"It did. In your winding, disjointed way, at that." Billy's fingers tapped thoughtfully on Ragdoll's spine. "If it wasn't the cult's doing then it was my power keeping it animated. Perhaps in some way it was acting out my repressed thoughts and desires in the only venue left to me."

He peeked over Ragdoll's shoulder to where the mask lay on a nearby chair, half-covered by Billy's hat. "Irony. The part of me that couldn't be controlled was represented by you."