Page 98 of The Hangman's Rope

I swallowed hard, and pulled back the blankets, abandoning the warm bed in the air-conditioned cool of the house and slipping out into the apartment. I could hear it, rumbling down the central track through the cemetery – but there were no lights.

I gathered my courage and ignored Corvus, this once. Swearing that if I ever heard anything ever again I would, in fact, ignore it… but I had to know just this once. I had to know he was taken care of. That it was over.

I didn’t bother with shoes, I didn’t bother with a wrap or a shawl or anything – it was warm outside, sultry, the night blooming jasmine tucked around the graves here and there heady before the acrid tang of diesel reached my nose.

I followed the scent and the rumble and stopped in the central track through Bonaventure under the arched canopy of high old oaks.

I looked from the forklift to the gate and realized between the dark and lack of moonlight, I could barely see the gate and only by virtue of a dim streetlight beyond it.

I turned back and startled as three leather clad men stood behind the piece of equipment and stared down the wide tract at me.

I swallowed hard and crept closer, knowing I’d been spotted and willing to take whatever dressing down or punishment might come my way for the transgression. My hunched postureeasing some when I got close enough to realize that the central man was Hangman.

“You shouldn’t be out here, sweetheart,” Grim called from beside him.

“I know but I couldn’t not – I have to know…”

“He’s not dead yet, we were just getting to the good part,” Reaper said, and I swallowed hard.

“You don’t have to be out here. You don’t need to watch this, baby,” Hangman soothed and he came to me, settling his hands on my bare shoulders, caressing my skin. I wrapped my arms around him and hugged myself close to his body.

“Please don’t be angry with me,” I breathed. “I just… I have to know. I don’t feel like I can close the door,” I said and he held me tight and kissed my hair.

“You do this with us, there’s no going back, Lorelai. You understand this is a secret meant to be taken to the grave,” I heard Grim say.

I swallowed hard.

“Have you hurt him badly?” I asked.

“Yes,” Reaper said. “Felt good.”

I looked up to Hangman and he traced the side of my face with rough fingertips.

“Eye for an eye, Sweetpea. We hurt him as badly as he hurt you, and then some.”

I blinked and asked, “You?”

He chuckled mirthlessly. “Not my jam,” he said. “I just beat the fuck out of him when they were done with him.”

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Now what?” I asked.

“Fast or slow, sweetheart? Only seems right that you should choose.”

“Slow,” I said without hesitation.

“Get the rope,” Hangman said and Reaper moved to comply.

“Go back inside,” he whispered to me, an urgency to his tone.

“I can’t,” I said, looking up at him.

“I don’t want this for you,” he said, holding my face between his hands.

“I know,” I said, putting my hands over them, holding them in place, the tears welling and spilling. “I do. I need to know why. I need to see him die and I need to know he can’t hurt me or anyone else, anymore. I want to close my eyes and not see his face,” I said, closing my eyes. “That cruel smile, the way I can’t get the way hetouched meout of my head. Please…” I opened my eyes and let the pleading fill them. “Please let me see this through.”

He searched my face and kissed my forehead and held me tight.

“I’ve got my own fears, baby,” he said and I nodded.

---