The lightning struck in the distance, igniting the dark streets. The rain poured down as I ran down the road barefoot. I tripped over the curb, landing on my palms but sliding back to my feet.

Jumping over a railing, I dashed into the restaurant. The hostess eyed me, tilting her head.

"Excuse me. You will need shoes," the lady said, but I waved my arms around while she glared at me.

"I'm sorry," I pointed at her book. "Is there a Roy on the list for tonight?"

She rolled her eyes. "I can't-" she said, but I pulled her book from her, shoving her to the ground.

"Sorry, I don't have time for bitchy woman," I said, scanning the list.

I bounced from name to name, not seeing his. I threw the list back on her table, rushing out of the place before she called the police.

I stepped out, frustrated with the world. Glancing around, I had zero clue where Roy would take Alice. Dieter's intel told him here, but why was he not here?

A red light caught my attention, flashing in a pattern. Across the street was an apartment. The brick abandoned building covered in years of ivy. Very often, the police would escort the homeless out of this building, or the news would report a drug bust on the main floor.

The red light turned off, then flashed back on before a shadow walked across a window. Thunder roared around me while I crossed the street. My bare toes would dip into the running water with every step, freezing to the touch but not the soul.

I gripped the ladder to the fire escape, climbing to the red light. The metal bars squeaked with every step, telling me how old the building was. As I reached the window, I peeked, seeing a lamp in the middle of an empty room. Someone placed a red cloth over the light, making the room glow maroon.

I pulled my mask from my back pocket, placing it on my face. The window glass stuck to my palms while I slid it open. Quietly, I ducked into the empty room, crouching beneath the sill.

A scratch caught my attention, looking over to see Alice tied to a chair with a rope over her mouth. Her eyes met mine, freaking her out. She cried under the gag, wiggling as much as possible.

I kept to the wall, creeping closer to her. The material muffled her voice while she tried talking to me. I untied the rope, freeing her mouth.

"He's still here," she whispered, causing my breath to hitch.

"Apple Red," his voice was low from the other side of the room. "Finally, a pleasure to meet the one after me."

I pulled at the rope on the chair, trying to free Alice. She panicked, wiggling too much for me. My palm touched her thigh as I looked up at her.

"You need to stop moving," I said calmly before ripping the rope.

She cried while I wrapped my arm under her armpit. I guided her to the window, letting her go. Alice stopped on the outside, looking in at me. I shook my head, telling her what she was thinking.

"Go," I said, prompting her to climb down the escape.

Roy laughed in the shadows, creeping closer to me. "Where's your sidekick, little one?" he said. "Haven't you heard? Women had been going missing."

He walked out of the dark next to the lamp, his red hair blaring at me. He placed his hand in his coat pocket, pulling out a gun. His hyena laugh crept into my head, begging the demon to come out and play.

"I don't think the gun will help you," I said in a manic voice.

He laughed harder, putting his hand to his stomach. "You think your minor act will scare me?"

I tilted my head, stepping closer to him. I growled, causing him to jump back. His snarky laugh changed to fear quickly. Roy lifted the gun, pulling the trigger. The shot reflected loudly off the brick walls, bouncing around as he waited for me to drop. The pressure in my chest told me where the bullet landed, but pain and blood never showed.

I laughed at him, prompting him to pull the trigger again. Not wanting to remove too many bullets from my body, I jumped on him, leaping like an animal. Roy fell to the ground with me on top. Yanking the gun from his fingers, I threw it across the room.

My nails dug into his chest, ripping his shirt to his skin. In a fine swipe, I dragged my fingers down his torso, watching the red soak his shirt. He screamed in pain, crying for his life already.

"Oh, Roy, baby," I whispered. "Why are you crying?" my deep, demonic voice asked.

He yelled out in pain as I stuck my fingers above his heart, center on his chest. I dug into his skin, filling my palm with his blood. His body shivered, crying for anything to save him.

I grabbed his hair, standing and pulling him across the room. I ripped the chair closer to the red light, throwing him into it. With the ropes he provided, I tied him up.

Roy's head flopped forward while I ripped his shirt off and bent over to be at his eye level. With the cloth, I gagged it around his mouth, tight enough to stretch his lips while he bit down to taste his own blood. His muffled screams entertained me while I straddled his lap. I leaned toward his neck, kissing his skin.

"You should recognize that kiss," I said, pulling back to make eye contact.

He glared at me, whipping his head away. I grabbed his jaw, digging my nails into his cheeks. Forcing him to look at me, I removed my mask.

His eyes widened, recognizing me right away. I couldn't help but smile as he wiggled under my body, surprised he could see Scarlet still.

"Poor, poor Scarlet isn't here anymore," I whispered to him. "Thanks to you!" I yelled.

Roy panicked under me, yelling muffles as if someone would hear him. "You think someone will hear you?" I asked him. "It's crazy how the world came full circle on you."

I leaned in, tracing my sharp finger along his jaw. "It's not that simple. You were at the wrong place at the wrong time tonight."

Laughing at the ceiling, I leaned away. "I have been dreaming of this for days now." I stood up, pointing at him. "You are a clever guy, always one step ahead."

Walking behind the chair, I placed my hands on his shoulders. "I mean, the setup in the warehouse. That truly almost got us."

I squeezed his shoulders, feeling the blood pool in my hands. "Oh, and you almost had me here, too," I whispered in his ear. "But you underestimated what I am."

With a gigantic smile, I twirled around, sitting on his lap princess style. "I don't blame you, though. I don't know what I am."

A shiny red round object caught my eye. I tilted my head, seeing an apple perfectly set up under the lamp. I giggled, realizing his plan to gag me with it since this was a setup for Apple Red.

I glanced back at him. "Is that for me?" I questioned in a sweet voice. "Oh, Roy, you shouldn't have," I said, standing up and tiptoeing to the apple.

Leaning down, I snatched the fruit from the ground. "You know how much I love apples."

With anger in my heart, I stomped to him, placing my hand on his shoulder. I shoved the apple into his already-covered mouth. "Bite down!" I yelled. "And if you drop it, I will drop you off the roof."

Roy screamed under the apple while a tear fell from his eye. "But Roy, I don't want you to die from a simple splat on the ground. No." I leaned closer. "I want you to feel the last cry escape your lips as dizziness kicks in with the realization that this will be your last breath. Darkness will forever be your future." I scuffed at him. "Nothingness."

I danced to a backpack he had in the shadows, inspecting what weapons he had brought. A chef's knife with a black handle sparked my interest. Playing with the blade on my fingertip, I strolled back to Roy.

Leaning over him, I watched Roy's eyes widen, following the sharp blade as it touched his jawline. He wiggled, leaning back in hopes I would stop. Roy cried in a high pitch while his eyes looked over my shoulder.

"Hands up!" a man's voice yelled.

In shock, I balled Roy's hair in my hand, circling to the back of the chair to face the newcomer. I placed the knife on Roy's throat, eyeing the shadow.

Koa stepped into the red light with his gun aimed at me. "Rory, put the knife down," he said calmly.

I laughed, shaking my head. "Why?" Roy screamed under the apple. "He killed all those women."

Koa kept his gun on me. "We know," he said, stepping closer.

With his step, I tightened the knife, drawing blood on Roy's adam's apple. "This piece of shit going to jail isn't enough," I said.

"Scarlet, I don't know what he did to you, but-" he said, dropping his aim.

I chuckled, pulling at Roy's hair, bending his head back. "Exactly, you don't know!" I yelled. "How long have you known?"

He took one step. "That you are Scarlet Cline?" Koa clenched his jaw. "Or that you are Apple Red?"

"Both," I replied.

"Rory Smit is your mother. The only paper tying you to her is the adoptive one, buried." He looked at Roy, then back at me. "You mentioned being dropped off at an orphanage when we were together tonight."

I rolled my eyes, hating myself for telling the little truths about myself to Koa. Him being a detective, I should have known that he would figure it all out.

"And for you being Apple Red." He paused. "I had a feeling after our encounter at the warehouse."

I shook my head, biting my bottom lip. "You had a feeling but still almost fucked me," I said with zero care for him.

"Scarlet, I know Roy is an evil man and tried to kill you, but you are alive, and the best action here is to let me arrest him." Koa stepped above the red light.

My laugh echoed with demonic intent. Koa had no clue what I was or what Roy did to me. He was too good for this world, thinking there was hope for me.

"I'm sorry," I said, determined.

My hand pulled at Roy's hair, lifting the chair slightly from the ground. I slid the knife into the side of his neck, ripping it out the front. Blood splattered across the room, covering Koa. I dropped Roy's lifeless body, watching him flop forward. The red apple fell from Roy's mouth, rolling to Koa's feet.

Koa froze, hunching his shoulders. He didn't run to Roy to see if he could help. He just stood there and let the blood soak the floor.

I walked away from Roy toward the window. Koa brought his gun up, aiming it at me. He stepped with me but stopped, following me with his weapon.

Jumping through the window, I spun around, looking at Koa with the rain drenching me. He lowered his gun, pulling out his phone.

"I have a possible, ten fifty-six," he said before I scaled down the escape.

The rain stopped by the time I was back at my apartment. A blared from the television echoed from the hallway. I entered and saw Dieter on the couch. The screen showed the crime scene with Alice bundled in blankets in an ambulance. "Body identified as Royce Peterson found dead at the scene," the newsman said.

Dieter's eyes glanced at me, raising an eyebrow. He was surprised to see me back at the apartment.

"Okay, I'm in," I said, out of breath. "Let's get that bastard."

Dieter straightened his back, confused. "Vho?"

My mouth dropped open. "Who else, dumbass?" I pulled at my hair. "The billionaire that wronged you!" I waved my arms around. "You ruined the cool ending by being the cretin you are."

Total book word count: 21,289

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