Dead Shoot

***

Las Vegas, Nevada, 7:41 PM

Dor! Dor!

Two bullets pierced the heart of a reddish-brown-haired woman who immediately fell covered in blood. The atmosphere in the room was instantly quiet.

"Daphne," a black-haired man called out as he handed her a Desert Eagle-type gun.

"Yes, Sir." The girl whose name was called immediately stepped up and took the gun that was used to shoot her twin sister.

"Fabian," he called again.

"Yes, Sir." The forty-one-year-old man nodded.

"Take her from here. It's up to you to throw her or bury her. Make sure she's dead. Well, but she must be dead because I shot her in the heart," he said with a wide grin, making everyone there shudder in horror, except for one girl who seemed emotionless. "Daphne," he called softly.

"Yes, Sir." She nodded slightly.

"I killed your twin sister. She's troublesome, she's not like you."

"... Yes, Sir. Thank you for the flattery," she said emotionlessly. For a normal person, this would not be the time to say thank you. However, this is Daphne Madison.

Edgar Ruthen, one of the most famous and powerful mafias in Las Vegas, stared at her in detail. "You're not crying?"

"No, Sir." Daphne looked at him boldly. "There's no reason for me to cry." she made Edgar burst out laughing, satisfied with it. He patted Daphne's shoulder proudly and didn't forget—his grin.

"You're amazing, Daphne. You didn't flinch even after I shot your twin dead." Edgar cleared his throat briefly. "Because I'm kind, I'll let you take that bitch one last time."

Daphne is silent. Staring at the bloodied body without blinking. She tried not to show her sadness in front of Edgar. The girl turned her gaze to Edgar who was holding her chin.

"Answer me, Daphne."

"Yes, Sir. Thank you," she said, nodding slowly. Edgar walked past her, but Daphne didn't even look back. Daphne looked at her twin sister's body. She took a deep breath after the metal door closed, leaving her and Fabian alone.

"Daphne."

"I know, Fabian. This will happen because Stephanie expects something stupid. I've warned her many times." She walked over to her twin sister and crouched there. "How could she wish for a demon? She just did nothing. She and the baby in her belly just disappeared. Even to the last second, she was still stupid."

Fabian furrowed his brows. How can a girl be so heartless, yet charming at the same time? He growled.

"You want to bury her?" Fabian asked.

"No." Daphne turned Stephanie's fallen body. She touched her right chest which was covered in blood with a burning gaze. "Lake Powell would be a beautiful place for her and the baby."

***

There's no such thing as a hassle to dump a corpse upstream of Lake Powell for Daphne and Fabian. It had become their habit because of Edgar's brutal behavior.

"Help me put it in the barrel, Fabian," said Daphne, opening the passenger door, and pulling Stephanie out of it. Meanwhile, Fabian went to his car and took the barrel that he and Daphne had prepared. The man took the barrel to the enchanting girl.

"Are you serious, Daphne?" Fabian stared at her.

"Have you ever seen me not serious?" Daphne pulled her twin sister who was quite heavy. "Hurry and help me. We don't have much time."

"Okay." Fabian helped Daphne put Stephanie into the tightly sealed barrel afterward. "I thought you were going to bury her. Wouldn't that be better for her?"

"You know for sure, Fabian. The result will be the same." Daphne leaned against the barrel already in a standing position. "If I bury her, the master will ask you or someone else to dig her grave and dispose of her body, or worse, her body will be chopped up for his beloved dog food. So why do you work twice?"

"Oh, alright." The corner of Fabian's lips twitched. "Thank you?"

Daphne rolled her eyes. "Not like you," she said. Without further ado, she immediately pushed the barrel into the lake and stared at it. "Rest in peace, Stephanie, the Baby."

"Just like that?" Fabian asked frowning. "I think you're pretty close to Stephanie. No warm goodbyes?"

"What do you expect from me?" Daphne grunted harshly. "If you want, do it yourself," she continued walking along the lake shore.

"Daphne, where are you going?"

"Go for a walk."

"In clothes like that?" He asked worriedly. Daphne only wore a white shirt that was covered in blood and black shorts with her hair tied up high.

"Don't worry about me. When you're done saying your warm goodbyes to Stephanie, head back to base. Tell Edgar I'm spying on Manston's movements."

"Manston moving again?" he asked, not praying for Stephanie's peace. He was more interested in the movement of Manston than Daphne said.

"When did he ever stop?" She turned to face the single man. "Cancel?"

"What?"

"That warm farewell you said."

Fabian turned his head towards the lake rippling in the wind. "She's had enough of it from you."

"Then go to the base," said Daphne, pointing her chin at Fabian's car. "I don't need you, Fabian."

The man snorted harshly with his hands on his waist. "You're amazing, Daphne."

"I know that. Go. Your face is disgusting," Daphne snapped with a small chuckle. "God is too lazy to look at you."

"What are you talking about? God doesn't see us anymore, Daphne. We have too much bad work to do."

"Too much talk. I said, go!"

"You're in a very bad mood, Daphne. Is this your real side?" asked Fabian stepping forward. Stroking Daphne's untied strands of hair. The girl shuddered, glancing at the hand holding the strands of her hair sarcastically.

"You want me to break your arm, Fabian? I'm more than capable."

"Gosh, all right..." Fabian gave up, taking a few steps back. The man smiled broadly. "I'll report it to Edgar as you say."

Daphne answered with a long wink. She took a deep breath and looked at Fabian again.

"Don't walk around too long. You could get sick," Fabian said. He's serious about his words.

"None of your business, Fabian."

The man laughed wryly. He looked at the lake once again. "May Stephanie rest in peace there."

Daphne's breath caught in her throat. She nodded slowly, agreeing.

"Then I'm leaving," Fabian said, stepping into the car parked in front of Daphne's. The girl watched him leave until she was the only one left on the shores of Lake Powell.

Daphne's body instantly decayed over the edge of the lake. Snuggled up, embracing her lonely self in the cold night.

"You are stupid Stephanie! I told you never to give your heart to Edgar. You lie! You broke your promise! You left me alone in this world! And you've also made me a really bad sister and aunt," she said sadly, regretfully by the lake.

***

Flashback on

"You slept with him?" Daphne asked leaning against the wardrobe in her twin's room.

Stephanie only wore a blanket to cover her naked body. Her hair was disheveled, but a smile was plastered on her face.

"As you can see. Did you meet with the master?"

"Yes. That's why I came here."

Daphne held her chin high. Her heart was wary of seeing Stephanie's beautiful smile. Like seeing her other self.

"I love him, Daphne."

Stupid!

Daphne clenched her fists. Her body trembled slightly at the confession she never wanted to hear.

"Never give your heart to him, Stephanie Madison. I warn you! Never!"

"Why?" Stephanie fiddled with her long nails. "Are you jealous that Edgar slept with me? Not with you?"

Damn it!

"Another stupidity," Daphne replied dryly. "He's my master. My savior."

'But if he ever harms you, he's not my master anymore, Stephanie,' Daphne said in her heart.

"Huh?" Stephanie snorted harshly. "That sounds stupid to me too, Daphne." Stephanie glared.

"You're more stupid, Stephanie," Daphne replied.

Tak!

Daphne dodged well from the horse statue that Stephanie had picked up from the top of the drawer.

"Get out! I don't want to see you!"

Daphne looked at her straight, almost emotionless even though her heart and head were racing inside.

Stephanie's breath caught. Her eyelids fluttered as she stared at her only remaining family. "Get out, Daphne!"

"Okay," Daphne said, standing up straight. "Don't give your heart to Edgar."

"Get the shit out of here!" she exclaimed throwing another display at Daphne, hitting her forehead which was bleeding immediately after.

"Daphne," Stephanie called worriedly. "I-I..." She was about to stand up for checking her twin's sister, but Daphne stopped her.

"It's nothing," Daphne said emotionless, wiping the blood off her forehead. "Get some rest," she said turning around, walking out of there, and closing the door tightly. Leaving Stephanie feeling guilty for hurting her.

———