This part will be taking place RIGHT AFTER the final part of AWADN. You know...when Rei sees "Zoe" in the cemetery after viewing your grave? Whatever. Go read it if you don't remember. Just thought I'd let you all know so you're not confused or anything.

Rei stared emptily up at the ceiling. Ever since seeing what he saw the day before in the cemetery, he had been thinking deeply. He couldn't walk around a corner anymore without seeing Zoes face or being plauged by painful memories.

'All of this has made me realize how much I still miss her...'

Rei sighed heavily and got out of the soft hotel bed he had been resting in. He moved swiftly across the large room, only stopping when he was in front of the door. Rei was weary about opening it and going outside. He was afraid he'd see Zoe again.

Pushing aside the ridiculous thoughts, he opened the door...

And jumped back, letting out a frightened wail. He tripped over the rug behind him and fell flat on his back.

"Ah, shit! Sorry!"

He opened his eyes to see Kai standing over him, looking both amused and worried at the same time.

"What the hell is with you?!" Rei asked in a screaming tone.

"Oh, come on now. I didn't scare you that badly...I didn't even mean to scare you period." Kai laughed, helping his brother up. "I was about to knock when you threw the door open and had a heart attack, anyways."

"Whatever..." Rei sighed, rubbing his head. "What did you need?"

"Oh, I just needed to inform you that Brian called and said that The Demolition Boys had to pull out of the upcoming tournament for personal reasons. So, our two week break now has four more days on it. Just thought I'd let you know," he explained.

"Okay...that's great...I guess." Rei mumbled, heading out the door, into the hallway.

Kai followed close behind, a bewildered look on his face.

"Are you okay...? You're not acting like you usually do," he asked softly.

"I'm fine. Perfectly fine." Rei answered, his tone somewhat cold. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go take a walk."

Rei darted down the stairs, not even bothering to wait for the elevator, leaving Kai standing with worry on his face.

Rei walked slowly down the busy sidewalks, thankful that the people around him were too busy to recognize who he was. He walked blindly, thoughtlessly, until something caught his attention.

A hoard of people were crowded around the side of a T.V. shop that was just ahead. Through the glass, a big screen T.V. was on display, turned to the News channel. The people in the crowd were talking to one another in hushed tones. Rei casually slipped into the group to see what all the chatter was about. He gazed up at the T.V.

"We're now going live to Kerry Smith, who is with officer Kennedy at the crime scene..." the news anchor announced.

The image of a dark alleyway came onto the screen, a balding man, looking to be in his mid-40s and dressed in police uniform, standing beside a female reporter in front of the camera.

"Late last night the police received a phone call from a woman, reporting screams and wails from an alleyway near her apartment. Police were dispatched to investigate...and ended up finding the mutilated body of Eric Sauder in this very alleyway, with the haunting number 997 carved into his forehead. It is believed that he is the 997th victim of the mass murderer that has been plauging Moscow,Russia for the past 8 months. I'm here with officer Kennedy. Officer, what is your view of this dumbfounding string of murders?" the reporter asked, holding her microphone out to the officer.

"There really aren't any words to describe my view on this situation. It's...uh...it's just so astonishing. This psycho is still out there, walking amongst us. Honestly, it's like there's nothing we can do to stop him...or her...whatever the hell it is! We've set up curfews, we've sent units out to patrol the streets at night, and yet this murderer is still weaving their way through and getting to another victim," he explained, sounding exasperated. "The curfew just isn't working, either. Many people believe that they can go out and catch the killer themselves. They're only adding to this enormous body count."

"Is there any evidence at all that may lead to this serial killer? Any abnormal patterns that might give the police a hint?" the reporter asked.

The cop stalled for a moment, before answering softly, "No. We have no evidence at all. The killing patterns are very abnormal, but they give us no clue to who this murderer may be."

"And what are these killing patterns?"

The officer replied, his voice still soft, "Well, the victims always have 'their number' carved into their foreheads...and every single victim has had a criminal record. This case is unlike any that we've seen before. It's like the murderer won't stop until they reach 1000."

Rei shut out everything else that was said, completely shocked. The final words that the officer spoke brought one thing to his mind.

'The story of a man, a woman, and the corpses of a thousand evil men...'

Zoe walked around the graveyard, staring at the many tombstones, like she usually did. Raven was perched on her shoulder, cawing every now and then to break the pressing silence. Zoe stopped beside a freshly dug, empty grave that was just waiting to receive its occupant. She was about to walk over to the tombstone to see whose grave it would soon be, when a man pulled himself out of the grave. He was covered in dirt and had a shovel in his hand.

"Whose grave is this, Skel?" Zoe asked monotonously.

"Well," the grave kepper started, "After watching the News this morning and seeing your recent victim, I just thought I'd prepare his grave. You know, so I won't have to do it later."

Zoe stared at the scraggly old man in silence for a moment. He resembled that of a skeleton...gaunt in the face, skin so taut that it took the shape of his very bones. His eyes were hollow, black, and sunk into the sockets, and he was paler than the dead. He didn't have much hair; only a couple of scraggly grey strands. And, ironically, not only did he look like a skeleton, but his name was actually Skeleton. Zoe simply called him Skel for short.

"You know, for Satan's henchman, you have a wonderful senses of humor." Zoe muttered sarcastically.

"Thank you. For being dead, you sure are a bitch." Skel grinned, showing that he was missing most of his teeth. "But seriously, this grave will belong to a Miss Holly Farren in about three days."

"Okay...whatever," Zoe said in her same dull, empty tone. "If you need me, I'll be in the mausoleum. If you don't need me...then don't bother me. In fact, if you do need me...still don't bother me."

Without another word Zoe headed off towards the glimmering, black marble mausoleum where she had been living for the 8 months she had been back. More things than Zoe could handle had happened in those 8 months. Satan gave her the task of bringing him the souls of 1000 evil men in exchange for her life and reunion with Rei, sent her back to the realm of the living without any emotions whatsoever, and had just recently sent Skel, his number one "helper", to watch after her. Zoe had almost been caught by the police several times before, which was why Satan sent Skel to her.

Zoe went into the mausoleum. It was damp, cold, and very dark. Just perfect for her, in her state, plus she could see in the dark as she still possesed her cat qualities. Zoe sighed and sat down on the cold, hard floor.

"When will this nightmare be over...?"

(THIS NEXT PART WILL CONTAIN GRAPHIC VIOLENCE, READ AT YOUR OWN RISK AND DONT MOAN AT ME I WARNED YOU GUYS!!)

"Eric...you either cough up the money...or I'll fill your head with bullets."

Eric trembled at the other man's words, backed up against the back of a building, a revolver pressed firmly against his head.

"J-just give me a little more time, Kevin...I'll get it to you, I fucking swear!" he shouted pleadingly.

Kevin grinned and lowered the gun, turning his back to Eric, who still shook violently with fear.

"Okay...okay. You have a little more time to get the money to me. I'll be merciful," he said slowly.

Eric's grim expression brightened.

"Honestly? Seriously?!"

"...No. I was just fucking with you."

Kevin turned around again, and before Eric could even gasp, fired his revolver three times. Eric hit the ground in seconds, ice cold with death. Kevin chuckled and tucked his weapon away into his coat pocket. He gazed down at the recently deceased man that lay at his feet.

"Such amateur work..."

Kevin spun around, his gun drawn out once again. Zoe stood a few feet away, staring at Eric. Little was left of his head, for most had been blown off by the gunshots.

"Who the fuck are you?" Kevin asked, startled.

"So much evidence left behind...you'd be caught quicker than you could blink." Zoe muttered, taking a few small, menacing steps forward.

"Stay back, you psycho whore!" Kevin commanded, gun aimed at her now.

"Sticks and stones may break my bones...but, hell...I'm already dead, so it doesn't really matter," Zoe said in a scathingly humorous tone. "Tell you what...I'm going to do you a favor. I'm going to kill you so that you won't get caught and get sent to jail...where you'd more than likely get man raped and beat up."

Zoe discreetly drew out her knife from her coat pocket. Kevin growled, refusing to give up without a fight.

"You won't even get a chance to touch me!" he yelled, firing his gun at Zoe twice.

Zoe weren't even temporarily stunned as the bullets tore their way through her abdomen. Zoe kept trudging forward, her pace getting faster and faster.

Kevin gasped, shocked.

"She didn't even flinch..." he murmured to himself, backing up as she advanced on him.

He turned around to run off, only to come face-to-face with Zoe.

"Boo, fucker."

He screamed loudly and stumbled backwards, landing on his back on the cold ground. Zoe pounced on top of him and grabbed his gun before he could make a move. Zoe stared at him with lifeless eyes as he struggled to get out from underneath her.

"Pathetic..." Zoe sighed.

"Please...don't kill me!" Kevin pleaded, sobbing.

"Funny...your victim was just pleading with you for his life a couple of minutes ago. I guess what they say is true...what goes around comes around...and it bites you right in the ass." Zoe said emotionlessly, holding her knife close to Kevin's eyes so that he could see the shiny blade.

"Oh God..." he groaned, shaking as badly as Eric had only moments earlier.

Without a second thought or word, Zoe started slashing away at Kevin's face, neck, and chest. He choked out in horrific pain, clawing at the concrete ground. Blood coursed from each wound that was inflicted on his body, forming a pool on the ground. Zoe herself were coated with the scarlet liquid, yet she kept on tearing at the now helpless man, until his savage thrashing died down to weak spasms and writhes.

Zoe quickly carved 998 into his forehead and jumped to her feet. The sight of what was left of Kevin was sickening enough to make her turn away. His face was no more; beyond any recognition. His neck had one large wound on it-- a large hole that was still churning blood out from it. It was a disturbing and disgusting sight, indeed.

Zoe put her blade safely back in its place, took one last look at Kevin to see the fading glow of the numbers she had carved into his forehead, and then took off into the shadows where no one could see her.

Rei's P.O.V

I lay silently in my bed in my darkened hotel room, thinking deeper than I had in a while. Over the past nine years...I had simply brushed the thought of her away...I simply pushed it into the darkest depths of my mind. But now, somehow, it had forced its way to the very front. Seeing that girl at the cemetery the other day really got to me. I knew it couldn't be her...she's dead, after all; six feet under in a grave I refuse to look at anymore. Yet, something in my mind stil thinks that it really was her.

...I really don't know what to think anymore.

And then...then there's the string of mass murders that oddly remind me of the concept of My Chemical Romances album, mine and Zoes favourite album. What the hell is going on here? I've never been this confused before.

I sighed and shut my eyes, vainly trying to clear my mind. But no...the image of her face still haunted the darkness behind my closed eyes. I was about ready to snap...why wouldn't she just leave me alone? Why couldn't her fictitious ghost just go away...?

I was finally snapped away from my thoughts when I heard the room door open and close. Then there was the sound of soft footsteps coming closer and closer...until the stopped suddenly. Assuming it was just one of the guys trying to scare me, I ignored the new presence. After a while, whoever it was still hadn't left. I sighed in aggravation; I just wanted to be alone! I opened my eyes and sat up, mouth open to speak, but the words were caught in my throat at what I saw standing at the foot of the bed.

Zoe...it was her. She stood there, motionless, her eyes as ashen as her face. But despite her deadly pallor...she was exactly how I remembered her being. My eyes were wide and I felt tears forming. It hurt me terribly to see what I had lost. She wasn't real...she couldn't be.

I closed my eyes tightly once again.

"You're not real...go away. You're not fucking real!" I chanted to myself, hoping that when I reopened my eyes, the false image would be gone.

But when I reopened them, I saw that she was on the bed, sitting crossed-legged, staring at me with her empty, dead eyes.

"Go away...go away..." I pleaded, eyes closed yet again.

I chanted this over and over again to myself for quite some time, until I finally allowed my eyes to open once again. I sighed in relief, for she was no longer there. I felt better...but just for a moment. I suddenly felt someone's breath on the back of my neck. I looked behind me quickly, seeing nothing but the headboard to the bed. Perhpas I was just a bit too paranoid...

I turned back around in the bed...just to be staring into a pair of lifeless, ashen eyes. Startled, I let out a little yelp and scooted back against the headboard, terrified. Those eyes...they were chilling. Staring at Zoe now was like staring at death. Fear rose in my veins as a very scary, hollow smile spread across her lips.

"Why are you haunting me like this...?!" I asked hopelessly.

Zoe leaned in closer to me, still smiling. After a moment of still silence, she leaned in more.

Then, she whispered something mutely into my ear. Her lips moved and formed words...yet I heard nothing. Then, suddenly, without warning, she kissed me on the lips. A feeling I missed so much...yet the taste of death and pain lingered on her lips and in her mouth. When she pulled away from me, I saw that her appearance had changed. She was completely covered in blood...

"Rei...wake up."

"Huh..?"

My eyes opened groggily. Tyson was standing beside my bed, shaking me. I sat straight up and looked around...

But Zoe was nowhere. Gone without a trace...which meant that it was all just a dream.

"Tyson...? What do you want?" I asked, focusing my attention on my friend.

"Well, Kai ordered me to come wake you up. Said something about all of us going out to have a good time...whatever. You were sobbing like a baby when I came in here and muttering things in your sleep. I was pretty worried...that must've been one bad nightmare you were having," he explained.

I reached up to my face and wiped away fresh tears, sighing.

"Yeah. It was bad. Uh...I'll meet you guys down in the lobby. I need to get ready." I replied.

"Okay then." Tyson said, turning around quickly and heading out the door, shutting it behind him.

I sighed once again and got out of bed. Now I really knew I wasn't going to be able to get her image out of my head...