Ok ok ok I think I've taxed your patience long enough. Sorry for being out of commission so long, I've been in a funk of sorts for the past month. Writing has been tremendously difficult for me. But now I'm back, and hopefully here to stay :]

This chapter is the ONE. Like in the Matrix haha. It's what I've been promising you all for like over a month. AND NOW IT'S DONE! I dance happi *dances*

This story has come a long ass way, and it seriously wouldn't have gotten this far if I didn't have people stroke my ego every chapter. YOU GUYS ARE THE BESTEST!

To show my love and gratitude for all the people who've read and reviewed my story, I'm going to kill this kitten in your honor. FEEL HONORED. I ONLY KILL KITTENS FOR PEOPLE WHO REALLY MATTER TO ME.

*meow*

*kills*

*dead kitty*

This chapter is slightly shorter than the last, but crammed full of action and STUFF. It seems a little bit fast paced to me, but that's just me and I usually like taking my dear sweet time explaining crap. There will be another note at the end (LOLROFLOMFG I MADE A BAD PUN BWAHAHAHA. I did that last chapter if you didn't catch that.) at which time I will be here to answer your questions and such and the like. Enjoy~~!

"Your total comes to $160.92. Would you like this wrapped?"

Beyond suppressed the instinct to glare at the sales clerk, a young girl named Valerie who wore too much lipstick, and instead offered her a toothy grin.

"No, thank you, that is quite alright." He took the bag from her and departed the store. With this out of the way, he could now officially begin his 'work'.

"But, of course, we shall start right after a smoke break. And why is that? Well, because I say so!" He lit up and took a long, satisfying drag. The moment was ruined, however, because he took in too much and started hacking violently. After the fit, he cleared his throat, shrugged, and continued smoking.

It was just before noon, giving him only around three or four hours to complete the first part of his plan.

Well, more like the first three parts to a 3-act play. Heh, this would be great on Broadway. Maybe I should become a play writer...

The raven haired killer finished his cigarette and drove off with a smirk on his face.

The internet was such a wonderful thing. Anything and everything could be answered just by a simple click and search. In Beyond's case, the addresses of two specific people. Even in a city the size of Los Angeles, finding them had been a rather easy task. All you needed was a name, and the internet did the rest. Location found, complete with detailed maps and the most direct route to take. Easy.

It's practically slaughter hahaha...

On the way to his first destination, he saw his lovely victim playing basketball on a court near his apartment with a few people who appeared to be relatives. Diego may have been short, but he was pretty skilled at the game, Beyond noted with mild interest.

Well, you just know how to make it easier for me. Thank you for that! He drove to the apartment complex Diego lived at and parked on the far side, then pulled out a cellphone borrowed from Dahlia. That girl was too considerate for her own good.

*69

Desaparece had better have his fucking cell on him.

After two rings he answered. "Bueno?"

"Diego, yes?"

"Uh, yeah. Who is this?"

"Before I tell you, I need you to swear to me you will listen to everything I have to say and do as I tell you for the duration of this phone call. I'm calling you to make a deal. Act like a friend has called you, and only speak when necessary. I'm the person you met with instead of Bailey."

"Ohhh, right, hi, how's it going man! Haven't talked to in like ages!" Apparently he knows this type of business deal well.

"Good. I have an offer that should interest you greatly, and I'd like to meet with you at your place in ten minutes. If you can't make it, I'm sorry, but I will be unable to reschedule. This is a one-time offer. You may answer."

"Uhm, well, I'm kinda in the middle of a game right now, but you say today's your only free day?"

"Yes. This is the only time I will be doing this deal. You'd be crazy to pass it up. What's it going to be then, eh?"

Silence for a moment.

"Yeah, sure, we can hang out. I'll meet you over there in like an hour, 'k man?"

"If anyone there asks, tell them your just going out to see an old friend, but need to go home and get ready first. I'll see you soon." Beyond shut the phone and closed his eyes in thought. Then he snapped his fingers together, not so much because inspiration had hit, but because now was the time to assemble his tools. With his bowie knife, he cut a meter long section of electrical cabling, wound it up and placed it in his pocket. Then he pulled out a page of stationary and jotted down a quick note in black pen. That, too, was placed in his pocket.

"Now we lean back and wait for Diego to get home. I'm going to be exhausted after today."

Diego came into view a couple minutes later, trudged up the stairs to his apartment and went inside. Still in his ill-gotten car, Beyond was going over the last details.

Cover all the tracks.

Leave only what must be left.

Let's go.

The raven haired killer stepped out and scanned the area quickly. No one would be likely to take notice of him. He quickly ascended the steps and knocked on the door once. Diego opened it and let him in with a rather excited look on his face.

"Alright, so man, what kind of a deal are we talking about? It must be big if we had to talk in private like this." The man lit a cigarette and sat down.

"Yes. Do you know how much I'm talking about?"

"How much is it?"

"Over a kilo." Diego's cigarette dropped and his eyes went wide.

"What the fuck man! You fucking serious?"

"As serious as you are breathing." I love double entendres.

"Holy shit...I don't know if I have enough to pay you upfront though."

"I'm sure we can work something out. Besides, it's not really the money I'm after. I do, however, have a suggestion to make. You have colleagues of sorts, yes?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Do you have anyone you could consider 'expendable'?" Instantly, Diego got the message and laughed under his breath.

"Fuck man, you thought this through. Yeah, I have a couple guys I wouldn't mind if they got caught."

"Call up one of them and tell them to meet you and me here in exactly half an hour. I'm sure by that time we will have reached a mutual agreement concerning payment and will be able to use whoever you decide to call to pick up the load. Sound good?"

"You're a crazy ass motherfucker, and I like that about you. I'll call up Willy, I don't care if his sorry ass gets caught. That kid has been more trouble than he's worth anyway."

"Don't tell him anything about the deal, just that his assistance is required." Diego nodded and dialed some number and began explaining the plan with 'Willy'. Meanwhile, Beyond stood back and cracked every knuckle in his hands, one at a time.

Time is the most important thing here. It needs perfect timing. Perfect...

"Alright, Willy's on his way. He lives a little far, so it might take an hour for him to get here. You like, want a drink or something-" He was harshly cut off as Beyond took hold of his wrists, pressing them into his back and pinning him against a wall.

"Thoughtful of you, but I'm running a tight schedule, so no thank you." He pulled out the cabling.

"What the fuck! What the fuck are you doing!"

"Sigh. I really don't have time to explain, sorry." Deftly, he slipped the wire over Diego's head, then using his free hand and teeth, pulled tight. A choking gasp emanated from the shorter man, and he began thrashing around violently, losing his balance and falling to the ground. Taking this to his advantage, Beyond flipped him onto his stomach before he could react and held tight onto the cabling. For good measure, the raven haired man put his boot on the back of Diego's head to keep him in place.

And all while he was strangling the man, Beyond whistled a morose tune in a cheerful fashion. The song of choice: We Suck Young Blood (Your Time Is Up) by Radiohead. An appropriate theme, if inappropriately delivered for the occasion.

After a good three or four minutes of struggling, the victim finally quit moving. Another six and he had given up the ghost. Taking a deep breath as though he'd just finished a long run, Beyond took out the note and tucked it into the dead man's left hand. The note read;

"Let's not be upset by the circumstances. Those expressions...those emotions which play across you face, a little too morbid for me. Ease up some! It's not a difficult game."

Satisfied with his handiwork, he departed, leaving no evidence other than that which he intended.

Act One, Scene One, complete.

Victim two was easier to deal with. The housewife he had forced into purchasing materials for him. She would be killed with one of the very items which she believed had saved her and her family.

Well, I promised her family's safety, and I'm not a man who goes against his word! I just like leaving out little details hahaha.

Unlike the last time he'd visited, the front door was locked. As it was just a standard lock and the deadbolt wasn't turned, picking it was easy enough. He stepped in quietly and found her in the exact place as before; the kitchen. Just as she was turning towards the sound of the front door closing, he already had the cabling around her neck and was pulling hard. Despite having air cut off, she managed to choke out a plea.

"Gah!...please...ah...don't...!"

She died quickly, falling to the ground in a heap, her skin a pinkish-blue. Just like the last body, Beyond placed a separate note into her left hand, gathered the wire, and left in a hurry. This note read;

"Frowning takes too much effort for me. I find something such as a smile better...A game, it's like a game. The faces people make are so entertaining, but only when they're genuine."

Act One, Scene Two, complete.

And it wasn't even two in the afternoon yet.

"G-get back! What do you want from me? Take anything you like, just don't kill me!" To mix things up, Beyond had decided to show off his bowie knife to the third victim, the random Chinese guy. Finding him had, admittedly, been the most difficult, because he had been unsure of what the Romanization for each character in his name was. But with the internet, no feat was too difficult. The man's name ended up being Shen Hongwen, and with that Beyond was able to find his home and the uninteresting fact that he was a florist in Glendale. This man was attempting to defend himself, something which caused the killer to let forth a terrifying laugh.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA...No, no, please, go on! This is really funny! I haven't laughed this hard in ages!"

"S-s-stop! Don't hurt me! Uh, uh, here! Take my car!" He fished out his keys and threw them to the ground, his hands raised in the air as though he was being arrested.

"You think I care? Well, actually, the car might be of use to me...Maybe. But that still doesn't change the situation."

"LEAVE ME ALONE!"

"Tsk tsk, you're too noisy. The neighbors will come running, and I can't have that." Beyond pulled out the cabling once again, and set to work strangling the man. When it was over, the last note was placed in his lifeless left hand, which read;

"I can read you so easily. You hide behind a mask, yet I see deeper. I can decipher you thoughts with no trouble. An easy feat, but...will you win?"

On his way out, Beyond considered picking up the keys, figuring a new ride would be nice, but changed his mind and drove back to Dahlia's apartment in the white truck.

Act One, Scene Three, complete. Now for an intermission.

When Dahlia returned home from work later that evening, she found Beyond meticulously vacuuming the rug in her living room. In fact, it appeared as though he had spent the entire afternoon cleaning her apartment from top to bottom. Every surface had been wiped down, even the top of the fridge, and he had dusted all her artwork and books.

"Welcome home!" He greeted her with an uncharacteristically cheerful tone and smile. Dahlia walked in and set her messenger bag down on the ground, locking the door as she did so.

"Uh...hi...I'm guessing you had a good day, huh?"

"I did! I was out killing people."

"Haha nice. Sounds like my day. Hey, would it be too much of a favor to ask you to get rid of my boss? I don't really want to get into details, just that she's a bitch and the world would be better off without her."

Turning the vacuum off, Beyond turned towards her and gave his best gentlemen's bow. "It would not be a problem Dahlia-chan. What exactly did you have in mind?"

"I wanted to beat her with something heavy over the head, cause blunt force trauma. Quick question, is it possible for someone to die of hemorrhaging without rupturing their internal organs? I've always been curious..."

I love how we can talk about something like murder so casually. You and I are so much alike. How deep do our similarities run? I do believe it is time for Act Two of my play to begin...

"I wouldn't say it is. Dahlia, I bought you a gift of sorts, let me get it out..." He lifted a plastic shopping bag. "I purchased it on a whim, and I hope you like it." A white, lacy dress with a black sash was revealed as the bag fell to the floor. It was fairly short, and had thin black straps and a slight poof from multiple layers of tulle underneath the lace. Dahlia's eyes lit up, but then narrowed in suspicion.

"What's this for? What's the catch?"

"No catch, I just thought you might like it. I don't mean anything by it, I'm not trying to be romantic or anything. If you don't want it I can return it..."

"No, that's not it. I'm just surprised at this...change in character. Usually when a man gets a woman presents he wants something from her. A sandwich...sex..."

"I assure you neither of those are my objective. I only wanted to get you something special, if that's alright."

The blonde strode over to her friend and took the dress from him, rubbing her fingers through the fine lace.

"Yeah, it's fine. I like this dress a lot, it wasn't too expensive I hope?"

"Money was not an issue. Would you mind trying it on for me? I'm fairly sure I got the right size." Dahlia nodded and ran to the bedroom to put her new dress on while Beyond put the vacuum away and pulled out his bowie knife. He sat down on the couch and kicked back, waiting for Dahlia to emerge while spinning the blade on his thigh.

"Ok! What do you think?" She fanned the sides of the dress out and gave a little twirl, the material billowing out around her legs and showing off her pale skin. Beyond felt himself become hot, but maintained his composure and gave his approval.

"You look lovely. The dress is very fitting of you."

Walking over to the chair, Dahlia put on her best 'lady-like' act and sat with her legs crossed in a very proper manner. She pouted her lips and pretended to sip tea with her pinky up. After a bit she began laughing hysterically, and Beyond himself laughed along with her. And all the while he knew she had caught sight of his bowie knife, because once Dahlia managed to compose herself she couldn't take her eyes off it.

I can read your every movement, I know just what you're thinking. Where did your rubber band go? Your 'fix'?

Visibly she shifted in her seat, then started picking at her lip with her long fingers.

Something is on your mind; you want to say it but you're not sure how to word it. My knife is exciting you...hehe that sounded perverted. I'm waiting for you to make the next move.

Again, she moved in the chair, trying to get comfortable. Her lip appeared to be bleeding slightly, and just as Beyond started to think about it, her tongue licked the blood away.

She sighed heavily, trying to form her thoughts into sentences.

"Hey, uh, Beyond...Have you...

Do you have any bad habits?"

Ah, I see your tactic. Trying to skirt around the main subject initially, make it seem natural to bring up such a topic. I can see right through it.

"Dahlia, if you want to talk about masochism and the like there's no need to be so shy about it. We were discussing killing not long ago and that was perfectly normal." Her brow furrowed and then she shrugged.

"Leave it to you to know what's on my mind."

"It's a talent I have. And if you want to know, yes, I do have bad habits." Such as killing people.

Dahlia relaxed a little, but only slightly. She was still on edge about something.

"Ah, well, you know about me better than most people. You...caught me that one time...Uhm, I have a question, did...were you disappointed that I wasn't bleeding anymore? The look on you face was kind of...annoyed, for lack of a better word."

It seems as though you can read me as well as I can you.

"Honestly, I suppose I was a little disappointed. That was long ago, however, and I don't remember my exact feelings."

"You wanted to taste my blood, didn't you?"

Beyond looked up directly into her azure eyes.

"Yes. Does that bother you?"

"No, actually. If...you wanted to...Oh God, why am I even thinking about this?"

"What?"

The blonde took another deep breath before continuing. "I have this...game...of sorts...that I came up with years ago. Back when I was still cutting on a regular basis. I never got a chance to play it though. I was thinking...maybe...you'd like to see it, since I liked it and we both have a morbid idea of fun..." She stood up, straightening out the lace of her dress, and crossed the room to the kitchen. On the counter near a vase of lilies sat a die made of grey stone. Dahlia lifted it gingerly and placed it in the palm of her hand, feeling the weight, and walked back to the chair. With her thumb and index finger, she held up the die.

"This is the game; a player takes their turn rolling the die, and whatever number they get is the number of times they have to cut themselves. I never made rules other than that, so I don't know what would determine a 'winner' if there was to be one. But that's my game, and since you've come to stay I've had this craving for...pain, and blood, and such and the like."

Beyond set his knife down and took the stone die from her.

"What you are implying is that you would like to play this game with me, yes?"

"I guess so. I knew, out of everyone I know, that you'd be the most accepting of this, and wouldn't find it strange. Because it is strange, but both of us are strange so it's not a bad thing." She continued picking at her lip, a nervous habit she'd formed in the past few minutes. Beyond looked up from the die in his hand and smiled slightly.

"I'm intrigued, to say the least. But I am not at all opposed to playing your 'game'. This may strike you as odd, but I do in fact carry a set of scalpels with me."

"That's not odd. I used to carry an Exacto razor around with me all the time, and I never leave home without my lighter and something flammable."

The mention of Dahlia's pyromania caused Beyond to shudder slightly, and he reached up to brush the hair out of his face and take a fortifying deep breath. Then, he took a roll of leather from his coat and revealed his prized surgeons' tools, clean and sharp. He picked one up and eyed it with great interest. Across from him, Dahlia had a look on her face that was a mixture of anxiety and anticipation. Her breathing was uneven and ragged, and she was scratching her wrist hard enough to leave a mark, the very thought of dragging the scalpel across her flesh a real and distinct image in her mind.

She's simply itching for pain. How endearing.

"I have a few requests to make of your game Dahlia, if that's alright."

"Uhm, sure. Oh, is it ok if we do this over there on the floor? It's uh, more comfortable there than here..."

"Whatever you want. It is your game. So, my request is that I administer the incisions rather than roll the die."

On the floor, Dahlia's dress fanned out and she looked up at Beyond with confused eyes.

"Wait, so, I'm the only one who'll actually be playing?"

"No, we will both play, but we are on the same team. You roll, and I cut."

"Yourself?"

"No, I cut you. I'm not much of a masochist myself, I have a high pain tolerance but it's never occurred to me to intentionally inflict pain upon my person. I promise to be gentle and not do more than you ask." He sat down, and across from him Dahlia sat thinking over his request.

"I suppose...it would be more interesting. Ok, let's do it. Just, yeah, be gentle...Oh God, ok, here I go." Beyond could hear her heart thudding as she took the die from him and rolled the first number.

Six.

She held her wrist out to the raven haired killer, who took it in a very gentlemen-like fashion. He even kissed the back of her hand before making the first incision, right below her pulsing blue veins. There were a number of scars already in place, heralding a time when this activity was common practice for her.

The scalpel connected with pale flesh and blood began welling up immediately. It wasn't a deep cut, Beyond hadn't wanted to put too much pressure in lest he cut too deeply, but it was enough to bleed profusely. Another cut, just below the first one. And another, each time deeper as he became more sure with his weapon. The last three cuts formed an asterisk. Beyond looked up from his work to find Dahlia leaning against the wall, her eyes closed and breathing more even now. She opened her eyes and picked up the die again, not wanting to rest in between.

Four.

The cuts were quick and deep, blood dripping like a faucet, disappearing into the red carpet. Some caught the edge of Dahlia's dress.

"Beyond...It'll stain..."

"It doesn't matter."

"But I like this dress..."

"I'll buy you a new one if you want. We're too far in for you to change clothes anyway."

"...k..."

Six again. Not an inch of Dahlia's porcelain skin would be overlooked. She gently pulled her wrist in towards her, and Beyond watched as she licked the wounds clean. Her tongue carefully navigated the cuts, lapping the sweet red blood that flowed through her body. Her eyes closed again and she relaxed completely, a look of macabre ecstasy on her face. Beneath his own skin, Beyond could feel his pulse quickening, and willed himself to remain focused.

One. A long single cut, traveling up her entire forearm.

Five. Right through the single cut, much in the likeness of stitches but mocking their purpose as blood pooled up and fell. Instinctively, he held out a finger and caught a drop of blood, then brought it to his mouth and quickly licked it away.

So sweet. Like tasting fine wine.

One. The scalpel dug in and Dahlia gave a small gasp.

Four. Short and deep, the smell of blood permeating the room.

Four again. Up her arm, past the elbow. Beneath his touch the blonde winced slightly.

Three. Right on her shoulder.

Slice.

Slice.

Slice.

At this point Dahlia no longer had the desire to roll the die, and Beyond couldn't care less, taking his weapon and carving intricate patterns into her skin as though he were an artist and she his easel. Her left arm was covered in blood, staining the dress with a crimson dye.

I can't take it anymore...

He pulled himself close to the girl and ran his tongue over her flesh, relishing the warmth of the blood against her naturally cool skin. This action, more than the act of cutting itself, caused Dahlia to shudder. But she let him continue.

"You are an angel, and I am a demon come to take you to Hell with me. Your soul is pure, mine is tainted, and my presence will corrupt you. Run while you're still free."

In a daze, Dahlia's only managed to respond with her eyes, which were glazed over in masochistic pleasure. She shook her head, trying to focus her thoughts.

"...What are you talking about? We're both demons here. If anything we were already corrupted to begin with. And my seat in Hell has been reserved for as long as I can remember."

Despite Dahlia's blood being divinely intoxicating to him, Beyond managed to pull away and center himself just enough to remember what he wanted to ask.

"What are your thoughts on bondage?"

"..."

"Honestly."

"The bondage itself appeals to me, but not if sex was involved. Pleasure from pain and pleasure from sex are completely separate to me. I guess strictly speaking pain wouldn't have to be involved in the bondage...but I don't see the fun in that." Having finally regained mental clarity, she shot the raven haired man a glare of sorts, somehow knowing where this would end up. Beyond himself, in the state he was in, barely noticed this, and instead absentmindedly pulled out his length of electrical cabling. He put an index finger against his lips, and his dark eyes were wide but unfocused, staring straight through Dahlia.

"...Beyond...? Are you ok?" His arm shot out and he pulled his friend to the ground, then bound her wrists behind her back. He straddled her back and breathed down her neck.

"What the fuck are you doing Beyond?" The only response she received was him dragging the scalpel over her shoulder blades and down her spine. Dahlia squirmed to show her discomfort at the turn of events.

"Beyond I'm talking to you! What's going on?"

"Isn't it obvious?..." His voice was lethargic and deep.

"What, are you going to rape me now?"

"No, actually..." Beyond removed himself from her back and walked a few steps away while Dahlia got to her knees, "...I'm going to kill you."

Those eyes of hers betrayed every emotion.

Annoyance.

Disbelief.

Confusion.

And a glimmer of something else Beyond couldn't exactly place. Almost feral...

"What are you talking about?" The tone of her voice changed dramatically, dropping to a low quasi-growl.

"Exactly that. I'm going to kill you."

"I don't understand..."

"It's simple. You are the final piece to my plan, a plan I don't want to get into too much detail about, but essentially involves me grabbing L's attention."

"Explain. I don't get your thinking."

"Very well. L is in the middle of what is probably his most difficult case to date. The only way I can get him to notice me is if you die."

"No. From the beginning, why are you trying to get L's attention?"

Beyond picked up his bowie knife and held it out in a dramatic fashion.

"He made a mockery of me and my ability, and I discovered that it is my fate to surpass him. He will fail, four's always do, and I am a nine, thus I am meant to succeed. My first attempt, if you will, was two years ago right here in L.A. I had set up a series of murders meant to challenge him, confuse him, and prove that I could outsmart him, and thus defeat him and prove my superiority.

I unfortunately made a miscalculation, underestimating his pawn Misora Naomi, an FBI agent he hired to solve the clues I left behind at each murder. My mistake. I was caught, sent to a California prison, and later moved to Liam Caan mental hospital. Fun times. I escaped just nine days ago. By the way, Liam Caan is an anagram from the word maniacal. Funny, huh? I found it oddly appropriate.

I'm going to finish what I started, beginning with making sure he knows I'm out and coming after him."

"Your logic is flawed." Dahlia said unflinchingly.

"Au contraire. The numbers never lie, they are incapable of doing so. I'm sure you remember how into numerology I was. Still am."

"Just because of a couple numbers you've sacrificed who knows how many lives?"

"Uhm...I'd ball park that at around 18-20 I've killed to date. Just a rough estimate. You'll add to that, mind you."

"What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"Everything! From the day I was born everything has been the fuck wrong with me!" He pulled Dahlia up to stand so he could look at her from near his eye level. "What do you think it does to a little kid to see death every day of every year his entire life? I've always been messed up. Since the day we met, I knew you would die on the 30th of January, in the year 2004. I saw it. Along with your name, Dahlia Störa. I've known your name and death date since the moment I first laid eyes on you. I know more about you than you even do. We are so very much alike it's terrifying." His eyes were wide in feigned, childish fear.

"I've never killed before." She still hadn't cracked, her voice an even, matter-of-fact monotone.

"But you do not lack the ability! I know this, I've seen glimpses of your true form. You're probably even more fucked up than I am, you just manage to keep your demon tucked away in a neat little box most of the time. I'm jealous, actually." His eyes changed to demented fascination, and he pulled himself closer and stared directly into Dahlia's pupils.

"I'm waiting for you to let your guard down and release the demon. It's taking longer than I thought it would though..." After much verbal coaxing, she finally showed the first signs of genuine fear. Not for her impending death, however.

"...my...demon...?"

"I'm sure you know what I'm talking about." He let go of her and she fell to the floor, a look of absolute terror on her face.

"No. Dear God no. Why? Why? WHY DO YOU WANT THIS?" Her voice quaked and tears threatened to form.

"It would make killing you more interesting and memorable. All my other victims have either been incapacitated or were too weak to defend themselves. I want a kill that I have to fight for. Someone who actually has the ability to put my own life in danger. I strangled three people earlier today, do you know how boring that was? Give me something that leaves me on edge. I want to be scared for once in my life Dahlia..." The blonde didn't respond beyond tears. Undeterred, Beyond threw his coat off and onto the couch, then cracked his neck loudly. He took out clean scalpel, discarding the first one on the floor, and drew it straight across the throbbing veins in his wrist. The action was quick and the cut deep enough to require stitches, and he licked the scalpel clean and tucked it back into his coat.

His blood was slightly darker than Dahlia's, or at least it appeared to be so to Beyond. He bent down to her level and lifted her face up by her chin, then thrust his bleeding wrist in her direction. Hesitantly she took it into her mouth, but within moments was firmly latched on, draining as much blood from the wound as she could. Meanwhile, Beyond used his free hand to undo the bindings on her hands, and once she was free her hands wrapped tightly around his bleeding wrist, restricting his mobility. He grunted as he attempted to remove himself from her grasp, his wrist stinging as she licked it clean with her tongue.

Finally he managed to shake her off, taking a look at his wounded arm and finding a deep purple bruise forming around the gash. Dahlia's head was slumped forward, and she had stopped breathing momentarily.

Wait for it...

Act Three is about to begin.

The grand finale.

Dahlia's head snapped up instantly, her mouth slightly agape and eyes wide with a look Beyond himself had never seen but was well familiar with somehow.

Animalistic.

Deadly.

Inhuman in a way.

Very familiar, indeed.

Dahlia's eyes always betrayed her emotions, but this time there were no normal feelings. That which made her human had been swept away in one blow, leaving her core exposed to open air. Her true nature revealed; a dark, terrifying sado-masochist out for blood. All moral and rationality was gone. She stood up, her head tilted to one side, like a possessed porcelain doll.

Without looking her hand found the knife rack on the counter in the kitchen, and pulled out a large, intimidating butcher knife. The look on her face said, "Hello Beyond Birthday. You've been a bad boy, now I must punish you."

She lunged out and just missed him, the knife embedding itself in a wall behind him. Yanking it out, she attacked again, her movements frenzied and haphazard, but dangerous all the same. Beyond was having a hard time avoiding.

"Ah yes! This is exactly what I want Dahlia! Let it out! Let it out completely! Hahahahahahahaha!" He leapt over the couch and the blonde came crashing after him. She stood up, sweat and blood covering her body, and the look in her eyes one of absolute hunger for death. It was refreshing to Beyond, for once he was the hunted.

Just as he was making his way back to the kitchen, and large book came flying at him and connected directly with his skull. The force knocked him off balance and he fell to the ground, next to the discarded scalpel. Out of the corner of his eye, he barely had time to see Dahlia about to thrust her knife into his torso and move out of the way. She was on top of him, leaving him trapped, so he took action before this got too out of hand. Her knife lifted again, and Beyond just managed to avoid as it targeted his face. The blade was stuck in the carpet, mere centimeters from his head. He pulled Dahlia's body down closer to him and cut deep into her jugular with his scalpel.

It wasn't enough to stop her immediately, however, and she pulled her knife up again, somehow immune to the pain and previous blood loss.

"Shit Dahlia! Get off me!" Beyond pushed her off and got up quickly, witnessing that Dahlia didn't try and get up and chase him, instead, clasping a hand over her bleeding neck. To be safe, the raven haired killer made a deep incision on the other side of her neck, and at this point she finally fell to the ground completely. Her breathing came in short, labored gasps, and those blue eyes of hers held a pleading look. Not pleading for her life, she was too far gone for that to be worth anything.

Maybe she's pleading that her life won't go to waste.

"Dahlia, if I'd had it my way I wouldn't have had to do this. Honest. But it was the only way I stood a chance at succeeding. And I will succeed. Please keep in mind that I still consider you a friend."

He stood up and retrieved his scalpel and bowie knife, placing them inside his coat. Then, he formed a makeshift bandage for his arm. As he was wrapping the still bleeding wrist, he heard one final phrase from the dying girl on the ground. Her final words;

"...I...will...haunt you..." Anything she tried to say afterwards was too soft to be discernible, and very soon she stopped breathing.

"You will haunt me?" He spoke aloud, not expecting a reply. Upon checking her pulse, Beyond confirmed that she was indeed dead.

"Bra natt, Dahlia Störa." He kissed her forehead in an affectionate manner.

With her blood on his fingers, he drew a number 13 on the wall, followed by the number 17 right below it.

Act Three, complete.

Beyond gave himself a standing ovation.

And thus his play was finished.

Soooooo? Does it live up to expectations? I worked my ass off writing this (not really). There's only so many ways to write the word incision before it gets really old really fast.

This is why I split the original chapter into two parts. To give Dahlia more screen time. It seemed unfair to introduce a character and then kill them off right afterwards. That's what happened to Matt, I didn't want it to happen to Dahlia.

BTW "bra natt" means good night in Swedish. I think. I can ask my dearest daddy poo-poo cause he lives in SWEDEN if it's right. No, he is not Swedish, he's married to a Swedish woman (her name is Katie). No, I am not Swedish either. If I was I wouldn't be 5'3'' :c

I have a little contest I'm setting up. I want to see how many people can figure out the clues (what they are and what they mean) Beyond left behind at each murder. I will give a virtual cookie to whoever gets closest, as well as dedicate a one-shot filler I'm going to write for this story to them. It's titled "Would You Like A Nice Cold Fish Head?" and it will be most hilarious. GAME ON PEOPLE!

For the next chapter I'm actually planning on not writing from Beyond's POV. Guess who it's going to be? That's right, everybody's favorite sugar whore and super sleuth, the amazing L himself! It will be fun.

I love you all and I give you cyber hugg for being with me this far into my story ^^ *huggs*

C. Vincenti