Whenever I imagined revealing my identity to my girlfriend I expected it to happen a number of different ways. Dramatically tearing off my mask while its pouring rain. A last minute rescue where she had a near death experience and in a fit of anguish I reveal my identity. Each scenario was dramatic, emotional, and cinematic worthy. I couldn’t wait for the day that I would be able to sweep her off her feet, and reveal something that would bond us for life. Although, what I didn’t expect was it to be revealed like…this. “Timothy, hun we need to talk.” Lilly walks into the room, her brows furrowed. Her eyes meet mine where I’m lounging on our bed, and I take her in. She’s still in her scrubs from her long night shift and her dark hair is pulled up in a cute messy bun. The necklace I got her for our 4 year anniversary peaks out from under her shirt and the bracelet she got from her mother before she passed sits on her wrist that is hidden behind a bag.It takes me approximately three seconds to understand what’s going on and jump to my feet. “Babe, wait, before you freak out let me explain.” I stride towards her, and she backs away shaking her head. “I stopped by the dry cleaning after work because I know your so busy and-“ Her eyes flash down to the bag, “Why didn’t you tell me?” My heart clenches at how caring she is and I quickly take her hands, allowing the bag to fall. The impact of the fall forces it open and my suit falls out between us, a divide that could make or break our relationship. “I know this is a lot to take in, and I swear I was gonna tell you.” Her eyes meet mine and she squeezes my hand reassuringly, “Its ok, it all makes sense now. Your search history, you always leaving, your weird relationship with Mike, and not to mention all the makeup-“ I cut her off, “Wait what?” her hands wrap around me in a soft hug, “Your a cosplayer!” “I-.” She backs up, holding me at arms length, her eyes watering “I’m so proud of you for expressing yourself! So many people are scared too and here you are doing it! I could help you kno-“ “Hun” “I am very good at makeup and” “Babe.” she gasps, “I could do the photos!” She lets me go leaning down to grab my suit, “and maybe even help with accessories.” “Lilly!” her eyes flash to mine confused, “What?” “I’m not a cosplayer.” I grab the suit from her hands before holding it at my body, “I’m a superhero.” “What?”

“Agent Pino, under our custody at last.” The Coachman sneers, pacing back in forth, coin tumbling through his hands as he walks. An intimidation technique, one that I found more pathetic than frightening. I work my hands back and forth under the table, my wooden joints crying in protest as I work them down, using the cuffs as a makeshift saw. “Long time no see old friend.” A calm facade covers my face as I force a smile in the mans direction. His pacing stops as he turns towards me, coin bouncing continuously until he slams in on the table, leaning forward, our faces inches apart. “Lets not play games today Pino, I’m not in the mood.” Leaning back, he takes a seat, grabbing the abandoned coin from the table, holding it between his fingers, “This is what’s going to happen, I’m gonna ask you a question.” His eyes trace the patters of the coin before flashing up to mine, “And your going to tell the truth.” Placing the coin back on the table, he rests his index finger overtop, a sneer overtaking his face, “and if you don’t.” In an instant the coin extends, sliding across the table until the point of the newly developed sword hits my chest, “Well I think you know what happens next.” Pressing down on the coin again, it retracts, and he picks it up again, letting it dance through his fingers once more, “now, ready to start?” Sighing, I lean back in my chair, stopping my attempts to saw off my hands. As easy they are to reattach, I’m thinking plan B will be more effective. “Yessir I am.” I smile brightly, flashing my fake white canines. He snarls in my direction, clearly not fooled by my act of innocence, “Ok wise guy, first question. Where did you take the children?” My smile drops and I cock an eyebrow, “what a simple question from such a simple man.” His eyes glower in my direction as he waits for my answer, “The workshop of course.” His eyes flash to my nose, waiting for it to extend outward. When it doesn’t he smiles smugly, crossing his arms at his chest. “Where’s Geppetto hiding?” I involuntarily flinch, and he takes notice, leaning forward his interest peaked, “answer boy.” “The Monstro.” I mutter. He turns his head cupping his ear and I scowl, “The Monstro.” I repeat, louder this time, making sure to spit in his direction. The interrogation continues for hours as the Coachman drags each answer from me, making sure to get every last detail from each of our attacks. By the 35th question he seems content, hands sitting calmly in his lap, coin out of reach. “Ok, last question.” He shifts in his seat, leaning forward, “Have you been honest this entire interrogation?” I roll my shoulders before leaning forward, meeting his eye, “Not even once.” The pain behind my nose explodes as wood blasts forward, penetrating everything in its path. Including poor old Coachman. Skin separates from flesh as my nose travels through his thoracic cavity, and his scream echos throughout the room. I watch as life drains from his eyes, and body goes limp, a soft smile forming on my lips. Pushing my shoulder to ear I turn my earpiece back on, “Hey Jiminy, plan worked. I’ll meet you outside in twenty.”

“Look, I know I ruined you for love or whatever, but you seriously need to get over it.” “Excuse me?” He rolls his eyes and scoffs at me, “What? We both know its true. It was three years ago, my god you can hold a grudge.” He runs a hand through his hair and goes to turn away but I stop him. With no control of my actions my arms shoots forward and tugs him back, forcing him to look me in the eye. “Your so freaking self centered, you know that?” Tears start streaming down my face and everything pours out. “I’m not ruined for love because you broke up with me, I’m ruined for love because my mother prioritized herself, loved herself, more than her family and left me broken, my family broken.” I step forward, and let myself get consumed in his eyes, get taken into the dark abyss, “I’m not ruined for love because some 16 year old boy didn’t want to date me, I’m ruined for love because the one person I could fall back on walked away.” I watch as his dark orbs lighten, and his jaw slackens as if the puzzle he’s been trying to peice together was just completed. “I though-“ “You thought wrong.” I tear my eyes from his and wipe furiously at the tears that keep falling down my face. I storm past him, practically jogging to get away and stop at the doorway, a dark laugh leaving my mouth, “oh, and don’t be expecting anymore love letters.” With that, I slam the door behind me. Finally, being the one to walk away

Latex gloves hug my flesh as I peer down at the corpse, grimacing. Something like this hasn’t occurred since hundreds of years ago, and shouldn’t have come back so soon. But men will always try playing god in an attempt to damn humanity. “what does it mean?” Joseph whispers, figure shaking uncontrollably. “All we know is threatening demise” Its body begins trembling, a deafening scream echos, making us jump. “Can you prevent chaos?” He asked, fingers fumbling around aimlessly. Plunging his hand forward, cold liquid quickly turning into lava envelopes now bare skin. “No one, not even Gods could help.”