The sirens blared around the corner. Men jumped off the big, red truck. Hoses uncoiled, water surging, boots tromping. The fire raged inconsolably, fed by stacks of books and gallons of gasoline.

They did not see her lying there in the dark. They shouted and ran and shook their heads, trying to tame the flame. The crunch of their boots rose above the roar for a moment, shattering the porcelain. Only a brief pause to notice its passing, but the little girl in the bushes screamed once and was gone.

Sam looked up from his blood-stained hands and stared at the mouth that had uttered those words. He could not speak, only compare the red of the lips the red on his fingers. It was dry and faded, whereas the blood was still shiny and new. They moved again, but he did not hear it. He was staring at the body again.

He wanted a mirror, wanted to see what he had become, what those dry faded lips saw when they looked at him. He wiped his hands on the body’s pants, but not much came off. Then he got up and looked around, a glint of light at the end of the hall. He moved towards it, afraid, but deeply curious.

“What are you doing? Get back here!” The lips were screaming now but he did not care.

He stood in front of the mirror, a full-length, wall-filling glass. He saw nothing, no, that was not right – he saw his shape and form, his clothes, but when he looked at his own eyes there was nothing in them. No fear, no love, no alarm. It was like his mind was no longer connected to his face. He was feeling these emotions, he was sure of it, he had made himself walk down here, but the windows to his soul were broken.

The lips appeared at his shoulder, still screaming, and he looked up. Her eyes were full of emotion. Fear, anguish, even tears. When he looked into her eyes, the mouth stopped screaming. She looked back at him through the mirror, mouth open and then backed away. He kept looking at her, watching the terror grow until she broke and ran. At least she had stopped screaming.

He turned back to the room where he had left his father, rubbing his hands together to crack off the caked blood. The body was still there, but it was alone now. He wondered if he would have run if he had looked into his son’s eyes, even once in his miserable life.

He turned the body over, crossed the arms across the chest, and opened his eyes. Looking in, he nodded. His eyes looked like that now. Eyes of the dead. Fitting, he supposed, for people to look at him and see their future. He was death, now and forever. Or so he had been told the night before.

Next was a mile away, another rapist, older and fatter. She loaded her hand crossbow. This one she did not want to touch. Nearing his usual haunt, she took to the roof, gazing into the shadows and scanning the alleys. She spotted him exiting alone, but intent on a young couple. She tracked the trio away from the lights and when the couple turned the corner she shot. The bolt went through the back of his head and stuck out his left eye. He fell in his tracks and she was gone again.

Barely midnight and four kills in. She appreciated how specific her client had been with the details on these marks. Sometimes all she got were names. Those could take a week to track down. These five she had located easily the night before and soon the last one would be dead. It was almost like cheating.

The fifth was the only challenge on the list. The rest had been scoundrels of the lowest order, two common murderers and two rapists. Men who committed violence for pleasure, brutal men with no cunning. The last was a thinking man, an organizer of lesser men. She had no doubt he had directed the other four, though she never asked what they had done.

He had a house in the higher part of town, and a couple guards. She watched them from the opposite roof, but they never looked up. She went back down the block and crossed the street. Gaining the roof again, she was perched above their heads in moments.

She waited a little longer and then climbed down to the windows. Slipping a wire between the wooden frames, she lifted the inner latch and climbed inside. He did not stir as she closed the window behind her. She had a hand over his mouth and her knife to his throat before she realized he was already dead.

“Come, sit with me by the fire.” He waved to the fireplace that had only just appeared.

She relented because she knew she would eventually. She always ended up by the fire when the rest of the room grew chill. She studied her arthritic hands, wondering when she had grown so old. The knuckles were permanently crooked and swollen, she could hardly hold her brandy snifter anymore.

“It’s time to go.” His voice a soft echo of friends half-remembered. “You feel it, don’t you?”

“No.” She replied. “I feel nothing of the kind.”

“Surely you don’t think you can keep on like this?” He sounded concerned, how sweet.

“I can, and I will. My daughter needs me. I shall not abandon her.”

“You’re holding her back. Her loyalty to you is keeping her from happiness.” His tone grew cold. “She wants you to go.”

“She loves me. I only want what’s best for her.”

“What’s best for her is for you to let go. You should come with me and let her do as she pleases.” The window was now covered in frost.

“You will not win this. Why must you haunt my dreams and scold me about my daughter? What do you want from me, really?”

“I want you to come home with me.” The echos solidified into the voice of her late husband.

“It’s not time, yet. You are not my husband, he would never ask that of me.” She stood up and moved closer to the fireplace.

“He misses you. He watches and waits. He wants you to be with him again. It is your time, you need to let go.” His voice softened back to the multitude of echos.

“You don’t need my permission, not if it really is my time, you could just take me.” She stared into the dying fire, the walls were gathering frost now, too.

“It would be easier on you if you agreed to come with me. I don’t want to force you.” He was walking to the door, the dream was almost over.

“Just let me tell my daughter goodbye.” She cried at his retreating form. “Let me tell her I love her. Then I’ll go with you.”

He nodded and opened the door. “Until tomorrow night, then.” And he was gone.

She dove beneath some bushes, holding her breath as she stared down the road. A horse and rider came into view and rode past without pausing – a messenger by his saddlebags. Keri pulled herself out of the brush and kept on, scolding herself for paranoia.

They were out to get her though, she thought, patting the purse at her waist. It never paid to be too lucky in one place and she knew better than to overstay her welcome. She heard another horse, slower this time, and slipped off into the woods.

Hiding behind a tree, she watched him approach. He was walking his horse and studying the ground. Keri gripped her sword tighter. He reached the first place she had left the path, but barely paused. Coming even with her, he looked straight at the tree she was using for cover.

“You didn’t think you’d get away with it, did you, Keri? Come on, now, don’t be childish.”

“I didn’t do anything wrong.” She stayed put.

“You cheated at cards and used rigged dice.”

“No, I used the same dice as everyone else and I never even dealt the cards.”

“No one is that lucky.” He stepped off the path, drawing his sword. “Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”
“Stay away from me.” She pulled her sword and retreated further into the woods. “I’m not a cheater.”

“Come on, Keri. Just come back and give us the money you stole.” He came on.

“I didn’t steal anything.” He was gaining and knew she was not fast enough to outrun him.

“You did, and you’ll give it back, or I’ll take it.” His sword whistled through the air.

They were well off the path now. Keri sheathed her sword and he stepped forward. She bent down, pulling off her pack and set it on the ground. With a quick motion, she pulled her dagger from her boot and threw it dead center into his chest. He stiffened and fell.

Back on the road, she mounted his horse and road off. “Now I’ve stolen something, but he won’t need it anymore.”

“I like the old music. Makes me feel alive.”

“You’re dead, Jesse, we’re both long dead.”

He pulled himself to his feet and straightened his clothes. The night was just beginning and he was hungry. Jesse climbed to her feet and ran a hand through her hair. Not that it did any good, but it was an old habit, very old.

“Can we go to the movies?”
“No, you scare the children.”

“I promise I’ll be good this time. I won’t even go to a kid’s show.”

“Not tonight, I want to hit the clubs, I need more than a little drink tonight.”

“The clubs are noisier than the radio.” she muttered, but he pretended not to hear.

The went out into the night, arm in arm, just two young lovers out for a stroll. Downtown was packed full with clubbers and drinkers and people just trying to blow off steam. They headed for their favorite haunt – Galaxy. The swirling lights and constant pounding music pulled in the biggest crowd every night. They parted once the got inside, each hunting their own dinner.

Jakob stood just off the dance floor, eyes closed, mind searching. He brushed Jesse a few times, but pulled away. He wanted to find someone new, someone he had never met, never touched, never drank.

There was a couple in the corner, watching him. They were curious and attractive. Wondering why he stood so still while the music throbbed. He went to them, barely moving, seeming to float. This only intrigued them more. They welcomed him into their corner and their arms. Drunk and high, they touched his cold, smooth skin and ran fingers through his long black hair. He looked at them and they gazed into red eyes.

“Come with me.” He took their hands and led them deeper into the club, into a back corner booth.

He pulled them in on either side of him and they both kissed him. He kissed them back and their hunger rose to match his. They touched him and ran their hands over him, kissing his mouth, face and neck. He let their passion build, stroking them with care.

When they were gasping for breath, pressing against him, writhing with hunger, he gave in. He took the girl first, while holding the boy to his chest. He sank his teeth into her neck and drank while she groaned with ecstasy. Then he turned to the boy, kissing him tendering and then biting into his throat. He drained them both, and licked their wounds. It had been far too long since he had killed.

He cast about and found an impatient Jesse not far away. She was watching him, waiting for him to finish. She still wanted to see a movie, but they had bodies to hide, now. He waved her over and together they took the couple to their graveyard.

He made it to the next corner and skidded to a halt as voices drifted around the bend. Scrambling into a doorway, he curled up on the stoop as though he was simply an urchin catching some shelter for the night. The voices drew closer, accompanied by boot steps.

“Slow night, no one out in the rain.”

“Even the guard stuck to the taverns tonight.”

“What’s that?” They rounded the corder and spotted the boy.

“Just some kid, he don’t even have shoes.”
“What’s he doin’ out?”

“No where to be in, I guess. Leave him be.”

“Fine, just bored.”

Their steps moved on, voices retreating into the night. He peeked through his arms, seeing their backs off in the distance, waiting for them to get out of sight. He listened a few minutes longer, then unfolded and dashed around the building and up the next street.

The guildhall was three streets away, past the market. An easy task on a busy day, but at night the city guard kept a close eye on the open space. He skirted between the stalls, edging his way around. The taverns were quiet by now, and nothing stirred. He tried to look everywhere at once, certain he was being watched. The bag at his chest jangled as he came to a sudden stop, and his heart frozen. Still, nothing moved.

He could see the far side of the square, the alley that would take him home. A pool of light the last obstacle. He looked all around it, checking every shadow, doorway and roof. The absence of rats disturbed him most. Surely they were not all asleep, too. Taking one last breath, he sprinted for the alley.

Just as he entered it, feeling the elation of escape, he bounced backwards, falling to the ground with a sharp gasp. Looking up, he saw boots, gray worn pants, and a barrel chest covered with a charcoal tunic. A dagger in his hand and a gleam in his eye, the man offered him a hand up.

“I was starting to worry, Danny, you should have been back over an hour ago.”

“Old man wouldn’t go to sleep, sir, had to wait him out.” He took his master’s hand and dragged himself off the ground, handing over his precious cargo.

“A couple more of these and you’ll be a journeyman, Dan, just a couple more.”

It won’t be long now. My assignment is almost over. I’ll be home before you know it. They guys are all talking about how they are going to spend their vacations. Most of them have girlfriends and some have wives they are eager to see. I can hardly wait to see you and Dad. Will Robbie be home from college by then? I’ve picked up some fossils he might like to add to his collection.

It’s actually been a good trip, Mom. The weather has been gorgeous, hardly any rain at all. The people are all very kind and happy to see us. It’s been so long since any of them have seen a doctor. They are grateful for things as simple as aspirin and vitamins. We’ve done so much good here that it really is a shame we have to leave. But the people don’t begrudge our leaving. In fact, the children have made us necklaces of shell and stone. The elders have given us small pouches of native herbs that our guide tells us signify good health and safe travel. They are usually given to tribe members who are going on a long journey. They have so little, but they share everything with us. It is such a wonderful community, Mom.

It’s getting dark and our farewell celebration is beginning. I have to go now, but I may be home before this letter even reaches you. If not, give my love to everyone and I’ll see you soon.

Love,

Jimmy

“You have one new message.” Beep. “Mr. and Mrs. Samsen, we regret to inform you that flight 1043 was lost in the Atlantic due to unforeseen weather conditions. Your son, James Samsen was on board. We are very sorry for your loss.”

Mrs. Samsen could only stare in horror at the answering machine, her son’s last letter in her hand. It couldn’t be real.

“Honey, I just heard the strangest thing on the radio.” Mr. Samsen came in from the garage. “A plane went down in the Atlantic, ran into a tropical storm or something. What was Jimmy’s flight number?”

Mrs. Samsen pressed the replay button on the machine, unable to speak.

“You have one old message.” Beep.

The captain gathered his men as she leapt into the air and came back for another pass. They stood ready, swords and arrows bristling. Their armor was weak and their weapons no match for her ancient hide, but they were ready to try. She flew straight for them, eyes gleaming purple and teeth dripping blood. A few, stout of heart, aimed their bows for her eyes. The arrows loosed at the same time as she did, a wave of black fire erupted, engulfing missiles and men alike. They roasted in their armor, screaming as one as they died.

Chaos descended at the sight of their leaders being burned alive. The entire camp was aflame, smoke and charred flesh filled the air. The dragon hunted down every living thing, roasting, ripping and crushing the life out of the army. She feasted on those that had survived the longest. Finished, she curled up amidst the fires to nap, lulled to sleep by the crackling flames.

A young girl watched from the tree line, stock-still for hours as the fires raged and died. One hand resting on a tree trunk, the other lose at her side. Her eyes wide and her lips parted, as though waiting to speak. Her nostrils were filled with smoke and death, and she inhaled deeply.

When the flames died, she stepped out, picking her way across the field to avoid the patches of embers. Testing each step, she found a path to the sleeping dragon. Climbing onto her tail, she walked the spine all the way up to her head, and curled up between her ears.

“Did you enjoy the show, little one?” The dragon’s voice whispered in her mind.
“Except the horses, they were too beautiful to deserve that.”

“They taste better than men, dear one.”

“I know, at least you didn’t eat them all.”

“Sleep now, we will have to leave soon.”