We drove through Black Rapunzel, a neighborhood run by prostitutes. They took over in the forties from drug dealers and gang leaders after they grew tired of being mistreated and underpaid. It was the biggest battle in the city that year, bigger than any fight between a hero and villain.

Afterward, the city threatened to use force to kick them out. The prostitutes smuggled a bulk of weapons into the city and positioned their fighters in different areas, ready for war.

The Mayor reconsidered and incorporated a tax rate of forty percent on the prostitutes' annual income. Until this day, even with different people leading Tombstone, they had never changed the deal.

"What's wrong? You look sadder than when I found you at The Hyunas," Officer Diana said.

"Wait, Gary took Ms. Hyuna's last name?" I asked.

"Yes."

I scoffed. Of course. It wasn't surprising. Ms. Hyuna was an alpha female. "I ran out of Enhancer pills and you haven't brought me new ones. Remember the deal we made?"

"Yes, yes, I remember." She waved me off. "I'll bring them to you when this shit settles down. We have other things to worry about now."

"Fine." I felt played. But I would not die from not taking enhancer pills. I rather liked my current mood. Instead of being chitty-chatty, I was an asshole.

We stopped at the end of a long traffic line. Something ahead blocked the road.

"Wait here. I'll go check it out." The officer departed.

I turned to the van on my left, and a little white girl with long dark hair and big green eyes was staring at me. I raised my brow at her, and she stuck her tongue out at me before showing me the middle finger.

Kids these days were rude. To think she did that with her parents in the front seats. The nerve on the little prick. She was lucky she was far away from me, otherwise, I would've chokeslammed her bum-ass. Stupid brat.

Ten minutes passed and Officer Diana hadn't returned. I would lose my mind if I stayed in the car any longer with the urn on the back seat. It felt like the ghost of Mariah was staring at me from the back, judging me for everything I had done in my life.

I left the car and went to the root of the problem. Most people weren't in their cars, but those that were had their windows down, listening to music or recording the scene with their phones.

At the front of the traffic was a crowd staring at something on the ground with tears in their eyes. The parents tried their best to shield their children's eyes from whatever horror lay in front of them.

I squeezed my way through and reached the front. I gasped. It can't be. I thought my eyes were deceiving me.

There, on the ground, lay Shiver. Dead. His eyes gouged out. Chest open and missing its heart. Insides stuck out from where the lower half of his body should've been.

I placed my right hand over my mouth, trying so hard not to puke. It smelled horrible, too. I wish I had something to cover my nose with; my hands weren't the best shield.

"What happened?" I asked the woman beside me, wearing a black hijab, a long sleeve sweater, and a flowery dress. She wasn't crying like the others, nor did she look sad. She seemed bored.

"Shiver fell from the sky looking like this. No one has taken responsibility for his death." She turned to me. "That's all I know."

I hadn't noticed it before, but the phone in her hand was voice recording. She must be a news reporter, but not from a TV network. They don't hire Muslims. "Who do you work for?" I asked out loud, without realizing. It was supposed to be an inner thought. Dammit! But now I was curious to know.

She smiled.

She's beautiful. Very beautiful. I shook my head. This is a crime scene. No need to be having these thoughts. I should have known my urges would return when I didn't take the power-inhibiting drugs this morning. I also forgot to carry emergency ones. Hopefully, nothing goes wrong today.

"I'm independent. I cover news for my social media accounts. Hopefully, one day the major networks will take a chance on me," she replied.

"Fingers crossed."

"Exactly." She grinned.

God, she was beautiful. Her amber eyes and narrow pink lips made my heart skip a beat. She was a few inches shorter than me; how adorable. I could carry her on my back. And together, we'd fly to the rainbow like a unicorn and its rider.

Yes, I wanted her to ride me.

Jeezus! I was a horny bastard.

"Everything alright?" she asked.

"You seem good at your job."

"Thank you. I work hard—"

My mind muffled her voice and brightened her olive skin tone. She looked like an angel. I feel like I'm in a rom-com. An atheist loser and a Muslim woman meet at a crime scene. What will happen next?

"You daze off a lot. Are you alright?" she asked.

She understands me already. "I'm not used to talking to someone for this long. I often talk to myself."

"I see." She turned forward. "The police are back."

There were ten police officers dressed in the peculiar division uniform heading our way. Officer Diana was with them, looking out of place in her normal clothes. She walked front and center, talking while pointing with her fingers.

Paramedics came from behind the officers. They pulled out a body bag, placed Shiver's corpse inside, then put it on the stretcher before heading to the ambulance.

The reporter—I didn't ask for her name—recorded the whole thing with a smile on her face. This scene would get her a lot of views, and I wouldn't be surprised if that was what made her happy.

I locked eyes with Officer Diana, and she shook her head at me. I knew what it meant: they had no clue who had killed Shiver, or how they got him out of Gators without alerting the guards.

If it wasn't clear before, then it was now: someone inside the highly guarded prison was working with the killer. And with the dome restricting every peculiars' powers—except Captain Tombstone—they used that opportunity to kill Shiver.

This dome was a bad thing. Now, all the powerful heroes were easy targets because most of them couldn't defend themselves. A war would erupt soon—led by mundane criminals who'd want to send a message—and innocent civilians would be caught in the crossfire.

Officer Diana came my way after the independent reporter left without telling me her name or saying goodbye. Another chance at love gone too soon.

"Sorry I dragged you out here for nothing," the officer said with a frown, tears in her eyes. Shiver was like a father to her. His death must've opened up closed wounds. No one in her family had shown up at her wedding; they hadn't approved of her sexuality. Mariah and Shiver were the only family she had left. And now, both were dead.

"Now what?"

"You want to go grab some drinks? My treat."

I hated alcohol. It only brought out the worst in people. "What about Mariah's ashes?"

"Another time." She rubbed her red eyes. She must've wanted to do something reckless, but stopped herself by suggesting we go out for drinks. "What do you say?"

I sighed. I didn't want to. But she needed this more than anything now. And after nearly dying at Captain Tombstone's hands, I promised myself to live life a little. "Fine, let's do it."

"Yes." She shook her right fist with joy. A big grin replaced the frown on her face. Well, at least I knew drinking made her happy. I just hoped I wouldn't regret this later.