Epilogue Of A Deadman

(album: Fear Me - 2016)

End audio recording dated: 13.11.16
User Login: Director Scarlett
Initiate: 'Butterfly Effect'
Hard-drive erase:
All 'Section 13' documents on agent Julian Oscar Hardy deleted
All 'Section 13' documents on Rachel Elizabeth Barker deleted
All 'Section 13' documents on 'Echo Squad' deleted
Initiate: 'Project Manhattan'
Initiation Error. System Compromised. Force User logoff initiated

He stood in her rose bush
There was a cold wind tonight
Every time wind gushed down the street, he had to hold his hat to keep it from flying off his head, and then he felt chills rush down his spine
This surprised him
He thought he couldn't feel anything anymore

He stared in through the window, though it had almost frosted over
Scarlett stood in the kitchen next to a laptop, drinking a cup of tea after she had just put both her girls to bed, staring blankly towards the window, though she didn't seem to notice him
His dark clothes and shadows cast from the trees by the fence kept him hidden from her sight
Or maybe she saw him, and was waiting for him to make his move

The sound of the laptop giving a sharp warning beep could suddenly be quietly heard from inside, and Scarlett turned her attention towards it
He saw her mouth move in the shapes that formed a curse word, and he took this time to move away from the window, while she was distracted
He stepped out of the bush and walked towards the front door of the house
Reaching in to his jacket for his suppressed pistol with his right hand, he squeezed the door handle with his left and turned, expecting it to be locked
To his surprise, it was open, and Jay wondered if was because she was waiting for him to come knocking

He raised his pistol and swung open the door
As soon as she came into view, the pistol was aimed directly at the side of her head
She was too busy dealing with the laptop
And it was still beeping loudly, Scarlett started frantically tapping the keyboard
She hadn't noticed him enter the room
He slowly moved forward, pistol still locked to her head
The computer beeped loudly again, and she swore louder this time
She slammed the lid shut and turned, their eyes met
She stifled a gasp by holding her hand to her mouth, but that was the only sound she made
They stood there in silence, not daring to make any sudden moves

After a while, Scarlett broke the silence

So what are you waiting for?

She slowly went for her teacup, but Jay stepped forward and she froze

Don't even think about it

It's cold, and my throat is dry
I ask again, what are you waiting for?

I wanna know why first

He slowly moved closer

You knew
You didn't come to me

I didn't have a choice

Of course you had a fucking choice!
You could've come to me, and together we could have exposed all that we did wrong
But instead, you turned, my own team against me
You've given me this monster that's become more apparently angry inside my head
You turned me against my friends and my family
But worst of all
Yeah worst of all!
You took, Her from me
You didn't even give us a fucking warning!

That wasn't supposed to happen...

Bullshit it wasn't!
You knew putting Stephanie and Pearson on that operation
Would end in Rachel dying
You took away the one thing in my life that gave me purpose
And for what?
Money?
To save your own chicken shit arse?
Yeah
You may not have been the one to kick her off the chair
But you're just as worthy of a bullet to the fucking head as they are

Don't give me that!
I had a family to protect!
Thatcher had me under his thumb since the get go once I discovered that he was trafficking souls for heaven and hell
He knew, if he was exposed to either side, if we were exposed, then we'd all be dead
But I guess it's a little bit late for that now isn't it

And you're right in line next to him
I've already dug out your grave after I've finished filling in his you little piece of shit

Mummy?

Their heads turn towards the voice
Jay quickly lowered his pistol and hid it from the sight of Scarlett's four year old daughter

Eve, darling, what're you doing out of bed?

I heard loud voices and couldn't sleep
Mummy are you okay?

Scarlett turned back to face him, her eyes pleading for forgiveness
He hesitated, as memories of his pain waved over his mind like slowed down film reel

Please don't hurt my mummy

Allowing him to soak up what it felt like to lose someone
He couldn't put another person through that
He put away his gun, and stared at Scarlett and her daughter
Cold sweat dripped down Scarlett's brow
Jay turned and walked towards the door, and opened it
It had started spitting with rain

Remember this moment
God didn't save you here, the love your daughter has for you did
Remember that
Before you're put in this position again

And he left the house, closing the door behind him
It had truly started raining now, like it had the day of Rachel's funeral
That drenching downpour that probably wouldn't end for ages
Jay pulled up his hood and walked out into the middle of the street, just slightly illuminated from one streetlight
And that's when he saw her
White marked dress gown
Skin still white as a ghost
The rain didn't dampen her, it made her illusion shimmer
Jay walked up to it, standing a few feet away to keep his distance

You're not her

He called over the deafening pouring rain

I know you're just another reaper
Here to take me to bow before the power of the Gods

The reaper that displayed itself as Rachel smiled, and offered him her hand to take, but didn't say anything

You're going to have to tell him, not today
This rage, would do too much damage if let loose up there
I'm much better down here
At least for a little while longer, while I get everything under control

The reaper dropper her hand, but continued to smile

If you see her, tell her I love her?

The reaper faded into the rain, and Jay rubbed his eyes
That was the last time he'd see that reaper, for a while

Rachel had watched it all happen, her ghost unable to be seen by him as he continued down the street
She saw him toss his gun in a nearby trashcan and continue walking
She followed him to the only place he knew he would be safe
She watched him walk for what seemed like miles, passing through old neighbourhoods to city
Taking in all that he once knew dear, the house where his mother and father were probably now sitting in, worried sick as to where he was
By all his friends houses, all his memories flashing past like a blur
The time went so fast, he wished he got to say goodbye to them all
He stopped outside of Rachel's house
He could see her parents in the front window watching TV, and he smiled, as tears mixed with the rain
He came to his last stop
He read the stone sign out the front of it's gates
"United Nations of the World:
Cane Hill Headquarters"
He sighed and pushed the buzzer, and he was let in
She watched him walk up the steps and into the building
Not knowing when she would see him again

Jay pushed open the double doors, hands raised
That didn't stop them, they instantly recognised him and drew their weapons

I know this isn't gonna kill me, so take your best shot, and lock me up with everything you've got
I don't care if I live or die, go ahead, and kill me

Bullets flew
The roar of the guns were deafening, but the pain was worse
Like being hit by a thousand brick walls with each bullet
It soon stopped, and all he was left as was a barely breathing, bloody mess
But he wasn't dead, the Gloom wouldn't let him die that easily
They restrained him, and placed him in a cell
They locked him up for years, and no one spoke a word
Until the day that she came back
And she did, he wasn't the same man
He was broken, a hollow shell of what was once a soldier, family, but worst of all
A friend
This time, he gave in
He let the cold arms of death embrace him
That wasn't the end
But that's a story for another time

"I don't care if I live or die
Go ahead, and kill me
I don't care if I live or die
Go ahead, and kill me
I don't care if I live or die
Go ahead, and kill me
I don't care if I live or die
Go ahead, and kill me
I don't care if I live or die
Go ahead, and kill me

I don't care if I live or die
Go ahead, and kill me."