Umbra Mortis

Chapter 12- Roses

The air was thick and cloying, the dust heavy enough to be suffocating. Twined in the dust was sweat, carrying with it the stink of emotions. It was fascinating how clearly one could smell the sour tang of fear, the eyewatering flames of rage, the sickly sweet spice of desperation.

Dirt stained every visible surface. The room was caked in centuries of filth, cobwebs strung everywhere, filled with the critters skittering across the floor. Stark new scratches were cut into the wood, twined with the equally new traces of freshly dried blood. Rippling from shadow to shadow was an ominous figure dressed in bleached-bone white, following the trail of violence and blood, the pristine vestments a stark contrast to the grime surrounding them. They stopped near a dark wooden table where a girl lay, unmoving.

Her eyes were closed, eyelashes kissing blood-drained skin in a parody of sleep. She was naked, completely exposed, making the visceral red contrast of her guts spilling out all the more vivid. She had been eviscerated in one stroke, the former contents of her abdomen staining the old wood a deep cherry-red. A hollow nothingness was all that remained of her abdomen, the blood flaking off and drifting through the empty bowl that had once housed her innards.

The ominous figure carefully stepped over the salt barrier, deftly avoiding the protection runes inscribed on the floor. As they stepped over the demarcation, blood flew from the ceiling, seemingly drawn to the pristine white cloth, flew downwards and stained the fabric crimson. Ignoring this, the figure perched themselves on the table.

Raising a hand, they combed their fingers through the dead girls once black, now red, hair. The figure caressed the girl's cheek in a loving gesture as their thumb stroked her cracked, lifeless lips.

"We will be reunited, darling. If it's the last thing I do." They pressed a light kiss to her forehead, whispering, "I will get you back. We will be together again."

Hours passed as the figure stayed with the girl, promises and sweet nothings pouring from their lips as a steel determination filled them once more.

~~~

"I hate you." DJ scowled, glaring daggers at Mattie, "You said it was something important."

Mouth still filled with her mac'n'cheese lunch, Mattie replied, "And it was important! My dish went bad." She swallowed and grinned innocently up at DJ before shovelling another mouthful past her lips.

As DJ's ability was to control time, she was able to turn back time focussed on a specific object- the Lawyer's food. She had agreed to do so, despite the fact that it cost her an immense amount of energy. At least Mattie was happy with her now edible dish.

"Also," Mattie continued, mouth once more filled with the cheesy goodness, "here is your next mission." She slid over a mission file that had been sat on the office desk, "Your spouse can join you. Unless, of course," Mattie wiggled her eyebrows, "you would prefer I did."

DJ took the file, shooting the lawyer a look of annoyance and disbelief, "Just because the whole mafia ships us..." she flicked through the pages, "doesn't mean you can get cocky, bitch." DJ glanced upwards at the last word, watching the lawyer shrug and turn her attention to her food.

Looking through more of the file, DJ groaned. Groaning again, this time louder, she hissed out, "Mattie, you little liar. We both know I won't be able to take Benja with me."

"I know." Mattie replied gleefully, "Just wanted to talk with you longer, sweetcheeks."

DJ could practically hear the smirk on the other girl's lips so she rolled her eyes and left. The body disposer made her way to the designated meeting spot this mission. Mattie had failed to plan ahead and had only given Lemons short notice- 5 minutes. This either meant it was very urgent, Mattie was an idiot or she was just an asshole. One of the three. Less than five minutes to go and she hadn't even finished reading the report.