Third Person
Paris, France: Bar Haven
Sneaking wasn't her thing. Raine knew nothing is legal about carrying a decapitated head inside her backpack, but she had to use her courage. The smell might attack some rodents and mutts, but Saccharide always reassures her that baking soda will do the trick in getting rid of the stench.
"I'll give you a decent burial," she promised Walter before carefully wrapped him in a plastic bag full of baking soda.
She would constantly look behind her shoulder to see if Dione already discovered the bathroom lock. As she finally made it to the exit Aquilla instructed her to go, a new scenery welcomed her where all the orphan children were planting vegetables while others were enjoying catching up with monochrome butterflies. Her eyes sparkled at the sight. The kids noticed her and pulled her to join them with excitement.
Suddenly, a beautiful woman with a sun hat asked them to get back on their tasks and let the young female continue hers.
"Hi dear," she greeted before eyeing the black bag hooked on her arm, "Going somewhere?"
"Yes! Aunt Maesan," Raine beamed her a smile.
The woman, whom she referred to as 'Aunt Maesan', heard the uneasy discomfort in the girl's tone and decided to ask, "You're not taking Dione with you?"
Suddenly, Raine felt as though her lips were stitched together and the desert sand engulfed her throat. She opened her mouth to speak, but they heard a glass broke from inside the bar before the shouting became audible for the two females.
"Where are the keys?! I heard them!" Dione screamed followed a shattered glass sound again, "Tell me! Or I'll wrap you in bacon instead!"
"Bacon sounds good! Is it good as what you do with Walter's head?!" Aquilla teased and another glass was tossed.
"It's a collectible! I have six more of them inside the cellar!" Dione reasoned and a thumped followed his statement, "I'll add yours if you don't open that door for me!"
Raine gulped when she heard the sound getting closer, "I really have to go. Excuse me," her voice sounded shaky.
"I was hoping I could talk to you," Maesan called her.
"I really have to go," Raine stopped for a while but continued walking.
That was before the white-haired woman pulled her inside a shed filled with sharp gardener tools and a few deadly pesticides. The only way they could see was a little light bulb hanging from the damaged ceiling. The door closed and all the sounds from outside became unclear. Raine couldn't believe that a disaster of a shed could make a good hiding spot.
"He won't find you here," the woman smiled before staring at her true business.
Raine's heart wanted to escape from her chest.
Dione's eyes annoy her.
Menthos's eyes soothe her.
Their mother's eyes paralyze her.
And they were all the same color and hue.
"Thank you, Raine," the woman kindly patted her head, thankfully not with the wood chopping axe, "Those shots are accurate. It saved me a lot of time," she complimented and offered a small stool for the girl.
...
After she sat, Raine looked up and wondered, "Why?" She thought out loud as the woman gave her a questioning look. The girl was reluctant at first, not until she saw the man's face after his death and how this woman danced on top of him while breaking his fragile bones again.
"Why do you have to kill them?" She asked again. She couldn't contain her anger and said without hesitation, "I don't care if they are drug dealers, rapists, or killers. They don't deserve death."
A laugh from the woman was not what she was expecting, the sound made her eyes hysterical, "Those people don't deserve anything, dear," Maesan answered, "So, I send them to eternal nothingness. I take them where there is no one they could hurt, kill or defile..."
How could a sweet voice say something as dreadful as that?
The older woman could ask the same thing about her as she smirked went from ear to ear after she saw the shadowed expression of the girl— How could a girl such as Raine Aksenov empty a revolver case on a poor helpless man?
Maybe, it was human instinct...
Or
Nature's way...
"They don't deserve anything, but hell deserves them," the woman added as she stood up and hugged the shaking girl.
Raine was shocked. Nevertheless, she needed it and hugged back. It was a hug that felt great and unnerving at the same time. It's like veins tickling you with their leaves, but at the same time, choking you slowly like a snake would do to their prey.
"You say that, but you deserve the same nothingness because you kill them," Raine clutched her bag close to her and managed to talk back to the older female, "If you just surrendered them to the authorities, you wouldn't have to take their lives and dirty your hands!"
Maesan laughed again before kissing Raine's forehead, "Authorities? It's just a label," there was a furious diction in her voice, "The letter A stands for Action, but clearly, there is none!"
The woman thought, 'Reality didn't strike her yet,' As she stroked the young girl's hair and felt calm. She was on the verge of cutting the innocent's head off, but whenever she remembers that this girl accomplished the last mission for her, she just couldn't stop feeling flattered and aroused.
"Here in this Haven, I do the execution. Many devils come in here to have unlimited fun without knowing their time is bound to be limited," she explained, "For years, no one suspects this place. No drop of blood can be seen!"
With each stroke, her nails dug deeper causing Raine to squeak. Upon hearing the mice-like sound, she stopped and hugged the girl tighter before whispering, "I know you wouldn't say anything. I made sure your fingerprints are preserved on the surface of that gun," her threat sounded more like a melody than a roar.
That's what's makes it more terrifying...
Raine opened her lips and bravely said, "You don't do the execution," Raine released herself from the bone-cracking hug and stood up, knocking over the wooden chair, "You make your son do it!
"It's his will," stated Maesan and smiled where the girl didn't give back.
"It's yours! Not his! Dione wants to be an artist, but he dropped out because he has to keep up with your will," Raine shouted. She was losing her calm as he stared at the other female's calm face.
"When this ends—" she paused and proposed bravely, "Please let me help him!"
The white-haired mother froze before smiling.
"Let me awaken his dreams of being an artist," the girl firmly said, "Don't worry I won't use conversion therapy on him. People who believe that is some form of cure is merciless..."
"So he told you about that too, huh?" asked the older female with crossed arms.
"He's very talented. I hope he won't waste it perfecting his aim to shot people," Raine whispered, but loud enough to trigger Maesan's limit.
"You're welcome to do so," the woman said and pulled the girl's closer to hers to dictate another warning, "But again, I said it's his own will..."
Raine pushed her on the side and opened the shed's door, "Goodbye, Aunt Maesan..."