Shadows and Dust

Chapter 8


"DIE DIE DIE!" Reaper roared as he destroyed a marauder camp with his supernatural typhoon of death and despair "RAHHHH!" he dropped his shotguns and raised his right gauntlet to the sky, then used its metal claws to gouge out the facial features of the last marauder.

The essence of the woman left her as she was still alive, causing her to scream in agony before she collapsed in silence.

Reaper held the soul in his arm and raised it up to air, then absorbed it as black smoke into his arm.
Oh what passion he held to collect these well earned spoils!

Though this passion was mostly due to the fact that he actually needed the human essences to live and function- so there really was no choice to like it or not.

The man looked around, then saw his carnage.
"Mon Cher, good job." Widowmaker appeared and clapped, "You always surprise me... every day..." she said and reloaded her rifle.

"You were amazing as well." Reaper felt his bravado rise again, the Gabriel Reyes was showing, "I never seen a sniper as incredible as you." he grabbed her chin.

"We are complementary." Widowmaker smirked and stepped away from him, then coyly waved her hand, she was now playing hard to get.

"Ahora sí..." Reaper chuckled as he walked behind her, then saw as the woman shot an unsuspecting marauder, who had appeared from inside his hut, "Ahahahahaha..." he cackled and the woman turned.

"Want more?" Widowmaker turned to him and puckered her lips, "Well, you're going to have to take me somewhere nice." she smirked and ran to the car.

"Is that how it's going to be?" Reaper chortled and started to dissipate, then teleported in front of Widowmaker and the car, "Hello, arañita." he looked at her.

"That's cheating." Widowmaker spoke and pushed Reaper into the car, then took off his mask, "Mon Cher, where will we go now?" she looked at the vast wasteland ahead of them.

"We don't need to go anywhere.." Reaper muttered, then pointed at some vehicles in the distance, "Looks like the marauders are returning to a surprise party..." he looked at her and reloaded his shotguns.

"Oh... I love parties." Widowmaker spoke and reloaded her weapons, "Let's give them the best surprise they could ever receive." she smirked and aimed.

The sniper fired, causing the driver of the first vehicle to be killed and his car to careen off the road and fall into a ditch.

The convoy noticed the two and sped up.

"Let's get this on..." Reaper muttered as the cars stopped in front of them and their passengers came front with weapons of all sorts, "What do you want... mi cariño?" he muttered as he looked at all the lost souls arriving, "Take who ever you want, they're all dead men anyways." he scoffed.

"Very well." Widowmaker said and aimed her rifle, firing it at full auto, taking down her fair share of marauders.

"Hmph." Reaper grunted and before the marauders returned fire, he came into the fray and blasted the last remaining ones, "There we go..." he turned to Widowmaker, who nodded in approval.

"Keep this up, and we'll be legendary..." Widowmaker stepped into their vehicle.

Reaper liked that title, it gave him a legacy, something people would look to.
And with this streak, it would be something the masses would look to and shiver in fear, something he enjoyed.

The man stepped inside the truck and turned it on, closed the door and drove off.

Widowmaker put her rifle in the back seats, then saw as Reaper reached for the radio, "Music?" she asked in confusion, unaware that Reaper enjoyed such pastime.

"No." Reaper muttered and turned it on, but received nothing but static, "Grr..." the man growled angrily and then punched the radio with his gauntlet.

The radio continued to give off static until the man thumped it from the top of the dashboard, that's when a radio transmission finally broke through.
However, for the two, this message was in German and thus foreign to their understanding.

"Shame." Widowmaker spoke, but stopped and listened when the messaged switched to French.

"What is it?" Reaper asked as Widowmaker listened to the message, but finally got his break when the message was broadcasted in Spanish, "Ah..." he cackled and pointed at Widowmaker.

"European Forces have driven the Omnic Menace from the Upper Balkans." a man on the radio spoke, "But if you live in these areas:" the message droned and a more computerized voice came on,
"WESTERN GERMANY UP TO HANOVER, EASTERN FRANCE UP TO LYONS, SOUTHERN FRANCE UP TO CLERMONT-FERRAND, THE SOUTHERN IBERIAN PENINSULA UP TO LISBON AND TOLEDO, ITALY, NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM, SOUTHERN ENGLAND UP TO NOTTINGHAM, AND THE EASTERN BLOC.
Stay inside and in safe shelters.
Your areas are still under heavy Omnic threats.
Wait until your area is given the all clear by an official Broadcast from the European Union or a representative military force of any of the sovereign states of Europe."

The two paused a bit then heard the announcements they so longed for.

"Residents of the Franco-Germanic Border, be advised that the presence of criminal activity has escalated. Avoid all Highways and Secluded roads! Avoid stopping frequently!" the man spoke, "Remember, if you stop to take a break, they may take your life!" the broadcast was suddenly paused while the shuffling of papers sounded, "To conclude, the Governments of Germany and France are looking for various criminals that are wanted for their crimes.
The Criminal known as Roadhog.
Appearance is a large rotund man with a signature gas mask, be advised that this is a class 5 criminal and only experienced and hardened law enforcers should confront him." the man cleared his throat, "The leader of the gang Les Demons, who's appearance is a young man, 1.7 meters tall with red hair. He has led a spree of crime across the Franco-Germanic border and assaulted many aid convoys as well."

"To finish off."
Reaper and Widowmaker leaned in a bit.
"The rise of two criminalities has sprung up across the Franco-Germanic border as well, with witness reports placing the male member of this duo as wearing a signature outfit that appears like the famous 'Grim Reaper' figure. He appears to be over 1.8 meters and has no distinct bodily features aside from his choice of clothing. The female member of this duo, a woman of French descent, is distinguished by her light bluish-purple skin and dark purple hair. Her clothing as was frequently reported, is a tight pink spandex outfit, and she may stand 1.7 meters. Be advised that these two are also class 5 criminals as well. All of these outlaws have the dead or alive order, and if captured should be returned to the nearest authority, whether military or diplomatic."

Reaper shut off the radio and smirked, "Well, we're famous." he looked at Widowmaker.

"It was only natural for us to be so." Widowmaker responded and pointed to a small town in the distance, which appeared to have some people in it, "Are you thinking what I am thinking?" she looked at him with a fire in her eyes.

"God..." Reaper homed in on the small refuge camp, looking at all the souls inside, "Yes..." he glared ahead.

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"Not only the men." a soldier told his commander as they patrolled the decimated camp, "But the women, and the children." he reported the grim news as soldier worked to bury the deceased, "Who could have done this?"

"Probably those highway gangs." the commander spoke as he looked at the devastation, "Mon Dieu... what a shame..." he muttered and looked at the sky in anger, "Hmm." he looked at the road nearby.

"Sir. Tracks indicate only one vehicle ever approached the camp." another soldier reported, "Perhaps it was the man of Death and his consort?" he hypothesized as he pulled out the wanted posters, "They are the only ones that have been known to commit attacks on this scale."

"Sir." another soldier came up to the commander, "Autopsies indicate the weapons of attack were a 12 gauge shot gun and medium rifle rounds." she reported, "It fits in with the infamous Angel of Death and the Femme Fatale."

The commander was overwhelmed, "Pull out similar cases." he instructed the man that had the wanted posters, who returned to his jeep and pulled up a box, "Mon Dieu..."

"Reports from Germany and France." the soldier responded as he showed the box to his commander, who was shocked, "And I have two more boxes being shipped in from Germany and Paris as we speak."

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Weeks had brought them much success.
Much bloodshed.
And much satisfaction.

Widowmaker sighed as she and Reaper lay in the cabin of their pickup truck, so far away from civilization.
Once more the two romantics were alone with the starry night, with only the Reaper's cloak to cover them from the biting night wind.

"Do you..." Gabriel broke the silence as he looked at his consort, "Like, music?"

Amelie looked at him, then shrugged her shoulders, "It's a meaningless noise." she murmured and placed her hand on his face.

"Eh... I'm indifferent." Gabriel told her, "But I remember I used to love... soft rock." he recollected his childhood, "Manama, Enanitos Rojos..." he sighed, "They probably don't play them anymore, it was so long ago." he murmured, then grabbed a handheld radio he had acquired in his travels.

"Maybe I would like to listen to them... if I get the chance." Amelie said, "Perhaps I can get the same feeling you do." she sighed and looked up to sky, "I remember when I used to like a lot of things... but no longer. Now I only like to kill... and you." she muttered and shuffled closer to him.

Gabriel held her, "This reminds me of Mexico." he looked up to the stars.

"A Mexican?" Amelie looked at Gabriel, "Well, they did say the death of the French was found in Mexico." she chuckled, "I guess you fulfill a lot of things. Juarez's Revenge." she joked.

Gabriel growled angrily, then shrugged it off.

"My parents always thought I would be with a rich Frenchman... That's what they raised me up to believe." Amelie remembered snippets of her childhood, "But... a Mexican should be good enough- Who cares, they're dead." she scoffed.

"I am not from Me-" Reaper decided to drop it, then turned on the Radio.

Surprisingly, it was not the usual relaxing music that played on during the night in order to soothe people's spirits, but a broadcast. This intrigued Reaper as he turned on the volume.

"You are listening to a live broadcast from the Vatican. Where Pope Dominican will address Europe." the man on the radio spoke, then the voices shifted to a much older sounding man.

"Citizens of Europe, and faithful parishioners." the voice spoke.

Reaper never thought that he would hear the Pope speak, but it sparked another memory. He had always been told by his grandmother that it was her dream to meet the Pontifex, and though it had seemed impossible to him as a child, once he was a teen it looked like a reality.

He had saved enough money over the years in the United States to allow her a trip to Rome, and ultimately to her goal.

However, disaster struck.

For the summer he went to Mexico in order to deliver the news, that was the first summer he had gone and not seen his grandmother- and never would he.

Gabriel growled in rage and gnashed his teeth, shocking Amelie as he shuffled in discomfort.

How dare Death take his most cherished relative!?
It had already taken his grandfather and father, how dare he lay a hand on his dear Abuela!?
That's why Gabriel, when he received the chance, seized Death by the throat and from there on controlled his actions- That's why he became what he is today.

Gabriel calmed down when he finally focused to hear the Pope on the radio.

"Crime has risen and people are perishing because of it." the Pope spoke, "Let us pray for not only those who suffer, but those who are dealing the suffering, for they also deserve grace. If the criminals who are commuting these heinous acts are listening, it is not too late to turn from your evil paths. The one they call Roadhog, turn from that path of destruction, these people have done nothing wrong to you." thus the Pope listed many criminals in his speech, "And to he who they call the Angel of Death, you Scourge of God and your Lady, it is not too late for you to change-"

Widowmaker turned off the radio, then saw as Gabriel rose up, putting his pants on before he stood and stepped off the cabin.

Reaper looked at the desolate wasteland, then breathed in deep.
The figure of his grandmother appeared in front of him.

"Perdóname... Abuela... But not even God can lift me from where I have fallen." Reaper's eyes shone a bright red, "I was born to kill those who oppose me and my loved ones... you had seen it with your very eyes." he looked at the figure, "You cannot deny it, this is who I am now."

Reaper imagined his grandmother with a face of despair and concern.

"Soy una causa perdida." The man growled and turned away, only to face Widowmaker.

"Gabriel." Widowmaker spoke in worry, "What is going on?" she asked the man, who shrugged his shoulders.

"Nothing, all is right in the world." Reaper scoffed and walked to his mask, "All is right with the Reaper..." he cackled and looked at Widowmaker, then took off his disguise.

His Abuela must understand, this was Reaper's destiny- to kill or not to kill was never a question for him, it was always To Kill, as if it was a primal instinct. He felt terrible, yes he did, as the anchor his abuela had on him slowly slipped off his ship and sunk to the bottom of the sea of forgotten dreams.

His ship was free to sail where he wanted.
He was the Reaper.
He was, by the words of the Pope himself:
The Scourge of God.
And he damn sure was going to live up to that name.

Widowmaker laughed in relief as she felt Reaper's natural killer aura return to him, then felt herself be lifted by the man.

"You know where I always wanted to go, Amelie?" Gabriel spoke as he brought the woman up into the cabin and took off his pants.

Amelie winced, then looked at him, "Where... Gabriel?" she asked.

"Every summer. I would pass Dorado with my grandparents." Gabriel huffed, "But we wouldn't go there... We would go to another coastal city... half as small but twice as beautiful." he murmured.

"What.. what was it called?" Amelie asked and breathed in deeply, "Mon cher?"

"Zihuatanejo." Gabriel stopped and lay next to her, "A peaceful little city by the sea... My grandfather came from there." he spoke and looked at Amelie, "You would like it."

"I think I will." Amelie said and lay her head on his chest,
"Perhaps one day you can take me..." she ran her hand across his strong body.

Reaper was now her everything, with Talon gone and in a world with no rule, he was her guiding rod, and she enjoyed it.
It made her alive.
It made her Feel...