Chapter 3

“Come on Boogie man.” I taunted. “You heard the people; they want me taken care of before I can run off with their precious supplies.”

Joss rolled to his feet. He had the movement of a puppet doll with the strings cut but I was not afraid. We all had crosses to bear. How he handled this situation would determine whether the little group stayed together or not.

“If I don’t want to?” Joss asked his voice low but spreading. Theatrics. Nothing to really marvel at.

“They want you to.” I pointed out. “They think they control you and your actions. The Boogie Man that comes out of the dark when they say.” I saw Joss pause and look from me to do a sweep over the people.

They were shaking their heads and denying my words. Just as I thought they would. The scared little sheep they were.

“She lies!”

“We never once thought of you that way!”

“Don’t let her confuse you!”

“She is trying to trick you!”

“We never wanted to confuse you! We never even wanted to control you!”

“But they sure did want you gone. Or at least a few of them.” I added in my voice going far over the others.

“You want me to do what? Team up and run off with you?” Joss asked humour lying in his tone.

I snorted. “I hate people, I’d rather not. I want you to fight me and try to kill me. Who knows you might even win. Zombies aren’t too smart so maybe I haven’t been getting the full workout. You might be able to give me one.”

Joss’s eyes darkened just the littlest bit. “I’m no one’s to control. I’m no one’s to use to kicks.”

I snorted again. “You protect what’s your right?” Smiling I quickly subdued the closest person to me. A young frightened woman. she started to scream the moment I touched her but when I touched the ken gun to her head she fell instantly silent.

“Protect what’s yours Joss. Or does only one thing matter anymore? Even if that is true and only one thing matters. Protect the possessions of the one thing. Come Joss.” I activated the gun and heard the gasps of those surrounding me.

“This is getting out of hand.” Ross spoke up, but I paid him no mind. It was Joss I wanted. I needed him to come at me.

I could smell the sweat on the girl I clutched to me and I brought her just a bit closer and caressed the trigger.

“The great thing about this gun.” I drawled. “Is that I won’t have anything to clean up after I pull the trigger.”

“Oh heavens no!” An older woman cried out. Most likely the mother, or some sort of family member. Whichever she was if I ended up killing the girl it would teach her a lesson but because these people were so stupid..

“Hey, you people, listen up. Next time if it looks like a next time may occur. If you have a problem with somebody meaner and stronger and a hell lot less soulless than you. Shut up. Because you could be like weeping older lady over there.” I said narrowing my eyes.

“This could be you in this position. Or watching someone. Just. About. To Die.” I sighed. Brining the girl and  my gun hand closer together. Joss leapt into action but he was too late. I had already fired.

But into the roof. I let the girl drop to the floor where she proceeded to curl up and whimper. At least she was not a screamer.

I myself stood where I was. Joss did not run straight at me he kept zigzagging. Good stuff. I could see his confusion in my not moving. He was preparing for me to move to the side or come straight at him.

I waited until he was right above me and nothing could break or stop his movement from there to smile. Then I dropped like dead weight, only to move under and behind him. when he caught himself I had his hands trapped and the Ken gun to his back.

“I just said it. Boogie Man is no match for something that sits at evils table. You are better at leaping out of shadows. I create darkness no shadow could survive in.” I whispered to his tense form.

“You grow confident at that table. Maybe I should help you remember its not a guaranteed seat.” Joss hissed twisting away. I admired the way he was able to twist and move. Like if he had no soul or any weight. Just beautiful or at least to me.

“Demon.” Someone whispered. I sighed. Some people could just not get it.

“Come.” I laughed putting away the ken gun. “Dance with me.” I said winking. I would not kill him, but he had to regain the fear of these people. It would be, my gift to him.

Joss did it again a different variation but it was a fast pace zigzag towards me. One with no patter apparent. Therefore, I would not be able to immediately figure out where to strike. But having no pattern was already a pattern.

He was moving so fast he appeared to be a blur but I was ready for such an attack. When he flew at me withdrawing a knife to slice, I was already falling backwards. To outside of the store. For this dance we needed room.

Twirling so that as I fell outside I was back on my feet  on the left of the door I saw Joss in the doorway framed the knife in his right hand and his head down. The way he was framed slightly worried me. We had barely started. What was wrong? Then he slowly lifted his head so his gaze met mine.

In his eyes held nothing but the darkness. I felt my heart skip. He was so beautiful, someone embracing the dark but not being controlled by it. How wonderful.

“Don’t want to dance?” I taunted brushing away how I felt.

“I’m not a dancing guy.” Joss said his voice low and raspy. I could hear the growing excitement in it. I could also feel the people growing scared. Good.

“I’m more of a how to say it.” Joss’s gaze flashed to mine. He was serious but he was not fully there. He had not reached the pitch black darkness. He was in the deepest part of the shadows but no where near where I was.

“A slash and burn?” I offered.

“A grab and ground.” He stated. His tone sounded so dark. I could hear the shivers going trough the crowds.

“But, I like dancing.” I sighed before lunging at him. he moved to counter what he assumed was me slashing at him but instead I used my leg to kick his hand and used both my hands to get the knife away.

Face to face now he just lazily looked at me. “Your idea of a Waltz?”

“Sorry, my idea of dance and your are completely different.” I said before toppling us to the ground. His face registered confusion until he carefully listened.

Sitting astride him I watched his face grow pale as he registered the sound of tiny bombs in the ground. The sound of their whirling and ticking. Even if he had managed to kill me they would all be blown to kingdom come.

I played dirty. I played to win and to hurt.

“How do you deactivate.” Joss said in a no nonsense tone. I was not amused. Pressing my hands to his chest I gave him a quizzical look.

“What’s going on? “ Ross asked brining my attention to the fact the people had trouped outside. The vultures.

“There are bombs, explosives in the ground. Everywhere. I don’t know what kind but they are there.” Joss raised his gaze to mine. “Lying down like this I can hear them, all of them.”

I heard a swear from Ross and saw he had knelt down to listen. “Damn it, this is why I wanted you to keep your heads!”

“I’m done.” I said slowly crawling off Joss. Sitting up I winked at Ross. “I made my point eh? I could care less about you, them or me. I just exist here.” I stood up and slammed my shoe down hard. Joss on the ground relaxed his expression.

“They are just duds now.” Ross swallowed and got back to his feet. The people gave me terrified looks before escaping back into their meeting room.

Joss slowly sat up. “Thanks, sort of. I could tell you were not trying to kill me. I guess I can trust you. Can I trust you?”

“I looked over at Joss carefully. “Can you kill me?”

“What?” Joss said standing up and backing away. “What kind of question is that?”

“If you can’t come over here and slit my throat right now then you can’t trust me. If you at any time can’t kill me. You should not trust me.” I told him as I turned away.

“That that is just messed up.” I heard Joss say.

“Can you kill me?” I asked again turning back around.

“I think so, if you killed what’s mine. I could kill you.”

“Then you can’t trust me.” I sighed. “If you could kill me no matter the situation whether I threatened you are not then you could trust me because you would not let down your guard. If your guard lowers you are setting your own death sentence. So, you can’t trust me. Ever. Because no matter what I can kill you. I can kill you and not only won’t I feel a thing you won’t have a chance to counter.”