"She is, but usually in the good way," Steve admits. He doesn't know Malcolm, though, so he can't really comment.

"Yeah." He sighs. There are several examples, but one that's currently at the forefront of his mind. "My last warden - she was from a world like that. With zombies. Her deal was to put an end to it - get rid of the cause, or a cure, or something that was gonna stop it all. But she left, 'cause she'd already been here a while and gotten one deal, and she couldn't stand to be away from her family anymore."

He exhales through his nose. "I graduated a couple months later. I wasn't even trying. Maybe if I'd tried... I could've done it sooner. Helped her get what she needed."