Brad ran across the rooftops as fast as he could, just as long as he got away from there. He saw the woman in Sharron’s mind. He knew she was right, Sharron was the one responsible for this happening. She was the one responsible for the attack on him and Nancy. She was the one responsible for them finding out about… He put a dent in a brick wall after he punched it. Bones quickly healed and flesh mended itself as he felt frustrated he couldn’t scream out his anger. He couldn’t do anything to her, not to Nancy’s friend. Part of him realized it would have happened even if Nancy had told her brother the truth. As much as he wanted to tear her apart at that moment Brad knew who his real target was now. But the bird had another plan. He’d found the Japanese guy and went to retrieve him. The whole thing with Sharron put it on hold but the crow quickly got him back on the trail.

It was near the end of the day and the old man quietly worked the coals in oven. He had a knack for creating intricate knives and blades. An art almost lost by now seeing how he did it the old fashioned way, folding the steel several times. The project he was working on now wasn’t for any client, no this one was himself, just to see if he could do it. Heating a rectangle of steel he quickly brought it over to an anvil. Before he could hit with his hammer a man jumped into view and knocked twice on the table and teased knocking a third time. “God damn it Victor don’t do that,” he said holding his chest.

“Relax old man,” he said as he leaned against the table. With a wicked grin he added, “You haven’t done anything to ear the third knock… yet.”

“If your Father could only see you now,” he started to say.

Victor cut him off, “He’d be quiet from all the money I’m taking in. I don’t know how you remember you guy’s childhood but Dad wasn’t the saint you think he was.”

“I never said he was. But I know he wished his only son would try and be better than him.”

“And why mess with the family business,” Victor told him. “Hell he told me the other day he was jealous of all the fucking money I’ve been bringing in lately.”

Shaking his head in disgust he asked, “So what’s brings you here? You usually never show up unless you need a hiding place for a few days.”

“It might be more than a few days,” Victor said putting on a glove and started playing with the fire a bit with an iron rod. “Some freak been hunting down my boys and I’m on top of the hit list. Godman said to lay low until he takes care of things. So I’m laying low. I might have to leave town if things get too hot.”

“I always said your actions would catch up with you eventually.” Victor continued playing in the fire, ignoring him. “If you’re going to be here you might as well make yourself useful. I thought you had potential back in the day, with those knives you made.”

“Maybe I will,” Victor said as he pull the rod out of the fire and studied the glowing end. Realizing the block of metal was too cold to work with now the old man put back into the oven to heat up again. Victor put the rod in some water and walked away as it sizzled. Before long the old man heard three knock coming from behind him.

“I told you not to do that,” he said whipping around. Victor wasn’t looking amused. In fact he looked a little scared.

“That wasn’t me,” he said looking around. Then they heard another three knocks in the air. “Some fucker is stealing my thing.” A black bird flew into the rafters as a third set of knocks came from somewhere, “Fuck how did he find me here?”

“What kind of fucking mess to you bring to my doorstep?”, the old man demanded. Victor pulled a gun out of his coat and looked around frantically. Both of the saw a man with a white face calmly walk in and knock three times. Then he pointed at Victor.

“You think you’re going to get me huh?” Victor shot him but he barely reacted to the shots. “Shit it is true.”

“Not in my place do you understand me,” the old man grabbed Victor but he pushed him aside hard. He hit his head on the edge of the table busting it open. He didn’t move as he lay there on the floor and Victor backed up, not noticing.

“You’re not going to get me you son of a bitch.” Without thinking he reached into his coat and pulled out a knife and threw it at him.

Brad caught it and reacted. He saw the red haired woman and a terrified Nancy. This was the knife she used on her. This was the knife that killed their child before it even had a chance. The sick fuck kept it. Mouth open in a silent scream he threw it back and the knife impaled him in the shoulder. “Shit.” Victor grunted as he pulled it out. He grabbed one the pokers in the fire and swung the right hot end at Brad as he got closer. “Come on fucker,” he said. “They say the Hydra could only be killed if you burned its neck after you cut off its head. Let’s see how easy you heal after I burn you.” He tried to jam the poker into Brad who dodged each attempt. “Not so cocky now are you, you dead shit.” Brad was able to grab a wrist and got another memory echo.

<<<>>>

Victor looked at the picture in front of him. The red haired woman stood there waiting. “What did the Godman say to do to her?”

“You heard me,” she said. “But he also said to treat her like a common whore, so you and the boy can have a little fun first. Relieve a little tension without paying for it if you will.”

Victor looked at the picture and started grinning, “Sweet.”

<<<>>>

Victor was able to get free while he was distracted. Brad face twisted with even more hate as he regained his senses.  “What’s the matter fucker,” brad taunted, “something not agree with you?”  Grabbing a shovel he quickly got some coals from the fire and threw them at him.  Brad ducked under the table to avoid the red hot coals. “How about I make you burn like you did Thriller huh? How about that for some fucking poetic justice?” he grabbed another load and waited. He saw him again in another part of the room and threw the coals with all he had.  Brad ducked alright but he ran right at him. Before Victor could get another batch Brad had him and threw him away from the oven. Victor started swinging the shovel. Brad kicked at it mid swing, breaking it by the blade. Panicking Victor jammed the rest of it into his gut, impaling him. He shouted in victory as Brad held on and kneeled over, “HA!”. That sense of victory quickly dissipated as Brad looked up and smiled at him.

“Why couldn’t you just fucking stay dead,” Victor spat. Brad only response was to pull the foreign object out of gut. Victor let go and tried to get out of there. Brad was faster and hauled him back. Victor whipped around as Brad held him against the table and punched him without mercy. His face was a bloody mess as he dropped to the ground and Brad walked to the oven. As victor tried to get up he put a hand on the table for support. In the next second Brad plunged the hot end of a poker through his hand and into the table. Victor screamed and tried to free himself. He stopped when he saw Brad walk back over to the oven and pick up a set of tongs. He clammed up tight as he walked back over. He motioned for him to open his mouth and Victor furiously shook his head no. Brad reached for his face, he turned away as fast as he could trying to avoid that hand but Brad got a hold of his nose and clamped down tight.

Victor still tried to free himself as he ran out of air. Before long he was forced to open his mouth to breath but he had enough sense to keep his teeth together. Then Brad grabbed a couple of fingers on his other hand and quickly broke them. Victor screamed despite himself and couldn’t stop Brad from sticking those tongs into his mouth. He wanted to vomit from the burnt carbon taste in his mouth. With some wrangling Brad was able to grab a hold of his tongue and pull it out as far as he could. Victor tried to follow, grunts pleading with him not to do it. Brad teased pulling out of his mouth before grabbing his head and slamming it down and bringing his knee up. His teeth cut through the soft flesh easily.

Victor held his mouth s blood gushed out and he screamed. Brad studied the amputated organ before tossing it and the tongs into the oven. A sizzling sound filled the air that joined the smell of cooking meat. Getting another poker he jammed it into the coals and hit the stoker a few times to get the fire hotter. “Uh…Uh…Uh!” ,Victor cried out as Brad came at him with the poker. Putting a finger to his lips he mimicked a shushing sound. Again he grabbed him by the hair then jammed the poker into his neck. Going through a major artery he silently watched him bleed to death. One… no two more to go.

Brad went to walk away but stopped when he heard a musical tone in the air. It was coming from Victor. A quick search found his cell phone. Brad looked at it as the caller gave up. There was no chance in hell that his number was in there. Still Brad looked through the contact list. He kept looking until he saw a listing for G-Man. “Godman sent us to do a job.” Hand shaking slightly he hit call, put it up to his ear and waited.

“Hello Victor,” a voice said. Bread closed his eyes, it was a voice he recognized. “Victor this is no time for your little jokes. Victor!” It was Nancy’s brother. He only met the man a couple of times but he recognized that voice. “Wait, this is you isn’t? Brad I don’t know what’s going on in that head of yours but I can save you. Turn you away from this evil path you are currently on.” Brad squeezed his eyes shut trying to contain his fury. While Kain continued to talk he lowered it from his ear and put it next to the table. Then he knocked three times before throwing the phone against the wall like a fastball. He looked at the bird still sitting in the rafters. It cawed and flew out of the room knowing where he wanted it to go.

***

“Brad?”, Kain asked, “Brad are you still there?” He heard three knocks then something that sounded like a crash for a split second before he lost the signal. Looking at the phone in his hands he turned it off and replaced it on the desk. He was sitting on the edge of said desk when Angelina started backing up into a corner. She started to panic, “He’s coming here. He’s fucking coming here! He’s going to fucking kill me!”

“Angelina calm down,” Kain told her.

“Fuck you!”, she yelled back. “I’m the one he’s fucking coming after! I’m the one who’s going to…” Kain walked over and slapped her. She went to attack him but he easily overpowered her and threw her on the couch. Keeping her arms pinned she struggled to get free, “Let you go you mother fucking bastard!”

“He’s is coming after me as well,” he told her. “He did Victor’s little gimmick over the phone. If Estelle was correct about these supposed psychic abilities then I am obviously on this hit list as well now.”

“Then how can you be so fucking calm!”

“Because I am one of God’s chosen warriors,” he said letting her go. “He will not let this abomination harm me.”

“Well good for you fucker!”, she snapped. “But what about me?!”

“You are with me,” he informed her. “And I will not allow anyone with me to come to harm. Now get yourself under control. We have a defense to plan. Start with having the guards to kill every bird flying over the estate.” He was interrupted by his phone ringing again. “Hello?”, he went after picking it up. “Really now? And you got her already? How soon can you be here? You’re already on your way, excellent. I’ll have the guards let you in as soon as you get here.” He put the phone down with a satisfied look on his face.

“What was that about?”

“A little extra insurance my dear,” he said walking toward the door. “It will be here within the hour. Come let’s ready one of the guest rooms. Her stay should be comfortable after all.”

Like he said within the hour a car pulled up and the guards let him through. Angelina had a couple of the house guards help get the struggling “package” into the house. From there she guided them to the prepared guest room. The guards dumped the package onto a chair and held it down. Angelina reached over and pulled the hood off the head of the woman they brought. Venomous eyes shot back at her as Kain walked forward. “Hello again my dear. Sharron wasn’t it?”

“Go to hell,” she spat.

“Now I realize your trip here was rather sudden and somewhat rough but there is no reason to be insulting.”

“I know it was you,” she said. Kain arched an eyebrow in confusion. “I know you sent that bitch and those bastards to kill Nancy and Brad.” He walked away as she continued. “How could you do that to her? To them? She was your sister for God sakes. Your flesh and blood.”

Walking over to a window Kain stared out it for a long time before answering. “While we did come from the same parents, I’m afraid Nancy was always more… susceptible to outside influences than I was. I did my best to keep her on the right path, especially after our parents died.” Turning away from the window he continued as he walked around the room, “Unfortunately as my life mission became more and more clear I had less and less time to keep an eye on my dear sister. I foolishly thought I found a helpful angel in this Brad person. How wrong I was.”

“Brad was a good man,” Sharron shot back. “He loved Nancy with everything he had.”

“And I saw that the few times I could meet him,” Kain told her. “For whatever reason Nancy tried to keep us separated.  He wasn’t perfect, far from it. But I always imagined he would do right by her. Imagine my surprise when he didn’t and got her pregnant.”

“Brad would have done the right thing,” she argued. “He wouldn’t have abandoned her and the baby. Hell she hadn’t even told him yet.”

“Oh I didn’t think he would run out on the child or Nancy,” He explained. “Something told me he would have taken care of the child. It still doesn’t dismiss the fact they sinned, in one of the worst ways possible and conceived a bastard child.”

“I know he would have married Nancy.”

“It still wouldn’t change the fact they conceived a baby out of wedlock. In that moment my dear sister became a lost cause in my eyes, and a liability in my war. One cannot let the forces I am at war with see any hint of weakness or they will use it against you.”

“You sick fuck,” Sharron tried to go after him but the guards kept her down. “Brad is going to tear you apart.”

“I’m sure he’ll try my dear. Although I don’t know where this need for vengeances is coming from. When I found out how far Angelina and the others went, I punished them personally then forgave them for their actions.” While he said this he lightly stroked Angelina’s cheek. “So in the eyes in the Lord there is no wrong doing.”

Sharron snorted, “Can it really be consider ‘punishment’ if she enjoyed it?”

Angelina slapped her in the next moment, “Shut your mouth bitch.”

“Now now Angelina,” Kain pulled her back, “There’s no need to get violent. We need our little insurance policy in one piece when Brad arrives.”

“Your planning on using me for a shield?”, Sharron laugh bitterly.

“What’s so funny?”, Angelina demanded.

“He knows I’m the reason why you found out about the baby,” she said. “As far as you know he thinks I’m as bad as the rest of you.

Looking at him in worry Angelina silently pleaded with him to do something. Kain just looked at Sharron who looked triumphant. “Well then my dear, you better pray that isn’t the case,” he eventually said. “Because if it is you will be fed to this particular angry lion first.”

As they left the room Angelina demanded, “Why in the hell did you tell her that. She can pin their murders on you.”

“The word of an woman obviously driven mad by grief against the word of an upstanding citizen such as myself?”, Kain asked. “Tell me my dear who would you believe?”

***

The crow found the estate no problem, but he didn’t fly over it. Gunshot went off before he even got close. Sitting in a nearby tree he silently watched as other birds either scattered away or dropped to the ground after another round of shots. After a few hours Brad finally caught up with him, not even needing an explanation as another round went off in the compound. He should have seen this coming, especially after his encounter with Big Ben. Still he had to find a way to get the crow in there because there no way he could search for them by himself and not get noticed. Then he’d lose them to who knows where. This was going to take awhile to figure out.

The crow saw a car pull up the front gate. When it wouldn’t open one of the men got out and hit the call button on the intercom. “Hello this is Detective Frank McCormick. Me and my partner would like to talk to Kain Logan please.”

“Mr. Logan is rather bust at the moment,” a voice answered. In the car Jay glanced at his watch, who could be that busy this time of night? “If you would like to schedule an appointment for another day we’ll get you in at the earliest possible opening.”

“We want to see him about his sister and Brad Walker’s murder.”

“Like I said sir Mr. Logan is extremely busy…”

“Okay then how about we talk to him about all that gun fire we heard on the way up here then,” Frank cut him off. There wasn’t an immediate answer after that. But after several minutes the gates slowly began to open. Going back to the car Frank said, “You just have to know how to talk to them.”

“Maybe if you said that first we would have gotten in sooner,” Jay said as he put the car in drive.

“I still got us in didn’t I?”, his partner told him. “You think this is going to work?”

“It’s the only thing we got at the moment,” Jay said. “Maybe if we get Logan riled up the person who got the lawyer will slip up trying to cover themselves.”

“It’s a hell of a long shot kid, but your right it’s the only thing we got going right now.”

Brad watched the car go in. He also noticed the guns stopped going off as some birds flew over the estate. Seeing the opening the crow flew straight for the mansion in the distance. Brad hopped on top of the white wall and looked down. At the same time somebody who was patrolling the grounds was right underneath him. He looked up at the time Brad jumped on top of him. A brief struggle and the guy was out. Brad left the body not worrying if he still had a pulse or not, all he saw was his last two targets. And they were somewhere in there, all he had to do was get to them.

***

Standing around in a pretty impressive hall Jay and Frank waited. Jay kept an eye on everything while Frank wandered around a bit looking at the pieces of art on display, occasionally asking himself what most of this stuff was supposed to be. Although Jay was remembering Sharron’s comment about him being a religious freak as he could see four… no five crosses from where he was standing. Before long Kain walked through one of the doors. Jay tried to keep the shock off his face when his assistant came in behind him. Frank noticed his reaction but didn’t say anything about it. “I am so sorry to keep you waiting Detectives,” he said as he took each of their hands. “You caught me a little off guard. Has some head way finally been made in the case.”

Jay eyed both of them, especially the assistant while Frank talked, “We’re not sure. Actually we were hoping you could help us.”

“I’m not sure how. I told the police everything I knew about that night.”

“This isn’t about the night in question. It’s about the suspects’ lawyer.” Logan didn’t have an immediate response to that. “It turns out he was paid for by the New Life Organization. I believe you own this particular charity.”

“Yes I do,” Kain said freely, surprising both of them. “This is rather surprising. I know what Turner charges for a retainer to take a case. Not personally of course, but I hear it every so often at parties. And I would have to authorize those payments personally. I’m not sure how something like that got through the system without me noticing it.”

“Maybe somebody close to you authorized it?”, Jay asked eyeing his assistant a bit. She looked at him right back. “Perhaps behind your back.”

“Not possible,” Kain told him. “The head of each organization comes to me personally with each request. They know their job would be in serious jeopardy if they didn’t. I do not tolerate such game playing in my organization Detective.” Readjusting a cufflink on his sleeve he said, “I appear to be an ungracious host, I realize the two of you are on the clock but can I offer you something to drink? Some coffee or perhaps some tea?”

“No thank you,” Frank told him. “If we can get back to the lawyer, do you have any idea how something like this could have gotten past your notice?”

“I have no idea at the moment,” he answered. “Although I assure you I’ll launch a full investigation into the matter. I’ll make sure everybody involved in the operation will cooperate fully with the police department.” Frank nodded but Jay kept his eye on the assistant, she just smirked slightly before turning around. His eyes narrowed a bit at that reaction, even if Walker didn’t tell him she was involved that would have seemed suspicious to him. He glanced over to Frank who nodded, he saw it too.

“We’ll appreciate that,” Frank told him. Pulling out a card he handed it to him, “This is my extension number at headquarters. I usually check my messages everyday so if you find out anything give us a call.”

“Of course,” he said. Behind him his assistant put a finger to her ear and listened to something. Looking back at them she walked away from them and said something softly, but urgently from the look of things. She went back and whispered something into Kain’s ear. Jay couldn’t help but noticed how panic she looked. After listening to her he told them, “I hate to cut his short but Angelina reminded me of something that needs my immediate attention. So if you will excuse me…”

“Of course,” Frank started to say.

“FRANK!,” a voice shouted out. “JAY!” Above them a woman leaned over the railing to get their attention.

“Sharron?”, Jay wondered before running up there. A couple of guards grabbed her from behind and started dragging back from wherever she came from. Jay pulled his gun and ordered, “Let her go!”

Ignoring him one of them looked down at Kain and told him, “She got away from us.”

“Obviously,” he muttered while Angelina looked on with disgust. “Detective McCormick I almost forgot to mention that my staff caught this woman trespassing on my property a little while ago. Perhaps you would save us the trouble of removing her from the grounds. Seeing how she seems to know you and your partner I won’t press charges against her this time around.”

“How kind of you,” Frank said sarcastically. The guards let her go and she ran into Jays arms. “How is she kid?”

“He told me everything,” Sharron said to Jay. “He was involved in Nancy and Brad’s murder.” Down below Kain made a comment about her being delusional. Angelina looked alternately pissed and worried “Jay he’s on his way,” she said. “That’s why they kidnapped me. He’s on his way here.”

“Oh shit,” he muttered. “Frank we’re going to have clown problems!”

“Oh fucking hell,” Frank swore.

“He is already here.” They all looked to see Estelle calmly walk into the room. In the next moment gun fire could be heard in another part of the mansion. Jay pulled Sharron closer as Frank drew his weapon. More armed guards came out of nowhere and surrounded all of them.

“There’s a fucking crow somewhere in here!” Angelina yelled at them. “Find it and kill the fucker dead.”

“Hold them prisoner,” Kain said waving toward them and Frank. “One of them might make a useful hostage is the woman was correct.” On cue those guards pointed those weapons at them before either Frank or Jay could react and took their weapons away from them. Pointing toward Frank he said, “Take him to the second level of my office with the others. It as secure as we’re going to get and it is always best to have the higher ground in a conflict.”

***

Brad got exactly two feet into this mansion when a group of guards came around a corner. In the next instant they saw him and opened fired. He jumped into a room the crow flew into and pressed himself against the wall and waited. Before long a guard cautiously entered the room ready for anything. Brad was faster. Grabbing the semi automatic in one hand he grabbed the guard by the other and slammed him into one side of the doorjamb than into the other before dragging him into the room. In moments the guard was on the ground and Brad faced the wall by the door. Picking a spot at random he fired at the wall. Getting a “Shit!” followed by some running. He followed the sound with the barrel of the gun and tore into the wall until he ran out of bullets.

Ejecting the clip Brad casually reached down and pulled a fresh one from the body, putting it in the gun as he walked into the hallway. Surprised he got so many he saw the remaining two trying to hide behind cover. It was a short fire fight but both of them lay dead on the floor in a matter of moments. Brad looked at the crow as both of them got the same idea, the more guards there were the closer they would be to the woman and Nancy’s brother. Motioning for the crow to stay behind him Brad went further down the hall in the direction those guards came from. Traveling down the hall he found various pockets of resistance. They fell as well as he continued down his path. One tried to blast him with a double barreled shotgun. Brad dropped the gun he had and got it away from him before he could get off a shot. Then he pointed it at the guards face before he could do anything and pulled one trigger. Jamming it into the gut of another he pulled the second trigger then whipped the barrel into the head of a third before dropping it to the ground and picking up another gun.

For a brief moment he thought he was heading in the wrong direction when the groups of guards became fewer and further between. Then he entered a double storied room of some sort and was greeted by a row of guards on the floor before him and on the level above. Up there he saw the woman and Nancy’s brother, as well as Sharron and the cop as well as some other guy. “Brad,” Kain calmly stated from his perch, “I don’t know what devil’s work is at play here but this ends right now. I will offer you one last chance at salvation. All you have to do is end this madness now.” Sharron started to say something but a guard clamped a hand around her mouth as another warned Jay and Frank not to do anything. Brad looked like he thought it over for a second then fired at the guards on the ground floor.

The chaos that ensued was almost hard to follow from up above. Some of the guards on the upper floor joined in trying to kill this man. Frank looked on in disbelief as he saw him get hit repeatedly and not go down. Angelina saw the crow fly in and at them. “There it is! Fire at it now!” Only a couple of guards followed her order and tried to shot the bird down. One almost got a bead on it but Sharron was able to kick him behind the leg and alter his aim. The crow flew over their heads. Angelina screeched and duck as Kain just watched where it went before returning his attention to Brad down below. Somewhere along the line he dropped his weapon and was tearing into the guards with his bare hands. Angelina tried to hide behind him as they watched the massacre from down below.

Knowing this was wasting time Brad made his way through what was left of these guards and ran for the staircase. At that point the rest on the on the upper floor started to fire but he continued running up the stairs. His attention was on that mane of red hair behind Kain. A group of guards got between them and fired at him again, Brad jumped on top of the railing and kept going. A couple of guards tackled him down to the ground before he could lunge at Kain and the woman. He fought them off as more tried to dog pile on top of him. Kain and Angelina backed up and they tried to get behind Jay and the others while those guards kept them in place. Like the rest the ones on him didn’t stand a chance as bodies started dropping. Tossing the last one down the staircase behind him he turned toward them.

He took a step toward them then stopped, a strange look on his face. For some reason it looked like he was having trouble breathing. Clutching his throat he fell to his knees. Estelle walked forward from another room behind them. In her hand was the neck of crow, it’s wings flapping wildly as it tried to get away. “A powerful magic I learned in my youth,” she said. “Strong enough to hide my presence from any supernatural creature, holy or unholy.”

Angelina grinned like a mad woman at the sight, “Finally that old hag is good for something.” Storming past Kain and the others she kicked Walker down to the floor. “Not so tough now are you, you fucking freak.” She continued kicking him as he struggled to breath. “I should have cut off that prick you call a dick after Victor cut out your tongue.” Not being able to stand what was going on Jay fought himself free and ran for the old woman. Pounding her arm he was able to free the bird before they could restrain him again. The reaction from Brad was almost immediate. He stopped choking and grabbed Angelina’s leg as she went to kick him again. With some effort he threw her to the floor. Grabbing her by the neck he slammed her into the railing and had her bent over it backwards.

Kain simply motioned to the guard holding Sharron, “Kill that one if he harms her.”  It was loud enough that Brad could hear it but he didn’t react. Slowly Angelina started to get pushed over the railing.

“Walker don’t!”, Jay pleaded with him. The guard pulled back the trigger on his gun and pressed it Sharron’s head. Frank started to do something but the guard knocked him to his knees and kept him there. Kain held his breath as he didn’t dare show a reaction. Brad eventually glanced back at the guard and Sharron. She silently pleaded with him. He looked back at Angelina who started begging for her life. Hand clutching her throat a little tighter he threw her back onto the floor and right into the guard. Sharron was able to get free as they fell to the ground.  In the confusion Brad grabbed Angelina around the waist and held her over his head. Before anybody could stop him he ran over to the railing and threw her over the side.

The snap was audible as her leg broke the moment she hit. She clutched at the bone sticking out and felt a new wave of pain. She looked up and saw Brad perched on top of the railing looking down at her. Getting desperate she saw a gun nearby and tried to crawl for it. Watching her for a bit Brad jumped down. Hearing him land she crawled faster for the gun. Grabbing it she fell to her back and pointed the gun at him. He stayed were he landed, just looking at her. Then he started walking toward her. “Stay away,” she ordered, the barrel of the gun shaking. “Stay the fuck away from me!” Brad held his arms out as he continued toward her, almost daring her to shoot. Wanting for dear life to pull the trigger her finger wouldn’t respond. Part of her knew it wouldn’t do any good. Standing over her Brad tore the gun from her hand and aimed it at her.

“Brad don’t do it,” Kain ordered from above. “Brad listen to me.” Using a foot Brad kicked her to her back and aimed. “NO!” A shot fired and blood splattered right below her waist. Angelina howled in pain and she clutched her lower abdomen. Brad kicked back to her back and fired again, right in the same area. Tears in her eyes Angelina could do nothing as he changed his aim slightly and fired one more time. The bullet tore through the back of her head as it killed her.

***

Kain held on to the railing for dear life as he stood there shaking. He looked up to see Brad drop the gun and turn around and look up at him as the crow cawed loudly. “That’s it then,” he said evenly. Brad started walking toward the staircase. Kain went to met him. “Estelle told me how this works. You’re only brought back to kill the ones who put you in this state. The ones that were there. Well you did it. Now go back in your hole and rot.”

Brad held his arms like he was cradling a baby as he continued toward him. “Yes I knew about the little bastard and took the appropriate actions.” Kain didn’t back away as he got closer. “But consider this Brad. You are after vengeance of the ones who wronged you. You dated Nancy, you opened the door. You got her pregnant. If you are looking for someone to blame Brad, look in a mirror. You are already going to burn in hell, finish the job and kill yourself.” Brad was emotionless as he reached him and grabbed a hold of his shirt. Something felt wrong as he looked at his hands. He was struggling to hold on to the shirt as something tried to push him back. “Having problems are we Brad?”, Kain smirked. Then he grabbed Brad by the wrist and removed his hands. He went down to his knees as his wrist felt like they were on fire as Kain held on tight. “Do you really think the Lord would allow something like you to harm me?” He let go and punched him.

“Brad!” Sharron tried to go to him but another guard held her in place.

“I am one of God’s chosen!”, Kain yelled as he kicked Brad in the chest. “I am one of his holy warriors. What made you think you could possibly hurt me.” Trying to get to his feet he felt the searing touch on his neck as Kain picked him up and threw him into a cabinet. The doors opened revealing several bottles of water in glass jars. “How appropriate,” he said as he grabbed one of the bottles and opened it. “A little holy water to wash that devil makeup off of you.” Dumping it straight on his face Kain quickly wiped away the makeup as Brad struggled under his grasp. “Now you look almost human,” he said walking over to the desk. Taking a cloth to wipe his hands clean he looked at the others. “Do you see how pathetic this creature actually is? See if he’ll die now.”

The guards let them go and took aim at Brad who was slowly getting to his feet. Jay looked at Frank before the both jumped them. Shots went wild as they wrestled with the guns. Kain, Sharron and Estelle tried to get out of the line of fire when Brad suddenly came to life and attacked the guards. It was a brief struggle after that. Punching the last one out Brad grabbed the gun and pointed it at Kain. “Don’t do it,” Frank said. Jay held him back. “Kid what are you doing?”

“Don’t get in his way.”

“Do you really think God is going to let this thing harm me with that? You’ve seen what he’s done to stop you from killing me with your bare hands.” He just stood there keeping his aim on Kain. “I’ll admit part of the blame for this situation falls on my shoulders. I knew what you two would be doing once you started living together. But I tried to convince myself that everyone has needs. It’s a primal part of who we are, what drives us. Then I heard about the pregnancy and knew I was fooling myself. I blinded myself to the fact it was a test sent by God and I failed miserably, but I learned the lesson. I had to be vigilant against all forms of sin, even those within my family tree. I took no pleasure in giving that order Brad, but it had to be done to prove my devotion to the war.”

“You are a sick fuck,” Jay spat.

“Perhaps Detective,” akin admitted. “But things like that are best left to the future to decide.” Returning his attention to Brad he simply said, “You still haven’t fired a shot Brad. Are you perhaps realizing that this is futile? Maybe you see the truth of my words and contemplating turning it on yourself.”

“Even if he does we got you dead to rights Logan,” Jay told him. “Both me and Frank heard you confess.”

“Yes you did,” he smirked. “And I am fully prepared to go to trial. What better way to get the message out. What a better way to get recruits for the war against things like… him.” Brad dropped the gun and took off his hoodie. “Trying to get serious now are we Brad?”, he smirked. Holding it in front of him he ran at Kain. Wrapping the jacket around him he drove him backwards and trough the window. The glass broke as the fell through cutting both of them. They hit the ground hard. Kain was in pain but he was able to push Brad off of him and get to his feet. Brad dodged a kick aimed at his head and tried to get to his feet as well. Kain was able to kick him down before he could. Without warning Brad grabbed his shirt and tried to pull him down as Kain pulled away. The cuts in the shirt made it rip easily as the cloth came away from his body, revealing what was underneath. “You’re getting desperate Brad,” he taunted. Again his flesh burned as Kain grabbed him by the throat and picked him back up. “Filth like you always does.”

Sharron made her way to the window and watched the fight below, one sided as it was as Kain continued to assault him. But something about the tattoos on Kain’s exposed flesh made her stop. It looked like there were lines connecting everything. She’d seen things like that before, she taught something similar to Nancy. “It’s a seal!”, she shouted at Brad. They both looked at her as she continued. “His body’s a seal! Break’s the lines! Break the lines!”

“Quiet child,” Estelle tried to pull her away from the window.

Sharron punched her and went back to the window. “We got to get down there,” she said all of the sudden.

“What!”, both Jay and Frank exclaimed before Jay followed her down the stairs. Frank took a moment to check on and cuff the old woman before going as well.

“I feel sorry for that girl,” Kain commented as he looked up at the window. “It would be an interesting to study her upbringing. It would give me some insight into people who think that way.” Brad wasn’t listening, he was looking at the tattoos covering his exposed body. He saw the lines she was talking about. He ran past him and toward the broken glass on the ground. Feeling that burning touch as soon as he got his hand on a large enough piece he slashed it back. Kain tried to avoid it but the edge was able to cut deep enough to start a trickle of blood. He was too stunned to react as Brad cut him again and again with the piece of glass. Lines of red continued to appear on his chest and arms. Kain kicked him in the gut and made him drop the glass.

“I will use that to send you back to hell.” He grabbed Brad around the neck again. But this time he didn’t react. Kain could only look on as he grabbed his wrist and slowly pulled the hands away from his throat. Brad proceeded to head butt him twice before letting him go. Kain held his nose as thinking it broke as Brad stalked him. Punching him down he tried to throttle other man within an inch of his life. The older man struggled to fight back and free himself. “Go away Heathen!”, with one last shove Kain was able to get away and run deeper into the trees surrounding his mansion. Brad just kneeled there and watched him run. Then he went after him.

Falling against the trees he tried to get away. Every time he heard a sound or saw a shadow he headed in another direction. Before long he found himself lost on his own property. This was madness, he walked these grounds every week. He should know where he was, but his panic and fear made it hard to concentrate on where he was. Turning around he nearly fell on his ass as he saw Brad standing right in front of him, totally emotionless. Backing up against a tree he said, “I am one of God’s Warriors! You can not harm me.” The dead man just walked forward ignoring his words. “He won’t let you harm me!!” Brad grabbed him by the head and started into his eyes. “As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” he began, “I will fear no evil for thou are with me.”

Brad didn’t listen to him. Looking right at him he took in a deep breath and opened his mouth. The way his neck and face muscles strained it would look like he was yelling at the top of his lungs but no sound came out. Inside Kain’s head however something similar to a thousand horns of Gabriel rang throughout his mind. Blood started to drip from his nose, then from his ears and mouth. His eyes went lifeless but the phantom scream still continued shattering his very soul. Finally letting go Kain dropped to the ground, lifeless. He walked off into the forest as Sharron and the rest found the body.

Frank checked for a pulse, shaking his head as he looked back at Jay. “Serves him right,” Sharron muttered under her breath. Jay couldn’t really disagree as Frank looked on stupefied

***

Brad walked through the trees looking for the way out, knowing his time was almost up. How far away was he from his grave? He stopped to put a hand on a tree and held his gut. Could he even make it back to his grave before his body gave out on him? All the pain he didn’t feel from before seemed to catch up with every step but he couldn’t stop. That damn crow even abandoned him but he kept going. A fog seemed to roll in around him as he continued. He finally stopped against a tree as a hooded figure in a white robe stood before him. He couldn’t move but he refused to fall as the figure came closer. Once in reach a feminine looking hand took his left one. Confused he watched as the thumb lightly rubbed the back of his hand, the love seal Nancy drew slowly revealed itself. He tried to look it the figures face but her features were still obscured in shadows but a familiar set of lips simply said, “Forever.”

“Where is he?” Sharron asked as she searched the woods. Jay and Frank were right behind her every step of the way. But one of them still had a hard time taking in what he just witnessed.

“What the hell just happened?”, the older man ask pointing behind them. “What was that?”

“Justice,” Sharron simply told him.

“What she said,” Jay said as he continued after him.

“This is crazy,” Frank continued. “I saw that guy or whatever he is get shot back there and he wasn’t wearing a vest or anything. That ain’t natural. Who’s going to believe this?”

“Nobody,” Jay said. Frank grunted, knowing he as right but not liking it. “Come on we got to find Walker before anybody else does. Look at it this way Frank we can at least say we discovered who stole the body.”

“That isn’t funny Jay,” Sharron scolded him. “He deserves better than that.”

“I know,” he quickly said. “But I’m trying not to go crazy here. Why is it so foggy all of a sudden?”

“God what else can happen tonight?”, Frank moaned.

“We got to help him back to his grave,” Sharron said mainly to herself. “I owe him that much.” She stopped and was nearly run over by the other two. Then they saw what she did. Brad was in the arms a hooded figure, finally looking at peace. The figure turned toward them and put a finger to her lips to keep them quiet. Sharron put a hand to her mouth as she recognized the person under the hood. The fog grew thicker and thicker until none of them could see anything. Then it disappeared as fast as it came. Brad and the hooded figure were gone. Sharron started to tear up as Jay put an arm around her. “They can rest now,” she said. “It’s finally over.”

“I know baby,” Jay said as he guided her out of the woods, “I know.” Frank just stood there shaking his head, saying something about getting drunk before following them out. Above them two crows flew off away from the estate and into the night sky.