I headed straight for Nix and requested she send out Undertakers to collect Delilah, Percy, and Jean. I expected an argunt, but all she asked for was a quick explanation of why, and then she complied. It took less than an hour for all three of my suspects to be gathered and placed into three separate empty offices. Once they were all secured, I went toward the first room, Delilahs.
I opened the door, and found her sitting at a desk and looking afraid. When she saw her eyes widened, but she didnt say anything. I walked to the desk across from her and leaned against it, crossing my arms. I looked her over. She seed afraid, and worried, but that would make sense whether she was guilty or not given the circumstances.
Did you know? I asked.
Her expression beca confused. Know what?
Did you know that Lydia was seeing other people?
Her expression shifted from confused to angry and she showed her teeth. What are you talking about?
Potts is big, but its not that big. Everyone knows each other, everyone grows up together as a part of it. You're telling that in spite of all that you never heard a whisper, or a scrap of gossip about Lydia seeing two other people? A friend never ca to you to let you know?
Tears began to form in Delilahs eyes as I spoke, and she responded through gritted teeth. I dont know what youre talking about.
I think you do.
What, you think I killed her?
No. You have an alibi. But lets say you did find out, and you confronted her other lovers. Its not outside the realm of possibility that you might work together after finding out youve been jilted.
She scowled. I would never work with them.
I tilted my head. But you did know about them.
She took a breath and steadied her expression. I did.
And Lydia was lying to you about them?
She nodded.
I shook my head. People in the wastes were a ss, but at least they were relatively uncomplicated. She knew she was being cheated on and chose not to do anything about it. In the average waster settlent, theyd just have blown each others brains out in the middle of the street. Things were in so ways, blissfully uncomplicated out there.
I stood up from where I was leaning. I believe you, but Im going to talk to Lydias other twofriends, before I let you go. I nodded at her, and walked out of the room. I could feel her gaze boring a hole into the back of my head, I couldnt bla her, but I wasnt here to make friends.
As I walked out of the room and went to open the next door. I heard a commotion coming toward . Rhea, flanked by two other Undertakers, appeared in the hallway and approached .
Theres been another murder, she said as soon as she reached .
Fuck.
With my theories now in tatters, I fell in behind Rhea and the other undertakers as they led to the new body. A second murder changed everything. Especially a second murder that occurred when the pri suspects for the first one were all being held. The killing had taken place relatively close to the first, near where we already were in the mausoleum. This ti, the Undertakers had already cleared the streets around the body, and were standing guard to make sure no one interfered. They learned quickly.
I approached the body, to see Nix standing over it. She looked tired, and concerned. She moved wordlessly out of the way as I drew near.
The victim was once again a woman. She was wearing a dark red wrap, and several pieces of jewelry, all of which were covered in blood. Just like the first victim, I recognized deadman bite marks on several of the wounds. I searched around, and found a trail of blood once again leading to one of the dod roofs. This ti, however, it was more obscured.
I turned to Nix. When did they find her?
Less than an hour ago. The blood was fresh.
I nodded. That basically cleared Lydias paramours of any wrongdoing. At least when it ca to this murder. Do we know who she was?
Nix shook her head. I dont know her na, but I think she worked at a restaurant nearby. I rember seeing her last ti I was at Repose.
Another restaurant worker. My teeth began to itch, and I lifted a hand almost involuntarily to pick at them. I was missing sothing, sothing obvious. I need to check on sothing.
Nix nodded, and I left the alley, making my way straight for The Last al. It was busy, at this ti of day, but everything slowed down as soon as I entered. I looked around and eventually saw l, peeking his head out of the kitchen. I walked into the back toward him, and he involuntarily shrank as I approached.
Your at. Who supplies your at?
Uh, a butcher? He works just a few dos down.
Pete? The man with three fingers on one hand?
l looked confused. Im pretty sure he has all five? At least he did last ti I saw him.
I left him standing in the kitchen, and started moving quickly to butcher Petes shop. Hed had all the right excuses, and no motives so I discounted the chance that he was the murderer. Sohow hed lost two fingers in between when hed murdered Lydia, and interviewing him. Whether it was in the struggle with her, or hed done it himself when hed heard about the handprint that was left, it had worked out in his favor. The fact that the fingers looked like theyd been healed for days led to believe he had so form of advanced healing, just as I did. That wasnt even ntioning the size of the handprint hed left.
I made my way into the butcher's, but saw no signs that Pete was there. I took a deep whiff of the air, and couldnt detect anything beneath the scents of at and blood. I unholstered my pistol, and began looking around more closely. There was at behind the counter that was only partially cut, and had been left out. I moved behind the counter, and approached the stairs leading down into the cellar. I walked down, taking deliberate, careful steps, and keeping my nose and eyes open for Pete.
I didnt have to look hard. The cellar was a large open room, covered in at hanging on hooks. At the far end of the room I saw Pete, hunched over a large hunk of raw at, tearing into it with his hands and teeth. He was bigger than the last ti I saw him, maybe four tis as large. I dont know why I was surprised, considering all Id seen in the wastes, but I was. I slowly drew my shotgun and holstered my pistol. I had a feeling Id need more stopping power.
Pete turned around. His eyes had a frenzied look to them, and his face had expanded grotesquely, stretching his yellowed skin near its breaking point. When he saw , he smiled.
Howdy Marshall.
Pete.
He turned around the rest of the way and stood. I myself was unnaturally tall, but he had to crouch to keep from hitting the ceiling.
I hefted my shotgun and aid for his head.
He gestured to the at behind him. Care for a bite?
I shook my head. Not hungry.
He smiled, showing teeth that rivaled my own. Now we both know thats not true.
I grimaced. He was right. My mouth had started watering before Id even stepped down into the cellar.
Youre like . You feel that hunger deep inside. You know what its like to taste flesh soaked so deeply in rads its practically on fire. He took a step toward , and I repositioned my gun. Havent you even thought about it?
About what? I asked, watching him, waiting for a move.
What another deadman tastes like. You know as well as I do that the more radded, the more corrupted the at, the tastier it is to us. Well, deadn here in Potts are raised surrounded by heavy radiation. They eat food full of it. It seeps into them every day, fattening them like the sweetest of hogs. He took another step toward .
Dont. Move.
Eventually, the thought of it beca all-consuming, but I managed to hold it down. At least until I saw you. Slled you. I beca possessed. I needed to hack into you, have a taste. Unfortunately, you moved out of my sight, and never dropped your guard. Thats when I saw Lydia. I lost all control, Becoming sothing monstrous as I took that first bite. Beca as you see now. I was interrupted though. Unable to finish even my consolation al. With you on the hunt, I was forced to eat my own fingers just to stave off my cravings. I dont hate you for it though.
Whys that?
A deadman that treks across high rad zones. One who's sampled ats across the wastes. Its like youve been seasoning yourself for all your life. How could I hate soone like that? He slid his tongue across his teeth. I bet youre going to taste del-
I fired my shotgun at him twice in quick succession. His body was thrown backward into the wall. I loaded two more shells in and fired again, activating freeze as I did so. After that, I pulled out my pistol and emptied the entire magazine into his body. Then I drew my sword and walked toward him, ready to remove his head. I didnt want to take any chances with soone that could potentially recover from wounds as quickly as I could.
Just as I was about to reach him, his body shot up toward , faster than I could react. And he wrapped his massive arms around and started squeezing.
I guess I shouldve tenderized you a bit first.
I gasped, struggling to escape his grasp. I tried activating my freeze ability, but he was able to resist it, much as I had when Leah had first used it against . He squeezed, my face right in front of his, where I was able to sll the blood and flesh of his most recent victim still fresh on his breath. Unable to reach my weapons or escape his grasp, I turned to the oldest tool in my arsenal. I opened my mouth, and bit directly into the center of his face.
He scread, and started to loosen his grasp, but I just bit down harder. I could feel his flesh giving way, his bones cracking, and his blood flowing freely from his face. My teeth t each other, and I tore myself away along with most of the center of Petes face. He was screaming. Id taken his nose and part of one of his eyes. I leapt toward him and slashed at his neck with my sword. In spite of the thickness of it, my sword went clean through, and he fell to his knees, dead.
I stood above his corpse, chewing for around a minute. Then I swallowed. He had probably been right. If he was this delicious, I imagined I probably would be too.
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