Part 1: Secrets

Bull Island, Ireland:

"Daniel, we've got another one. One of ours caught her hangin' by the dune stacks from the shore."

Daniel scratches his chin, looking at him.

"Any Mundy spot you... apprehending our new guest?"

"Nah, the lot of them are either finishing up the course, drinking at the bar, or having a bite at the dining room - all of which was convenient for me. Anyway, I put her in the basement with the others."

"Good, good. Can't wait to see what 'treasures' they'll have in store for my collection. In the meantime, you can go back to ye game."

He tips his golfers' hat. "Thanks, Danny."

He puts his left hand on his shoulder, his grip getting a little tight. "What did I say before about calling me that? Hmm? It's Daniel. Best remember that next time you address me so."

"My mistake, boss, I apologize. It's been a long day, y'know?"

Daniel opens a drawer from his desk and pulls out a knife. "I know, but that shouldn't be an excuse. Otherwise, it's ye eyes."

The henchman gulps, holding onto his golf club in internal fear. "I gotcha, understood boss."

"Glad. See you tomorrow, Chris." Daniel walks out of his office and the clubs' hallways outside to see the setting sun before him.

"Alas, a beautiful sight. Only to return to us again - over and over."

"Do you always talk to yourself like that? Ah, perhaps it's the liquor speaking for you."

Daniel turns around. "Oh. Hey, Abby."

She crosses her arms and scoffs. "That's it? No kiss? Not even a little hug to protect me in those big, strong arms of yours?"

"Smartass." He walks up to her, slowly stroking her hair in return. He kisses Abby on the nose, only to stare her back in her eyes. She does the same.

"So, what are you doing here, Ab? Figured you were going to be at Leppy's for the rest of this evening."

"Drinking there felt a bit tedious this time around. I don't know how you Irish do it. Besides, I can't see my man in his natural habitat?"

He scratches his head whilst looking around. "Ehhh..."

Abby cuts him off. "Wrong answer, bub." She snickers. "So, what, you almost done with whatever thing you got going here at the Royal Dublin?"

"Almost, actually. Just need to take care of somethin' important first. I'll meet ya inside when I'm done - should be about 20 minutes."

"Oh goody," She playfully punches him. "Going to be stuck waiting in a place full of middle-aged Mundies. Thanks a lot."

He smiles and walks to the main building. "I do what I can, love." With her out of sight, he looks around to see if other eyes are looking where he's at. Nope. Daniel enters an obscure cellar door by one of the buildings' sides.


The darkness comes to put the light out...

Whispers were heard as soon he descended down the stairs. "Don't worry, when he comes, we'll get the jump on him. Simple." Daniel shook his head.

The group of tied-up Fables hush when Daniel comes around the corner. He looks at them sitting lined up against the wall. "I don't know if you guys are stupid, but one of ya need to work on ye tone of voice - as for what I heard sounded like a plan of escape."

"Fuck off, Daniel." A man sneers, leaning a little. "We know what you do down here, the Fables -possibly even the public- needs to know."

"Hmm? Sorry, what was that?" Daniel steps on his accuser's leg.

"AHHHHHH!"

"I CAN'T HEAR YA OVER YE SCREAMING!"

The women began to sob, except for the one that was recently brought in.

"Arrghh, you - you fucking CUNT! That was my fucking kneecap you just shattered!"

"Had to keep you from spouting possible shit out of ya mouth-hole sooner or later. Besides," He looks at the guy whose knee was broken especially. "It's all of ya faults for getting captured by my men like this. Neither of you's wouldn't be down here in the first place if you just kept ya damn noses out of things they don't belong in."

"What are you waiting for, then? Finish the job." An unfamiliar voice was heard.

The others looked at the new girl, while Daniel stepped in front of her to do the same.

"Wow, never seen one so... 'full-of-fire' before, apart from the fat slob I just injured. Hmm, yes, you'd make a fine contribution to my collection."

"If you didn't bind my wrists like the others, I would have head-butted you square in your jaw for looking at me creepily like that. Do what you need to do." She winks at the other captives. The four of them look at each other in confusion.

Daniel notices something was amuck, but goes along with her 'request'. "Taking one for the team you hardly know, I see? Very well." Daniel forcefully pulls her up and motions for her to go towards a door across from them.

She moves her shoulder to get his grasp off her. The woman casually walks into the room. It was empty for the most part. A table was in the middle with a chair on opposite ends, while two shelves had various jars that filled its rows in one corner.

"Fascinating."

"You... like my collection?" Daniel looked at her, about to turn her around.

The mystery woman turns to face him, slowly loosening the tied rope around her wrists. "Not at all. I'm just pondering the fact of how I'm going to kill you! You twisted fuck!"


Part 2: Survivor

"HAHAHA, you're going to kill me? Don't make me laugh. Just who do ya think you are?"

The girl smirks. "This." Her clothes began to slowly rip apart, her skin growing tufts of fur all over, and finally - horns and a towering stature adding to her now-intimidating appearance.

"Ah, a minotaur! Explains why you got caught so easily by one of my guys earlier."

The woman roars and pins him against the nearest wall, voice booming in hostility.

"ENOUGH. WHERE IS MY SISTER!?"

"Whoa! Skipping the formalities, aren't we? Very well." He smiles. "Afraid I don't know what you're talking about, love."

She slams his head against the wall. "YOU DO KNOW. DON'T PLAY DUMB. YOU'RE THE REASON BEHIND HER DISAPPEARANCE."

Daniel coughs. "Alright, alright, if ya want to know that much," He grunts. "Her head is over there." He nods to a corner of the room. "Top shelf, far left corner."

"What - no, NO! YOU'RE LYING!"

"Would I? Well, I guess anyone would in a situation like this - but I assure you, this is no joke."

She growls, and placed both hands around his neck, tightening her grip.

"YOU BASTARD! YOU, YOU-"

"Hey, HEY!" Hold on now! Y-you haven't seen the jar up cl-close. Errugh!" Daniel struggled to breathe. Or so the minotaur thought.

She loosened her grip to let him speak. "

Please, just look at the jar. Also, mind ya manners when you're by my collection."

"Whatever, you're coming with me." She wrapped her arm around his neck as if he was a ragdoll. Meanwhile, she carefully walked over to the shelves of jars of what she assumed were mutilated body parts or organs of his previous victims. Unbelievably, she assumed right.

Looking at the head in the jar she was directed to, she reads the label on it. "Carie."

"Oh my," She tears up. "It really is you - just what in the fuck has he done to you, little sis?"

The minotaur turns her head. "YOU'RE DEAD." And yet, she pauses, noticing that the little man she held captive was gone. "Huh?"

Daniel's voice echoes in the room. "Bet you didn't expect that to happen, did ya?"

She yells. "Sorcery!"

"Not quite."

She smashes the table in front of her. "Come out and face me!"

"Sure, but you won't like the odds..." The metal door closes itself shut, while the only light bulb in the room flickers on and off rapidly. Then, the bulb changes back to normal.

Standing still, the minotaur faces her now-transparent opponent: a red, misty form of the Irishman to picture.

After her heart skips a beat, she stutters for the first time ever in her life. "G... g... gg..."

"Scared? Don't blame you. It seems that whenever I turn into, well, this. I tend to frighten the shit out of my victims. Don't worry though, it'll all be over soon, sweet."

She raises her fists, getting her horns ready in her 'final stand'. "Try me."

"And as always, they think they can harm me, but they never do. Believe me, all of 'em tried."

"Anyway, I've come to a conclusion that ya beasty eyes will make a fine asset for my collection." He holds up his knife and floats towards her. "Now, stay the fuck still."

She swats at the air in panic as he comes closer, hoping that somehow the spirit would fade away. "No, no, get away! Get awa- AHHHHHHHHHHHHH." Silence.


Outside of the room...

"Fuck, fuck, she's dying in there! We've got to do something!"

"And do what, huh? Flail our bodies at the door until he opens up? Nuh-uh, ain't gonna happen. 'Sides, we can't do shit with the chain attached to our restraints around our wrists. You, me, and the rest know that."

The man sighed. "You're right. If only we were lucky as her, she's the only one who wasn't chained and got rid of her rope restraints earlier. You guys saw it too, right?"

"No." The other man responded. "Not really, considering we can't sense things through walls like you can."

"Yeah, but the door wasn't fully shut all the way." He looks at him and the others again. "Nothing? Seriously?"

They shake their heads.

"Damn, well - wait. The fight between them has ended. He's doing something to her now. Oh god, the things he's thinking on doing to her!"

The two women whimper at his prediction, while the guy with the broken knee cringes at his exaggeration.

"Wait, wait, she's waking up now. Not like the previous others..."

Roars, breaking glass, and muffled yells were heard. Then, outward dents started to form on the door.

"It's her, she's managed to escape!"

CRASH, CRASH, BOOM. The metal door falls off its hinges in front of them. The minotaur walks out bloodied all over, with only one eye left.

"The key, I've got the fucking key. And his petty knife..."

She walks over to the other prisoners to free them, attempting to unlock the chained metal contraptions on their restraints as fast as possible.

After a minute, "There," the final lock clicks open after the key was inserted. "The last one."

The mom and her daughter sigh in relief. "How can we ever repay you?"

The minotaur answered. "With nothing. Go. Before he regains his senses and kills you all."

"Aren't you coming with us?" The psychic asks.

"No. After what he did to my eye and my sister, I've no reason to live anymore."

The psychic adds in furthermore. "Don't be like that, we can go see what we can do about your missing eye, we can-"

"I am like that, now go."

The psychic looks at her in pity. He sighs, realizing it was no use arguing with a beast such as her. He directs his attention to the mom and her teen. "Up the stairs, the two of you. When you both get the door open, try and pull Johnny up. I'll do the opposite by pushing."

They nod and went to work at the closed cellar door up top, which they got open without difficulty.

Looking around to make sure no one was there, the two press their stomachs against the grass and hold out their hands from the surface.

"Here, Johhny, grab their hands." The psychic pleaded.

"Alright." Johnny agreed. "Piece of shit Daniel breaking my knee, still can't believe it." He grabs onto their tiny hands compared to his. They pull with all their might on their end. The psychic contributes to the struggle by pushing Johnny from his feet up.

"It's working! Come on girls, you can do it! And you as well, string bean." Johnny joked.

"Humor's not your strong-suit, big guy. Maybe you should make yourself less heavier next time."

After ignoring the shorter psychic for a little, Johnny finally makes it up on the surface. The girls and him wave at the psychic to come up.

He looks at the minotaur. "Please come with us."

"No. I'll break the steps leading out of this place if you ask me again, trapping you down here with me."

"Fine. Can I get your name at least?"

"Taharia."

"Beautiful name. Mine's John."

She grunts. "Heh. John and Johnny, huh? Plain names, but nice ones overall. Must be confusing if people find you both in the same conversation."

"Oh, you would not believe. He makes his away up the cellar stairs. Groans were heard from the room she was previously in. "Lock the cellar door." She told the four above.

"What?" The psychic said.

"Just do it!"

As much as they hated her request, one of them did just that. The minotaur was trapped in complete darkness, apart from the light that was emitting from the room before her.


Payback...

Daniel's voice echoed. "You broke my jars, all the precious work I did. UNDONE BY YOU, BITCH!"

"Should've put them in a more secure place other than shelves."

"SHUT UP!" He breathes in and out to calm himself. "You've done more than enough to earn the right to be made minotaur meat by my hands."

Before Taharia had a chance to get ready, the now-insane Irishman impales a chainsaw through the back of her skull.

"Huh? You like that!?" He mixes the blade furiously around in her noggin. Brain chunks, skull bits, and bits of tissue were flying around everywhere. To make matters worse, he made sure her head was nothing more than a pile of mush after he was done. Numerous pints of blood caked the floor and ceiling, including his nice shoes.

"My goddamn shoes, shit. Ah well, had to be done. Bitch was technically streaking on my property for having her minotaur tits out like that."

"Hmmm," He picks up one of her horns. "Interesting to see that even they can withstand the force of a chainsaw. Could make for a nice display at Leppy's bar."

Putting the chainsaw back in its original spot, he walked the steps to the surface door, trying to open it. "Of course they locked it. Don't want to change to my spirit form with all this blood on my clothes."

More time passes. "Daniel, you still down there?"

"Yes, Chris, still here."

An unlocking sound was heard. "Boss, your girlfriend was asking about you, I - holy shit!"

"Yeah Chris, covered in blood, I know. Keep your voice down."

"May I ask how? How you're covered in blood, that is."

"Girl you brought in earlier, turned out to be a hassle. Broke my collection to get at me, and freed the rest while I was in shock."

"Oh, and the girl?"

"Dead, with her blood all over me, and on my nice fucking shoes - as you can tell."

"Now get me some new attire before I completely lose my mind here."

"Yes, sir."

"Ah, being in fresh clothes feels much better, though I could use a shower. Fuck it, I'll greet her like this. Nearly all the Mundies are back living their boring lives at the Dublin port, anyway."

"So, Daniel, what about the prisoners that escaped? Want me to get a team out to search for them?"

"Yes, but not now. Sure, they might tell others what I do here, but who's going to believe them when we can make the evidence simply disappear?"

Chris grins. "That's right, how could I forget about 'The Recycler'?"

"By the way, if you don't mind me changing the subject, your girlfriend is still waiting for you. She's growing impatient, Daniel."

"Like normal, she'll get over it. Take me to her."

"Alright."

Daniel walks over with Chris to the parking lot of the golf club. Surprised, he spots her leaning against her motorcycle instead of waiting at the club.

"Babe, I-"

"Don't you 'babe' me, Daniel. I-" Sniff, sniff. "Is that blood I smell?"

"Yeah, a minor incident in the clubs' kitchen. One of the chefs accidentally squirted pig blood on me."

"Uh-huh, sure."

Chris steps in to defend his boss. "It's true, Miss Albourne, I've seen it happen myself."

Abby rolls her eyes, tapping onto the right sleeve of her leather jacket. "You two are the worst liars I've heard in a long time. Thankfully for you both, I don't care enough this time to ask or find out. And Daniel?"

"Yes, Ab?"

"You're not getting a ride back." She sits on the padded seat of the bike. "Just so you know."

"I deserve it." He raises his arms to try and succumb to her - playing the innocent, defeated man.

Abby scoffs. "Common trick in the book, Danny boy. Strike 3 for you, meaning no sex tonight." She puts on her helmet, revs the cycle's engine motor, and drives away.

Sigh. "Could this day get any worse, Chris? I don't think she even mentioned this rule thing to me before either."

"She's a unique one, Daniel. Be lucky you have her regardless."

A young man runs out from the golf club, waving his arms from a distance until he got closer. Another member of Daniel's well-kept gang, no doubt.

"Sir, sir!" He keels over a little, bending down to catch a short breath.

"Sir, what? Out with it, boy." Daniel glares at the kid. He always enjoyed toying with some of his younger, lower ranked members from time-to-time.

"You, uh, you got a phone call. From one of your hitmen, sir."

"Oh? Did he say what's it about?"

"He said it was urgent. Even recommended to be only heard from your ears only."

"Got it, I'll be there shortly to hear what he has to say. You can go now."

The man nods and walks back inside.

"Well, see ya tomorrow, Chris. Got a long day ahead of us."

"See ya, Daniel." Chris walks to his car in the parking lot, whilst Daniel goes to his office inside the club.

He picks up the phone. "Yes, what is it?"

"Sir, the target is in the United States. She's escaped."

"What do you mean she escaped? Even with the magical barriers placed around the country? How?"

The hitman responds. "Whatever the deal was, she managed to pull it off, but most likely with the help of some inside or outside forces."

"If any of them are in Ireland, I want them found!"

"Already done sir, a few we've captured. Would've been better off if they stayed there in America's Fabletown, to be honest."

"America's Fabletown, you say?"

"Yes, that is correct, sir."

"Okay, spot where you have the captives?"

"Ireland's Eye."

"Good, I'll be there tomorrow. Thanks for the heads up with everything. Anything else?"

"Yes, actually. A few rival groups of guns are looking to collect on the Irishwoman's bounty. Italian, Russian, Chinese, you name it. Whoever put it out the bounty must've put quite a hefty reward for her."

"Quite." His grip tightens around the phone, almost breaking it.

"Sir?"

"I'm here, it's just, that'll be all. Thanks." He hangs up.

"Fayde, Fayde, Fayde. I can't believe you would be willing to cower from your home country like this, and from your recently-deceased family as well. What a shame."

He grabs a black and white family photo from one of his desk drawers. Sighing sadly, he pins it to his dart board.

"Well, no more hiding from you, sweet sister of mine." He grabs a dart from a pack from another drawer. "You'll soon learn that your brother, the great Daniel O'Brien was the one you've failed to kill." Taking aim, he throws the dart perfectly at Fayde's head in the picture. "Bullseye, Fayde Everwind - or should I say: Faye O'Brien?"