Author's Note: The Rem of this story will be a calmer, more rational parallel to her canon counterpart. She's a better version of herself when she's not completely obsessed with Misa XD
Chapter 1 - A Black Book in the Tops
"What the fuck is this thing?"
Gabriela Lopez loved coming to the Tops. It was the only casino on the Strip that she actually liked. Gomorrah was gross, the White Glove Society was creepy, and the Lucky 38 was desolate and lonely.
The Tops? The Tops was just an old-fashioned good time!
But she couldn't worry about that right now, because she was currently examing a black book labeled "DEATH NOTE" that she had found in her hotel room. And she certainly wasn't prepared for the response that came from behind her.
"It's a Death Note, ma'am."
She turned around.
GAH!
Without hesitation she pulled out her holdout knife and attacked the horrifying demon in front of her.
The knife went through the demon like it wasn't even there.
"...well, that was rude," the demon said after a moment. "Calm down. I'm not here to hurt you, I'm here to explain what that book is."
"...ok." The Courier took a deep breath and sat down on her bed. "Sorry about that. I'm Gabriela."
"Rem," she returned, clearly unfazed by the attack. "Allow me to explain."
"The book you have found is called the Death Note. If you write a human's name in that book with their face in your mind, they will die within 40 seconds. Specify a cause of death next to the write of the name, and that will happen as well. If you do not specify a cause of death or write an implausible one, the human will die of a brain aneurysm."
Gabriela was stunned into silence. Then, she started laughing.
Maniacally.
"This is EXACTLY what I needed! Rem, you came to the right place." She paused. "Why give it to me, though?"
"Curiosity," she instantly replied. "You are intelligent and ruthless. I want to see what you do with it."
Gabriela picked up the Death Note and walked out of her hotel room and towards Freeside.
"Then I won't disappoint you."