A/N: Please note this is a violent chapter! The first of many! 

"Get the hell out! This is my home!" He demanded as he grit his teeth and stared the two of us down.

I sneered at Alexander's demand and his false claim on my property. "Your home?" I followed my question with a tilt of my head. "Alex, I know you're a shut in and all but this is my place now. So why don't you leave?" A shrug followed my statement. 

"I was here first!" He roared, his frame vibrating with rage as he reached his limit. His yelling intensified as he screamed for me to leave. "Fine! I'll make you leave!" His skin paled--the bags under his eyes darkened and his face sunk in. The man's new appearance was completed when dark liquid began to leak from the sides of his head and drip onto the floor. He had finally entered the aggravated state.

"What do we do?" Cassie asked in a panic as she grabbed onto my arm and I felt her shake at the presence before us. 

Well, I got what I wanted, let's help the bystander escape.

"Oh, I got this." I said, before making a request. "Can I have my arm back?" She released her grip on me. With my arm free, I flicked open the pocketknife--the blade clicking into place. I took a step forward and watched as Alex bared his teeth at me.

I can't wait to break him. That look of defiance is the first thing that'll go. Prey that's convinced itself of being a predator is my favorite to hunt. The face he's gonna make when he realizes his place will be glorious.

I closed the gap between us.

"Get out! Get out or die!" He said when a smirk formed on my face.

"What are you gonna do about it?" I stood before Alexander, my grin and smug demeanor grating on his last nerve. His response lacked words. His arm went back as he lunged forward with his fist quickly approaching my face. 

"Get-" He went silent as I slipped the punch and grabbed onto his wrist with my free hand. His body was wide open and I stabbed the knife into his bloated gut. His eyes widened as the ghost struggled to process the situation he was now in. His body quaked and his breathing quickened. The world he had been accustomed to, the world that could never hurt him was now gone. Fear and pain took its place--and he's only been introduced to this new world.

Don't look at him yet. Let his fear overwhelm him.

"W-What...?" was all he uttered between panicked breaths as I moved my free hand from his shoulder, gripped the back of his head, and held onto the grassy strands of hair that completed his disgusting visage. With my grip secure, I slowly raised my head until our eyes met. His eyes showed all the fear I was craving as my irises went silver, my expression was neutral while his composure shattered.

"What are you?" He asked in terror, a smile spread across my face, a smile I'd been holding back since leaving for this place. The same one I had to hide from Moira and Cassie.

Though I suppose I don't have to hide what I am from Cassie anymore.

"Something much scarier than you." I said, as I twisted the knife further in before ripping it out of him. I released my grip on him, watching as he stepped back to look down at his injury. Alexander touched the stab wound and raised his trembling hands to face level to look at the dark liquid that coated them.

His blood. 

Alexander had been preoccupied, too distracted with the sight of his own blood to notice my approach.

"Yeah, so you guys bleed this dark shit. No idea why, but it splatters just like your blood did when you were alive." He sucked in air at the surprise of me. "Only thing. It doesn't taste and smell as sweet as the red stuff." Terror filled his expression when I reached my hand to his face and tapped his cheek.

"Why do you think I'm here?" I asked as I hooked my finger on his glasses and pulled them off his face to hold them in my hand. "Correct answers only." I said when my hand tightened and the frame of his glasses snapped in half. With my other hand, I brought the knife to his face. Right below his eye, pressing it against him hard enough to make a small line of black liquid run down his face.

"You... You bought this place?" His voice trembled as he gave his answer.

"Oh, that's part of it." A mirthless smile formed on my face. "The thing is..." The words drifted out of me as if I were bored. My hand moved in an upward jerk when half the blade dug into his left eye. A smile spread across my face at Alex's howl. My grip tightened on the blade and as quickly as it pierced him, the blade was out in a single motion. The specter dropped to his knees and gripped his face before falling to the floor, wailing in agony. The rage I had been saving for him had come out in full force as I roared at the paranormal prick before me, "I don't give credit for partial answers!"

Alright, he's down. Let's get Cassie out of here. Then the real fun begins.

I forced out a calming breath, dialing back my aggression to not scare the new object of my attention, Cassie. When I turned to her, a gentle smile was on my face. She looked at me, then to the ghost, who writhed as pain-filled wails escaped him before returning her gaze to me. Her face showed desire, but her eyes showed fear. Whatever bit of self preservation Cassie had left to put before her infatuation with me was waning.

"What are you?" She asked before approaching me. "Your eyes are..." She looked into my radiant silver eyes when I gave her a wink.

"As pretty as your amber eyes?" I asked. As she was about to speak, I put my finger before her mouth. "I need you to listen carefully, okay?" She gave a nod. "So, you need to head out of here. But, before you leave, close the window that we opened. Can you do that?" She gave another nod, but her face darkened at the thought of leaving me.

"Are you gonna be ok?" Her question directed at me rather than the ghost with multiple stab wounds that screamed out for help.

Aww, she thinks this pathetic bastard is a threat. It's cute how naïve she is.

"Cassie, you're worried about me? God, you are so sweet!" Her face lit up at my compliment. "I'll be fine. Now, you need to leave. I can't bear to think what I could lose if anything happened to you. We have a promise to keep, remember?" To seal the deal, I pulled her into my embrace. Her arms wrapped around me. As quick as the embrace had started, I slipped out of her grip.

"I'll visit you after this is all set. Try not to miss me too much while I'm gone." I stepped away from her and pointed at the door. "Now get going." She bolted from the bedroom. A few moments passed and between Alexander's whimpers of pain, I heard the old window slam shut. The sound of a door shutting followed.

"Just the two of us." I sang out with a skip in my step before kneeling in front of the ghost. "Hey there, I got an offer for you. So get up and follow me before I stab your other eye out." Alexander laid in place. My smile faded. The blade went to the untouched side of his face and made a new black streak form as it pressed into him. "You know I'll do it." My face remained neutral. He winced as the blade inched towards his eye, when a nod stopped it. Alexander got up without any resistance.

"Follow me!" Glee replaced my apathy. Once we made our way out of the master bedroom, I shut the door.

Can't wait to watch him relearn doors.

We made our way to the entrance. The front door let out another creak as it opened to reveal the white walls with blue trim and carpet of the building hallway. I made a half spin to face the ghost. His confused expression made me chuckle, I pointed at him and caught his attention.

"Here's your choice. You can either leave my condo and I'll let you go, or you can stay here and accept your penance. If you haven't crossed this doorway by the time I get to ten, then you've picked the latter." Alexander only stood in place, befuddled at the choice. I took a step back and stood in the kitchen entryway.

"One." Alexander stood there.

Maybe he already knows how this will end? That's no fun!

"Two." Alexander let out a panicked breath as he made his quick sprint to the doorway.

There we go.

"Three." His body crashed into the barrier that kept him bound within the condo.

The death domains of a ghost can vary. Sometimes it's a space as small as a coffin where they can only beg and plead for mercy. Other times, I get some cardio in and chase them down in their space that can stretch for miles. Either way, they're trapped with me.

"Four! You can do it! I believe in you!" I said with the spirit and energy of a demented cheerleader. I pumped my fists in encouragement of my soon to be victim.

Five. 

Not wanting to distract him as he punched at the barrier wall, I kept the number to myself and threw my backpack onto the counter.

Six. 

Opening my backpack, I grabbed the hammer and remaining vial of connector; I poured it on the head and claw of the hammer, then rubbed it across the top. As I finished, Alexander yelled out.

"Please help me! Please!" he begged, as if someone were there. I leaned through the opening into the entry hallway. It was then my eyes locked with the head of an older woman leaning out of the door to unit thirty six. Greta, the little old lady who died. I gave a slight smile and raised my hand to greet her when she gasped and phased her head through her door and back to the safety of her unit. "No, wait!" Alexander pleaded for her to return.

I suppose I can pay her a visit before I meet up with Cassie. I'll count this moment as seven. He's also earned an extra blow for each time Moira interrupted me.

"Eight." I whispered to myself as I creeped into place behind him and raised my armed hand up.

I'd make a hammer time joke for him, but the bastard died before it was a thing. He wouldn't appreciate it.

"Nine!" Alexander let out a scream as he fell against his barrier. Trembling, he turned to face me. His gaze focused on my twisted smile and glowing silver eyes. Not on the weapon destined for his jaw.

The big moment is here!

"Ten!" The hammer connected to his face, the sound of teeth and bone impacting on metal echoed throughout the empty condo and building hallway. "Aww, you stayed with me Alex! I'm just so happy you made the right choice! I can do my part for public safety!" I said, referencing that stupid letter taped to the door earlier. I swung at his jaw a second time.

The previous owner would be so proud of my attitude towards keeping the public safe.

"Helllf... Helllfff." A few pitiful cries escaped Alexander.

Having a busted jaw will fuck with your ability to enunciate. 

"How does it feel?" My head tilted to the side as I asked him, like a parent talking to their child. "You understand how both your victims felt?" I watched as black liquid oozed from his mouth and tears streamed from his eyes. "Hmm, I don't think you do, but what do I know about empathy?" My left hand rose. Before his hands could get in a defensive position the third blow to his jaw made black liquid splatter on me, the object that caused his facial disfigurement, and the walls.

Let's really get the despair to set in.

I grabbed his hand and pulled him towards me.

"We're gonna play a game, I call it; Fucked up hide and seek. I have faith in you to figure out what to do." I smiled. With a push, Alexander went towards the living room. "Better move quick." He turned and made a beeline for the wall between the living room and the master bedroom. As he was about to pass through the wall, the parts of him I had hit and grabbed got stuck.

I have a nickname for the connector; ghost goo. This stuff is great. Get some on the ghosts and they can't even phase through walls and objects to escape me. It is so precious when they need to relearn doors.

"W...Wha..." he tried to speak, my unhinged laughter filled the room.

"Alex Sweetie, you're gonna have to go through the door." I said, my voice mocking him as he moved for the bedroom wall towards the door.

First time hunts are so much fun. That look on their face is just so fucking good. Ah, the dopamine drip I get from moments like these. 

After some struggling, Alexander got the door open once he entered the room. The door slammed shut.

"Did you just slam a door? In my home? I'll beat some manners into you for that!" I said, my voice in a rage filled roar. Step by step, I stomped my way to the bedroom door and entered.

"Ooh, you got three whole hiding spots in this vacant condo bedroom. I wonder which one you picked?" I looked about the room when it went photo negative. The master bathroom had nothing, nor did the dresser. I then saw his burning black ball that was his soul inside of the closet.

Not like he had a lot of options.

I made my approach. Once I was before the slatted blind closet door, the sound of the wood creaking at my tapping added to the horror movie ambience I had set.

"Laurie Strode, I sure hope you got a clothes hanger in there." I said, before slowly opening the door. 

Unlike Myers, I would have to pay for a new door if I smashed it open. 

 The ghost tried to let out a muffled scream before he got a fourth whack, the only thing to set it apart from the previous blows was that this one landed on his forehead.

Another splatter coated me. Alexander's knees buckled. He fell to the ground. Not wanting to drag my game out any further, I dropped the hammer and pulled him out of the closet. With him in place, I reclaimed my weapon to see he'd risen on all fours as he tried to pull himself away from me.

"All that head trauma is adding up." Stepping forward, I closed the gap and smashed him in the back of the head. His arms moved in small spasms as he continued his pitiful attempts to flee me. Another blow to the back of his head put a stop to it. 

Alright, he's ready for the finale.

Alexander's body moved in small twitches as I turned him on his back. His eyes had become unfocused and one pupil was larger than the other. A pool of black formed around his jigsaw puzzle of a skull. 

"Let's end this!" I said. His mouth was partly open when I brought down the claw of the hammer into his lower jaw. With a quick motion, I dug the claw into his mouth and wedged it into place. A single pull with all my strength separated his lower jaw from his skull. A last spurt of black blood coated me and the surrounding area, followed by a weak gurgling noise. The only motion left in him was in his eyes as they rolled to the back of his head.

Oh, wait got one thing I need to do before he poofs away!

My hand went into my pocket. Grabbing my phone, I swiped left and set it to video. Raising the phone above me, I captured what remained of Alexander and my blood-soaked visage. The dark liquid of my victim contrasted and highlighted my murderous gaze as I held up my hand with the hammer. Three of my fingers rose from the handle when my countdown began.

Ok, he should be gone in three, two, one.

The body and every trace of blood around it and covering me had vanished. 

Ghosts are the victims that clean up their own crime scene once you destroy their manifested form. It makes my job so much easier.

A flaming black ball remained in his place, the soul of Alexander. I dropped the hammer and reached for my prize. Grabbing it, I angled the camera to focus on my face as I opened my mouth to stick my tongue out. Placing the soul on it, I fought the urge to gag from its taste.

Keep your face pretty for the camera, just hold it a few more seconds.

I pulled my tongue in, then gave the camera a parting smile as I swallowed the damned soul and shut the camera off. With the video set, my face twisted in disgust at the lingering aftertaste.

"Fucking nasty, tastes like dust and greasy hair." I said, as I fought the urge to spit.

Do the souls of the innocent humans taste sweet? It's not worth the death penalty to find out, but I wonder sometimes.

Calmness washed over me. Another hunt was done. 

I was cutting it close with this one. I was getting a bit... too extra, well at least I can think clearly again.

"I need a mint, just need my-" I went quiet at the sight of the old woman who stood in the bedroom doorway. The same woman who had poked her head through her unit's door before.

"What did you do?" She asked in a panic from what she had watched.