The Devil's Mark (Book 1)

Epilogue

Jason
Five years later...

I remembered everything. The blood, the pain, the never ending screams. And the faces of the women that did this to me. Now I don't know whether it was the pain of my loss or the anger over my own death. But one thing was for sure. I intended to have my revenge in one form or another. When I awoke and took my first breath of air, the area surrounding me felt moist and cool, almost like a cave. I sat up slowly in those first few moments while a tidal wave of a life that was once mine came rushing to the surface.

Memories both good and bad played through my mind's eye like a movie. A detailed biography of my old life. I blinked once and swung over my legs over the side. In retrospect I was naked if not for the fine linen fabric that was so carefully wrapped around my body. My bare feet touched solid ground as I stood up slowly and got my head on straight. I looked around. How the hell was I going to get out of here? A few steps forward and my foot landed on something smooth. A click was released followed by a low rumble that revealed a hole in the wall and a flight of stairs. Now we're getting somewhere.

Once on the surface, nothing was as it seemed. Our home laid in ruin thanks to the ravages of time. Furniture was destroyed and burned. Graffiti graced the walls and windows. And all of our possessions were now gone. Forever. In my search for the truth, I went to the spot where I died and with a trembling hand, touched it as the faces of the women that killed me fueled me with anger. Alice was dead. I remember that. Now only Alyson and Autumn remained. I looked to my left and there still on the wall was Alice's body with Abigar's arrow sticking out of her chest. Bitch got what she deserved.

The next time I stand up, I hear what sounds like heavy breathing. I listen closer and count three heartbeats. Wanna know how I know? The answer is simple. They smell of sweat and carry guns under their coats. Plus a man's a heartbeat sounds a lot heavy than a woman's. I hear them just outside the front door before pushing their way inside and see me standing in what was once our living room. The leader steps forward, his two buddies follow suit but stay back a bit, just in case. While the bulges underneath their coats suggest submachine guns and a pistol or two.

I lock eyes with the leader as he gives me a sly smirk. His confidence reeks of someone trying to hard. Of trying to act like a common thug. He doesn't scare me. Dressed in black combat boots, camo pants, a graphic t-shirt and a bulletproof vest. A scar runs along the side of his face starting from the tip of his eyebrow, down his left eye before ending just below the nose. And his hair is short, cut tight to the scalp. While a patch on the arm of his jacket tells me that he's part of a group. Most likely a Guerrilla fighter.

Brushing the side of his jacket behind his back, his fingers rest on the grip of his sidearm. "Well, hello there." He said. "What brings you to my humble home?"

"Your home? I'm sorry to be the one to have to tell you this, but this is my home. And you're trespassing by the looks of it. So please leave."

The three men looked at each other and laughed before drawing their weapons at me. "Nice bluff." The leader replied. "But I don't take orders from you."

"It wasn't an order. More like a request."

Stepping forward, the leader pressing the barrel of his pistol underneath my chin, forcing my head back. I smell the gunpowder and see the faces of his victims that have been killed with this gun. He pulls the hammer back and leans in close, his breath smelling like a combination of cigarette smoke and alcohol.

"Give me a reason why I shouldn't kill you right now."

"Because you'd be dead before you could even squeeze the trigger."

He chuckles. "Cocky. You've got some serious balls man, I'll give you that. But you don't belong here."

"I didn't know you'd seen my balls. And as a matter of fact, I do so belong here. You see that spot on the floor there right where your foot is. That's where I dead. Still don't believe me? Perhaps I'll show you some of the highlights sometime."