"Alright, you wanna fight? Fine, I'll kill you right here. The kid'll be sad, but it'll solve everything."
Jack swung his shovel at me, and I dodged with a backstep, the garage door slamming into my back—confirming we were both trapped. No escape, huh?
"Take this!"
『It broke?!』
"What'd you do?"
I swung the dull kitchen knife at his shoulder, but the moment it hit bone, it snapped, the blade clattering across the floor. No way—didn't he cut off Lucas's wrist with a knife like this? What kind of freakish strength is this?!
『Piercing a human skull with a shovel already proves he's got insane strength!』
"Fair point—gah!"
Jack swung the shovel again, and I instinctively blocked with my left arm, only to be smashed into a workbench. Damn it, it's broken. Wait—the herb and fluid from the laundry room. I crafted a healing item…
『Whoa, that's swollen bad. Bright red!』
"Got time to talk to yourself? I'm just playing with you now, but I'll crush you like a bug. Can't let Marguerite hear that, though! Heh heh heh."
Leaving Jack unchecked was a bad idea. My inventory… I still had that dull fork from the pantry!
"Damn it!"
"Fool, you think that'll hit—guh?!"
I knew it wouldn't work, so I hurled the fork at the overhead light. It flew true, shattering the bulb and raining sparks onto Jack. Now! I splashed the healing item on my arm, the pain fading instantly. Not bad.
"Alright!"
『"Alright" my foot. Oh, that…』
"Huh?"
Eveline pointed at something, and I followed her gaze to the workbench. My car keys! I grabbed them and bolted for the driver's seat.
"Nice one!"
『Aw, shucks, it's nothing!』
"You bastard, Ethan!"
As Eveline scratched her head bashfully, I moved to climb in, but Jack shook off the sparks and charged. Stop calling me that, it's creepy!
"Damn it!"
"Gah!"
『Ouch, that's gotta hurt.』
I slammed the car door open, smacking Jack and making him stagger, clutching his nose. No time to fumble with keys, though.
『He's coming, Ethan!』
"How far can a pocketknife go… Should've taken the deputy's gun—wait!"
An idea hit me. I glanced at the deputy's body, which I'd avoided looking at. Next to his outstretched hand was an automatic handgun. Jackpot. It was on Jack's side, but he was dazed—now or never!
"Raaaah!"
"Damn, that hurt… broke my nose… guh?!"
『Dirty tackle, huh?』
I didn't want to risk snapping the pocketknife, so I rammed my shoulder into Jack's gut, knocking him down. I sprinted, snatched the gun, and grabbed the shovel that rolled to my feet. Gotcha, you bastard!
"Ugh, you got me, Ethan, you bastard. Give me my shovel!"
『Do it, Ethan!』
"Who's giving it back? This'll make you pay!"
I'd kill to escape. I swung the shovel overhead, smashing it into Jack's skull. A sickening crunch echoed as his neck twisted unnaturally, and he collapsed. My grip faltered, the shovel clattering to the ground.
"Did I… get him?"
『Not yet, Ethan! Grab the shovel and back off!』
Eveline's warning came, but I froze, unable to process the sight. His head dangled backward at an impossible angle—dead, no question. Yet he stood, groping his head, snapping it back into place with a casual "yo" and a neck-crack, grinning.
"Phew, hard to breathe like that, huh, Ethan?"
『Ugh, Jack's the best fit, isn't he? Maybe even more than you…』
"You're a monster, damn it!"
"Family, right? Let's get along, Ethan!"
『Scary scary scary scary scary!』
"No thanks!"
His eyes wide, Jack charged with the shovel. I fired the handgun three times—left shoulder, right chest, forehead. He flinched but didn't slow. I dove into the driver's seat, slammed the door, and saw Eveline "sit" beside me. I buckled up and turned the key.
"Move, move, move!"
"Not you—I'm driving!"
『Gah?! Don't scare me like that!』
The door window shattered, and Jack's hand grabbed my neck. Not losing now!
"My car… what're you doing?!"
"Guh!"
I bit his arm, tearing off a chunk. He recoiled, and I spat it out, turning the key again. The engine roared. Yes!
『That was not a human counterattack.』
"Shut up. Here we go!"
"Good! Good! Bring it!"
I floored the accelerator, ramming Jack and pinning him against the wall. He laughed, taunting me. Fine, you want more?
『Yeah, keep it up!』
"Take this!"
"Gah, you bastard!"
Jack vanished under the car after that hit. Where'd he go? Underneath?
"Eveline, check it out."
『No way! I don't wanna see splatter gore! Worse than watching The Shining!』
"Why The Shining…?"
"Your driving's rough, Ethan. I'll show you how it's done."
『"!?"』
As Eveline whined, the car's roof was torn off. She tumbled onto my lap as Jack climbed into the passenger seat, grabbing the wheel. Damn it, he's taking control!
"What are you?!"
『That's my seat!』
"Nice car. Bit of a wreck now, though!"
Jack grabbed my leg, forcing the accelerator down, speeding us through the garage, crashing into everything and kicking up smoke.
"Where'd you learn to drive? Never learned to handle a garage?"
"No one learns that!"
『Stop, stop, I can't get out like this!』
Eveline clung to me, teary-eyed, as we careened. Jack swerved toward a jutting steel beam from an earlier crash, easing off my leg to reverse. I knew his plan.
"Let's enjoy a drive together!"
"Wait, stop!"
"Let's end this, us two!"
『…Huh? Oh, not now—Ethan, the lever!』
"!"
Jack floored it toward the beam. I yanked the outer lever as Eveline shouted, reclining the seat flat. The car crashed, and I unbuckled, rolling out the broken door. Jack had slammed his temple into the beam, eyes wide, silent. Gruesome.
『That was close!』
"You don't look fine."
Eveline grinned, a steel beam through her head, blood dripping—then floated free, back to normal.
『Surprised? Surprised? I can change my form a bit… eek!』
"Yeah, surprised. Here's a little payback, you brat."
I thrust my arm through her smug face, making her squirm. As I stood, catching my breath, my car burst into flames. Still had a loan on that…
『How many years on the loan?』
"Thirteen…"
『Oof, that's rough.』
"Maybe it's at peace knowing you're sad…!"
As I bantered with Eveline, someone staggered from the burning car. Charred and unrecognizable but Jack's height.
『Gah! Demon!』
"Damn it…"
I raised the gun, but the car exploded, the shockwave knocking Jack down. I braced, but the blackened Jack stood, grabbing my gun.
"What are you?!"
『Too persistent!』
"Watch closely. I'll show you something fun."
Jack pressed the gun to his chin and pulled the trigger, blowing his head off and collapsing.
"What the hell!"
『…Sorry, Jack.』
As I cursed, Eveline's quiet, apologetic glance at Jack stuck with me.
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