SUCH CRUEL FATE

The next day, Maddie was on the couch staring at a blank TV screen. Brandon sat next to her and observed her for a while.

"So…what are watching?" He asked.

Maddie didn't answer. Brandon nodded his head.

"Yeah…I really like this show," he continued.

"Brandon shut-up," Maddie said. "Look, we'll go out soon, I just need to do something, alone."

"Oh, okay."

"Wait for me by the field."

After Maddie let him out and locked the door, she walked back over to the couch and sat down. She turned on the TV and the video camera that contained Tim's message. Her heart was pounding out of anxiety and she began to shiver a little. Then, she pressed play. Tim was looking down and then took a deep breath. Next, he looked up and spoke.

"Madeline, I have created this message for you to inform you that I am no longer on this earth. By the time you see this, I will have perished. I'm sorry it had to come this way. I have a disease that cannot be cured and I do not want you to see me dying in a hospital bed. I cannot bear to see the sadness in your eyes."

Tears ran down Maddie's face and she began sobbing.

"And if you saw me living out my last days you would feel terrible. Please Madeline, I don't want you to worry about me anymore. It's your life to live now and you must fulfill your dreams. You are the only person in this world that I care about, the only person left in this world that I love."

Maddie continued sobbing as her tears flooded her eyes.

"It's such cruel fate that I had to succumb to this disease, but it is even crueler fate for you to be alone in such a dreadful world. Maddie, I ask that you continue to rid the world of it's evil. I also want you to learn to love someone. I am forever grateful that I could spend my life with such a wonderful person like you. I don't want to leave you, but I have full confidence that you will fulfill your life's dreams. And Madeline, I love you. I will always love you."

The tape ended. The tears ran down her face, causing her mascara to run. She was no longer nervous, but was now deeply saddened. She turned off the camera and TV. Maddie sat in front of her mirror and saw the running and smeared mascara around her eyes. It looked like she had her face paint on. She picked up a picture of Tim.

"I love you too daddy," she said.

She set the picture down and starred into the mirror. She chuckled and then giggled. She felt the mascara on her face and began laughing.

Det. Rusty Briggs was at the station, shaking the hands of the other officers and detectives. Det. Ken Elliot shook his hand.

"Well, Briggs, you finally made it," he said, "Congratulations man."

"Thanks, Elliot," he said with a slight smile.

"It's alright man, you can smile."

Det. Briggs chuckled.

"What do you want to do for your last day?" Det. Elliot asked.

"You know what I want to do."

"Don't tell me you want to purse that killer. It ain't worth the risk."

"I don't care about the risk."

"All right, Briggs, we'll go out and see if we can find something."

As they were walking out, Captain Donnelly met them and extended his hand.

"I just wanted to thank you for your services Detective Briggs," he said, "It's been an honor working with you.

"Thanks Captain," Det. Briggs replied.

"No, thank you. I'm glad to have worked alongside of you."

"I still have one more case to go."

"You have the spirit of a warrior; you never give up. And I just want to say, bring this creep down."

Det. Elliot and Det. Briggs were driving down the road. Det. Briggs saw the anti-cop protesters and it angered him.

"You're lucky you don't have to deal with that shit anymore," Det. Elliot said.

Det. Briggs saw Darian standing on a platform shouting into a microphone. There were two large men standing beside him. As they drove by, they made eye contact. Darian gave him a smug look.

Maddie was in the training room hitting the heavy bag. She could not keep her mind off Tim's message. She remembered that Tim told her to never be distracted during combat but it was hard for her. She practiced with the katana's, slicing through the air and pretending it was the enemy.

Later, Maddie and Brandon were walking through the city. They looked inside a costume shop and saw an evil clown costume in the window. The face looked like Maddie's face paint that she wore. They both laughed. They continued through the city until they saw the anti-cop protest. They stood and watched as Darian shouted in his megaphone.

"You know my dad always hated the city," Maddie said, "So much evil in it."

"Why do these people flock to them like sheep?" Brandon asked. "These people probably don't even know what they are protesting against."

Maddie and Brandon walked far away from the protest. Then, a police car drove by with the siren on and its lights flashing. It was quickly followed by more squad cars. They all went down the same road. Maddie thought nothing of it until the SWAT vehicle drove by. Brandon took out his cell phone and looked at the news feed. There was a terrorist act at a nearby mall.

"It's that Islamic terrorist group," Brandon said.

"I need to get over there now," Maddie said, "We'll take the subway."

They ran toward the underground station.

"You're not going to fight them, are you?" Brandon asked.

"I have to."

Maddie and Brandon arrived at the scene. There was smoke coming from the mall and there were fire trucks, police cars, and numerous SWAT vehicles. Bystanders also surrounded the area. As Brandon was watching the smoke, he noticed Maddie had disappeared. Then, he received a text message. It read: I'M GOING AFTER THEM. Brandon was stunned.

Maddie had made her way to the back of the mall and had her boot right into one of the terrorist's throat. They were behind a large truck. He had a beard and was wearing black clothing.

"You better answer me!" Maddie told him.

"Never," he muttered.

Maddie reached into her purse and took out a knife.

"You see this? I would love to cut you open and have blood splatter all over me," she said, "And then, I'll drink it."

"No, you're crazy."

She picked him up by the hair and slammed his head into the truck. Then, she cut the back of his neck, causing him to scream."

"The next one will be deep in your throat, so tell me!" She said to him.

"It's at the amusement park, on Concord Road."

"If you're lying, I'll slice off your head."

Maddie struck him with an elbow to the face, knocking him out. She thought about killing him, but she had no proof that he was involved in the terrorist act. She found him alone out back. He was frantically looking around the area when Maddie saw him and it appeared he got left behind. Maddie knew the place; it was not far from where she lived.

Brandon had moved far away from the crime scene and began walking toward the back of the mall. Suddenly, Maddie appeared behind him and startled him. She giggled.

"I know where they are," she said, "Someone needs to put an end to them."

"They're dangerous."

"I'm even more dangerous."

Det. Briggs and Det. Elliot drove near the back of the mall. They saw the same man Maddie interrogated earlier. He was stumbling away. Det. Elliot stopped the car and got out. He pulled his gun on him.

"Down on the ground now!" Det. Elliot said.

Det. Briggs got out of the car and walked over to him. Det. Elliot placed the suspect in handcuffs and held him against the car.

"You're one of them, right?" Det. Elliot said.

"Yes," he said.

"Where's the rest of them?"

"The abandon amusement park. I swear."

Det. Briggs saw the cut on him.

"How did you get that gash?" He asked him.

"This girl with blonde hair did it. She threatened to kill me. She's a psycho."

Det. Briggs immediately thought of the Night Slasher.

"I told her where our place was."

Another squad car drove up. Det. Elliot put him in the car. When he turned around, Det. Briggs drove off, leaving Det. Elliot behind. He was in shock.