Ghostwriter

Chapter 31

Jason considers keeping his eyes open to be one of his top ten best decisions of this year, because otherwise he wouldn't have gotten to see the chaotic comedy that ensued. Man, did it make his day.

In short, Black Mask falls from the sky.

He lands directly on top of Holcomb Fuse.

Holcomb Fuse collapses, and his gun fires to the side and hits one of his own men.

The men move to help their bleeding, confuddled master; and Jason pops up and re-grabs the oil can.

Which he dumps all over Holcomb Fuse and the people nearby him.

Fuse coughs and sputters, and people trip over themselves, trying to either get away or get to their leader.

The crowd quiets.

"I wish you could see my face right now." He digs through his pockets and finds his cigarette lighter. "I'm sure you would be proud of my absolutely pure intentions, clearly displayed on my handsome features."

He flicks the lighter on, letting the flame whistle for a second. "Or not. Purity and I never got along."

Red Hood sets Holcomb Fuse on fire.

Red Hood backs up. The human bonfire screams and wails. Holcomb scratches at his face and stumbles to the ground. He grasps and claws at the air as his skin melts.

The crowd is silent, too scared to speak.

Red Hood picks up Fuse's gun. Satisfaction shakes off Red's sin as Fuse lets out one final, earsplitting scream before he moves no more.

He wipes some blood off the nuzzle.

"Go home. Get out, before I change my mind."

Everyone, from common cultist to ninja-wanna-be, stampedes away.

He sets out to find Antigone. She's nowhere near the door. The feeling of victory evaporates and his heart bumps like a sputtering engine. "Annie? Annie!"

"Up here!"

Thank God.

He finds Antigone on the fourth level up. She's sitting on the edge of the hole with her back to him, staring down at the ashes and corpses at the bottom. Her legs dangle over the side. Up here, the scent of the tropical candles fringes the stronger odor of smoke and death.

He sits down next to her, his hand cradling his injured shoulder.

"Annie?" His free hand hovers around the back of her head.

"You came," Antigone looks up at him, her eyes watering and her hair matted.

His free hand lands in her hair. He allows his fingers to weave into the mess, becoming tangled in the labyrinth. "I'm not the Red Hood for shoots and giggles. Defeating bad guys and saving damsels in distress is a part of the job title."

She elbows his side. "Don't remind me about the damsel in distress part." She nuzzles into his hand.

He takes his hand out and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. "I won't have to. This is the only time you're going to play that part ever again. We'll make sure of it."

"I missed you." Her gaze slides to her feet.

You miss everything in place like this. "Ditto."

He cups her jaw. "Never listen to me when I say 'run off into the forest' again. I'm an idiot, Annie. A goshdarn idiot."