“You’re talking about Pyro as if he’s a split personality,” Chance pointed out.
“Not at all. Like anyone else, Pyro has multiple facets to his identity; he’s just better at separating his darkness so he can function fully. This persona would cripple Pyro because he’d be scared, scarred, and unable to rationalise as his anger would overcome reason. But sectioning the blackness off, Pyro functions normally, and I pop out when called upon.” Chance shook his head, clearly struggling to understand.
“If I was to absorb into Pyro’s functioning personality, I’d be a serial killer with no morals. Anyone would be a free game. The abuse Pyro buried so deep is controlled by my actions. And let’s be honest, Chance, those dying aren’t innocent. I’ve never murdered a single person who wasn’t deserving of justice.”
“You’ve killed over two hundred people. That shit’s all over the news. The videos are being watched, and names matched up against cases. All those original victims will be interviewed.”
“Why? I introduce myself on camera, and viewers know it is me killing the so-called victims. They’ve obviously got nothing to do with me. I research each case carefully, looking for any inkling of doubt. And I’ve found a fair few where evidence was uncertain or falsified. So, I left them alone. I am only judge and jury to those who it is very certain are guilty. If you wish me to stop, then speak to Pyro. But I warn you, Chance Michaelson, Pyro would have to assimilate this into his psyche, which would be dangerous. A terrible thing. So, make your choice.” Justice leaned back and gazed at Chance deliberately. Chance was lost for words.
The body in front of Chance was Pyro, spoke with Pyro’s tones, and yet the coldness in his eyes, Justice didn’t believe Chance had ever witnessed. Despite how Justice argued his case, Justice acknowledged, it sounded very much like a split personality. But did split personalities have access to each other’s thoughts? From Justice’s reckoning, they didn’t. Although one usually was more dominant, it protected the other.
“Does Pyro understand what you’re doing?” Chance asked.
“Yes, and I have Pyro’s blessing as long as he doesn’t face the flames. Look, you’re clearly struggling. Take away my name. Forget I am called Justice. This would be a part of Pyro you’ve never seen but exist. The darkness in your brother’s given life. Same as Drake being forced to understand that Texas would set a guy on fire and ride off. And when Blaze carved up those who tortured Alison. Drake understood that sometimes the dark comes out, and Drake allowed his brothers to be who they were.” Justice saw realisation cross Chance’s face.
“Can you do that? Accept this is a part of Pyro you’ve never seen before, and let him do as he wishes. Or will you call the police on Pyro? Have Pyro locked up in an insane asylum? What is the goal here, Chance? Pyro will explode if the darkness doesn’t come out, and his Janey might get hurt.” Justice leaned forward, and Chance felt a prickle of awareness run down his spine. “And as Justice, I won’t allow Janey to experience harm.”
“You’re in love with Janey?” Chance mused.
“Of course I am. I’m part of Pyro, and she’s his very heartbeat.”
“Janey will suffer if Pyro is caught. Don’t matter if you two think separately. Janey loves him,” Chance shot back. Justice blinked, and his body relaxed against the wall. The coldness bled from his face, and warmth lit his eyes. Before Chance’s stunned gaze, Justice receded, and Pyro came forward.
“Chance, I’m fully aware of what’s happening. I shoved that abused murderous streak into a box, stayed there, tamed and locked down until my dad was caught. If you remember, I nearly tore Diesel apart with my bare hands on the same day. I hospitalised a man I called a brother. I realised then that I couldn’t release that part of me out again, and I figured a way to channel my dark. Because once Justice had left his prison, I could not recall the darkness back.” Pyro spoke calmly, trying to assuage Chance’s worry.
“So, Justice stays quiet inside me until I hear or read about an injustice. Then I do my research and let my monster out to play. Justice is me, and I am him. We’re the same person, but Justice is all the negativity I hold within myself, and it makes it a little easier to give the badness in me a name. But we’re the same man. Chance, look at what you were capable of when Clio was snatched. Are you telling me that your darkness didn’t rise and maim? It’s the same thing, except I wanted to give mine a name,” Pyro said, and Chance jolted. Pyro’s words made far more sense than Justice’s.
“What if the cops find evidence?” Chance asked.
“Then I’ll pay the price. But I’m always careful. I snatch them months, years, after their crimes, and I move from town to town, city to city. There’s no definitive timeline or pattern to who I take. Even sometimes, I move from state to state. There is no pattern with Justice, Chance. Because Justice has no rhythm. One crime might be a decade old, another ten days. No saying who I’ll strike out at.”
“Pyro, you killed Linus Spoke. Don’t you think the cops and feds will look at Janey closely?” Chance urged.
“Did you hear the list of crimes Linus admitted? I hardly doubt Janey will be a blip on the radar.” Pyro asked, and Chance shook his head.
“Do what you gotta, brother, but I’m here should Justice get out of control.”
“Justice is always restrained, Chance; otherwise, he wouldn’t be Justice. And with each kill, a bit of darkness fades, and Dakota Johnson gets justice and vindication. And maybe one day, Justice will fade completely,” Pyro replied.
“Go back to the clubhouse. You know you shouldn’t be riding with that leg,” Chance ordered. Pyro nodded and limped out, and Chance sank into a chair.
???
Chance
Pyro had always been the easy come, easy go brother. Chance knew Pyro had dark; they all did, but he’d not understood how deep the darkness ran. In a way, shit made perfect sense, but it was incredibly disturbing. And then Chance thought of the oath he’d taken when he gained President. To protect and accept his members in their entirety. By doubting Pyro had a handle on Justice, he doubted Pyro.
Maybe Chance needed to give Ace a call and talk to him because this was way past his bailiwick. Ace could probably shed an explanation that would help Chance come to terms with shit. Chance shook his head. All the brothers were damaged, including himself. And they accepted each other and he them. So, this Justice was just a shadow Hellfire brother. That Chance could work with.
???
Bunny
“Bunny, Satan’s Devils, want another round!” Alice called over the noise in the pub. A week had passed since the fire and missing boy, and we’d been packed every night. I poured the beers and wiped my brow. With two waitresses short, we were being slammed.
“Shut up!” Drake roared. “Bunny, turn the tv up.” I turned and saw the national news on and clicked the control to turn it up. Silence fell as we saw Spearfish scrolling across the newsfeed. My head snapped up as Officer Houser’s name was mentioned. A body had been discovered six days ago and was confirmed an open murder. The victim was identified as Linus Spoke, who the SPD now revealed had been a suspect in the disappearance of Janet Revers. A reporter announced that the police refused to clarify whether Linus was one of the vigilante killer’s, Justice’s, victims. The woman then continued to report that a video had been uploaded of Linus Spoke’s confession.
I watched in horror as my picture flashed up, and it was declared that I’d been shot on Hellfire’s forecourt several months ago. Magic approached swiftly as the reporter debated whether or not I was dead and if I was being protected by SPD. His meaty hand closed over my shoulder, and I spied Diesel moving towards me. Shotgun was standing at the bar, and he came around it and pushed me into the kitchen.