I envelope myself in the depths of my hoodie, concealing my presence, as I catch sight of that pathetic individual, Diego. I've had my eye on him for a while. I observe as he takes advantage of the girls by spiking their drinks. Tonight, cloaked in shadows, he ventured towards the enigmatic newcomer in this forsaken town, oblivious to the evil intentions that lurked in her path. He was momentarily halted, thereby granting him the freedom to repeat his actions once more.

I watch as he stumbles along the shadowed alleys. I quicken my stride and trail behind him. With sinister grace, I ensnare my arm around his vulnerable neck, putting him into a tranquil sleep.

I sit on the metal chair in the dimly lit room, twirling my knife in my hand. A sinister smile spreads across my face as he begins to wake up. "Where am I?" He shouts, his fear echoing through the room.

I chuckle softly, savouring the fear in his voice. "You're exactly where you need to be," I reply, my voice dripping with menace. His eyes widen as he takes in the surroundings, the dim light casting eerie shadows on the peeling wallpaper. "Who are you?" he demands, his voice trembling slightly. I lean forward, bringing my face inches away from his, my eyes gleaming with malevolence. "Oh," I whisper, the knife glinting in the dim light, "I am the nightmare you never saw coming."

"Yeah, take off the bandana from your face, coward. Show me who you really are!" He fights his restraints. His voice filled with defiance and anger.

I can't help but laugh a menacing laugh. I look at the knife in my grasp and a wicked grin etches itself upon my face. It's double-edged, signifying the agony upon entry, yet birthing an unprecedented surge of torment upon exit.

"You think you can prey on innocent girls. Drugging them and taking advantage of them?" I question him.

"You thought you could get away with it, didn't you?" I continue, my voice dripping with contempt. His eyes widen in fear, a flicker of realization crossing his face. He knows that his reign of terror is finally coming to an end. The room grows colder as I take a step closer, my presence engulfing him like a suffocating darkness. I can see the desperation in his eyes—the realization that his own nightmare has arrived.

"You're the one who has been picking off the dealers around town, aren't you?" He murmurs. I nod, and his eyes widen.

"Yes," I confirm, my voice filled with a chilling calmness. "Every dealer, every supplier, every person who has profited from the suffering of others. They all fall under my judgment." The room seems to shrink around us, the walls closing in on his trembling figure. A twisted smile creeps across my face as I savour the fear that radiates from him. This is the moment I have been waiting for—the culmination of years of planning and seeking justice.

My heart pounds in my chest, the adrenaline coursing through my veins as I stand before him, a force to be reckoned with. I can see the desperation in his eyes—the realization that his time of reckoning has finally come. He stammers, his voice barely a whisper, "You can't...you can't be serious." But I am deadly serious. I have seen the destruction caused by these criminals, the lives torn apart, and I refuse to let them go unpunished any longer. The weight of the lives lost and the pain endured by countless victims fuels my determination.

I have dedicated my life to hunting down those who believe they are above the law, those who think they can escape justice. And now, finally, another one of them is right in front of me, trembling in fear. I take a step closer, my voice steady and unwavering as I say, "It's time for you to face the consequences of your actions."

Without hesitation, I raise my hand and plunge the knife into his chest, the blade sinking deep into his flesh. Blood spurts out, staining the floor as he gasps for air, consumed by the darkness that surrounds him. It is a moment of catharsis, a fleeting surrender to the smothering rage and sorrow that has devoured me for a long time. As he crumbles to the ground, I am absorbed by a peculiar blend of gratification and sorrow. This may not bring back the lives he took or heal the wounds he inflicted, but at least justice has been served in some small way.

I look to the corner of the room, and Miguel stands in the shadows. "Get rid of the body." I order him. He nods and steps forward to carry out the grim task.

I walk out of the warehouse, blood on my hands and hoodie. I strip them off and toss them into a nearby dumpster, hoping to erase any evidence of my involvement in the gruesome scene. I head to the trunk of my car and grab a cloth and a water bottle. Pouring the water on the towel, I clean my hands and face, looking into the side mirror to make sure I don't have any evidence on me. I get in my car and turn the volume up on the radio as I make my way home for the night.

As I drive, my mind races with the events that just unfolded. The adrenaline still coursing through my veins, I try to calm myself by focusing on the music blaring from the speakers. Each beat seems to drown out the haunting images that replay in my mind. I glance at the rearview mirror, half expecting to see flashing lights and sirens behind me, but the road remains empty and silent.

🗡

I finally make it home. I turn the engine off and lean back, running my hands through my hair.

I take a deep breath, feeling a mix of relief and exhaustion wash over me. The weight of the night's events settles heavily on my shoulders as I step out of the car and make my way towards the front door. The darkness of the night surrounds me, with the only source of light coming from the dimly lit porch. Unlocking the door, I step inside and close it behind me, shutting out the world and the chaos that had consumed me just moments ago. The familiar scent of home greets me, providing a small sense of comfort amidst the chaos that still lingers in my mind.

My phone rings and see that Miguel is calling. "Hello?"

"Hey, body has been disposed of. Anything else?" He asks.

"No. I think we are done."

"You mean, like for good?"

"Yeah." I rub my face. "Tonight was our last. Diego was the last on the list. We've made our point and the rest of the gangs have moved out of our city."

"Awesome, boss. See you tomorrow."

"Yeah." I hang up and lay my head back against the door.

I make my way upstairs quietly, closing my door behind me gently. Thankfully Luca is still asleep. I quickly undress and get under the covers. I look over at her and make a silent promise to never let anything happen to her.