"Who is he? How come I never heard of him before?" asked Captain Howin, he and Zhōng were at the bar having some drinks.
"You have, Hangman said his name when you all were doing the math of how many members we had going to the games." stated Zhōng, his cowl was up as he took a shot that Captain Howin bought for him.
"Hangman, wasn't he the one that was an Assassin?" asked Captain Howin as he tried to remember.
"Yup, he was complaining that he was our first-string backup. I've heard of the Reaper's capabilities, he's as strong as my own. He also apparently can do dark magic, making him a dangerous person to be with. But the question I think we should be asking is why." said Zhōng.
"Why?" asked Captain Howin, confused as to what Zhōng was leading to.
"Why kill members of the black market? We are shattered and torn anyway, those who are left are hiding since we have no security. The jobs have become much more riskier but the payment remains the same. If I had a choice, I would have chosen a life that does not get me killed." explained Zhōng.
"So about those five boys? What were you looking for?" asked Captain Howin.
Zhōng chuckled and pulled out a book, he gave it to the captain before taking another drink. "Some members leave a calling card so people can't claim the kill, the Reaper leaves a small book inside one of his kills where he explains how they died." he said. He glanced to see Captain Howin's face pale as he read through a page.
"Thought no one could be this graphic." stated Captain Howin, he couldn't continue reading and handed it back to Zhōng.
"Thought I was too graphic." said Zhōng. "But how he killed them isn't the only thing he leaves behind, sometimes he leaves his plans and threats for others to read." he waved the book in front of the captain who refused to take it. With a shrug, Zhōng opened the book and read aloud, "You think you can escape from anyone, but you can't run forever. If you truly care about these people, you'll face me tonight or I'll kill anyone I see and they shall receive tenfold more suffering than these five."
"We got to stop him." stated Captain Howin as he realized the threat.
"I got to stop him." stated Zhōng, Captain Howin was going to object before a hand stopped him. "He didn't start killing till he heard I was in town, I don't know how he knows but this is an invitation for me."
"And you want me to sit by and do nothing?" guessed Captain Howin.
"No, I am going to stop him but you're going to arrest him." stated Zhōng.
That night, the people from School Town flooded the streets. It was the first night of Summer Horrors, as tradition, everyone dressed up to be someone else. Thousands wore masks of legends in history, but some wore masks of villains. Captain Howin had run into a couple that had Zhōng's face designed on it. He looked over to see Zhōng was passing through the people like he was a ghost as his cowl covered his face and he moved like a serpent.
As Zhōng moved through the people, his eyes darted at every face he could see. He was especially paying close attention to those who had something on their backs. He felt a chill, similar to his own and he scanned for any surprise attacks. Suddenly a kid with a mask of Zhōng's face jumped in front of Zhōng and growled. It didn't surprise Zhōng as he looked at Captain Howin who shrugged pretending he didn't know. Zhōng shook his head and sighed before kneeling down in front of the boy. What surprised Captain Howin and the boy next was he pulled down his cowl. The boy saw Zhōng with his hair covering his forehead as it stretched down towards his eyelids and a comforting grin across his face.
"Does the Fallen Prince scare you?" asked Zhōng when Captain Howin approached them, he was tensed from Zhōng's actions.
"A little, I guess," stated the boy, nervously.
"Do you think the Fallen Prince isn't scared?" asked Zhōng, smoothly. The boy shook his head and Zhōng chuckled, causing Captain Howin and the boy confused. "I'm sure there is something the Fallen Prince is scared of. If you fear him a little, then become strong and join the guards to hunt him down."
The boy nodded but stopped as if he was unsure about something. "What happens if he isn't the bad guy?" he asked.
Zhōng said nothing as he glanced up and down the boy, he could tell he was torn like many others Zhōng had crossed paths with after his secret was let out. "If your mind tells you that but your heart refuses, listen to your heart. We don't know what he's capable of." he answered, the boy nodded and hurried away to play with his friends.
"I never expected to see that side of you again." stated Captain Howin after Zhōng pulled his cowl back up.
"Everyone here is wearing costumes, even I just wore one." replied Zhōng before he continued to walk.
"Can I ask what happened to you between your thirteenth and fourteenth birthdays?" asked Captain Howin as he followed behind Zhōng.
"Why are you so curious about what I did between the news of my father's death and the news I was alive?" asked Zhōng.
"I know you were changing before the fall, but even then, I don't recognize you as who you are now." replied Captain Howin.
"A lot had happened between that time, I don't want to talk about it." stated Zhōng. He stopped as memories of the events that played out over that time repeated in his head. He sighed and turned to face Captain Howin as he pulled out a letter.
"What's this?" asked Captain Howin after Zhōng gave him the letter.
"If anything happens to me, I want you to go and tell them what happened." ordered Zhōng, his eyes began to glow like fire as if he was prepared to fight soon.
Somewhere further down where they were, the torches began to change color from orange to green. A man with a scythe tapped it on the stones as the torches changed color. He began to hum to a beat as he walked and all who heard stopped what they were doing to look at him. His scythe touched the ground one more time and the torches of green fire formed a ring around the people nearby. "Good evening, everyone, allow me to provide you with some entertainment for tonight. But before I begin I need to know if my volunteer is amongst us." stated the Reaper.