You Won't Get Away Twice (Alastor x Reader)

Chapter 23: It was so... flawless. So beautiful.

Quick Note: Content warning for this chapter specifically. Discussions of murder and gore involved. If you'd prefer to skip this chapter, I'll post a synopsis in the next chapter that will cover the main plot points while still being appropriate. But who are we kidding?! Have fun you sinners!

Three favors. If I can complete three favors for Alastor, then Husk can be set free. Thinking about it in those simple terms doesn't make it sound so bad. But when I really think about it and tear it apart, it's terrifying.

These favors can be anything. If I argue against them, I lose. Then Husk's freedom becomes non-existent. We never really established the logistics. Would I be able to deny a request and fulfill a different one? But knowing Alastor, I doubt that's an option. I worry Alastor will ask things of me he knows I won't want to do.

What if he asks me to kill someone? I truly don't want to end someone's existence. That wouldn't sit well with me. I worry that it will sit with me for the rest of my eternity.

What if he asks me to forsake my purity? I can't think of an instance where Alastor himself would find an interest in something like that. But knowing that it's important to me I could imagine that Alastor would get a kick out of finding a way to compromise me.

What if he asks me to manipulate someone I care about? I worry about getting too close to someone only to have to turn around and backstab them. Maybe to prevent this it would be wise to just not get close to anyone.

I need to stop thinking about it all, these worries are going to take over my mind. I sigh as I look from the balcony out at the night sky. The breeze does feel nice and it's a great distraction from my internal thoughts. I look at the vodka cranberry in my hand, swirling the glass a little before taking a sip.

I thought about telling Husk the details of my more recent arrangement with Alastor, but decided against it. If he knew, he would just tell me not to worry about him. He would tell me to worry about myself and bargain for my own freedom. I could see his argument, especially considering that the only reason I'm really in this predicament is because of Husk.

I roll my eyes as I think about the deal he made with Alastor. It is frustrating, sure. But I'm going to keep surviving.

I thought about bargaining these favors with my own freedom, but the more I thought about it the more I think that Husk has a better chance at redemption than I do. Sure, he's an addicted alcoholic gambler, but he's got a great heart for those he cares about. I've noticed how his eyes light up when he interacts with Angel. I'm not even sure if he's noticed it. If Angel is aiming for redemption, Husk will be close behind.

Will I ever be redeemed? Doubtful. I take another sip and look down at the city, hair blowing in the wind. I know the dirty secret of what I've done. Accident or not, I took his life.

"Are you going to tell me what happened finally?" His staticky voice can be clearly heard as his footsteps approach me. It seems like he always knows where I am. When he just appears, it doesn't really surprise me anymore. What does surprise me is his question.

I look at Alastor as he stands next to me and leans against the balcony. "How did you know that's what I was thinking of?" I question.

"You get a specific look on your face when your troubled by this particular thought." Alastor explains calmly. "When you're troubled you do have a look. But this topic in particular gets its own look." Alastor turns his head to look at me. "Do you want to know what I saw?" He offers.

"Lay it on me." I turn my body to look at Alastor, taking another sip of my drink. I am quite curious about what Alastor saw that night.

Alastor looks up at the sky and then out into the city. "I saw my target walking with a young lady. Quite a beauty. She was known well around town. Not for nefarious reasons, but because it was a mystery as to how she was still single." It's interesting hearing Alastor talk about me as if I'm not right here. Also, does he think I'm beautiful? Or is that just part of his story?

"It looked like the end of a successful date as he walked her to her door. Walked her to the door of the coffee shop she worked at and lived above. What a gentleman, right? When he went in for the goodnight kiss and was denied, it didn't sit well with him." As Alastor recalls the details of my encounter with the man, it starts to bring the memories back up. My stomach feels a little uneasy.

"He felt he had earned his reward. He paid for dinner, after all. 'No' was not the appropriate answer. So instead, he invited himself into her home, pushing her in forcefully. He was going to get his reward one way or another." I think Alastor can see how uncomfortable I am. "Starting to ring a bell?" He questions.

"Too much so." I say quietly, taking another sip.

"The beauty, on the other hand, had other plans. She couldn't fight him off, her frame was much smaller than his. Once she was forced against the counter, she realized she could reach the kitchen knife and prevent the tragedy from happening." Alastor's smile became a bit more sinister.

"So, you saw it all then." It wasn't a question. I look up at his face. "Because you were planning on killing him, but I beat you to it." I put the empty glass on a nearby table. "So, you saw that it was self-defense. It was still wrong; I'm not arguing that. But I wasn't 'after your kill.'" I quote the phrase, folding my arms shortly after.

"Maybe not, but I watched everything after too, darling." Alastor still held that sinister smile. He grabs my arm, runs his hand down my arm slowly until he reaches my hand. Once he does, he holds my smaller hand in both of his. "I watched you stab him multiple times. I watched you laugh and laugh once you realized he was no longer a threat. I watched you kick his dead body, just to make sure he wouldn't get back up." As he repeats my actions it sickens me. He's not lying. I did do those things. Why did I do those things?!

"I watched you calmly hum as you tore him apart to dispose of him. All the plastic bags. I watched you turn the radio on and dance as you cleaned the counters and floors of any remaining blood splatter. Then... my favorite part..." Alastor seems so excited about this story.

"Please stop." I whisper, re-living the entire tale.

"I came to the coffee shop the next day and watched you serve customers like... nothing... happened."

I shake my head; it couldn't have been like that. It was for survival, not enjoyment!

"You served me a black coffee and a beautiful smile, darling." Alastor pointed out. I did? I'm trying to remember. "It was so... flawless. So beautiful." Alastor still has a hold on my hand as his eyes glow an eerie red. I've seen that glow before. That night we were alone. Does retelling this story excite him?

"That's when I knew. Someone else understands the thrill." Alastor laughs. "But I couldn't have competition. Especially in the same town. I wanted to have the same joy that you had. Take the kill that you owed me. Who knew it would end in my early demise." He shrugs.

I feel mortified. I look mortified. I think Alastor is getting too much enjoyment from this. He takes one of his hands off mine and gently rests his hand on my cheek, making me focus on him again. I look straight into his glowing eyes.

"I want to see you do it again." He states.