A/N: This represents my very first foray into the 'Horror' genre. I already have most of the major elements of this story planned out. Please note that this story contains disturbing content. Reader discretion is advised.

A grim smirk crossed Tim Scam's lips as he stood outside the man's door. Taking in a deep breath to calm his racing nerves, he knew that there was no turning back after this. This man would be dead and gone after he had his way with him. After what this sick pervert had done to her, and after having kept him distraught and sleepless for the past fifty hours, it was only fair.

Now was the time.

Having made up his mind, his gloved fingers reached for the keypad above the door handle, and he expertly typed away before it unlocked with a soft click. He stealthily slipped inside without making a single noise. As soon as he entered, the stench of smoke filled his nostrils and pierced his eyes, and though it didn't have any physical effect on him, he was inwardly wincing as his mind flickered back to how he had found her – charred, burned, scarred beyond all recognition. The memory was still a knife through his heart. He closed his eyes for a second, reminding himself that he was here for one thing alone, and that he was going to finish the job. After all, that was what he had always done best.

Scam heard the man let out a relaxed sigh from the living room. Slowly making his way towards it, he blended in perfectly with the shadows and stopped abruptly once he was right across from where his victim was sitting. His smirk grew wider and more bitter as he put his hands in his pockets and felt the hard outline of the weapon he had brought, knowing that the man would certainly not be expecting this coming.

For a few moments the man, alias Alan Marcus, remained completely oblivious, before suddenly looking up and freezing as he realized that he was not alone. An eerie chill ran down his spine as he locked eyes with a much larger man. Judging by the intruder's highly menacing manner, he did not have a good feeling about his intentions.

Confused and desperate for answers, Alan put down his cigarette and lifted a shaking finger as he pointed it at Scam. "Who in the world do you think you are?!" he shouted. "This is a violation of my rights! Get out of here before I report you to the authorities!"

A cold, mocking laugh cut him off before he could say anything else. Scam could not believe the nerve of this guy. After all he had done – after what he had done – he was still trying to play innocent?

"Tsk, tsk, tsk…" Scam tutted, shaking his head at the man's idiotic behavior, "I never thought you'd be so stupid as to underestimate my abilities so severely." Shaking his head again in revulsion as the memories of what Alan had gone and done to her came flooding back, he continued: "I also never thought you'd stoop so low as to go and commit such a heinous crime. Believe me, if you're listening to ME of all people telling you that your crime was heinous, then you are literally the scum of the earth – and now's the time to take care of you." His eyes grew darker with unadulterated rage and bloodlust as he spoke, silently relishing Alan's fear.

It had been such a long time since he'd done this, and he had almost forgotten how good it felt, especially now that he was seeking revenge on behalf of someone he loved dearly. Scam traced the outline of the weapon in his pocket again, reminding himself not to break down again and that what he was doing was all for her.

Alan instinctively ran towards the closest window, trying desperately to push it open – but to no avail. Before letting himself in, Scam had gone and locked all the doors and windows from the outside, to ensure that there was nowhere Alan would be going anytime soon.

"Help!" Alan wailed. "Help – police – someone!"

Scam didn't bat an eyelid at the doomed man's pleas for help. "No one's listening."

In the next moment, Alan gasped in pain as a knife was slashed repeatedly across his back and arms, causing blood to pour profusely out of the wounds. He tried to turn around to defend himself, but was thrown roughly back by Scam's arm and went flying into the nearest wall. Keeping an ice-cold glare on his suffering victim the whole time, Scam reminded himself that no matter what he did, nothing could compare to what this bastard had done to his little girl, or to how badly he himself was hurting emotionally.

At last, when the gruesome deed was almost complete, a bloody and battered Alan squinted helplessly at his attacker through bruised and swollen eyes. "W-Why…?" he stammered, still not understanding the motive for this man's bloodlust.

"Want to know?" Scam mocked, leaning down closer to Alan so that he could see his face more clearly. Immediately his victim froze as he noted its most conspicuous feature – his rare sea-foam eye color.

"You – you found out…" His voice trailed off, as he struggled to breathe through his rapidly weakening lungs. "You're… you're her father?"

"Good job," Scam smirked sarcastically before bringing his knife down for one last attack.

As the man finally lay unconscious at his feet, Scam picked up the still-smoking cigarette from the ash tray that Alan had been holding earlier. Knowing that he was a heavy smoker and thus didn't have a smoke detector of any sort installed in his home, Scam smirked, knowing that disposing of him was going to be easy. His sea-foam gaze wandered over to the gas stove. Going down in a blaze of fire - it was a perfect end to this pathetic waste of life. More importantly, it was the perfect payback for what Alan had done – specifically, for what he had been the first to do.

His only regret was that he hadn't been able to save her in time…