Happy was stunned. For what felt like the first time in his life, it felt like his brain was shutting down. She was dead? How could she be dead?

Slowly, his brain started up again.

"She faked her death."

"That was also the first thought crossing my mind, but I did a little more digging and..." Sighing, Juice opened another tab. "Looks pretty real to me."

Happy leaned forward while staring at the screen. That was her. He recognized her slender built, her wavy dark hair, the side of her face that wasn't turned into a bloody mess.

"Must have been a talented face painter. Or a good photoshopper."

Juice looked over his shoulder. "You think it's fake?"

"What? You think she's a ghost?"

"No," the younger man muttered. "But there's definitely something strange about her."

"Yeah. She belongs in a fucking madhouse if this was her own idea."

"Maybe she just needed a new start. There's a reason she was so paranoid when she ran into our clubhouse."

The clubhouse that was burnt to the ground now. Something that wouldn't have happened without her presence. He was sure of it.

Without saying another word, he turned around and rushed out of the clubhouse.

"Wait!" Juice jumped up and followed him. "Where are you going? I mean – what are you going to do?" There was panic in his voice. Was he afraid that he would hurt her? He couldn't hurt her, not even when he wanted to.

"I need answers," he said in a growl. He didn't know how but he would get them. No matter the costs. This was fucking with his brain and if there was one thing he hated, it was not being certain about things.

. . .

Amber had been waiting for his return. As he barged into the house, she didn't blink an eye. She had no idea what to expect of this conversation. Anger was written all over his face and he crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"What's this bullshit? You faked your death? Why did you come to us?"

"You wouldn't be able to understand," she answered calmly.

But Happy was anything but calm and he stepped closer to her, staring down at her. "You think I'm stupid?"

"I think you're human."

"You're a fucking lunatic." He grabbed her arm. "I'ma drag you to the madhouse."

"I'm dead," she snapped. "Give me your gun and I prove it."

"I ain't gonna give you a gun."

"Why not?" She huffed. "It's not like you've never killed innocent people before."

He tensed and brought his face closer to her. "What did you say?"

"I know of the tattoos."

"Those were kills to protect my family."

"But you killed many more people, didn't you? For a good price, you'd kill anyone."

His fingers clenched around her arm. "Who are you? Who sent you?"

"Why would you listen to someone you want to put into a madhouse anyway?"

He clenched his jaw. "Because your crap is still better than not gettin' any answers at all."

He pushed her back until her legs bumped into the table. "Tell me what you had to do with the fire."

Amber sighed. She knew she was never going to succeed. Happy wasn't going to fall in love with her. It would take years for a woman to warm his heart and she had only a couple more days. This whole mission had been ridiculous from the start.

When she didn't answer, he took a knife from his belt. She raised an eyebrow. Was that supposed to scare her?

Without giving it a second thought, she looked into his dark eyes.

"I died three weeks ago. I woke up in some strange tower with a weird man who wanted to give me a second chance. I would get my old life back if I could save a lost soul." She drilled her eyes into his. "You."

He laughed bitterly. "You had to save me?"

"Yes. The god or whoever it was, sent me a vision in which you killed a young guy dressed as a hotdog seller. There was no love in your heart, he said. It's people like you who taint this earth. And so, he wanted me to make you fall in love with me."

"This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard."

"I know," she snapped. She snatched the knife out of his hand and stabbed it in her chest. "But I'm dead, okay? You think I was happy with this?" She stabbed herself again.

He looked at her with fascination in his eyes.

No compassion. Nothing human.

Clenching her fingers around the hilt, she stepped forward and stabbed him right in the heart. His eyes widened.

"I know I can't make you fall in love in me," she said embittered. "And that I will slowly fade while you continue to murder."

Happy staggered backwards, his eyes wide.

"So I will free the world from one more dark soul."

Feeling numb, she watched him fall, palming at his chest.

And while he exhaled his last breath, she felt the last remnants of her life slip through her fingers.

The end

. . .

I know, probably no the end you were hoping for, but I think it was best for the story. I just couldn't see Happy fall in love with her in such a short period of time and I didn't want to drag things, especially since this was meant to be a short story. 😉

Thanks for reading!