins….

As if frost touched his heart.

It hurt too much to feel anything anymore.

He heard whispers around him but owned none.

Did he just move?

Was that him? 

That groan?

That sound?

Joe couldn’t tell anymore…

…something didn’t feel right…

Joe wondered if he was dead.

…And then softness.