Four chapters later and someone finally tells me I have a typo in this chapter. I really wish people would tell me about this things!

Chapter 10: Nighttime Guardians

Jack was walking down the street to the Inn. They actually thought they would protect themselves by gathering in one spot, where they would all be within easy reach. He twirled the hammer around in his hands pretending he was smashing somebody's head in. The plan had been changed, but it was no big deal, in fact, it would be a much more thorough revenge this way. Tonight Jack would deliver justice twice that or maybe even more than he had last night, and they were helpless to stop him. He pulled his black cloak close around him, taking warmth in it's shadows...

Carter was all alone. He was the only person who had not yet even attempted to sleep. Would there be another murder tonight? The more he paced the harder it was for him to even consider sleeping. He was too nervous to sleep, but it did him no good to keep worrying. Maybe this was pointless. Maybe he ought to just go home to the church. He'd certainly be able to sleep in his own bed...

Harris woke up with a jolt. Dozing off when there was a murder on the loose was definitely not a good idea. He was supposed to be guarding the inn. It was his duty to protect everyone inside. It was getting late; it was well past midnight. Harris yawned. He had to stay awake at his post. As long as he protected the door of the inn, no murderer could hope to get in. He leaned against the doorframe and did his best not to nod off.

The door behind him opened up, quickly waking Harris back up. He couldn't keep falling asleep like this! He turned around to be meet with Carter.

"Harris, do you mind if I go home? I really can't sleep out here on the floor. I guess I'm just a creature of habit."

"Well, you can go back to the church if you like, though I wouldn't recommend it, and I would prefer it if you stayed here and helped me out."

Carter saw how weary Harris looked, "Alright, so how can I help? It's better than just sleeping on it anyway."

"Give me another half hour, and I'd like to switch guard shifts with you. Just try to relax inside, and I'll come get you in a little bit. It will be sort of like a double guard."

"Alright, but you stay awake now. As a priest, it is my job to help the citizens of the town. I'd be glad too," Carter went back inside with a bit more purpose. Peculiar, it was usually his job to make people feel better, but it felt really nice to have somebody do it for him in kind...

Jack was well hidden, and watched as the door closed behind Carter. Now was his chance. This would secure his innocence for a while to come. All those that accused Zack would die, all those who helped that idea thrive would die. Nobody would suspect him for a long time.

Harris slowly nodded back off. Jack watched as he kept waking back up with the occasional jolt. Slowly though, he kept staying asleep for longer and longer periods of time. It was finally the right moment. Jack quietly crept up upon the sleeping Harris, hammer gripped firmly in hand. He had to do this exactly right.

Jack let the hammer fall to his side and slowly swung it back and forth. With all his might, Jack brought the hammer up under Harris's chin. Harris instantly awoke to the excruciating pain of his jaw being forced up into his skull. He looked deep into the mad eyes of the black cloaked figure, and tried to scream, but let out little more than a muffled cry. His lower jaw was firmly wedged into his skull, he was unable to open his mouth to let out the slightest call for help. He had barely had time to comprehend this before the hammer came back around for another blow, striking him squarely on the side of his head. As Harris fell to the ground, barely holding onto consciousness, the cloak around the dark figure fluttered loose slightly, revealing Jack's horridly contorted face.

Harris laid on his back on the ground, unable to move from the pain, realizing the futility of any hope. He accepted his ironic fate. How he had defended the one who was about to kill him. Harris watched as Jack brought the hammer up over his head. So that was how he did it, it wasn't a rock after all. With tear filled eyes he watched as the hammer came plummeting down towards his chest. The pain was excruciating as rib by rib was shattered with a short instant. Harris's heart burst open from the pressure and blood gushed from his mouth. He was dead before the blow had even finished.