*HEY, GUYS! SORRY THAT THIS UPDATE ISN'T REALLY ON TIME. BUT I WANT TO WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND TO MY READERS WHO DON'T CELEBRATE THIS HOLIDAY, I'D LIKE TO WISH YOU A WONDERFUL DAY. APPRECIATE THE LITTLE THINGS, TRY NEW THINGS, EXTEND YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE AND EXPLORE ALL THAT YOU ARE CAPABLE OF. NOW, HOW ABOUT SOME QUESTIONS?

Questions!!:
-What is something that you are grateful for? (I grateful for my family and friends, of course, but I'm grateful to all of you who read and stick around with my stories. Without you all, I wouldn't be where I am.)
-Who is someone you look up to the most? (Markiplier is someone I look to not just for laughs and entertainment but for inspiration and motivation. He's an amazing man and I wish I can make as much of a difference as he does.)

ENJOY THE CHAPTER (even though I think it kinda sucks ;-;) AND HAVE A GREAT DAY!*

Stay Creepy, My Friends!~

Chapter 49

Jeff's POV

The streets were quiet, lonely and dark. The motel was about another few minutes away. I wanted to start sprinting back but I knew I shouldn't. Death stood right in front of me, bearing an arrogant smile that worked its charm on me, making me feel uneasy. But, the eyes is what always got me the most. They're as cold, sharp and domineering as I remembered. Even with that smile his gaze could cut through steel.

"What are you doing here?," I asked him, my voice a bit shaky, to my annoyance.

Death managed a lofty laugh and said, "Relax, Jeff. No need to ruin your pants."

An embarrassed blush spread through my face and I cleared my throat.

Death stepped towards me and I flinched slightly. Looking at him, I noticed his smile meant "long time no see" but his eyes meant "I've come to fuck up your night". How does that even work?

"It's been too long since we've talked," he started.

"Two years, to be exact," I murmured.

He nodded. "I see you've changed. Outside and inside."

I gave him a curious look. He didn't answer to it. "I see you're still...pale," I remarked. This is already off to a terrible start.

Death turned and ordered, "Walk with me." He gestured for me to come with him and, reluctantly, I stepped forward. We began walking in the direction towards the motel and I felt some tinge of relief.

"So, tell me," Death began, "how have the two years been to you?"

I was a bit taken aback by the friendliness he was showing me although there was still this distinct vibe around him that he always emits. One that translates to me that he may speak kindly to me but he's still greater.

"Um, I've been better," I answered, "I've almost died a few times."

"Yes, almost," Death emphasized. I shot him a look but he turned away before he could catch it. "What about you?," I inquired.

Death waved his hand in the air. "Oh, the usual. Collecting the souls of those who pass and sending them into their rightful afterlife."

"What's that like?"

He thought for a moment. "It's like taking someone on a trip to another country. Only that other country is the afterlife. And that someone is more like a ghost. And there's more sadness and anger than happiness and wonder."

"Wow, best description ever," I gibed.

"It's a complicated procedure. A mortal like you wouldn't understand," he added. He changed the subject with a wave of his hand. "Anyway, let's not talk about me. I've heard news that your girlfriend has returned from the dead...again."

"From who?," I asked. He was quiet for a moment and I added, "Oh right, you're an all knowing entity?"

"Slightly true," he replied.

I glared at him. "You watch me...?"

"Only on special occasions."

"You're sick," I murmured, shaking my head.

"Would you prefer if I watched you all of the time?" He leaned in. "All of it..?"

I stared at him for a good few awkward seconds. "Yeah, Elizabeth's back," I stammered. "And, she's not technically my girlfriend right now, considering she doesn't remember ever being."

"That must be saddening," Death commented. "And, this new girl? The second proxy?"

"You mean Blueberry--I mean, Ao?," I murmured. I shrugged and said, "She's doing fine. She's a sweet girl. Too sweet to be in fact. She doesn't deserve all of this."

"Neither did Elizabeth," he said, making my chest hurt, "but that is the price of being the proxy."

I didn't say anything for a few moments. I was too caught up on Elizabeth and how Blueberry is doing. Death interrupted my thoughts and said, "Ao is a special one."

"Of course," I agreed, "she's the proxy."

"Yes but she's more special than you and your friends realize, Jeffery," he intoned. "She is more than just the second proxy."

"How so?"

Death gave a modest grin and replied, "That is up to her to answer." There was this twinkle in his eyes that made me uneasy. It was a twinkle that signaled amusement.

There was silence between us that made me uncomfortable, so I thought about other things. The Corrupted from earlier came to mind and I asked, "Why'd you save me?"

Death stole a glance at me and said, "It would've been a shame to watch that disgusting mongrel tear you to shreds and leave you rotting on the pavement."

I stared at him hard and muttered, "You just don't want to lose your prize to some fucked up demon spawn."

"You could put it that way," Death quipped with a slight shrug of his shoulders. He released a sigh and added, "But, I will be truthful with you. I came here to give you a warning."

A small chill went down my spine and I murmured, "Is this about Zal--?"

Faster than he could snap his fingers, he clamped a hand onto my mouth and shushed me violently. "What have I told you about speaking his name, you idiot...!," he hissed.

I frowned and as soon as Death let go of my mouth, I said, "What's so wrong with it? It's not like a Voldemort complex, where if I say his name bad things happen. I've said his name plenty of times."

Death glared at me and retorted, "Names hold meaning and power. Even his name can hold his evil. The more you admit it out loud, the more it has dominion over you."

"So, I'll turn into a Corrupted or something..?"

He sighed and shook his head. "If that were actually true, there'd be a lot more Corrupted than there are. No, it doesn't Corrupt you but it does give him more power over your mind, although it may not be noticeable to you. He's the bearer of evil, a king of manipulation."

I then gave him an inquisitive stare and remarked, "Aren't you a powerful entity like he is? Why are you so anxious about him?"

Death took a step back and replied, "I am an infinite entity but not the strongest. I know my place. He is stronger than I am or will ever be."

"How..?"

Death fixed his coat and answered, "The rule between infinite entities is that the only way we can 'die' is if another being of equal or greater power defeats us. Another rule is that if two beings are equal, it's harder for them to kill each other since little change occurs because they are so matched. He and I are, unfortunately, not equals."

"Well," I started, "you can't die right? I mean, you're the guy who collects the souls of the dead and brings everyone to their afterlife. You're the balance between living and dead. Nothing would work without you."

"It wasn't always like that," he muttered, "This world needs me, but that doesn't mean it will fail to function if I die. Humanity is smart while being surprisingly stupid. This realm had functioned without me for a long, long time, ever since its birth."

I chuckled lightly. "That doesn't make any sense. You've always been around. You're an infinite entity. People die and have died everyday and you're always there to pick up the mess."

Death's demeanor suddenly grew grim and I felt uneasy. "Everything infinite has to start somewhere," he murmured, "Sometimes, even under the wing of the most sadistic..."

I felt more confused than before and stared at Death for a long time. Finally, he huffed and said, "Just...don't mention His name to me." I was surprised. Death is actually upset. He's trying to hide it but I know it's there. What happened with him and Zalgo? I know it's more than just knowing he's the cruelest asshole ever and hating him. What happened..?

For his sake, I changed the subject and said, "So, what's this warning you mentioned before?"

Death glanced at me and nodded. "Ah, yes. The warning." The both of us continued walking the same direction towards the motel. Death continued on, "This warning is not about...him. It's actually about the two proxies."

I frowned. "What are Elizabeth and Ao going to do?"

Death sighed. "I'm not exactly sure. All I can tell you is that things will change drastically. The discovery that there were two proxies during the same time should've been a red flag."

"It was, but the more the merrier to defeat Zal--I mean, him, right?," I murmured.

"You could say that, but the fact is is that there will be consequences from this unbalance. It doesn't help that Elizabeth has forgotten herself. And, I've seen that nightmarish form of hers. She's not stable, Jeffery. None of you are." Death went silent for a few moments to let his words sink in. They did.

"There will be change among your friends," Death added, "and among your enemies as well. If good evolves, so too will evil, and vice versa. With two proxies, the possibility of a schism is in the cards. There are more enemies, more tricks and more at risk now than ever before. Stay on your guard, keep everyone together and protect them with all that you can muster."

Death suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned towards me. I stood in front of him, staring him dead in his silver eyes. "I wish I could tell you more details but my knowledge on this matter is limited," he said, "This is all the time I have for you. Take care of yourself, Jeffery." He reached an arm out and squeezed the back of my neck very tightly. His freezing touch made me shiver slightly. "Be careful on the road, as well," he advised quietly, almost ominously. I nodded and he squeezed my neck one more time before moving away. His cold touch still lingered long after.

"Now, if you excuse me," he began, turning around, "I have some business with a Russian friend to attend to."

"A Russian friend?"

"Yes, do you have a problem with Russians?" Death remarked, glancing over his shoulder.

Smirking, I teased, "I didn't think you had friends."

He frowned and grumbled, "Ah, I forgot how much of a smart-ass you could be. You're lucky you're so valuable."

"I wonder how you even think that," I joked.

Death rolled his eyes and said, "Goodnight, Jeffery." He turned away from me and started walking back into the shadows of the late night. After he disappeared into the dark, I suddenly heard flapping, followed by a quick caw. A black crow flew above my head, leaving me behind on the sidewalk. With a sigh, I turned to trek the rest of the way back to the motel.

Death hadn't left me to walk for long as the motel had been half a block away. I headed upstairs to the motel room and unlocked the door when I arrived. As soon as I walked in I got a face full of pillow. The pillow fell to reveal a frowning Elizabeth sitting on her bed. "What took you so long?," she grumbled.

I took off the bandana and sunglasses as I said, "I just had a run in with this creepy guy. It's no biggie." I tossed Elizabeth the bag of her things and she caught it with her one hand flawlessly. Before I could remark a sarcastic 'you're welcome', she ran off into the bathroom and slammed the door shut. I kicked off my boots and whipped my hoodie off, not caring where they landed, and plopped down onto my bed. This time I felt the tiredness and just laid there until I finally knocked out.

...

The next morning Ben came back from wherever he had been throughout the night and woke Elizabeth and I. Neither of us were happy to have our sleep disturbed but we knew we had to get up. Elizabeth changed into some different clothes in the bathroom and I was left to change in the room while Ben checked us all out of the motel in the lobby. Elizabeth and I left the room with our stuff and filed into the Chevelle. Ben was already inside in the driver's seat and as soon as I sat in the passenger's seat, he swiped the sunglasses away from me. "Let's rock n' roll," he quipped. I looked over at him, shook my head and murmured, "No, Ben."

"Well, I don't give a shit!," he cackled as he turned up the radio and jerked the car into motion. We exited the motel parking lot and drove out onto the road once again. For twenty minutes we made our way out of the quaint town. I kept a careful look out for a certain crow but I never saw a bird that sparked my interest. I guess Death only needed to come around for the warning.

"Hey, what do you guys say we stop at a diner for some good old fashioned breakfast?," Ben chimed with a bright smile. Elizabeth and I glanced at each other and the both of us shrugged. Ben smirked and announced, "Taking that as a yes!"

Within a few minutes Ben had found a diner and cruised into parking. I had a feeling that Ben would've taken us here even if Elizabeth and I didn't want to. But, we were here anyway, so no going back. Ben parked the car at the front of the diner and turned off the engine. As soon as he popped open his driver's side door, I swiped his sunglasses just as he did to me and tied the bandana around my mouth. I stepped out of the car and shut the door behind me. Elizabeth walked past me towards the diner and I spotted her black eye-patch again.

All three of us entered the diner, and it wasn't too hard to find a spot. The place was nearly vacant, save for two truck drivers at the bar, a small family of three at a corner booth, and about four other people sitting alone. We sat at a booth, Elizabeth took one side, Ben and I took the other. A waitress was quick to come and greet us with a friendly smile. "Welcome to Johnny's Diner! What can I get you all to drink? We've got water, juice, sodas, milkshakes, coffee, tea."

Ben chose his drink like nothing and ordered a coffee. As if he needed anymore buzz in his system. I ordered a water and Elizabeth asked for tea. "You got it," the waitress said, setting down some menus, "Be back in a bit...!" She sauntered away towards the kitchen behind the bar. Ben picked up one of the menus first and said, "Go crazy, guys. Breakfast's on me." He gave us a sly wink and I rolled my eyes.

I just chose pancakes and some scrambled eggs. To be honest, I didn't know if I could really eat here in a public place because...well. Elizabeth and Ben have it easy, though. Especially Ben, that bastard and his fake normal features. The both of them also chose pancakes, although Elizabeth ordered some with chocolate chips in them. She seemed pretty happy about it.

Waitress came by again with our drinks this time and we gave her our meal orders. With a smile, she wrote everything down on a notepad and walked back towards the kitchen. There was a moment of silence until Elizabeth said, "I'm surprised she hasn't freaked about how we look."

"How you two look," Ben remarked. With a cocky grin he said, "I look flawless."

"Oh, shut up," I grumbled.

After waiting several minutes, the waitress came by with a tray of our breakfast in her hand. She passed us our plates, calling out the order every time. "Enjoy your food, you all," she chimed, before walking off to tend to other things. Elizabeth and Ben went straight for their forks while I sat staring at my food. How the hell am I going to do this here?

I picked up my fork, cut off a piece of my pancake, stabbed it onto the prongs and lifted my bandana enough to slip my food into my mouth. Ben started laughing at me and I glared at him through the sunglasses. Despite Ben's jesting, I continued to eat like this.

Minutes passed as we ate, country music played in the background from a colorful jukebox in the corner, and only a few people came in to dine every now and then. Once Ben was finished with his food, he sat for a while before getting up and heading for the jukebox. "Oh no," I murmured, and Elizabeth looked up from her plate to watch Ben saunter over to the corner. He looked at it for a bit, and skimmed through tracks. No one else in the diner seemed to mind but, knowing Ben, he's gonna pick something ridiculous. Sure enough he managed to find a song that everyone in the world knows by now. The old 80s song Take Me On by a-ha.

"Oh my god, I love this song," Ben hollered excitedly. "Someone dance with me..!" He motioned for me to come with him but I shook my head and backed against the wall as much as I could. He frowned but his blue, illusion eyes brightened when he turned to Elizabeth. She had a piece of bacon hanging from her mouth when she looked up at him with wide eyes. "What's going on..?," she murmured past her bacon. Ben held out a hand to her and she unknowingly took it. She didn't expect to be whisked out of her seat and into the open area of the diner.

Elizabeth looked freaked out as she stood still next to a swaying Ben. "C'mon, lighten up and dance a little, Girly," he persuaded.

She furrowed her brow. "How?"

"Just move around," he beamed, "Wiggle your arm. Spin around. Do stuff."

She blinked at him, raised her arm and wiggled it.

Ben cackled, "You're getting there...!" He grabbed her hand and started moving her around. She followed along with him despite looking awkward. I smirked at the two of them and stifled a content chuckle.

"You just gotta dance like an eighties person," Ben commented at one point.

"How does that look?" Elizabeth asked.

Ben did the stupid scuba diver move and 'the robot'. Elizabeth stifled a choked laugh until she guffawed once Ben did 'the sprinkler' and tripped over himself. Other diner patrons shared a few chuckles too. Ben sprang up from the floor and grabbed Elizabeth, sweeping her away into a dance. They swayed, spun around and waved their arms in the air.

The song on the jukebox eventually changed to another 80s song and it was yet another memorable tune. It just had to be this one..

Ben cheered and said, "This my jam!" When the voice showed up, he sang along with it, "We're no strangers to love! You know the rules and so do I!~"

I laughed and shook my head as he sang along to every word and even to the background singers of Never Gonna Give You Up. Elizabeth looked like she was enjoying herself and Ben eventually persuaded her to sing along, too, as best as she could. He even managed to get the whole diner singing along to Rick Astley. Ben beckoned me over and I shook my head again. He didn't take no for an answer and dragged me out of the booth. He made me dance along with him and Elizabeth to the ridiculously catchy 80s song. I managed to dance with Elizabeth only and, I had to admit that I enjoyed watching her have fun alongside me. I grabbed her, we both shuffled around for a few seconds and I went to dip her. But, somehow in the process, Ben managed to slip into her place and I ended up holding him instead. He winked and smooched the air as he held onto me. I frowned and dropped him onto the floor, while Elizabeth laughed behind me. A few moments later I sat back down at our booth and watched the both of them keep dancing. The entire diner now had a feel good vibe to it, all because Ben couldn't resist his temptation for the jukebox. This has been the best morning any of us have had for a while.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed some new people come into the diner. Four men who were dressed more than casual and stood out among anyone else who has come in. Ben and Elizabeth were still dancing around and didn't seem to notice them. I paid them no mind either and sipped my water through a straw under my bandana. Suddenly, the music stopped and everyone looked over to see one of the well-dressed men by the jukebox. It was dead silent for a few seconds, which was enough to put me on edge. Ben and Elizabeth stopped and looked over at him. "Yo," Ben started, "why'd you turn off the tunes? If you don't like eighties, you could've--."

The man interrupted Ben and announced, "Who's the owner of the Chevrolet Chevelle parked outside?"

Ben lifted his hand and said, "That would be me."

Another well-dressed man walked up to him and hissed, "You own that car?"

"Yeah, that's what I just said," Ben muttered.

The man who walked up to him growled, "I own that car...!"

Ben gave the man a whimsical look and replied, "Listen, buddy, I don't know what you're on about but I guarantee you that that is my car."

"Don't buddy me," the man snapped.

Elizabeth stepped up to him and growled, "You don't tell him what to do, buddy. What's your deal?"

The man sneered at her and said, "I don't have time for you, little girl. Go play pirate somewhere else."

Her eye flared and she raised her hand but Ben pulled her away just in time. "Listen," Ben started, "just leave us alone, alright? C'mon, there's families here."

"You think I give a shit?," the man huffed.

The waitress who served us came out from behind the bar and told him, "Hey, no cursing in this diner! If you don't tone it down, I'll kick you all out!"

"Screw off, lady," the man countered. The waitress looked completely appalled and pissed off. I decided to finally get up from the booth and step in. I gently moved everyone out of the way and said, "Okay, so I have no idea what you're on about but obviously you're making a scene and I don't like when people make a scene."

"Who the hell are you?," one of the other men inquired rudely.

"None of your business," I answered. I turned back to the man in front of me and said, "Leave us alone."

"Not until I get my car back from that little elf," he said.

"It's not your car," I stated.

"Like, hell it is," he laughed. "Those are my green dice on the rear-view mirror. That's my license plate. My damn car!"

I stared at him for a few moments, processing the situation. Suddenly, I thought about the time I fixed the car, how everything had already been worn out. Where did Ben get this car, I had thought. He borrowed it, but he never told us from where. I slowly turned to him and asked him, "Ben...did you steal an owned car...?"

Elizabeth and almost everyone else in the diner looked at him and he went wide-eyed. "Ummm," he murmured.

"Holy crap, you did," Elizabeth remarked.

"Ummm..!"

"You son of a bitch," the man growled. He stepped forward to get to Ben but I grabbed him and shoved him away. The three other guys rushed us and this time Elizabeth finally got to hit someone. She punched one guy down and landed a high kick to the other. The third guy I elbowed across the face and he went down easy. When, as I presume, the leader of the group got back up Ben punched him across the face, knocking him out. The diner was filled with momentary silence once again. Everyone stared at us with wide eyes. Ben scoffed among the quiet and said, "We're, uh, ready for the check."

After paying for our meal all three of us high-tailed it out of the diner and back into the Chevelle. I hopped into the backseat while Elizabeth took the front. Once Ben started the car, I reached over and smacked him upside the head. He whined and I growled, "You idiot, why'd you steal the car?!"

"I didn't mean to," he replied, "Well, I did, but I didn't think it belonged to anyone like that!"

"Did you intend to steal an owned car?!"

He nodded. Elizabeth and I shot him looks. He reeled away and explained, "New versions of this thing are hard to find! All of the old ones are all broken apart in junkyards! Plus, the car had green dice." He squeezed one of the dice and I smacked his hand. Before he could argue with me, the four well-dressed men burst out of the diner, looking bruised and pissed off. "Holy crap, drive," I ordered. Ben didn't hesitate to shift gears and hit the gas. We backed out of the parking space and raced out of the parking lot with a harsh screech of tires.

I checked behind us and saw the four men heading for a black car of their own. Gripping the seat, I asked, "Who's the owner?"

Ben shrugged as he steered the car and replied, "I don't know! Check the glove box or something."

Elizabeth did the honors and checked the glove box. She found a few papers inside but my heart stopped when she pulled out a gun. The sense that the identity of the owner was not good was very strong. Elizabeth set the gun aside and skimmed through papers. She found a copy of the owner's license and registration inside and read details. She looked at his picture and said, "Ben, you're an idiot."

"What? Who's the owner?"

Elizabeth picked up the gun and showed me something I hadn't noticed before. The barrel was engraved with the initials A.L.. "What does that mean, exactly?," I murmured.

She sighed and said, "His papers say his name is Antony Lafleur. After having traveled around through cities, I got to hear a lot about some interesting things, like gangs and the names of some wanted people. I recognize his name."

"Gang leader?"

"No, he's worse," she said. "Mafia."

I almost choked on my spit and then looked over at Ben. His ears were red with embarrassment and it was obvious he knew he fucked up. But, that didn't keep me from smacking him upside the head again and scolding, "A mafia crime-lord Ben? Are you kidding me?!"

"I'm sorry!," he whined. "Look, we'll be fine! As long as I keep driving and maybe take a few detours, we'll be fine--!"

There was suddenly a booming gun shot followed by the sound of a metallic thud. We all ducked down and the car swerved for a few seconds. When I looked up, I saw a black car behind us, the one the four men were running towards earlier. Ben increased the speed of the Chevelle and we got farther away from the black car. "We'll be fine," I mocked him angrily.

"Chill!" he exclaimed, "I've got this!"

Another gunshot echoed in the air and the Chevelle was hit again. I peeked over the backseat to watch the other car. One of the well-dressed men leaned out of the window and aimed straight for the rear window. "Steer left!!" I screamed and Ben did as I said. He moved the Chevelle just in time before it got shot again.

Elizabeth fiddled with Lafleur's gun and asked me, "Can you shoot?"

"N-No, not really," I stammered. She tossed the gun to me and I scrambled to catch it properly. "Learn," she ordered. I stared at her like she came charging out of a psychiatric hospital. "Why don't you do it?," I blurted.

"Not a leftie," she replied blatantly.

Despite that I couldn't really shoot a gun for shit, I tried anyway. Holding the gun in my hand, I rolled my window down and waited for the shooter to fire before leaning out and taking aim. I pulled the trigger and the weapon rattled in my hands, making my arms tingle up to my elbows. On the first try, I actually got a shot into the front bumper but that wasn't good enough. I ducked back into the car and kept an eye out for the shooter.

The sound of something shattering followed the boom of gunshot and I realized one of the tail-lights was shot. Gulping, I leaned out of the window again, aimed and fired. The bullet hit the car hood but it still wasn't near to being enough. As soon as I ducked back inside, the shooter popped out and something whizzed past me. My heart was racing by the time I hit the backseat. "Ben, drive faster!," I yelled.

The Chevelle jerked into a faster speed but the black car kept up with us. Cursing under my breath, I looked over the backseat and watched the shooter again. He shot at the back bumper and I couldn't really tell if he was trying to shoot the tires or shoot us. Maybe both. Still, under my panic, I leaned out to shoot again. I hit the hood a second time and ducked back inside. My hands were shaky from holding the gun and I could hear the blood rushing through my ears. After the shooter took his turn, I poked out of the window, aimed and fired. Suddenly, the front-shield window shattered and I spotted one of the men in the back getting hit. "Holy crap, I got a hit," I exclaimed, almost proudly.

But, this didn't go so well with the other men. I was suddenly overwhelmed by two shooters aiming at the Chevelle, at me. I barely had time to duck back inside but luckily Ben swerved the Chevelle, causing momentum to pull me back inside. A volley of bullets rushed past the window, where I was and where I could've died. I was relieved but Ben kept swerving and I wondered if one of the tires had been shot. "What's going on?," I asked. Glancing up through the front shield, I saw that Ben had driven onto a street full of other vehicles. He steered us into the opposite lane, cut cars off, and he miraculously slipped past two cars on the different lanes at one point. If what he was doing didn't throw off our pursuers, then I don't know what will.

I turned around and looked out the back window, only to groan at the sight of the black car still chasing us. The shooters didn't make any advances though, and I could only guess that they didn't want to fire on a street like this. I thought about making the first shot but I realized another reason they're staying idle. Ben is steering around wildly and there are other vehicles around. I won't have decent aim and I'll miss my target. Growling, I hollered, "We need to lose them!"

"Don't you think I'm trying?!" Ben exclaimed. A car on the left lane honked at us as Ben had taken a brief shortcut to get around a semi. Ben kept trying to increase speed without crashing us. As soon as an actual turn came up, he took it and whizzed past driving cars, barely missing some by a couple of feet. We made it onto the second street without a scratch and I turned to see if Lafleur and his men were still after us. They didn't show up at first but as soon as the red truck behind us switched lanes, the black car was right there. "God dammit," I grumbled. I was fed up with this already.

In a fit of frustration, I leaned out of the open window, aimed and fired. The bullet hit the hood again, but this time I didn't duck back inside. I aimed for the tires, knocked out a headlight instead. I aimed for the driver but the black car veered to the side, causing me to waste a bullet on the street. I just kept shooting, hoping something would hit and, to my joy, I finally caught a shooter by the arm. Cockiness got the best of me and with a crazed grin I aimed for the driver once again. Instead of throwing a bullet, the gun clicked. Nothing came out. My grin faded and my heart started pounding. I ran out of bullets. "Shit," I hissed as I ducked back inside of the Chevelle.

"The gun's empty," I announced, "Is there anymore bullets in the glove compartment?"

Elizabeth checked for me, shifted through papers. To my disappointment, she looked at me and shook her head. I cursed under my breath and tossed the gun onto the floor. "Ben, we're relying on you right now," I said, "please, lose them."

"Trying to, but that Lafleur bastard really wants his Chevelle back," he said as he jerked the car to the side.

"Christ, this is so fucking stupid," I growled, clawing onto my hair.

"I'm sorry, man," Ben blurted as he cut off a truck.

"It's fine," I told him, "just focus on losing them. We'll figure something out--."

Blood suddenly splattered onto the front window, the radio, the gear shift. I froze in my spot, shifting my eyes over at Elizabeth and Ben. They looked horrified, eyes wide, mouths agape, but otherwise uninjured.

Breathing became hard to do. My vision blurred. I fell over across the backseat in a heap with an unbearable pain at the back of my neck. I could faintly make out the muffled sound of Ben screaming my name. I barely registered what had happened all too late. Blood pooled under my head and shoulder from the gunshot wound at the back of my neck. I couldn't move, couldn't speak, couldn't breathe. Before I knew it, my vision went black and everything fell silent.

...

"Take care of yourself, Jeffery."

"Be careful on the road.."

...

I found myself staring up at the car ceiling. My hearing was gradually coming back to me and my breathing was functional again. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed frantic movement at the front of the car. Turning my head, I looked around but movement made my vision blurry. Waiting a few more seconds, it went back to normal. I was finally able to see what was happening at the front of the car and my heart began to beat wildly. I saw Ben trying to steer the car while simultaneously trying to keep a thrashing Elizabeth at bay. On her face was the black substance spreading, taking over once again.

I attempted to sit up but my body felt surprisingly heavy. After struggling for a few moments I was able to turn my body onto my side. I sluggishly clawed at the backseat to push myself up off of it. I pushed myself up but my arms felt too weak to hold my weight. As I kept struggling, I watched Elizabeth writhe in her seat. My hearing finally kicked in and I was greeted with the delightful sound of Elizabeth's monstrous screams.

Just as I was able to sit up, she threw open the passenger door and hurtled out of the Chevelle. Next thing I knew, her Dark Hands formed from her back, unfurling in the air like a peacock tail, only black and deadly. Through the broken rear window, I watched her skid to a stop on the road, hunched over menacingly. She stood straight and trudged through the panicked traffic around her, towards the halted black car of Lafleur and his men. Elizabeth howled and burst into a sudden sprint. The black car tried reversing away from her but she leaped on top of the hood before they could make five feet. Dark hands raised, she screamed into the cabin only to get shot in the face. I lost my breath momentarily, causing me to feel light-headed. Elizabeth arched back from the shot's power, ever so still, face leaking black liquid. She twitched just a bit before falling off of the car, head first, Dark Hands splayed at her sides.

Panic coursed through me and I exited the Chevelle. As I ran towards Elizabeth, I could hear Ben calling out to me, even remarking, "You're alive?!" I kept sprinting to get to her aid though I wasn't sure how much help I would be.

Before I could get close, Elizabeth started getting up. She stood up with her head hung over, hair falling in front of her face. Her body began to twitch uncontrollably and she emitted this unnerving clicking noise. The men inside the black car started shooting at her. The bullets never hit Elizabeth and as I watched her, I noticed her image was flickering. Once the volley of bullets ceased, she was suddenly in front of the black car. Screams of terror came from inside but they were cut off by Elizabeth screeching and smacking a Dark Hand straight into the car. The vehicle was thrown meters away, barely missing other cars.

Looking at the totaled, upside down black car, I never saw anyone crawl out. Elizabeth trudged towards it before I could get to her. Ben suddenly came up next to me and I jumped. "What the fuck is going on? What happened to her?," he asked me, expression full of distress.

"I wish I knew," I said.

He looked at me, shook his head and remarked, "You got shot in the neck. You...you fuckin' got shot." I didn't respond. Moreover because I didn't want to think about it.

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Elizabeth screeching once again. The shrilled cry made me grimace and Ben did the same. Once we over came the brief cringe, we looked at Elizabeth and reeled back at the booming sound of metal being crushed. She had punched a Dark Hand into the over turned black car, denting the underside. She pulled the hand back only to bring in the other to smash the car again. I stared in horrified awe as she kept punching into the car, crushing it down. Ben started towards Elizabeth but I grabbed his arm and pulled him back. He gave me a surprised look and said, "Dude, she's gonna--."

"I know," I interjected grimly.

"But--."

"They were probably dead from getting thrown anyway," I said.

Even as I said that, I could've sworn I heard a scream over the sound of crunching metal and glass breaking. Elizabeth's howls filled the area around us and Ben and I could only watch as she pummeled the black car into an unrecognizable mass. A chill ran up my spine when she made one final roar and crushed the car in the palm of one of her Dark Hands. Elizabeth turned away from the obliterated car, heaving. To my dread, she lifted her Dark Hands and screamed once again, sprinting off down the street. Towards a denser area of buildings and people.

"Fuck, not this again," I groaned. Turning to Ben, I ordered, "Get back in the car. We have to chase after her."

Confused, he allowed me to drag him back towards the idle Chevelle. I hopped into the front seat this time and shut the door. Upon looking at the dashboard and window, I noticed that my blood wasn't there anymore. Gulping, I threw my seatbelt on just as Ben started up the Chevelle and hit the gas. He made a sharp U-turn that sent up a cloud of dust and we zipped straight down the road. Elizabeth was running a few meters ahead of us and we took the path that she carved through traffic. Other vehicles honked as we passed but everyone still dodged out of our way.

As Ben raced through traffic, I started to think about how to go about this. Last time, I managed to tire her out and her old nickname 'Sunshine' seemed to trigger something in her. I doubt that shit could work this time. I just acted out of my ass but this time I don't think I can do the same. Ben is here though so maybe this time will be easier and not as messy.

"Is this a bad time to say that she reminds me of one of my old ex's?" Ben stammered.

We're fucked.

Elizabeth decided to change her path and climbed up a looming building. She leaped onto roofs and disappeared behind other buildings. Ben stopped the Chevelle and the both of us shared an exasperated groan. "You didn't tell me she could do that," Ben muttered.

I gave him a look then tapped his shoulder and said, "Keep driving."

"What? But, I don't know where she went--."

"Trust me, you'll know," I stated, "We can't lose her. Especially not in this form."

Ben wasted no time and put the Chevelle into motion again. We skidded around a corner and down the road from there. Already, signs of Elizabeth's rampage were evident as people came running down the streets, scared out of their wits. Even though we knew where to go, it was hard getting past all of the terrified people. I got fed up with everyone slowing us down so I reached into the back of the Chevelle, grabbed the gun I threw on the floor and covered my face with the bandana and sunglasses. Leaning out of the passenger window, I held the gun out and aimed at passing citizens. "Get the fuck out of the way!!," I snapped. "Move it!!!"

After that scare tactic, people stopped scrambling in front of us and eventually I settled back into my seat. As I rolled the window back up, Ben remarked, "Savage."

He finally amped up the speed and we raced around the next corner. We finally caught sight of Elizabeth, who was tearing at a trailer of a semi-truck. The driver hadn't bailed yet, leaving the man trying to drive out of Elizabeth's death grip.

"What do we do?," Ben asked me, his voice lined with nervousness.

Staring at Elizabeth, I said, "We need to get her attention. Leading her away from the public is the best option we have."

"Then, what?"

"After that...we try not to get eaten." Without giving Ben any warning, I leaned over and smacked my hand onto the steering wheel. The Chevelle emitted this long honk that seemed to split through all other noise and panic. It took the first long honk and two short ones to catch Elizabeth's attention. She looked up from the trailer and a chill went up my spine at the sight of her one, golden eye. Despite our distance, it bore daggers into me.

Ben yelped when she leaped off of the semi-truck and onto the street. "Drive," I exclaimed and Ben shifted into reverse and hit the gas. We left tire tracks on the asphalt and as soon as the Chevelle passed the corner, Ben shifted into drive and we raced off. Elizabeth's screech echoed in the air and it wasn't long before she chased after us.

Ben whizzed through the streets, trying to find his way out of the public area. I kept my eye on Elizabeth as she charged after us, Dark Hands looming high above. Ben kept a safe distance from her but with our luck something will get in the way.

As soon as the thought came, a semi-truck suddenly showed up in front of us and Ben hit the brakes. We skidded to a stop but the 18-wheeler kept driving. "Ah, shit," Ben grumbled. Elizabeth howled behind us and we turned to see her barreling our way. Ben freaked out, grabbed onto me and a wave of dizziness overcame me. For a few seconds I felt like I was floating, until I came face first with the sidewalk. Ben landed next to me and we shared groans of pain. Sitting up and taking a look around, I realized that Ben teleported us a few meters away from the car. I looked at the Chevelle just in time to see Elizabeth stop right in front of it. She pressed her face up against the driver's window, huffed when she saw we were nowhere inside, and shoved the vehicle to the side against a lamppost.

Elizabeth started turning around and that's when I grabbed Ben's shirt and dragged him into the cover of a parked car. The both of us sat low on the ground, trying to steady our breathing.

"Yo, man," Ben whispered to me, "I'm not gonna sugar coat this but you've got a weird taste in women."

"I don't think turning into a demonic, psychotic monster was something she knew either," I hissed back. The sounds of banging and growling behind us made us flinch.

"Like, seriously, you just had to go for the daughter of the Lord of chaos," Ben murmured, "Why couldn't you stay single? Or you could've had me...! I would've been game to date you."

"Thank god you've thought about that too," I remarked.

"Hell yeah, man. Why wouldn't I? You've got a nice fa--... You've got a great personali--... You're great."

"Thanks, man."

"No homo, though."

"No homo."

"...Maybe a little homo."

An ear-splitting screech echoed around the empty street. My heart beat faster than before. Ben looked at me with nervous eyes and whispered, "But, in all seriousness, what the fuck do we--?" Elizabeth suddenly appeared above him and yanked him out of his spot. He started cursing and flailing in her grip. She screamed in his face but was cut off when he up and punched her across the mouth. She stopped for a moment, snapped her head towards him and screamed again. This time she grabbed him with one of her Dark Hands and threw him into the air. I watched as he hit a telephone pole and tore the wires with his momentum. He hit the ground and lay in a disoriented heap as the wires threw sparks of electricity. Elizabeth stalked over, Dark Hands ready to strike, but she was abruptly stopped when a wire touched her leg and made her convulse. She released a howl of pain in response and stumbled away from the wire. She hadn't been shocked for too long but it had been enough to rattle her body and make her breathe heavily.

That's when an idea hit me and I looked over at Ben, who was struggling to pick himself up. Taking the chance, I got up from my spot and ran out into the open. As I ran, I yelled to Ben, "Use electricity on her!"

Ben gave me a surprised look. Before he could question it, Elizabeth roared and turned her attention towards me. I clapped my hands, whistled and stomped my foot on the ground, staring at her directly in that golden eye. "C'mon, over here," I taunted. She growled and raised her Dark Hands higher, casting shadows over me. "Yeah, there you go!," I hollered, "Come and get me!"

Elizabeth screeched and threw her left Dark Hand down towards me. I quickly dodged her attack, leaving the fist to hit the asphalt instead. She swiped her other Dark Hand towards me but I ducked just in time. "You can do better than that," I gibed.

Elizabeth retaliated and swiped her left Dark Hand at me. I ducked and dodged the other Dark Hand that came afterward. When she brought both of them toward me, I rolled forward and charged toward her. Instead of attacking, I sprinted around her. She snapped her teeth, and clawed at me with her real arm but she missed. Leaping back, she threw her Dark Hands at me again but I kept dodging them. I wouldn't be able to keep this up for long, though. "Ben," I yelled, as I ran away from another attack, "what's taking so long--?"

A tremendous force knocked the wind out of me as Elizabeth somehow grabbed me with one her Dark Hands. It squeezed me tight within its deadly, obsidian grip, making sure I wouldn't escape. Peering down, I caught Elizabeth's horrifying gaze. She hissed before beginning to constrict her Dark Hand around my body. Within seconds, I found it hard to breathe and I tried desperately to think. "Eli--za--beth," I croaked, "...don't.."

Suddenly, black wire snapped at the Dark Hand's wrist, causing it to let me go and reel away. I fell to the ground with a hard thud but I felt relieved to gain my breath back. Looking over, I saw Ben who wielded black wires in both of his hands. He twirled one of them around as he and Elizabeth shared an intense stare-down. Ben whistled and said with a grin, "C'mon, Girly. Let's dance."

Elizabeth released a roar in response and the both of them bounded forward. She went for a punch but Ben sprinted out of her reach and circled her. Without turning around, Elizabeth threw her Dark Hands back towards the blonde man. He lunged forward out of her reach, flickered and suddenly appeared above her. His foot collided with her head and she was sent down to her knees. Ben landed a few feet in front of her, still holding that playful grin. "Is that the best you can do?," he gibed cockily.

Elizabeth howled and dashed forward, teeth baring. Ben neatly dodged out of her way and when she swiped her Dark Hands at him he whipped them with the wires. He wrapped a wire around her ankle and tugged on it to make her fall over. Just when he was about to advance, Elizabeth threw a Dark Hand at him and sent him flying into an abandoned car. When she tried charging at him, Ben quickly flickered out of her sight and manifested behind her. Before she could notice him, he whipped the wires somewhere on either side of the vehicle and yanked. Elizabeth was plowed over by the car and Ben jumped over it when it came his way. She staggered to her feet and growled at him, to which he just kept smiling. There seemed to be a flare in his eyes that caught me off guard.

Whatever his thoughts were, they rocketed him forward and around Elizabeth. She snapped her teeth at him and punched at him with her Dark Hands but he was too fast to be hit. As I watched him, I noticed that he just kept going in circles around her. It made me feel a bit dizzy but then I figured that means that it had the same effect on Elizabeth. She screeched, possibly in frustration, and kept trying to catch him. He kept going in circles, around in around until he stopped and backed away a few feet. That's when I finally noticed what he had been doing.

Wires were wrapped all around Elizabeth's body, keeping her in place. She growled as she snapped at them but they were too low for her teeth to reach. Ben held tightly onto the other ends of the wires and said, "This is going to hurt...a lot." Suddenly, he sent a charge of light through the wires that traveled all the way to Elizabeth and the result was visible. She was sent into convulsions and her screams overpowered the low buzzing of electricity. This went on for a few seconds until Ben ceased the electricity flow. Elizabeth was left standing, twitching, and groaning tiredly. Her Dark Hands looked limp and low and her stature was poor. She attempted to take a step forward towards Ben but instead she fell over.

To our relief, her Dark Hands disappeared into smoke until her back was empty. I quickly ran to her side, hoping the electricity hadn't done more than neutralize her. I turned her over onto her back and looked at her face. Brushing her hair out of her face, I searched for a spot on the black mask to pull at. I couldn't seem to find anything so I sat there, frustrated. Looming over her, I grabbed her face and said, "Elizabeth. Please wake up. I know you're in there. Please.."

After waiting a few seconds, her golden eye slowly opened. She groaned lowly but didn't attack. "Elizabeth, it's me, Jeff. Stay calm, okay? You're alright, everything's alright. If you can hear me, please come back." She didn't respond. She only stared at me with a dead gaze. I gulped and started thinking. Then, I looked at her again, took a deep breath and sang..,

"You are my Sunshine, my only Sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my Sunshine away.."

Elizabeth's eye widened and she suddenly shoved me away. Ben stepped forward, ready to attack her but Elizabeth only sat up instead. Quickly, she began punching at her face, over and over, until the black mask cracked and she clawed into it. Her body trembled as she struggled to pull it away. Again, black liquid fell from her face, painting her clothes. Her screams echoed around the empty street. Ben stepped forward but I motioned him to stand back. He was hesitant but he did as I wanted. So, the both of us just watched as Elizabeth pulled away the black mask. The crackling, screaming and gushing made my stomach churn.

Finally, she tore the black mask away from her face, leaving a string of black ooze in between. She threw it away and it shattered on the asphalt. Elizabeth was left panting and trembling. I inched closer to her and carefully grabbed onto her shoulders. She didn't flinch as I wiped the remaining black substance from her face. After she was as clean as she was going to get, she stared at me with tired eyes. Her mouth opened and for a moment I thought she was going to say something. Instead, she lifted a weak hand and placed it on my throat. After that, her eyes closed and she fell against my chest, unconscious. I held her for a few moments, relief gently overwhelming me. I shared glances with Ben and I could tell he was equally as glad as I was.

The sound of sirens in the distance snapped us out of our solace and Ben said, "We've gotta go." We wasted no time carrying Elizabeth over to the surprisingly intact Chevelle and we set her in the backseat. The both of us hopped into our seats and Ben started up the engine. Soon we were speeding off down the road, away from the coming authorities, away from all of the havoc that Elizabeth had created. We just drove away.

...

Ben drove the Chevelle about a city over but we had to find an inn before the afternoon even began. We had no idea how much more the Chevelle could take in its current state. When we got a room, I carried an unconscious Elizabeth inside while Ben brought our stuff. Once again there were two beds and I set Elizabeth down on one of them. Ben and I sat down on the other bed and shared heavy sighs.

"Are you alright?," Ben asked me. I nodded in response.

He patted my shoulder and stood up from his seat. "Good. I've gotta go fix up the car, then check up on Jack and Ao. Be careful while I'm gone and, uh..." He glanced over at Elizabeth's sleeping figure. "Make sure she doesn't go demon on your ass." Without another word, he left the room. Everything fell silent and I could hear a ringing in my ears. To get rid of the annoying ringing, I turned on the TV and kept it at a decent volume. Coincidentally, a news program was the first thing to show up and already the disaster that we all escaped was being reported. I didn't feel like listening to it so I changed the channel to some corny teen drama and changed out of my jacket and boots. Grabbing another set of clothes, I made my way to the bathroom to take a cold shower. Once inside, I checked my neck in the mirror, trying to find any indication that I had been shot. There was no wound, no blood, nothing. The moment I saw my own blood splatter all over the interior of the Chevele played over and over, even as I showered clean.

When I got out I checked the time and saw I had spent an hour showering. What did it matter? We're not going anywhere for the rest of the day. Elizabeth is still unconscious, too. After drying my hair with a towel, I laid down in bed and fell asleep.

I woke up to find myself still laying in the same bed. Checking the time, I saw that it was 9:09. I slept for about five hours. Looking over to the other bed, I saw that Elizabeth was finally awake. She sat up against the headboard with a pillow against her back and the covers over her legs. The book she got from that convenient store was in her hands. I noticed her shirt was different and her face didn't look as grimy. She must've showered. I guess she also managed to change without my help.

Before I could say anything, Elizabeth looked up at me and suddenly her blank expression turned to one of angst. She opened her mouth, paused, then said, "I did it again...didn't I?"

"Turn into a bloodthirsty demon spawn?" I muttered.

She frowned but she still looked doleful. I sighed and added, "Yeah, you did."

Elizabeth shifted in her spot and closed her book, saving her page beforehand, of course. "I don't want you to tell me what I did," she started, "This time, I felt whatever that was was coming. By the time I wanted it to stop, it was already too late."

Silence hung in the air for a few moments and during this I just stared at her. Finally, I asked, "Why did you change? What triggered it?"

I caught her hand clutching the blanket and she hardened her gaze on her lap. "Watching you die," she whispered. A chill ran up my spine and I suddenly felt sick.

"Jeff--."

"I need some air," I groaned as I quickly bolted up from my bed and ran out the door. It didn't occur to me to take a jacket or put my boots on or to cover up my face. It was too dark by now and no one was outside. I walked around to the back of the building and leaned a hand against the brick wall as I hunched over and threw up. My throat burned and the scent was wretched. My insides felt like they were being suctioned out. A raging headache overwhelmed my temples and my body felt weak. But, no matter how loud I gagged and retched, no matter how dizzying the headache was, the sound of a metallic thud couldn't be hidden. I looked down at my spit up and saw something glinting. After a few seconds, I realized that it was...a bullet.

I began to tremble harder and I covered my mouth. On the verge of passing out again, I turned away to head back inside but I bumped into a figure. My heart started racing but it only lasted for a moment as the figure was revealed to be none other than Death himself.

"I hope you're not contagious," he remarked.

I stared horrified at him and took a step back. "You...! What did you do?"

"What are you talking about?"

Frowning, I growled, "You know exactly what I'm talking about! I got shot in the neck today. I watched my blood leave my body. I felt myself die! You did something to me!"

Death was quiet for a moment. Suddenly, he grinned and his eyes flashed, scaring me. "Would you have preferred it if you died instead?"

Taken aback, I stammered, "N-No--."

"Then, why do you complain, Jeffery? If anything, you should be thanking me. Were it not for me, you would have stayed lying in that battered Chevelle with your blood dried up on the seats."

I touched the back of my neck, remembering the could press of his fingers from last night. That's why he lingered. He knew I was going to get shot. He warned me. But...why? "Your actions don't make sense," I admitted to him, "Why would you keep me alive? Why wouldn't you let me die? The chance was there, I was practically dead. If you want my soul so badly then why do you let me live?!"

Death's gaze hardened and I felt a shiver run down my spine. He stepped forward as he spoke, "You hold a greater purpose now than you ever did before. A piece to a great puzzle. But, if you wish to die then I will gladly allow you. What good is a pathetic, lovesick mongrel in this world anyway...?!"

Before I could speak, Death grabbed me by my shirt collar and shoved me hard against the wall. "Back in that coma, I told you to prove your worth to me and that's what you did. So why are you obsessed with dying when you should be thankful that you're standing here now? Are you not appreciative of my aid? Are you telling me you're not worth my attention? Huh?!"

"N-No," I stuttered, "that's not what I mean."

"It sure seems that way," he growled. "Remember, I do not just determine the use of your soul after you die. Just as you live now, I can easily take your life away! Your soul can be mine right here, right now without a second thought! Is that what you want?!"

"No!," I answered.

Death glared at me with a look so vile it sent a coldness to my very bones. He let me go and backed away from me. Clearing his throat, he said, "Then, man the hell up and forget about what happened. Besides, death by a mere bullet is no way to go. You've tangled with worse. You've lived through an apocalypse, for heaven's sake...! And to get shot and die? Pathetic."

Rubbing the spot he practically punched on my chest, I muttered, "For an infinite entity, you're problematic as fuck.."

"You humans have rubbed off on me in the worst way," he shot back. He turned away to stare off at the lights of the nearby city. I pushed myself off of the wall and rubbed the back of my neck.

"H-Hey," I started reluctantly.

Death glanced at me and I continued, "Th-Thank you."

He stared at me for a few moments before easing his glare and sighing. "You're welcome," he muttered, "...idiot."

I scoffed and asked, "So...do you really think I'm important?"

"That depends," he replied, "do you want flattery or do you intend to prove your worth?"

I paused. "What if I want both?"

Death rolled his eyes and said, "Goodnight, Jeffery. And, please...try not to die in the stupidest way again."

"Can't you keep me from dying, then?" I inquired.

"To an extent," he said, "I'd rather not test the balance of mortality and immortality."

"But, it's an option, right?"

Death glared at me for a few moments. "Don't push your luck."

I raised my hands in defense and responded, "I'm not trying anything! I am genuinely curious and I'd like an answer--."

"Jeff?," a voice called out to me.

I turned around to see Ben peeking his head around the corner. Guess he came back. "Hey," I replied.

"What are you doing out here?," he asked.

I pointed forward and said, "I'm talking to--." Upon turning around, I saw that Death was nowhere to be seen. "No one," I murmured, dropping my hand.

I turned towards Ben to see a smile creeping on his face. "Did you," he snickered, "throw up?"

I looked down at where I had vomited then scowled at him. "Yeah," I grumbled. He held back a laugh and I snapped, "Shut up! Get back to the damn room!" I began shoving him back to the inn room and just before we turned the corner, I looked back at where Death was. Gently pressing a hand at my throat, I sighed and continued on with Ben to the room to get some proper rest.