[Deadline]

Ever since I called that hotline three days ago I've been homeless; staying in libraries and coffee shops during the day then sleeping in parks after the cover of darkness falls. I yawned, no that's not the truth; I haven't slept a wink. Who could when their life is in jeopardy?

I forgot to ask that Ripper Dude how he would get his money, so I ended up leaving no money for him to take. Heck, I've been too scared to even go back to the house to check if he even did the deed. It's a good thing I packed a knapsack of clothes, money and a pocket-knife; not that a pocket-knife will do me any good.

I don't even know what to do. I've never before spent a night away from home. My mother never let me, a twenty year old woman, to stay out after nine. I've always had a curfew forced upon me; I broke it once and ended up with a bruise on my arm.

I have a father, but his whereabouts is unknown; my mother cut him out of our life when I was almost ten; half my lifetime ago.

Two men situated themselves at the table next to mine and I took a sip of my iced cappuccino; what if he's one of them? He's probably trying to find me. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Relax, he doesn't know how I look; all I have to do is keep quiet.

"Did you hear what happened on Thorn Street?" The one closest to me spoke.

"I heard that something happened, but not the details."

The moment I heard my street name spoken I zoned in on their conversation. Could it have actually happened?

"Well from what I heard a lady was brutally murdered along with her friend. Blood was everywhere in the living room."

"That's disgusting and how would you know?" The black-haired man hissed.

"It was so brutal that they mentioned it in the newspaper before the police could put a stop to it."

I felt my heart jump in my mouth at their conversation; I didn't know that mum was having a friend over. Why did he kill the both of them?

"Shit. That's bad."

"No, that's not the worst part, the murderer was never found and they left a message in blood on the wall. Where's my money Bitch? was splattered on the wall."

I felt my stomach churn and stood up shakily; slinging my bag over one shoulder. I grabbed the half empty cup and walked over to the washroom area; I pushed through the door and tossed the cup in the garbage before entering the ladies' washroom.

I took a shuddering breath and stared at my pale reflection in the mirror; why am I letting this affect me? If only I left the damn money on the table or somewhere; he would have found it. I turned the cold water on and splashed my face to wash away and stop more tears from leaving my eyes.

After drying my face I left the washroom to find a photo posted against the other side of the wall; I took one step closer to it and felt my blood run cold. It was a snapshot of the bloody words, Where's my money Bitch?

I felt my hands start to shake and I pushed open the door with my shoulder; without another look I left the shop. How did it get there? Was it him? Oh dear Lord, does he know who I am? How? I felt the iced cappuccino rush up into my throat and I forced it down again; feeling moisture sting my eyes.

I can't dirty my clothes. I held a hand to my mouth and sped over to the garbage bin near the bus shelter. Ah damn.

I pushed off the lid and leaned over the opening; letting the contents of my stomach escape. Oh God. What did I do? I should have just continued on with my half-life; because now I might end up with no life. I pressed my left palm against my eye and pressed down feeling relief from the slowly building headache.

I've been on the edge of freaking out ever since I saw that photo on the wall this afternoon; not only did I find it there, but it was also in the library, amongst fliers on a bulletin board, that I went to yesterday. I have no idea what to do.

I'm not even going to contact the police, because let's face it. I am part of my mother's and her friend's murder. I mean. I hired him to kill her, and for fuck's sake I didn't even pay him. He must think that I swindled him.

I feel like I've got permanent goosebumps now on my sweater-covered arms; my arms are cold, and the rest of my body feels numb. I let a sigh escape my lips.

How did he find me?

I flopped down on the bench, pushing back the hair that escaped from my ponytail behind my ear. I can't walk anymore. Ever since the library I've been walking as far as I can away from that area; I don't think I should have stayed near my street. How stupid could I be? I'm so unprepared!

I felt my shoulders tense up and my eyes go wide when I heard a crunching sound come from somewhere behind me; my lips parted in a silent scream. I stood up from the bench and looked around wildly.

"W-who's there?" I muttered out.

Damn it.

I spoke.

I stuttered.

I showed how nervous I am. Shit!

I couldn't see anyone who looked suspicious around me; all I saw was a family in the playground; what if he's hiding in the bushes behind the bench?

Oh Hell no; I am not going to go check. People who check places in the movies end up dead. I don't want to die. I felt my eyes tear up and I bit my lower lip in frustration. I slipped my hand into my right pocket to feel my pocket-knife.

I might have a weapon, but I've never used anything as I weapon before; other than my fingers curled into a fist, or my foot for kicking. Leave. Leave. Leave woman!

I grabbed my bag from the ground and legged it out of the park; I could have sworn I heard a laugh follow me faintly. I didn't look back.

The cold air that swept through the dark and empty park sent more shivers down my spine; I can't believe I decided to hide out in a park again! Sure it's a different park, but come on if he followed me for three days he must know where to look.

I slapped my hand to my forehead indignantly; why don't I use my head to think before acting? It's too late now.

"You're not very bright~!"

My body froze, even more if possible, when I heard the voice that I wish I never heard again. I pressed a hand to my mouth to stifle a scream that wanted to come out.

"Ushishishi, I know you're under the purple slide."

My life is forfeit now! Do I dare to leave the little protection I have from him to see who the Hell he is? I shook my head. No. I'm too bloody scared!

I yelped when something silver flashed through my eyesight and hit the sand near my shoe. A knife! Oh God. He's going to stab me to death! Like a cactus or whatever he threatened about.

"The Prince does not take to ignorance; come out, come out…now!"

I jumped at the tone of his voice. My fingers shook in fear as I picked up his knife and held the cold tool of death in my hand at my side; if only I knew how to use a knife to protect myself. I pushed myself onto my feet and got out from under the slide to face him.

The man who stood not too far from me looked young, somewhere around my age; he had blond shaggy hair that covered his eyesight from view. The sparkly tiara didn't escape my eyes. Why is he wearing a tiara?

"Oh? The Peasant looks lovely with the look of fear~!" The man took a few steps towards me and I moved back on reflex.

Out of nowhere a knife flew at me and I gasped loudly when I felt a stinging sensation at the side of my face. My eyes welled up with tears.

"Mmm, your blood smells delish," The man licked his lips.

I shuddered in repulsion; who does he think he is a vampire? When he took another step closer I gripped the knife tightly and held it out in front of me.

"You amuse me. Do you really think you're going to be able to fight me off?"

I shrugged, "I can try."

The man's face nearly split in two as he smiled the biggest and scariest smile I have ever seen in my life. When he started laughing madly I felt my body move on its own as I took a mad dash for it.

I screamed, collapsing, when I felt something sharp stab the back of my left thigh and right calve. I hissed, pulling the offending items out.

My red blood stained my hands and I felt lightheaded. Breathe. Nothing good will happen if I pass out. I pressed my hands against the sand to lean my weight on my arms; still holding one of his knives in my right hand.

"The Peasant is either very stupid or has guts," The self-proclaimed Prince stated, "Very stupid indeed~!"

"W-what do you w-want?" I sobbed, letting the tears escape, "I n-never saw y-you."

He crouched down easily, probably staring at me through his thick bangs—how can he even see? His elbows were propped on his knees…he has good balance. Well he is an assassin; they are supposed to have balance.

"Ushishishi~!" He laughed, "You really are stupid Bitch. You never paid the Prince either. He doesn't do things for free."

I winced at his insult. I am stupid, I admit that, but—but I hardly fit the characteristics of a bitch. I felt my stomach churn from nausea and I spat out bile.

"I-I d-didn't know where to l-leave the money," I breathed out painfully, "I w-will pay you."

Not only do my legs and cheek hurt, but my head is pounding too.

"Oh you have the fifteen thousand dollars?"

…What? My eyes widened in horror. I don't have that kind of money!

"Shishi. I had to get rid of two screaming bitches~! Double the price."

Uh. No. That's not double the price, stupid. God. Don't let that word verbalize.

"It's t-twelve thousand not fifteen t-thousand." I exhaled weakly.

I saw the grin widen on his face again, "Oh. Trying to tell the Prince what to do? That's a no-no Peasant~! It's now twenty-two thousand."

"Fuck!" I yelped when his hand, literally, sprung from his side and ripped the knife out of my hand; slicing my palm open. The blood immediately started dripping down to my wrist.

I clenched my fingers tightly to stop more blood from shooting out. Fuck. This guy is crazy! I watched in mute horror as he licked my blood clean off his knife. Ugh. If only I had AIDS.

"Mmm. You can pay with your sweet blood Peasant~!"

…Sweet blood?

I shuddered, "I r-refuse."

The grin dropped from his face and he shook his head, "You have shit for brains, but the Prince is bored so I will make you pay off your debt to me by..."

His voice grew fainter with every word he said and I blinked to stay awake; within seconds my vision blurred, and my eyelids got heavy.

The last thing I heard when my arms gave out was, "Bye-bi~!"

Notes:
Yikes. This part was really longer than the last one.
I thank the two reviewers that motivated me.
This could be considered the final part; or there could be just one more.
It all depends~.
Please review?