I tore down the dimly lit hallways, practically falling on the steel floor at every corner. It was just supposed to be a simple job. Another kill, another paycheck, another night of drinking and celebrating. But this. I didn't sign up for this.

My face slammed into the wall as I tried to take a corner too fast. Instantly blood started dripping down from my nose. Broken, it had to be. But I didn't have time to stop or even slow down. They were here, and they were after me.

I remember celebrating the guards of my base when they arrived. An angel with black wings had burst in the door. Her light was brilliant! I saw man after man cry out as his eyes bled and his mind melted. She had strode forward, calmly and confidently but with a tense rage that was frightening. I didn't see her directly until her brilliance had faded and she appeared as a normal black winged angel carrying an enormous glowing spear. But as soon as she'd faded, he had appeared.

Dark eyes that were already lost to the world and a fire that turned everything he touched into ash. He was simply a spark, but all the world was kindling for his fire. His laugh was pure dark pleasure. And when he looked at me, I knew fear. I fled, streaking down the many hallways to the safe room. She couldn't get me in there. Not even he could burn down that door!

I slammed my hand onto the scanner and tried to wait patiently for the door to open just enough for me to slide in. The screams from upstairs still echoed in my ears, and the ecstatic hatred in that boy's eyes was burned into my pupils. No sooner was the door a foot open, and I was inside, frantically turning the switch to shut the massive door. Four feet of solid steel. He'd collapse the whole building before he could get through it!

There was a loud sigh from behind me. "I suppose I should have expected such a simple death from someone like yourself." My hand flew for the gun I had stashed in the safe room, but a bullet shattered my wrist before I could touch it. Crying out in pain, I collapsed to my knees and faced the shooter.

He was a young boy in a black suit with a red tie, sitting in the swiveling armchair I had down here. A maroon pistol in his right hand had smoke coming from the barrel.

"Criminals always have the best security for their own homes. That's ironic in itself, yet it's so boring that this is the way you will die," he mocked. There was a loud banging at the door and he smiled.

"It sounds like your guests have arrived, a good host would open the door himself."

I sneered as the banging intensified.

He sighed again. "Very well, leave the burden to your guests then I suppose." The boy crossed the room and flicked the switch to open the door, before calmly coming back and putting a gun to my head.

As the first cracks appeared between the wall and the door, heat flooded the room along with a string of curses. "I'M GOING TO KILL HIM! HE'S GOING TO BURN LIKE HELL! And then I'm going to burn every person and every thing that he loves!" The shift in tone was frightening. From a blind and consuming anger to a sadistic calculating tone. It was like hearing a child throwing a tantrum turn into a serial killer.

The boy behind me frowned. "Light, please make sure Matches doesn't kill him before we have our information."

I scoff, "You think you can get me to talk boy? I've been tortured by Russian special forces before. What makes you think you can do better?"

He leans down and smiles as the fiery arms began reaching through the crack. "Because I don't just enjoy this sort of thing. I live for it!"

An inferno storms through the door, flames so large and hot that the steel ceiling starts glowing. The black angel is holding him, whispering something into his ear. Are those… tears rolling down his cheeks?

Bang! I yell as bullet tears through my chest. "I thought you needed to ask me questions!" I wheeze out.

"Oh we will. But understand you're on our time now. That punctured lung will kill you in an hour if left untreated. Now, how did you kill her?"

I grit my teeth. There's no way a bunch of kids will get me to talk.

"HOW DID YOU KILL LUCY!?" the boy's fire was raging again and the angel was having some trouble holding him back.

"You can see my friend here can't be held back for long. She was a ghost, so a bullet couldn't hurt her. And yet Matches saw you shoot her. How did you kill her?"

I grit my teeth. Nothing. Not. A. Word.

Bang! Another shot. This one tearing through my gut. I grunt, but keep from yelling this time.

"That was your stomach. The acid is going to start eating away at your insides. You'll die now, but we can make it quick." I could feel the burning inside my chest and stomach already. The angel's eyes were on me now, glowing. The flaming boy was trying to find something he could throw. "My friends and I are losing patience. How. Did. You. Kill. Her."

Nothing was worth this. What good was client confidentiality if I died like this? "It was a Spirit Gun! It shot her spirit! Physical barriers mean nothing to it. That's how she died!"

The fire was calmer now, but both of their eyes seemed just as intent on killing me as ever.

"Interesting. And who gave you this… Spirit Gun?"

I hesitated. Would it be even worse if I told them?

The flaming boy broke free of the angel's grip and rushed me, putting his burning hands on either side of my head. "... Who was it?" That calm voice, the sadistic smile as I felt the pressure and heat build inside my head.
"Zalgo" I desperately whisper, hoping to be released. But it was too late.

His head exploded. Sending searing blood and burnt brain flying across the room. Shade glared at Matches. "You do realize I'll have to get a new suit now."

Matches couldn't hear him, his heavy breathing just starting to slow now that the killer was dead. That was twice now. The second person he had loved so dearly who had died while he had watched. After the first time, he had burned her killers. Burned the killer's family. Burned anyone who might ever pose a threat to those he loved! And Lucy had died still.

Light put a comforting arm around him as his flames began to die down. Her burns were severe in some places but she'd survived worse. Besides, he needed this now. He needed to know that he hadn't lost everyone.

"It's ok," she whispered. "You got him. He's gone now," she motioned to herself and Shade. "We're still here, and you still have Grace.

Shade walked over and picked up the gun the assassin had been reaching for. It had intricate silver markings, but was shaped just like his modified 9mm and had a wonderful black finish. He smiled as he examined the weapon

"Put. That. Down." Matches grunted out. "That's the gun that killed her."

Shade frowned and raised an eyebrow "A tool is defined by it's master. And this seems to be a very special tool indeed."

"I swear I will kill you if I ever see you-"

"I'll use it to kill the man who ordered her death. Will that satisfy you?"

Matches fumbled for a bit then nodded. "I'm going to be the one who kills him though."

Shade started to protest, then thought better of it and knelt down in front of Matches. "Yes. And we'll both go with you." He put a hand on Matches' shoulder.

Matches took a deep breath. His bright red eyes returned and he stood up calmly. "We have to stop this guy."

Shade nods as he stands too, "Do you think Slender knows anything about him?"

"If anyone knows anything, it'd be him. We need to tell him what happened anyway."

Light glared at the headless corpse. The heat and cauterized the neck, so it wasn't bleeding. Still, the explosion had painted the room with red splotches everywhere. "We should probably wash up before we see him though." She folded her wings gently against her back.

Matches shook his head, "He won't mind the blood. Let's go."

Shade followed them out, still examining the black gun. "Still, I'm going to stop by somewhere and get a new suit before heading back."

Matches gave him a glance, "Yeah, the blood kinda ruins the whole 'clean cut' look."

Shade laughed and waved as they parted ways. "Wait for me before you report to Slender?"

Light nodded, "Sure, we'll wait!"