Beginning of the End

The pitch black had gotten very old very quickly. It showed him nothing of his surroundings. All he did was sit there. He and Faith had run out of things to talk about. They had discussed her children, who they thought was the killer, even some future prospects. Providing they both made it out alive.

"Faith?"

He heard a scrambling at the door. "Faith?" he repeated.

"Um, yeah?"

"What are you doing?"

"I was searching the room, there aren't any sigils in here, or on the door. Which means its enhanced but ordinarily locked"

"You've only gone over our current predicament"

"Quiet you. I reckon we could try and move the door"

He stood up and stared at the door, picturing her. "Sounds easy, but it won't be. How do you suppose we accomplish such a task?"

"We destroy the wall"

"And if it has the same defence as the door?"

"Then it's plan B"

"Which is?"

"I will tell you as soon as I think of it"

He chuckled, but the laugh stopped when he remembered their predicament.

"The wall on your left, give it all you've got on the count of three"

"My left? Got it"

"One. Two. Three!"

He channelled all the shadows he could, his arms locked and tense before unleashing it all at the wall. He only barely made out the impact of hers on the other side. However, the wall stood as proud as ever.

"Oh come on!" Yelled Faith.

Lucian just stamped on the floor in his frustration. His fury disappeared however when he heard it.

"Well there goes that plan..."

"Faith, hold on I have a plan"

"My hero..."

He could practically hear the eye roll, he moved his foot and sure enough saw the break in the floorboard. He couldn't help himself, he smiled.

"Well? What's the plan?"

"Seems the floor doesn't share the same properties. Do me a favour and stamp on the floor"

There was a pause, she was probably curious why the hell he wanted her to do that. But none the less, a few seconds later he heard her stamp quite hard.

"Oh!"

"Yeah! I'll head to the first floor, find the room below yours, and then break you free. Semi Shawshank redemption style"

"My hero!"

This time is sounded a lot more authentic.

"Keep to the edges, I don't want you getting injured"

"What a good idea! Here I was about to stand smack bang in the middle of the room and wait for the bang!"

He could envision her sassy stance, one hand on her cocked hips, a look that said 'really?'.

"Humorous as always, be right back"

"I'd say take your time...but don't, please"

He nodded even though she couldn't see him. Holding a hand in front of him, he walked down the hallway to the stairs, counting every step along the way. He memorised the number and quietly crept down the stairs. At the bottom he felt his foot step in something. There was no need to try and see what it was, he recognised the smell as clear as day.

Blood.

With a new air of caution, and shadows sliding between his fingers like snakes ready to defend, he counted down his steps as he walked down the hallway. When he reached zero he turned, seeing not a door, but some lovely wall. He felt along the wall, feeling a door with his right hand, he slide over to it and turned the handle. Locked, because why wouldn't it be?

He placed one of his hands over the keyhole, allowing the shadows passage into the lock. They found the metal bar, slathering over it. With a quick look to the left and to the right, he brought the shadows in and smashed it to shards. The door swung slowly open, revealing a pretty big storage cupboard. Not someones room then. He stepped into the middle of the rooms, stretched out his arms and spayed out his hands. Shadows rose upwards, latching onto the ceiling. Forming a ring above him. He sent them deeper into the wood and they began to carve. Layer by layer until he felt no resistance. Drawing the shadows back, he used them to bring down the now separate circle of ceiling, leaving it leant against the far wall.

"Well, hello handsome"

He looked up, able to make out her figure, he smiled, hoping she would see it. "Hello gorgeous"

"How do I get down Lu?"

"Jump, i'll catch you"

"You? Mr Butterfingers himself?"

He scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Yes, me. Now sit on the edge and drop down"

He heard shuffling and assumed she was doing it, he felt shards of debris and dust fall onto him.

"Look out below!"

He saw her figure drop, holding out his hands he caught her mid fall. "Nice of you to drop in"

Before she could reply with what no doubt was a snarky response, the lights returned, flickering a little before they stayed on.

"Oh...and that was awful"

"Hey! Even the lights appreciated that one!"

She laughed that cute giggle of hers. "That was a mere coincidence and you know it."

"I'm sure it was" His face turned serious, looking into her eyes. This moment was enough to forget their scenario, forget their surroundings, forgetting it all.

"Faith Matthews, I love you"

Her eyes watered just a little bit, her cheeks failing to hide her blush. "Lucian Benefactor... I love you too"

He brushed his lips against hers as they kissed. For a few seconds. No, a minute. Maybe a few. When they broke it off, the scenario came creeping back into his mind. He eased her down.

"Time to return to reality..."

She shrugged. "For now"

"Guess we head back to the living room and check in with Skully?"

"Where else and what else?"

And that's just where they headed.

*

She rushed back to the living room,not even turning around to see if Vixen was following her. She couldn't believe that it was Vixen killing everyone. She seemed so sweet and innocent. Although, what was it that that guy said? Fake innocence, she knows what she's doing.

How would Ebony react? Her and Vixen seemed pretty close, maybe something was there? But now? After this? There was no way Ebony would see Vixen in any positive light now. Means the sayings true though, it's always the person you'd least expect. Even so, it was hard to imagine Vixen being that twisted.

She ran back into the living room, eyes darting past the man until they found Ebony. The man was slumped in the circle, his knees had stopped bleeding but he was still unconscious. Ebony was just staring at him, so gaze less, for a short second Mendacious what was going through her mind. She shook it off and walked briskly over.

"Ebony, I know who the killer is!"

"Oh, you do? Is this the whole I know who the killer is... surprise it's me and then you kill me?"

What was wrong with this girl? "What? No! Now this may come as a bit of a shock but.. it's Vixen"

"Are you sure? To be honest I don't think she's had the time"

"I'm sure! I saw her covered in blood in front of Ravens body! And she had a knife!"

Ebony looked about the room as if nothing important had been said. "And she didn't kill you because....."

"I threw a fireball at her and ran back here"

"Okay" She replied, stretching out the O. "Now what do we do?"

Mendacious was surprised, she was being so nonchalant. Didn't she care? This was her best friend. Who turned out was the person killing everyone. And she was just acting like she just got told that it was raining.

"Don't you care? Your best friend is killing people and you just say okay?"

"What should I say? What she does in her spare time is her business."

"Isn't your business? She's a murderer! What if she killed you? Then would it be your business?"

Ebony just shrugged. "I would be dead, ergo past the point of caring"

"Seriously?" She looked about, frowning. "Where's Skulduggery? I need to tell someone who cares"

Ebony just shrugged again so she responded with a glare before turning around to go look for him. She didn't make a move however because she saw Vixen stood in the doorway looking the same way she did when Mendacious had thrown the fireball. Vixen looked like she was about to cry, so that's how she was going to play this.

"Vixen. Put the knife down."

"Okay, but i'm not the killer! Whoever is also stabbed me! Look!"

She showed off the stab wound in her shoulder, blood still trickled from it. It did look like a nasty gash.

"How do we know that that wound isn't self inflicted?"

Vixen stepped into the room so she stepped back. "And I pushed myself down the stairs and broke my own arm? Mendacious, Ebony, I swear, I got stabbed, pushed down the stairs, and then when I tried to make my way back here I found Ravens body"

Sounded like a well rehearsed story. She was saved from responding when they heard a grumble from the corner, perhaps the man had finally awoken. She eyed up Vixen to make sure she wasn't trying to make a move. Weighing up her options. Option one was to bring the fight to her before she had the chance. Option two was to hear her out, and possibly get blind sighted and killed. She wasn't stupid, so she went with option one. With a snap of her fingers she had a roaring flame in each hand. Vixens eyes widened, she backed away until her back met the wall, hands held up defensively.

"Mendacious...please! Don't!"

Mendacious looked over her shoulder, as expected, Ebony hadn't moved a muscle. She was just watching with what easily could have been construed as excitement. She just didn't want her caught in the crossfire.

"You're not worth the risk"

She launched both fireballs forward, causing Vixen to roll to the side to avoid them. She charged in whilst Vixen was recovering and drop kicked her into the all, making her cry out and clutch her shoulder. Mendacious went to move in close and finish this early but Vixen lashed out a kick keeping her away.

"M-Mendacious...I don't want to have to fight you..."

She didn't bother responding, she meant what she said. Instead she twisted a kick, aiming for Vixens jaw. Vixen used her good arm to snap wind at her mid twist, sending her backwards crashing into one of the sofas. Jumping back to her feet, she pushed at the air, cracking the wall Vixen had been using for support nano seconds ago. Keen to close the gap and use her broken arm against her, she ducked Vixens haphazard fireball and smashed her own head forward, busting open Vixens nose. Next she slammed her elbow into her stab wound, receiving a cry in response. Not letting up, she pushed Vixen into the corner, barraging punches into her abdomen. Vixen folded in the corner, quietly sobbing as she tried her best to cover up in defence. Mendacious summoned a flame once more, ramming it into Vixens face.