[ WP ] Life confronts Death . Death has been a little too trigger happy this year . Life wants to know why .

Cain stepped out of the cab, surveyed his surroundings, and wrinkled his nose. The Pig's Paunch tavern was a filthy, disgusting, rundown, decrepit hole in the wall. It was also the best place in the city to get a cheap pint and a so-called meal. Cain could hear a familiar voice echoing from inside, he sighed, gritted his teeth and pushed the door open. 
 
 Cain coughed as he stepped into the smokey bar. No one turned to look at him, the few regulars sat in their dingy corners hunched over their drinks, trying to drown out the world. An old jukebox in the corner played a familiar tune and in front of it stood a woman Cain knew far too well. `` Purple rain, purple raaaaaaiiiin.'' She sang, her voice raspy and off key. 
 
 She and Cain locked eyes, she grinned madly and raised a half-empty mug to him. Cain shook his head, it'd been a long time since they last met, more than a century by his count, but not nearly long. He carefully made his way through the bar, touching as little of the disgusting furniture as possible. He knew precisely how many lives had been lost and found in these filthy seats. Finally he settled on a small table near the wall; as he waited for the music to finish Cain watched the bacteria squirm and wriggle across the grimy faux-wood. He reached out with a pinky and touched them. They began to multiply. 
 
 After what felt like an eternity, the music finished and the woman began to drunkenly stumble over to the table. Cain sighed, she'd been down here too long, these human customs were beginning to rub off on her. She flopped down in the seat across from him. The jukebox flared to life as an electric guitar began to play. *If you squeeze my liz -- * `` T-too what do I ( hic ) owe the pleasure?'' She slurred. Cain snapped his fingers, then folded his hands. The woman straightened up as the poison left her system. `` Well thanks asshole,'' she leaned back in the chair, `` it took me the better part of a month to actually get drunk.'' 
 
 `` Pity.'' Cain spat. `` You know why I'm here, Abbey'' 
 
 *Killed by death, Killed by death 
 Killed by death, Come on! * 
 
 She raised the mostly empty pint glass towards the jukebox. `` You said it Lemmy.'' 
 
 `` This is serious,'' Cain growled, `` those individuals were class C, you ca n't take them without permission. You especially ca n't take so many.'' 
 
 Abbey's dark eyes flashed, `` and since they sent you, I guess they're more interested in why I've been so trigger happy, than in punishing me.'' She tapped her fingers on the table, Cain could feel the colony he'd created disappear. 
 
 He nodded slowly. `` You've done good work for us. We want to keep you around, and avoid any... unfortunate incidents.'' 
 
 The song finished, and silence finally fell upon the bar. She smiled. `` Their priorities are so interesting, are n't they? I take millions due to the actions of madmen, due to disease, famine, and every other thing in this world that calls to me. Do they care? No. Cancer let me take more than eight million people last year. But I take a single Englishman with a nice voice? Suddenly I'm dangerous and untrustworthy.'' There was a click, and another song began to play. 
 
 Cain's eyes narrowed. `` It's different, there are rules, regulations, there's a plan. We have no choice to follow it, not to question it. No matter where it may lead'' 
 
 Abbey laughed, `` I was n't sure where to go from here, I started taking them as an experiment, a cry for attention. Just to see if They were listening. It turns out They are, but They do n't care. They only care about making sure it all goes as planned.'' 
 
 *I never lost control 
 You're face to face 
 With the man who sold the world* 
 
 She continued. `` I ca n't stomach it anymore. Consider this my resignation.'' She stood up, and walked back towards the jukebox. 
 
 Cain nodded slowly and walked out of the bar. As he stood on the curb in the warm spring wind he took out a cell phone, and sent a single word. `` No.'' 
 
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