In the narrative, before departing from town, Antonio makes a stop at a strip mall to pick up subs and salads. Meanwhile, Clay and the narrator are left in a vulnerable state, injured and exposed in the car, while Cain lies unconscious in the trunk. This situation heightens the narrator's anxiety about returning to Toronto.

The scene illustrates a disturbing normalcy in their chaotic lives, where injuries and unconsciousness become commonplace. The recurring theme of violence in their lives leads the narrator to reflect on how being around these individuals has desensitized him to dire situations, marked by bloodied clothes and a body in the trunk.