I enjoyed this very much. Economical storytelling that packed a punch. Sorry it's taken a while to review, but I hope there'll be more to come.

Brilliant! And I loved the ending, wih Herrick's understated comment. He always shows up at just the right time, doesn't he?

Loved it. Beautiful work. You got Big Bad John in his Herrick-days so well here. Loved 'his smile sickle-sharp'. Great opening as well. Showed his kind of fatigue with it all, his numbness. And loved how you ended it: as the blood subsides, Mitchell begins to feel slightly more human... but only slightly ;)

Very nicely done. Thanks very much. Liked your unsentimental picture of liked your reference how M "flicks" the dried blood from under his nails. Chilling.