VINDICTIVE

Episode 20

“Guys knock it off! I didn't lock you guys down there. You have to believe me. I would never have any part of that!” To my relief they stopped a moment, all mumbling to each other. Till one of them pushed forward. Placing a heavy foot on my back.

“Oh yea? Well I didn't see you sayin nothin about it”

“Well I-“

Leaning down, the man grabbed my hair. Yanking my head up he whispered in my ear.

His breath absolutely reeked of alcohol.

“Let him go. Or you're going with him” I swallowed hard at the threat. Everything not nailed down has fallen to the bottom of the room, broken and jagged I'm sure. Only the light of the moon from outside to illuminate the darkness. And I'm getting a bad feeling from this new smell of smoke. “Please” I begged.

He rolled his eyes, so hard they could have fallen out of his head. “So be it”

And with that all of them began to shove, by body sliding more and more over the edge.

“Julie!” Morgan called. “Guys knock it off! Youll kill us!”

But his shouts fell on deaf ears.

“Hey- ‘s your problem?“ One man shouted. His allegation quickly replaced with a deadly choking sound. To my horror, his body flew over my head in a blur. Followed by two more. Each pushed over the edge over top of us. Smashing to their deaths below.

I hid my face from their mangled bodies.

“J-julie it's him!” Morgan warned, making my blood run cold. That dark electrical voice whispered to the last remaining member of the group. “Get him up here”

“Y-yes sir” the mam stammered. Quickly joining me on his stomach and helped me pull Morgan up.

The moment Morgan had a grip and was able to pull himself up, my hair was grabbed again. This time by and all to the familiar leather glove.

That hideous voice came down to my ear. “Stand up”

with no other choice but to comply I stood.

“Please, why are you doing this? What do you want from me?” As if thinking it over, he lazily dragged his blade up my arm. Sending shivers up my body.

Before I knew it, the blade sat menacingly at my throat.

“Julie!” Morgan grunted, finally able to stand.

“Morgan…please.” The knife began to sting against my skin. I held my breath.

The voice chuckled behind the mask. Gripping my hair tighter. “Push him down”

Morgan's face turned white. Unsure what to do.

“Why are you doing this?!” He pleaded.

The man beside him, tried to sneak away. Quietly slipping against the wall. The Reaper merely watched.

Tripped as he ran, the man got away. Running for his life.

Morgan swallowed thickly. Eyes darting around for any possible escape. Tears ran down my cheeks as the horrible voice commanded again, “Push him”

“I can't. Please don't make me do that! He hasn't done any-!” The knife dug into my skin, grip on my hair tightening.

“Don't you lie to me. I see the way he looks at you”

“Wa-“ With a harsh shove, he pushed me into Morgan's arms. “Liam would be so heart broken” he chuckled.

“Stop it!” Morgan snapped, his arms holding me protectively.

“Just leave us alone! What do you want with her?”

His question was only met with silence.

“Answer me!”

“If you dont push him over-“ Behind me came a click. Morgan's arms tightened his heart beating in a panic.

Glancing back, the Reaper held us at gunpoint.

“Push. Him. Over.”

I can move. My body, scared and unwilling to do such a thing. How do I get out of this…? Maybe there isn't a way out. Maybe this is just how I die. This is my story.

“One...”

I mean there are worse things right? Falling down there will certainly be a quick and painless death and.. maybe I'll see liam. What would Liam do if he was here..?

“Two...”

Well he certainly wouldn’t be cowering like this. No. He would tell this guy off and take him down, damn all the consequences to protect me. And I'm not about to be responsible for another person's death.

Especially not someone as kind as Morgan. My friend.

“My patience grows thin…” He spat. Approaching us.

Throwing caution to the wind I flew at him. Grabbing his wrist holding the gun. He fired, the agonizing bang made my ears ring. I threw my whole body weight on him. Now having a real plan, just to make it all stop.

To my surprise he was very weak. With only a little effort I managed to hold him down, and I can see now what Morgan meant by him being very thin. And wait…

“Your Insane you know that!” With a kick to the hand Morgan disarmed the reaper who continued to struggle beneath me. “Well I-“ He placed a hand on my back.

“I owe my life to that fact.” He smiled. I returned my attention to the bastard beneath me. “Now then-“ Morgan growled. “Lets see who's under that mask..”

The Reaper shook his head violently shouting and kicking incessantly. Around us More and more people suddenly ran by. All running from the rising water.

Somepeople seemed to have ditched their costumes, but most surprisingly were still dressed. One woman even managed to run in the highest heels I've ever beheld. But as I looked up, my breath caught in my chest.

“The hell-“ Morgan also stopped. Transfixed.

Another guy, dressed in the same dark robe and mask. Walked eerily from the stampede of panicked passengers. The same red eyes glowing under that hood. The exact same blade, but fresh and untainted.

“Wa—“ I gawked.

“Get back!” Morgan shouted. Holding out his own knife.

This of course was met with the threat of another gun.

“Get off” He demanded. Even the voice changer sounded the same. With a click the safety was removed. “I'm not going to tell you again, princess”

Frozen at the sound of my pet name I released the Reaper beneath me. “But-“

Like a slithering snake, the first Reaper crawled out, rushing to the side of the other after collecting his lost weapon. “On the ground!” He shouted.

Mind still reeling, I simply did as commanded.

It can't be..