AN: welcome to chapter 9. a little shorter than the last chapter and WARNINGS: death, rape, language, violence, and gore. Please enjoy!

Half across the country however, Mandy was unaware of a certain heroin standing under her own shower head. Blossom rested her forehead against the cool tiles, not entirely feeling the cold against her face, or the clothes clinging to her back. Bubbles was gone, taken away to some secret lab to be detained until... Buttercup was there too, they had deemed her too dangerous to be allowed within the city limits until they could put on her neutralization gear.
She was the only one left at the moment, but that wasn't really accurate either, she wasn't there, not fully. She was so numb, so confused, so alone. Tears burned her eyes, but did not fall. She was the leader, she had to stay strong, had to stop what was going to- A knock sounded at the door timidly. The Professor.
"Blossom? There's someone here to see you..." He'd apologized so many times since she'd arrived there. It didn't matter.
"Leave me alone." she said, voice barely over a whisper.
"he says he needs to see you right away..." Her response was the same, slightly louder though so he could hear her. She could hear The Professor speaking softly to someone. "he said, said he'll come in anyway if you don't come out."
"tell him to fuck off!" The words echoed in the small room.
"i hope you're dressed Red because I'm coming in." The tears spilled over and the door opened. Brick silently thanked god that she was clothed. One look at her and she began to sob in earnest, so he, without a word, climbed into the shower and let her break.

Professor Utonium wasn't in a much better state after the events of the day, and found himself holding a bottle of scotch that he had never touched before. He wasn't a drinker, never had been, but today he just needed something to calm his frazzled nerves so that he would be able to think. He had to figure out what to do, solve this problem. It was just an equation, but there were so many variables! Life was one big equation but how was he supposed to balance and solve it? if only some of the variables would disappear! The doorbell rang and he rose to his feet, his mind still whirling, but not muddled by the alcohol.

"Mayor? Has something else happened? Is Bubbles alright?" He asked when he found the Mayor on the front step, tears misting the old man's eyes.

"B-Bubbles is fine Professor. But… Buttercup…" a sob broke the Mayor's voice. "She was killed in a car crash!" the world seemed to shatter.

"Buttercup!" Blossom gasped tears covering her eyes again. "No! that can't be possible! She could crush a car between her bare hands!"

"She was trying to save a pedestrian when the brakes on an oncoming sedan gave out. She threw him out of the way, and she… she didn't remember that she couldn't use her powers…" The mayor said tears running down his own face. Brick stood there numbly. The world was ending, and it had only taken a day for sanity to crumble away it seemed. Black and white that they all knew so well was being blurred by the blood flowing all around them, and he was treading, they were already drowning.

Crimson copper dripped from the walls, the ceiling, the shelves. It was like the store was raining blood. Grim took a deep breath, smelling that bitter scent that caused excitement to thrum through his old bones. The jeweler's body was undistinguishable through the blood and shredded flesh, and lay on the floor in a heap. His soul was seven years overdue and in that time the man had raped more than twelve girls. Number fifteen was cowering in the corner, her eyes wide with terror and she was sobbing, making no move to cover her abused body as she looked up at him. Grim set aside his scythe and picked up her coat from the bloody floor. He approached her slowly.

"Dere, Dere child, it is not your time. let me help you." She shuddered violently ad curled in on herself farther, but did not move away when he gently wrapped the cloth around her frame. "De police will be here soon, you'll be fine." He said quietly and she looked at him with tears in her eyes and helped her to her feet.

"T-thank you…Who are you?" she said, her voice quacking in her fear.

"I am Death. I am de Grim Reaper." The words were filled with such power that she felt her unsteady knees buckle under the assurance in his voice. She sobbed. Sirens sounded in the distance and Grim took his scythe in hand again. "De next time we meet child, it will be your time."

"You'll kill me." she whimpered out, eyes gravitating to the massacred pile of flesh on the floor.

"No child, I will take you ta where you'll belong. Den you'll never see me again. He put a skeletal hand on top of her head, focused his power, and made the girl fall unconscious. He deserved to be allowed some rest before the second wave of the storm hit. He rolled his shoulders. that had been a lot of fun. He hadn't realized how much he missed reaping until he had gotten here. Out of the blood covered display case he saw a shiny pink object. He moved closer to examine it. It was five petals made of pink sapphire that converged onto the center made of yellow sapphire all of which was set in 24 karat white gold. It was rather beautiful, but was made of soft and gentle curves… that wouldn't due for what he was planning for it. he picked it up, it surely wouldn't be missed. He would need to pay a quick visit to the underworld before he went home.

AN: whoo! Grim is back and better than ever! So do you hate me yet for destroying the PowerPuffs? Review please