Reed stumbled as his foot caught against an uneven section in the pavement. Unable to keep his balance, he hit the ground hard, pain shooting up through his arms as he flung out his hands to break his fall. But he didn't have time to stop and inspect for damage. Dragging himself back to his feet, he continued to race down the deserted streets, sheer terror overcoming his exhaustion. His breathing was harsh and laboured, and his feet were screaming their protest, but Reed ignored both, focusing only on putting as much distance as he possibly could between himself and his once closest friend, before the full impact of what she had done caught up with him. As he drew near the outskirts of town, he glanced down at his watch, and realised that he had been running flat out for nearly half an hour. He could take no more. Stopping abruptly, he gasped for oxygen, relief making him dizzy. He had made it this far, and nothing had happened to him. There had been no reason to panic. He was going to be fine. No sooner had this thought crossed his mind than he realised how mistaken he was.
The pain slammed into his chest like a battering ram,  leaving him doubled over and screaming out in agony. Tightly clutching the region above his heart, he felt a sickening warmth beneath his fingers, and lifting them slightly to take a look, was horrified to see the thick black liquid that was soaking through his T-shirt and staining his hands.  Just when he thought the torture could not possibly increase, he felt a sharp pain in his stomach as something inside him splintered, leaving behind fragments as sharp as glass. Collapsing to the ground in a heap, Reed felt the cold concrete pressing against his cheek, as he sobbed in anguish, his fists clenched tightly. A few moments later, he was silent. The black liquid began to leak from his slightly ajar mouth, and trickled from the corners of his glazed eyes. Reed did not get up. He had been utterly and remorselessly destroyed. And all it had taken was seven words.   "I'm too old for an imaginary friend".