Page 148 of The Devil We Know

Agatha gives me a questioning look, so I add, “You know. When people are gonna be sent here, where would they say they’re going?”

Agatha smiles the first real smile I’ve seen from her in an age.

Then she replies, “The End.”

59

A Parting Word

Matt

It doesn’t take longfor Agatha to return with a standard legal-size envelope. She hands it over, and I snort at theassholeswritten on the outside of it, showing it to Declan and Tony, who both chuckle appreciatively because that was just Darius.

Clearing my throat, I read out loud:

Hey assholes,

Well, if you’re reading this, there’s a high probability I’m dead.

That being the only sentence on the page, I frown, and then my frown turns into a scowl when I turn the page over, only to find the back is also blank. I open the envelope, finding it empty, and then groan, my urge to throw a very Tony tantrum on the brink of overriding my typically unflappable persona.

I look at Agatha, who’s looking greatly amused, and my frown turns suspicious. “What is this?”

She grins and then hands me another envelope. I snatch it from her, this time glowering at the front that reads,hand this over after they look mad.

I give her a disgruntled look. “Yeah, well, you didn’t have to actually do it, you know.”

She shrugs, not looking even the tiniest bit guilty. “Just following instructions to a tee.”

I sigh heavily as I rip the envelope open, this time pulling out a page that has writing on both sides. Then I clear my throat and continue.

I’m sorry. Writing that and then leaving you hanging totally made me laugh.

I snort, rolling my eyes at his dickish sense of humor, wishing I could throttle him for messing with me at a time like this. Tony snickers, and I throw him another dirty look, and he at least pretends not to be amused, covering his smirk with one hand as he nods for me to continue.

Anyway, I know you have loads of questions, such as, how is this possible? And why haven’t I contacted you sooner? Unfortunately, you’re just going to have to be content without answers right now because I don’t have the time or patience to write it all down. I also take great pleasure in knowing it’s gonna make you crazy, so that’s a nice bonus for me.

For the record, I wasn’t going to say anything, but with all the changes going on with you all, it seems to be the ideal time to get my project officially up and running.

Now, I know some of you will think it’s crazy and may even consider it to be rather cult-like, but after the sweat, tears, and bloodshed we’ve put into eradicating the Earth of monsters, it would be a complete disservice to those we’ve saved for us to stop there.

For those who have been scarred by the atrocities of humankind, the trauma inflicted doesn’t end just because their monster has been eliminated. The monsters live on in the shadows, lingering in the deep recesses of the injured mind. For the broken and the aggrieved, the lost and the wounded, the nightmare of their past is a chronic companion in their present-day existence. The only way to not let the monsters win is to provide help for those who are still fighting until they reach a point where they’re strong enough to venture out into the wild as a newly rejuvenated version of their true self. To do this, they must always know one thing—they are not alone.

I wish I could divulge more about where I am andwhat I’m doing, but I don’t dare put anything in writing. Keep an eye on your mailboxes as I will do my best to include you in my continued plans to seek and destroy those who want to bring harm to others.

With all that being said, I’m relieved I don’t have to waste any time on sentiment and lovey-dovey bullshit, but one thing I will say is that I’m entrusting you all with what is currently known as my legacy, so you better not fuck it up.

Take care of each other, as well as those we love.

Dare

P.S. I’ll be back.

P.P.S. If you didn’t say that in the Terminator voice, you’re an asshole.

P.P.P.S. Don’t forget to “Mission Impossible” this note once you’ve read it.

“Yup,” Tony retorts. “You’re an asshole, Matt.”

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