SHE

Chapter 27: Angel of Darkness

Rue Scarce

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I flicked the lighter by my thumb and the small light danced around in my eyes. Without a word, I tossed it in the air, directly towards the cemented coffin occupied with a dead body.

Fire erupted in a swift motion, wrapping the body in red and yellow flames that looked beautiful in my eyes.

"You can tell me what's been bothering you too much these days, Williams. I might be able to efface those boggling thoughts of yours." I say in the dead air, wanting to quench my curiosity and to finish this silent treatment that Williams has been giving me.

He merely sighed and focused his gaze at the fire in front of him.

"Don't you feel something-- anything, the moment you killed someone?" He asked.

A pretty common question that have been thrown at me more than a thousand times.

"Guilt? Fear? Shock? Pity? Or happiness? I did feel something. But neither of them are there." I say, staring straight ahead.

"I only felt like a monster, but I also felt satisfaction. Satisfied that the person I killed can rest but it didn't have to bother me whether they go to heaven or hell. Even if the person I killed was kind and loving I didn't feel guilt. All I thought was that it is my way of survival. You have to kill before you get yourself dead." I answered, not even hesitating with my choice of words nor even thinking if I said everything right.

"A life for a life, huh?" He mumbles, hanging his head down.

"I'll have to admit that you scare me, all the time. If you were wondering, I am not angry that you killed my family before me, I just think you did the right thing for me to finally be free. But... I'm afraid you might do the same thing to me the moment you deem it necessary."

I finally faced him, my face and eyes void of any emotion.

"I can't promise nor guarantee your life in my hands, but it is your choice. If you were to kill me in order to live, then it is fine. That is what I taught you as my apprentice. If some thing may happen to me, you will be the one to take the blame whether it is true or not, so you must worry what may be your fate when harm comes in my way."

I spoke no more and watched as the fire slowly dissipated. Within a few more minutes, we carried the long plain cement board and covered the body with it.

I began walking away, without effort evading the other cemented coffins all around the cemetery. I raised my head to look at the dark bluish sky, the sun will rise in several more minutes.

We made our way towards the car and I didn't complain when he took the driver's seat and drove us away.

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"You're late." He said flatly.

I didn't respond as he fold his arms over his chest with a look of stringency in his expression.

"How can you explain your current situation right now, Miss Collins?"

"Do tell me about it, Mr Riot." I mentally rolled my eyes at my reply.

His nostrils flared in annoyance and I saw his grip on his crossed arms tighten with his jaw clench.

"I gave you one day off. Only one. I don't remember telling you not to come to work for the next three whole days." He spoke in a firm voice.

"I called on your office that I was out of town for a moment, Mr Riot. I don't remember anything in the contract that prevents me from taking a temporary leave and neither are you my boss." I said in a rather calm voice.