Upstairs in Tom and Susan’s bedroom, Susan asked whether Tom had done what she wanted or not. Before he could answer, a booming thud echoed through their window.
“What the hell?!” both shouted in unison.

Alexander looked forward as Tony emptied bullet after bullet into the creature. Although repeatedly impacted and greviously injured, it didn't even shudder when hit. A few bullets ricocheted off of the chains holding it's obsidian plate armor. Tony's aim was suffering as he was distraught too much by the catastrophic ongoing. As if like a light was switched on, Alexander realized the way to beat this thing.
"The armor. Obviously, it's covering something vital." he said to himself and then to Tony. "Aim for the links." As Tony complied by half aiming at the links, Alexander ran two steps forward, before a flashing streak blew past him. The rush of wind and wake in the water startled all three people in the room. Tony became the first to deduce what the streak was.
"Michelle?" he whispered uncontrollably. To confirm it, Tony looked down where Michelle lay moments before, and saw nothing. Alexander watched utterly stunned as Michelle jumped up much like she did on her first attack, gave a solid punch to one of the links, and completely shattered the chain around it's neck. The armor gave a loud sliding sound and thunderously crashed on the ground, to reveal that it's torso was hollow, with a pulsating black heart connected by multiple tubes. A second later, the beast began to teeter on it's one good hand. Apparently the sudden loss of a massive weight sent it off balance. And like the walls of Jericho, it titled backwards and slowly tumbled down. After the blast of air from it's collapse, Alexander ran up and jumped onto it's body. He kneeled reaching into it's chest and rested his hands upon it's heart. He felt it beating rapidly now, and with powerful contractions.
"This is the end of the line for you." Alexander droned. He had a fire in his eyes, but a dullness in his mind, perhaps the most dangerous combination of all. He placed a hand on either side if it's heart, and began to apply mighty pressure against it. The contractions sped up, and the beast's body spasmed violently.
"And with this, I have finished my final assignment." Alexander yanked his arms high above his head, pulling the heart out of it's torso. As the tubes and viens ripped out of the muscle, black ooze squirted in every direction. The heart in Alexander's hands gave a few parting beats before stopping forever, and as for the creature, it's body gave a massive quake and then fell limp.

Michelle, who had landed on the opposite side of the monster, looked up at Alexander's nightmarish act. Tony, far behind Alexander, almost passed out from the combination of physical exertion, emotional somersaulting, and traumatizing actions. Alexander, covered almost head to toe in a thick bile, tossed the heart aside, and silently walked back to the elevator. Michelle matched his funeralial like pace and fell in step behind Alexander. Tony waited until both passed, before schlopping his way into the elevator with them. All three were covered in blood, sweat, and tears, but none would be more content with their safety. All except Alexander, who's eyes traded for the dullness, but his mind gained the fire. He punched the code for exiting, practically burned a hole through the wall staring directly ahead while the machines went through the procedure of letting them pass.

The bar was empty and closed. It was past midnight, and a little town like this had no alcoholics. They wormed through stools and tables. Alexander reached the door and ripped it off it's hinges on the way out. Fearing for their lives, Tony and Michelle solemnly followed on his heels. The rain was a blessing, although cold. It washed away the blood, and hopefully the memories for now. Not daring to ask where they were heading, Tony instead wondered about the next thing on his mind.
"How did you do it Michelle?" He would soon regret ever asking, because stopped and gave the answer.
"She drank the blood of one of my friends." Unable to see through the dark night, neither Tony or Michelle realized that he had stopped and was mere inches from both of their faces. They both knocked into his chest, as he towered above them. His hair caught the wind and lifted slight in the breeze. Tony would never be able to describe the feeling on that black night, seeing Alexander's shillouette against the faint grey clouds above. The rain intensified, falling harder and faster.
"Schism is done with. Therefore, I'm done with you. Tomorrow morning, three horses will return." He turned and began to walk away.
"So what? You're going to turn tail and run on us?"
"Sounds about right."
"We need you, and you need us. Yet naturally, you're just going to run out the door again. How you managed to get a wife it a great mystery to me, since you're so detached from the world."
"Who are you to tell me how to live, considering you're the dead one here."
Tony shifted very uncomfortably. The remark cut down to the bone, yet Alexander showed no remorse. Michelle oddly didn't seem to notice, as she carried one without pause. "Although I may be a corpse, I can still see life. And you're just leaving yours in an ice box."
"Haha, your words are nice. But life isn't an abstract concept. It's a state that you're no longer a part of. Not like I would know without the infinite wisdom obviously doled out to the non-living."
In the middle of the tension, the sound of a person struggling through the mud could be heard. Majo approached the group holding a latern high above her head and fighting her way up to them
"Glad I could find you guys. I've come to say one last thing, and I wont' be convinced otherwise. I'm leaving the traveler's life behind and settling down here."