You can please some of the people some of the time. But you can’t please all the people all of the time2
(Oscar Wilde)3
Over the next month or so, we took many more criminals to the valley of darkness. In fact, by the end of the sixth week we had reached a score of 22 victims. Which to my mind, I think is bloody good going considering how little I started out with. In all fairness Debbie has been a great help. I reckon, give it another three attacks and we’ll be up to thirty, then it will be time for celebrations. And surprisingly enough, like that guy said in the paper a couple of weeks ago, the crime figures are actually going down. Criminals are afraid to go out in the nights. There hasn’t been a rape or a mugging for nearly two weeks now. I think people are realising the Reaper is a force for good and is only hitting the violent offenders.4
I remember one morning on my way home from judging some crims the previous night, I saw somebody had scrawled ‘Fear the Reaper’ across a wall on the corner of a street in spray paint. Big bold letters they were (about twelve inches high). It quite made my day, I must be fair. My popularity is going up, I almost feel like an anonymous celebrity.5
When I got home in the morning I decided to chill out. I took a zimervane (sleeping tablet), rolled a spliff, smoked it with a cup of coffee to wash it down with and watched ‘The Time The Place’ on TV as I settled down on the settee. Which as it happened, turned out to be a debate all about me. People from all walks of life with an opinion to offer whether what I am doing is right or wrong. So I watched it with an intrigued open mind. I was also surprised to learn that similar Reaper attacks had broken out in different parts of the country. People were being chloroformed and taken out to nature reserves, parks and other similar locations. Then pumped full of acid, the attacker puts them on the worst guilt trip of their lives (just like me before them). Cool, I’ve started a bit of a fad here, haven’t I? But with pride and an air of responsibility I realise that amidst these other Reaper wannabes, I am the first, the original, you might say. It’s always the same though, as soon as a new fad comes along, everyone seems to want to jump on the bandwagon, and that’s exactly what these Reaper wannabes are doing. Let’s just hope they are also hitting the right people.6
‘Okay, gentleman at the back with his hand up’ said the presenter of the said programme. 7
‘Yes, I’d just like to say that if this “Reaper” person is holding the people of this town to ransom as it were, then surely he’s wiping out the ideals he seeks to find. You know, the idea of free will’ said the man at the back.8
‘In what way?’9
‘Well, the idea that everyone lives by his law, his rules and no one is allowed to stray from the path of righteousness. He’s robbing them of their right to choose and decide. Also the freedom to freely express themselves. After all, who is he to say what is wrong and what is right?'’ Groans and cheers came from the audience in unison. 10
‘Why you’ve got something to hide, have you?’ shouted an enthusiastic audience member.11
‘I think we’ve all got something to hide, haven’t we?’ replied the man at the back.12
With many boos and cheers, the presenter began calling for order and quietening the audience down a bit.13
‘Right, back to the man at the back. Let him finish what he was saying’ he said.14
‘I’d just like to say that no good can come from this. When a man takes the law into his own hands, he becomes a power unto himself. And we all know the old cliché that power corrupts.’15
‘Yes, I can understand what you are saying. But you can’t deny the fact that there is practically no crime in his home town, now.’16
‘Yes but for how long? Psychologically speaking a man like this has to have a certain need or drive to do what he is doing. What happens when there are no criminals left to get? Do you honestly think he is going to hang up his cloak and mask and retire? I think not.’ The audience went into an uproar. The presenter beckoned for quiet again, futilely. The man at the back shouted over the audience. ‘The Reaper is a menace and should be taken off the streets any way possible.’ The presenter again called for quiet and pointed to someone else to speak as the hubbub dies down. This man on the right looked at the man at the back.17
‘You say “Who is he to say what is wrong or right” I ask you. Who are you to say if what he is doing is wrong or right? There happens to be a lot of people out here who believe what he is doing is right. I mean, his method may be a little extreme and unorthodox, but he’s getting some serious results and he’s only hitting the violent offenders.’ The man at the back waved his hand as if to shoo him away and shook his head as he rolled his eyes. ‘People say he may turn violent, but there’s no evidence of that in all the attacks he’s carried out. No, I think we are dealing with a much more complex character than that. The man has found a pattern that works and he’s sticking to it. He’s probably a creature of habit; a man who doesn’t like change and knows what he is doing is working.’18
‘I beg to disagree’, cut in a woman on the bottom left of the audience. ‘If he is such a creature of habit, why is he trying to make a difference?’19
‘Well that should be obvious. He’s not happy with what he sees around him, as are a lot of people’. More boos, more cheers.20
‘Yes but that doesn’t give him the right to do what he is doing to these people.’ called the woman over the ruckus. The presenter started calling for quiet again. 21
‘Right, now if I could move on. We have a special guest here, who could be considered more in tune with the Reaper attacks than most.’ The presenter walked over to the front row on the right, the overhead microphone following him. ‘This is Jason Lucas. He was a victim of the fourth Reaper attack, so you can imagine has good insight into the activities of the Reaper.’ He bent down on one knee in front of the man he had introduced. 22
‘Now Jason, could you tell us of your ordeal at the hands of the Reaper?’ he continued.23
‘Yes, it all started after my friends and I had left our local pub. We decided to walk through a lane that ran adjacent to our street. It knocked nearly twenty minutes off the walk home so …’ the presenter cut him off. ‘But didn’t you think that that was a bad move, what with all the Reaper attacks going on?’24
‘Well I suppose it’s like catching aids. You think it will never happen to you, especially considering I had two friends with me.’25
‘Okay, would you tell us what happened next?’26
‘Yes, on entering the lane, we saw this girl, looking for a cat. So we agreed to help her.’ The audience was in silent awe of his words.27
‘Did you have any intentions of attacking her or anything like that?’ Many frowned and worried faces paused for his response.28
‘In all honesty, it did cross our minds.’29
‘Do you believe this girl was involved with the Reaper?’30
‘I honestly couldn’t say to that, it’s possible. But if she was, she wasn’t around for what happened later.’31
‘So what did happen later?’32
‘Oh I don’t know, I’ve got a vague memory of seriously violent vomiting and then the next thing I remember is being tied up naked to some trees, wearing a hood over my face. I didn’t feel well at all. I realise now that a lot of the time I was hallucinating, and then the Reaper came and judged me. It was terrifying. He left us hanging there for what seemed like days. Making us believe our faces were being eaten by maggots. Then he cut our hands off and our genitals as we looked at ourselves in mirrors. It was terrifying, seeing ourselves as vulnerable as we felt.’ He was really pouring his heart out.33
‘If I could just stop you for a minute. What exactly did you mean when you said the Reaper judged you?’34
‘Well it was in what he was saying. He gave us a full speech about being taken from the living world, to sit among the dead and view our lives as outsiders and we did, it was terrifying. He said we would be judged upon the regret and remorse we feel at the way we’ve lived our lives’ he said, emotion seeping into his voice as he reminisced. The presenter nodded his head in understanding.35
‘I see, yes. It must have been awful but having been through what you have been through, could you offer some opinion as to what this whole Reaper thing is about?’36
‘Well, yeah. He wants people to see the error of their ways. I think I’m living proof to that. I’ve seen the error of my ways. I’m so ashamed of some of the things I have confessed to.’ His voice wavered as a tear came from his eye. ‘I've been involved in muggings. I’ve beaten people up for no reason. I’ve stolen cars’ he began sobbing. ‘I hate what I’ve become.’ The presenter patted his shoulder.37
‘It’s okay. You don’t have to say anymore if you don’t want to.’38
‘I’m okay’ he wiped the tears from his eyes.39
‘Just one last thing then. Do you think the Reaper is a force for good or bad? The camera closed in on him.40
‘Well in a twisted sort of way, I’d have to say …, a force for good. He turned my life around. He’s made me determined to change …, to try and be a better person’ he blubbered41
‘Right. Let’s move on then.’42
‘It’s a brain washing technique.’ said the original man from the back. People began booing and cheering again. The presenter again called for order, and pointed to the man at the back.43
‘I said 'it’s a brainwashing technique'. You can see the man has no free will now. He feels he has a conform to the Reaper laws.’ The man defending me on the right leapt to my defence as he shouted out ‘The man has a free will. It’s telling him to get his life in order.’ And with many boos, cheers and outbursts, the show continued.44
Yes opinion is clearly divided. It’s like the old saying goes. ‘You can please some people, some of the time, but you can’t please all the people, all of the time.”45
The shifting coloured pixels of the television screen and the cheering, arguing, over emotional voices of debate slowly swirled and faded from sight and sound into the darkness that even now surrounded and engulfed me. I was floating, I was still. I was everywhere, but I was nowhere. My memories and identity seemed to momentarily drift from my grasp. I was scared and I was excited. I was calm, but I was restless. I was walking, I was laughing. I was with Sam, we were in the street. We’d just had this lovely meal and I’d proposed to her. She was happy and I was happy. I'm going to spend the rest of my life with her. We were happy, and there was a certain magic in the air that was my love for her. That continued in the knowledge that we would be together forever, for good or bad, happy or sad, in sickness and in health. For better or for worse. till death do us part. When she needs me, I’ll be there. When I need her, she’ll be there. We were so happy. We were everything to one another. We were past, present and future amalgamated and forced into a chain of events. Like a scratched record that repeats itself over and over. We reach a lane that is gut wrenchingly familiar to me. A stranger steps out of the shadows and into the dim street lighting before us. ‘Excuse me mate, have you got the time.’46
You were weak.47
No, not again. Not this time, I won’t let it happen again.48
‘Yes, it’s time for your judgement!’ I say with an overpowering sense of confidence and paranoia. I then lift the chloroformed hankie that was naturally in my hand and force it into his face. His two mates come running to see what has happened. I kick one in the bollocks and punch the other in the throat. Both go down as quickly as the first, each clutching their own personal anatomical pain. Then as the three of them get up and raise their arms into the air, I am suddenly the Reaper, and they are tied naked to the trees. They cry and scream and plead for my mercy. I taunt them. I torment them. I feed on their fear. 49
I walk up to the first of three; I knee him hard in the bollocks.50
Yes, he was the look out wasn’t he?51
He continued to try to beat and kick at me as he hung on the ropes helpless.52
We must make the punishment fit the crime, mustn’t we?53
So I beat his face to a pulp until his features reveal no more than puffy, bloody exaggeration of his face. I then grip his hair and pull his head back, taking a pencil from my shroud. Then majestically start stabbing at his eyeballs with it. Naturally, he screams the place down as his eyeballs pop and his sight runs down his face in liquid form. Of course, that’s not counting the screams of my stabbings as I gouge holes in his cheeks and forehead, until eventually hung on the rope motionless.54
Boy, do I feel good. It’s always nice to air ones frustrations isn’t it?55
Then in the blinking of an eye, I stand before the second one.56
I wonder what exquisite torture I could bestow upon him to fit the crime of holding her down.57
I find that his hands are glued flat to the trees and pull a hammer and chisel from beneath my shroud.58
Oh yes, this fucker will never hold anyone down again.59
He screams as he sees the blood of his fallen comrade on my hands. And more so as he sees the empty bloody husk of his former friend. I then press the sharpened flat end of the chisel over the ending joint of his little finger and slammed down the hammer. It was a pretty bloody and messy as the top of this little finger jousted forward at the force of the hammer blow. I then do all his fingers and thumbs from left to right on both hands. He screams in pain, fear and insecurity as he feels the blind terror of realising he will never hold anything in his hands again.60
Yes, this feels good. 61
He begs and pleads for mercy, so reaching into my shroud for my Stanley blade, I swiftly slit his throat.62
I will show you the mercy you showed Sam and I.63
His eyes widened and he gasped for breath as the blood from his throat ran down his chest. He realised he was going to die. The flapping slit on his throat made a slurping, rasping type of sound as his body exhaled the last breath of air his lungs would ever hold. His limbs slumped to the weight of the ropes.64
Ah yes, very good. 65
I gripped his hair and held his head back. His face was a mask of terror and regret, immortalised in death by his last living facial expression.66
Yes, satisfaction.67
I then turned to find number three. He who had caused me the biggest amount of pain. 68
He raped her. He killed her. He put me in hospital. Oh the exquisite pain. How vulnerable he must feel, having seen me slay his two friends. I feel his fear. I can taste his trepidation and I can hear a tormented soul crying out for mercy.69
A sudden cold weight across my right hand alerted me to the knuckle duster I now wore.70
I don’t know where it came from, I don’t care it doesn’t matter. It feels right.71
I punched him hard in the face and his whole face seemed to cave in around my fist. Blood and brains began seeping through the gaps as I loosened my fist. So I pulled out my hand, and I’ll be fucked if he didn’t look up at me. His lopsided eyeballs either side of his face, resting on his cheeks, brains and blood dripping from his nose, ears and eye sockets, yet still he begged me for mercy.72
Suddenly, I felt the familiar shape of my Stanley blade in my hand. It felt right and it felt natural. So I got down on my knees, gripped the end of his foreskin and stretched his knob out to full length. Then with a swift flick of the wrist, I brought the blade up and slit his knob straight up the middle like a hot dog sausage. I looked up to see him screaming and bellowing for mercy. His face was normal but for a bloody nose and mouth.73
Strange but never mind.74
I raised my hands to find them holding a length of cheese wire. So, instinctively I put the middle of the length under his balls by the crack of his arse and looped it over his knob at the point where it meets the pubic hair. Then with very little effort on my part, his body tensed and his toes curled. His fists and teeth clenched as the cheese wire slid effortlessly through his flesh and as he dared to look down, his genitals plopped into a heap of blood and slop. I then stood up to look him in the eye.75
Right, I don’t think what I took from him quite equals what he took from me. But then we have to consider that he raped her.76
I looked down to see a sweeping brush at my feet. So I picked it up and popped the handle end into the gash that was previously his genitals. I then continued to push the full length up inside him and pretty much stood him up like a scarecrow. It was at this moment that his soul left its mortal shell, leaving a shocked and pained expression on his face to tell the story and out live eternity.77
Suddenly he was the Reaper, and a fear that seemed to have always been there crept over me. Then panic swept over me as I discovered I could not move my arms and legs. I gazed up to see what was restricting my movement, only to find myself chained to the shackles that have held me so long. The Reaper stepped forward and raised his scythe. 78
‘You have been taken from your place in the living world and you must hang here among the dead. I find you guilty of many crimes against humanity. The only possible punishment to a Reaper can be death,’ and with a swift and decisive slice through the air of his scythe, he cut my head from my torso.79
I sat bolt upright on the settee ‘Shit’ I said out loud. ‘What the fuck was all that about?’ I felt my neck and reached for a cup of squash beside me.80
It was a dream; I’m still in the living room. Thank fuck for that. 81
I was sweating like crazy, and my heart was thumping big time. I took a couple of deep breaths to calm me down a bit.82
Fuck, it must be a combination of falling asleep watching ‘The Time The Place’ and those three pricks preying on my mind to cause such an odd dream.83
I looked up at the clock.84
Fuck it’s 8 o’clock, I’ve been asleep all day. I’d better ring Debbie and see if she wants to go out tonight.85
So I rang her and she was all in agreement of coming out. Apparently, she’d watched ‘The Time The Place as well.’ She was really chuffed about how many people were on our side. It also excited her to think that we’d started a bit of a fad and that Reaper attacks were going on in different parts of the country now. The criminal element were getting their just desserts. So that night we went out and got ourselves another three victims. Another five and we will have hit the thirty mark, and then we can celebrate. Cool!86
So when we went out again the next two nights, we got three one night, then just went after two victims to hit the jackpot and fill the quota the next night.87
Yes thirty, the big three O.88
We took them from different parts of the town. Pair of low life scum. One had been held in regard to mugging and attempted rape and the other for GBH, sex assault and petty theft.89
At the beginning, they were all mouth telling me ‘They read the papers’, ‘they knew that I wasn’t real’, ‘they were going to fuck me up the minute I let them go.’ Although I have found this with about the last ten victims, they’ve started to become a bit more rebellious at the beginning. Full of themselves, threatening me, throwing verbal abuse at me. But, as with the others before them, I soon squash that little rebellion. I just take off their hoods and let them take in their surroundings. Then fear steps in and they go quiet for a little while. Then panic sets in, so I leave them there for about half an hour without so much as a word to them. Then I go in, remove their earplugs and begin to judge them. By this time, as you can imagine, all cockiness and self confidence have completely flown out of the window. By about 5 maybe 6 o’clock they hit the apology stage and by about 8 o’clock they were uncontrollably crying like babies. So I left them for about another two hours and finally let them go at about 10 o’clock.90
It was amazing, I felt good. In a matter of about two months I have had 30 victims. I felt a real sense of achievement.91
Now it’s time for celebrations.92
Debbie arranged with work to have the Saturday night off. And that is the night we planned to go out.93
It’s Saturday!!! I got up, had a bath, got dressed, did a line of whiz and made my way over to Debbie’s for 7 o’clock.94
She was looking absolutely gorgeous. In fact, if it wasn’t for Sam, I’d probably bust a move on her when we go out.95
What am I thinking? Sam told me to get on with my life, meet somebody new and remember her with fondness. So what is stopping me?96
It’s the quest. If I start something up with Debbie, then the quest will become in vain.97
Should I leave it at thirty victims and so end the reign of the Reaper? I mean, I know Debbie is my partner in crime, but she’s not the reason I started the quest. It’s a nice fantasy though.98
Oh come on Rich, stop day dreaming. Sort it out, get it together.99
I brought my weed and speed with me, so I gave Debbie a line of speed and rolled up a joint. And, much to my surprise, Debbie shared it with me. After a few bouts of giggles, and a bit of messing around, we decided to make a move off. We caught a taxi to Hedonism (Farrah’s Nightclu
. We had a couple of drinks and got up to dance, until the slow numbers came on. It seemed only natural then, that we should smooch with one another. And as I held her in my arms, it felt so right. Her soft warm body pressed against mine. It’s been a long time since I held a girl in my arms like this. And it’s been a long time since I’ve wanted to hold a girl in my arms like this. She smells good as well, Poison I’d say at a rough guess, judging by the scent. It feels a bit strange holding Debbie like this, because I’ve never really thought of her in that way before. But for the moment, I don’t want to let her go. I guess I’ve just grown used to having her around and being there for me when I need her. I wonder how she feels about me? Then, almost in answer to my unasked question, she kissed me passionately on the lips. My senses reeled; a lot of passionate emotions flooded through me and blew like a geyser. I pulled her closer to me, if that was at all possible. Time seemed to stop as we kissed in our tight embrace. I felt a plethora of emotions, that I’d believed to be suppressed and long forgotten. That carnal rising, that drive to fulfill a need...100I can’t do this!101
Debbie broke away from our kiss, kissed my nose and looked up into my eyes. Man, is she beautiful? Her eyes are entrancing.102
What am I doing?103
She smiled, took my hand and led me off the dance floor.104
Oh boy, I didn’t plan on any of this.105
Surprisingly, we found a table where we could talk and hear ourselves above the music.106
‘I think I’m falling for you Richie’ she said suddenly. Good old Debbie, always straight to the point and ready to speak her mind. I couldn’t think of anything to say. ‘Yeah?’107
Doh!108
‘Is that all you can say about it?’ she smiled, incredulously.109
‘Oh no, please Debs. Don’t get me wrong, it just came a bit out of the blue. It’s just I’ve concentrated so much on the Reaper quest, that this didn’t even occur to me as an eventuality. So please don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that I don’t love you. Because I can’t imagine what it would be like, not having you around now. You’ve done so much for me. You’ve been there for me when I’ve needed you. With the exception of Chris, you’re the only person I see now.’110
Shut up Rich, you’re babbling.111
She looked me in the eye.’ Well, do you think we could make a go of it? As a couple?’ she asked. 112
‘I don’t know. I mean, I’m not ruling it out as a possibility. Its just, I’m not over Sam yet. You’ll have to give me time.’113
‘Well at least tell me you’ll think about it.’114
‘Oh I’ll definitely think about it, trust me’ Debbie smiled a winning smile. ‘Although, you realise we’d have to give up the quest, I continued.’ She looked puzzled.115
‘Why is that?’116
‘Well after I lost Sam and got out of the hospital, the thought of the quest was the only thing that kept me going. It was the only thing I had. It kept me focused; it gave me a reason to live. If I start going out with you, then I’ve got a new reason to live and a new person to focus my attentions upon.’117
Debbie leaned forward, draped her arms over my shoulders and kissed me again. ‘Thank you!’ she whispered into my ear.118
I could have ended the whole thing there and then, turned my back on the Reaper, put Sam to rest and got on with my life. But as usual, fate was there ready to step in and deal it’s blow (and I don’t mean selling ganja).119
I stood up from the table and made my way off to the toilet for what seemed like the hundredth time. I was happy, I had that warm; somebody wants me kind of feeling. I was on top of the world.120
I looked over the hundreds of faces that were dancing, sitting, talking and drinking.121
Farrah’s done really well for himself here, hasn’t he? This has got to be one of the most popular places in the area.122
I looked about to see if I could see him. I then spotted him on a table in the middle, just away from the dance floor. Naturally, he had a woman draped on each arm. Striking up a deal with someone or other. I managed to catch his eye and give him a wave. He smiled and waved back, mouthing that he would see me later. I nodded back and gave him the thumbs up.123
I then turned around to continue my journey to the loo and bumped into someone.124
‘Watch where you’re going, mate’ he said. I recognise that voice.125
Have you got the time please mate? 126
I looked up, it was him. The ring leader of the little gang who raped and killed Sam. I regained my composure and pretended I didn’t know him. But inside, my heart sank and my stomach muscles twisted into knots. ‘Sorry mate, my fault’ I said and made my way past him. I staggered over to the table by the toilets and gripped it for support. My legs were turning to jelly. I watched him make his way to his table, sure enough; the other two were there with him. The one who held her down and the lookout. I took a few deep breaths to try and calm myself, as my head was starting to feel light as well. I shook my head to shake myself out of it. 127
Oh, what to do? Should I just turn my back and try to make a new life with Debbie? Would I ever forgive myself if I did? They’re here, tonight. I may never get a chance of getting them again. How would I feel about that in the future? The main victims to ever give this quest a true meaning! And they turn up on the night of the Reaper’s final curtain. A bit of a coincidence, I’ll grant you. But maybe that is the way it is supposed to be. That fate has decreed that I judge these three. Or should I call the police and let them deal with it, and go back with Debbie? But then, it’s paperwork, lack of evidence, my word against theirs. No, they need to be judged. Otherwise, how would they see the error of their ways? How would they know right from wrong? And I would never forgive myself, given this chance and turning my back, if they went out and did the same thing again.128
We should kill them.129
They would learn nothing, they must live to tell the tale, they must know suffering, and they must know pain.130
But not as they distribute it. They must face the emotional pain and the mental turmoil of one judged by the Reaper. They must see wisdom in their souls. They must see repentance in their pain. They must pay for their sins and crimes against Sam and I …, mm …, I mean humanity.131
I could feel all the old bitterness and pain building up inside me. My hands were shaking. The rage, the anger, the resentment, the loneliness. 132
Oh they will know pain.133
They look like they are settled there for a time. So I’d better go and empty my bladder before I piss myself.134
Having finished my piss, I made my way back to Debbie at our table.135
‘Where have you been? You’ve been gone ages’ she asked, almost relieved. ‘I thought you’d run out on me for a minute.’ 136
‘Sorry Debs. I got held up, there was bit of a queue in the toilet.’ I partially lied.137
‘Are you alright, Richie? You look like you’ve seen a ghost’ she said, seeing my pallid complexion.138
She’s not far from the truth, mind. I’ve got to give her ten out of ten for observation.139
‘No, I’m okay. I’m fine, don’t worry Debs.’140
‘Come on now Rich. This is me you’re talking to now. You know I know you better than that.’ It’s weird, in a strange sort of way I feel like I’ve got to protect Debbie from knowing who these people are. But at the same time, I know I can’t let their crimes continue. God only knows how many crimes they have committed in the last two years that I don’t know about. So then I thought ‘What the hell I might as well tell her’. I took a deep breath and sighed.141
‘I’ve just seen the people who killed Sam, and put me in hospital.’ Debbie looked at me stunned. For the first time since I’ve known her, she didn’t know what to say. I reached for my fags; took one out of the packet and lit it. I took a sip from my pint.142
‘Are you sure it was them?’ she finally managed.143
‘I don’t think I’m likely to ever forget their faces, Deb.’144
‘No I don’t suppose you would’ she frowned.145
‘What do you want to do about it?’ she continued.146
‘I want to get them’ I paused ‘I want to get them and judge them.’147
‘Are you really sure that is what you want to do?’148
‘Think about it, Debs. If I let it go tonight, I may never see them again. And if I found out, they committed another crime like they did to me, I would never forgive myself.’ I explained.149
‘Okay then. What do you want me to do?’150
‘I want you to keep out of it.’151
‘Oh come on Rich. Don’t be stupid, we’ve always worked as a team up to now. Haven’t we?’ She was hurt that I was leaving her out. I looked her in the eye, understandingly.152
‘Yeah, I understand what you’re saying Debs. But this is personal. This is my battle and my battle alone.’153
‘But I …’ I cut her off, and held her hand.154
‘Plus .., I know what they are capable of. I’ve seen it first hand. I’ve experienced it.’155
‘Yeah, but Rich, we’ve had similar criminals haven’t we? Our key element has always been surprise. Nobody expected it to be them, did they?’ She really wanted to help me.156
I can’t risk her to these cunts, not after what they did to Sam.157
‘Trust me Debs. I just want to do this one last attack and then I’m going to burn the Reaper outfit.’ I held her hand.158
‘And when it’s all over, maybe I’ll get closure, and we could try being a couple…’ I pondered for a moment, Debbie smiled.159
‘Alright then. Fair enough, I understand it’s something you’ve got to do. Just promise me you will be careful.’ She said meaningfully.160
‘Oh I’ll be careful. This means more to me than any of the victims we’ve had up to now. These were the creeps who created the Reaper. From the ashes of their sins, rose the Reaper. And like the mighty phoenix unfurled his wings to walk among the living and judge the sinners. Oh yes, tribulation is at hand’ I said, half to myself. Debbie looked at me worried.161
Oh shit! I said that out loud then, didn’t I? Snap out of it.162
‘Are you, alright Rich.’163
‘Yeah, I’m fine. Why do you ask? 164
You know damn well why she asked.165
‘Oh you seemed to drift off for a minute there. Like you actually believe you are the Reaper.’ 166
Oh fuck, she’s going to give me head stress.167
‘I don’t want you doing anything stupid tonight, Rich.’168
I knew it.169
‘No, everything will be just fine.’170
Did that sound convincing?171
‘You realise you could be in shock. You weren’t expecting to see them they’ve just suddenly popped up out of the blue.’172
‘No Debbie. Please believe me. Everything is fine; you’re worrying over nothing, really.’ I moved next to her and put my arm around her shoulder and kissed her. 173
There, that should keep her quiet for now.174
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