My Anti-hero Fairy System

"Sheriff, it is best for you to mind your business. We're just placing our orders," Victor said, his tone laced with defiance as he glared at the officer.

Cara realized with a start that this must be Sheriff Tom Hader. He was tall, dark, and undeniably intimidating, with an aura of quiet authority. His sharp features suggested a man in his early 30s, though his demeanor made him seem older and more seasoned.

How could someone this young be a Sheriff? Cara thought.

"It doesn't look that way to me," the sheriff replied, stepping closer to Victor. "It looks like you're doing what you do best."

"And what do we do best, Sheriff?" Mylo asked, his voice cocky but his expression wary.

"Causing trouble," Sheriff Hader shot back, his tone unwavering.

Victor smirked. "You've got us all wrong. We're peace-loving folks, just here to order some food."

"Is that so?" the sheriff asked, his eyes narrowing. "Then why are you still holding the waitress's hand? What is this, an early tip before she gets your order?"

Victor immediately released Cara's arm, his jaw tightening as his facade of calm cracked. "You should really mind your own business, Sheriff Hader. One of these days, sticking your nose where it doesn't belong will cost you."

"Is that a threat, Victor?" the sheriff asked, his voice calm but loaded with menace.

Victor leaned back in his seat, his smirk returning. "No, it's just a fact."

The sheriff's lips curled into a cold smile. "Let me give you another fact: I'm looking forward to the day you act on it. Because when that day comes, it'll be the last one you rednecks will ever see. And believe me, my gun Windsor doesn't shoot to miss. Keep that in mind if you feel like running."

A heavy silence fell over the booth, the Scott brothers exchanging uneasy glances. The color drained from Victor's face, and even Mylo seemed rattled. The sheriff's calm confidence made it clear he wasn't bluffing.

[Man, he's terrifying.]

'Yes, and these White trash fear him.'

Cara was about to take their order one more time when Sheriff Hader spoke again. "Another waitress can deal with them. I need to talk to you. Now."

Cara hesitated but nodded. For the first time, she read his mind. The shock buried beneath his composed demeanor hit her like a wave. He was reeling from the sight of her alive, struggling to maintain his composure.

"All right," Cara said, keeping her voice steady as she stepped away from the Scott brothers. She followed the sheriff to a table at the far end of the diner, away from prying ears and watchful eyes.

As soon as they sat down, Sheriff Hader leaned in, his voice barely above a whisper. "Jesus Christ! For a moment there, I thought I saw a ghost. How the hell are you still alive?"

"I don't know. It's a miracle, I guess. But before you start asking questions, I need to let you know—I don't remember anything that happened to me. I lost my memories," Cara said, locking eyes with the sheriff's steady brown gaze.

"Really? You lost your memories?" Sheriff Hader's voice betrayed a note of concern. "Including the ones about your findings on your stepfather and his diner?"

"Yes, those are gone too. My doctor says my memories should come back little by little," Cara explained. She studied his reaction carefully. "So, did I give you any hints about what I found?"

"No, not really," Sheriff Hader admitted. "The last time we spoke, you told me you had something that would shock me. You mentioned a key. Do you still have it, by any chance?"

Cara hesitated. She had the key in her possession but wasn't ready to hand it over. Not yet. She needed to find out what was in that cellar first.

"No, Sheriff, I don't remember anything about a key," she lied smoothly.

The sheriff furrowed his brow, clearly frustrated. After a moment's pause, he said, "You know, your death always felt suspicious to me."

Cara tilted her head, feigning curiosity. "Why is that? I thought everyone believed I died of a drug overdose."

He leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering. "You called me a day before your death, telling me you had dirt on your stepfather, the mayor of this town. You said it was big. Then, on the very day you were supposed to hand it over to me, you turn up dead. Doesn't that strike you as odd?"

"Of course it does, Sheriff," Cara replied, testing the waters.

Hader's frustration spilled over as he continued. "Yesterday, I tried to get a hold of your phone, it is critical evidence. But Rudy? He refused to hand it over. Claimed it wasn't necessary, even though it could be key to figuring out what happened to you. And then, this morning, I requested your body be sent to the forensic unit for examination, only for my officers to arrive at the morgue and find you gone. Not a word from Rudy about you being… alive." He gestured at her with an incredulous shake of his head. "Everything about this feels wrong, Cara. Now, to top it off, you've conveniently lost your memories?"

Cara listened quietly as the sheriff ranted, her mind racing.

She focused and read his thoughts: God, why did she have to lose her memories? I need to put that scoundrel in prison for his corrupt ways before he gets rid of me and installs one of his puppets as sheriff.

'There's a lot more riding on this than I thought,' Cara realized.

[Seems like Rudy has his sights set on taking Hader out.]

'And the only way to stop him might be whatever's hidden in that cellar.'

[Then you'd better get moving before he tightens his grip.]

'I will,' Cara thought determinedly. 'Rudy has to be stopped.'

Cara gave the sheriff a reassuring nod. "I'll do my best to remember, Sheriff. If anything comes back to me, you'll be the first to know."

Hader sighed, studying her with a mix of concern and skepticism. "I hope so. Be careful, Cara. If what you found was dangerous enough to get you killed once, it might still be dangerous now to get you killed again."

"Thanks for the warning," Cara said, forcing a faint smile.

"And by the way, how did you manage to leave the morgue? My officers got there early this morning and saw the mortician passed out on the floor, are you by any chance responsible for that?" Sheriff asked.

What the hell do I say to him now, I can't say the truth not yet, Cara thought.