Chapter 21: Mountaintop Murder

Jack wandered through the streets. It was almost dawn. He had wasted the night away. Mary had been let off of work by Anna, so at least for now, Jack was letting her live. She would probably die in the end anyway. Now or later, it did not matter. For now, he had returned his mask and cloak to his home and was now on patrol protecting the city...

Popuri snuck out of her house. She and Kai had spent the whole day together. Now, she was going to meet him atop the peak of Mother's Hill to watch the sunrise with him. Outside, Kai waved at her from the street corner. Popuri rushed over and hugged Kai. He looked down at her warm bubbling face and couldn't help smiling back. After their warm greeting, Kai put his arm around Popuri's waist and they walked off together.

Popuri stopped suddenly and nearly dragged Kai to the ground. She looked at the gate in front of her, "Mommy says I'm not allowed to go in there." She read the words carved in the sign over the gate, 'Jack's Property, No Trespassing.'

Kai sighed, "It's okay. You won't get in trouble. We are just taking a small shortcut through old Nasty Jack's farm."

"Mommy also says we aren't supposed to call him that." She tried to put on a stern face.

Kai took her hand and pulled her along, "Just come on!"

But unknowingly, somebody had seen them and was following after them. Jack followed them as the snuck through his farm and strolled casually through the woods. He hiked up the mountain after them. As he reached the top, he peered at the from behind a rock and watched them. They sat on the edge of a cliff holding hands together, staring at the first rays of the sun slowly peaking over the distant mountains.

Jack slowly approached them with scythe in hand. Since the whole experience with Anna was so disappointing, this was going to be his fun for the night.

Popuri leaned up close to Kai and kissed him quick, "I love you Kai."

Kai reached slowly into his pocket, "I love you too Popuri." He pulled out a blue feather and handed it to her, "Will you marry me?"

"Yes, of course I will. Rick and Mommy will be so happy for us!" Popuri put her arms around his neck and they shared a long kiss. They finally broke away and she looked down at her lap at the blue feather. She was just so happy.

Jack twirled the scythe around fast at Kai's head. In one fair sweep, the blade went clear through his neck. Kai sat there for a moment, seemingly uncomprehending what happened. Slowly, his head rolled off his shoulders and landed in Popuri's lap.

Popuri stared at it as the blood slowly flowed from the stump of his neck, dying the blue feather a deep red. In slow motion, she opened her mouth and screamed at the top of her lungs.

Jack brought the scythe straight through her back. He kept carrying the swing through. Popuri's body slammed into Kai's, and their arms wrapped around each other in a morbid death embrace. With all his might, Jack ripped them from the end of his scythe, flinging them out over the precipice. As their dead bodies plummeted straight down, they managed to hold onto each other until they crashed into the rocky ground below. A shower of blood splattered across the rocks as they were flung apart.

Jack smiled as he watched, "And you had thought I was joking. I guess the joke is now on you, hope you liked the punch line."