The reptile lowered his mental defences. Opening the gate so he could talk with an old friend. Someone who had never had an interest in communicating with him until now. 75 years of silence, 75 years of rumours detailing the death of a monster. There were questions that needed to be answered, and Jackson had to be there to talk.

  ‘I never expected we would meet again, reptile.’ Death appeared next to Jackson. Sitting down next to him wearing a tunic of shadow and darkened smoke while his cap hid its elongated skull. ‘Abernu, what name do you go by now?’

  ‘Jackson,’ he bluntly replied to the towering figure.

  Death turned to Jackson in surprise. Both that he kept his name and that his response was blunt and to the point. ‘Still Jackson? I thought you would’ve changed your name by now. Change it to something different, like you always do.’

  ‘Not this time.’

  ‘If you say so.’ Death glanced at the packet of mince, which Jackson happily gorged down. Reminded that the person it was communicating with was far more animalistic than the last time they met. ‘75 years, Jackson. Ever since you disappeared, everyone thought you were dead. After the first decade of no one meeting you, I believed it was the case as well. But here you are, alive, bloodied, and on the hunt. It seems time didn't erode who you are.’

  Jackson picked up his jacket and put it on. ‘What do you want?’

  ‘To see how you are alive. I’ve been in that facility, and I know there is no way someone like you could survive there. I want to know if you went against what you stood for.’

  ‘No,’ the reptile emotionlessly replied before revealing his bloodied and injured knuckles. ‘I didn’t go against what I stood for. I am not immortal.’

  ‘Doesn’t change the fact that you are alive. There is something unnatural about your survival.’

  ‘I’m just lucky. That is all you need to know.’

  Death sighed, frustrated that they won’t get anything of use out of Jackson. But they knew that Jackson would not be open to telling them everything. It would be a secret that not even the horsemen would know.

  However, it didn’t matter to them. That was an aspect that meant little. Jackson was alive, and he was going on a killing spree. Many had already died by his hands, and Death knew who Jackson was hunting down. The people involved in his family’s murder.

  ‘You shouldn’t do this, Jackson.’ Death calmly spoke up. ‘The world has changed. You can’t just get your revenge any time someone has wronged you.’

  ‘Justice will be served.’

  ‘That doesn’t mean…’

  ‘They will pay!’ Jackson bluntly interrupted. ‘I was willing to stop. To do anything to not pick up that sword. I vowed to never kill again, but they took my family from me.’

  ‘75 years after their deaths?’ Death shook their head. ‘Jackson, you are an ancient creature. You should know by now that this song and dance isn’t acceptable anymore. You are going after someone who is far too important to the world, their death will have unforeseen…’

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  ‘Don’t care!’ Jackson sharply interrupted. ‘My family was murdered, and they all got away with it. Doesn’t matter how long ago it was. I will have my revenge.’

  ‘Why, Jackson? This isn’t your first marriage, nor the first time you tried to start a family. Every time you tried this retirement scheme, you always outlived them. What makes this time any different? Hannah, that woman. She was just a wife.’

  Furious, Jackson slammed his fist on the wooden counter and cracked it. ‘She was more than just my wife! She was far more than just someone I loved. There was more to our bond than a simple union or an attempt to stop what I am.’

  ‘Stop! You are repeating the same mistakes and continuing the same path you always followed. What will you do when this is all over and kill everyone involved? Will you crawl back to the Order and join again to keep fighting until you grow tired of killing again? You always want to change, Jackson. But all I see is someone willing to make the same decisions and continue being a monster everyone fears. Stop this madness, it will only get worst from here.’

  The reptile sat there, biting his lip to not say anything else. Even though the horsemen were invited into his mind, Jackson could easily kill them. Turn his mind into a trap that would force Death’s consciousness to dissipate by overpowering their will.

  But Death was right, to an extent. Jackson acknowledges that he was repeating the cycle of revenge that he always defaulted to. However, unbeknownst to Death. Jackson intended to keep a promise he made with the woman he loved.

  ‘It will end.’ Jackson turned to face Death. ‘It will be the last.’

  ‘How would I know that is true?’

  ‘Soon.’

  Death stared at Jackson for a moment and realised that there was no point in continuing the conversation. Jackson was always a butcher, and Death believed he was unable to move on from what he was destined to be. A killer who saw himself as a human, but incapable of living a human life.

  ‘The ones following you will be here soon. Ten minutes at most.’ Death said before getting off their seat. ‘To demonstrate my good will. I’ll turn off the lights. You’ll do well in the dark. There will be about 12 of them, all coming here in armoured transport vehicles. Surely, that won’t be too difficult for you.’

  Jackson kept silent, drinking what remained of his cold coffee after he broke it apart with the end of a butter knife. Death left, exiting Jackson’s mind without saying a goodbye. It wasn’t like the reptile would care.

  As every light source in the diner went dark. Jackson took a few deep breaths to plan on how to hold out against the mercs hunting him. He loaded new shells into his shotgun and put the revolver under the counter while he made his way to the other end of the diner to place his shotgun in a discreet location. After that, he made his way inside the kitchen and turned on the gas.

  The reptile knew he was outnumbered and outgunned. However, he had the home advantage and Jackson knew how to overcome a superior foe with almost nothing on hand. They wanted a war, and Jackson would gladly give them a battle they won’t forget.