My brother and I find a room in a hotel where we can sacrifice parts of ourselves in exchange for magic. The greater the offering the more powerful the gift.

  I think on what I can live without. The pinky finger of my left hand perhaps? Then I recall the parts of me that I had pnned to remove anyway. The parts that I would have been willing to pay to have gone. Yes, those would be good to offer up.

  But what if that’s seen as cheating the system and whatever entity judges the sacrifice sees fit to punish me for it? I sign away my entire left hand too for good measure. I considered making it the whole arm, but that would have made my preferred sleeping position uncomfortable.

  My brother signs away his entire physical body.

  I am horrified by this. I plead with him and rail at him to change his mind. I ask him why.

  He tells me he believes it will make him some manner of spirit being wizard god.

  Also, he believes he is already doomed for his mind and body to fail him as he wastes away to disease. The risk of his pn not working is still better than that.

  I beg him to reconsider. He has until midnight before the contract takes effect. Maybe there’s time for him to change his offering? Surely with magic he could fix that ailment he so fears?

  The dream ends before I know if my pleas have moved him to change his mind.