[Posted by Ted H]
Workin on a side project that might net me an actual payday. Go figure, right? More info as it develops...
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[Demons Ascension - Monroe]
"I'm not arrested, am I?"
James asked, yet again.
"Still aren't in
handcuffs, are you?" the officer responded, yet again as they walked into
the station. James had been compliant with the cop once it was explained that
they had picked up Amanda and brought her down for questioning. She was in
police custody, which was infinitely better than Croatoan's.
"I wanna see her,"
James said as they walked. The cop shook his head. "I'm under direct
orders to hand deliver you," he said as officers watched and whispered as
they saw James. "To who?" James wondered as they walked up the office
door of the chief. "Oh, this is gonna be fun," James said as he
rolled his eyes. The officer knocked on the door, opened it and motioned James
inside. James looked back as he entered to see John, who had been tailing
behind the whole time, having a quiet and heated argument with Lyle.
The chief's office was small,
even smaller when compared to the size of the chief who was spilling fat over
his chair as he leaned on the desk scribbling something down angrily. He had
graying hair with a bald spot in the back and a permanent scowl on his face.
The only thing missing was a mustache. He was wearing a suit with the jacket
draped over his chair and sweat stains in his pits. He did not look like a
pleasant person.
The desk was a mess of paperwork
and case folders. The windows had their blinds closed tight and the walls were
covered in newspaper articles, awards and a diploma. Despite the bitter cold
outside, Monroe actually had a small swivel fan going. It would slightly ruffle
some papers every time it blew by but not actually move anything.
"Have a seat,
Drake," he said without looking up, his accent was so heavy with Chicago
that it slightly annoyed James to listen to.
"That's Blake, not...,
" James said as he walked over to the chair opposite the desk "You
know what? You can just call me James." Monroe grunted and James was at a
loss for what that meant as the phone rang. Monroe grabbed the receiver, picked
it up for half a second before slamming it back down. He apparently wasn't
taking any calls. They sat opposite for a moment as Monroe finished whatever he
was writing, flipped the pen away and drew both his hands together on the desk.
He then blew heavily out his nose and stared at Blake but didn't say anything.
For a moment there was silence
between the two men, only broken up by the whistle of Monroe breathing heavily
through his nose. James shifted his head over and shrugged. "It's good to
meet you finally?" he said "I know we've both had very busy schedules
lately. This alone time we have together really breaks up the monotony of
constantly running around after a vicious killer."
Monroe sharply drew air in
through his nose before closing his eyes for a bit longer than a standard
blink. He then exhaled before opening his eyes again. "I don't know
how," he finally said "But whatever the hell is going on, I know for
a fact that you're in it up to your eyeballs. You want to tell me how four of
my guys ended up dead while trying to bring in one unarmed scumbag? Or how
about the fact that two of the last three times this guy strikes, we find you
right in the middle of it all?"
"It's all part of a
ritual," James said, choosing his words very carefully "This guy is
trying to become a god, or at least that what he thinks will happen." No
way he was convincing Monroe of something that he himself didn't think was
possible a week ago.
"I got my people out
there with their body parts ripped out, looking like some fucked up modern art
project, and you're telling me it's some deranged nut who thinks he's
God?" Monroe screamed, spit flying from his mouth.
"Not thee God, just a
god," James said calmly.
"You've got to be fucking
kidding me. We already got one guy in custody who belongs in the nut house, now
you're telling me he needs a roommate?"
"Ritual killers can be
easy to figure out once you factor what their MO is. Croa-, er, Crow's ritual
requires precise location and timing."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah,"
Monroe interrupted "Bradford's little star theory."
"And Bradford's death
gives us the fifth point of that star, all the exact same distance from the
center."
Monroe narrowed his gaze.
"Alright hot shot," he said "Now that our boy Crow has his star,
what now?"
"My best guess is he
needs his next target in the center."
"And your little
girlfriend we brought in is the next victim?"
"Eventually. She's the
only person Crow has associated with that isn't either dead or missing. If
she's not next, she's definitely soon."
"Well this Crow mother
fucker isn't getting anywhere near her. He'd have to go through the entire
force just to get within spitting distance."
"We need to get her as
far away from the city as possible."
"She isn't going
anywhere, and neither are you. I'm not convinced either of you are 100% clean
in all this."
"You don't understand, we
need to move her, now, at least for the next twelve hours."
"If he's dumb enough to
come knocking around here, than it's his funeral.
"You leave this girl
here, everyone inside will be as good as dead."
"We're done here,"
Monroe said as he got up and walked for the door. "Listen up!" he
yelled as he walked outside. He yelled for every cop not doing anything vital
to go to the apartments to apprehend Crow. He then kicked James out of his
office and picked up his phone to make a call.
James was allowed free to roam
about so long as he didn't try to leave, a stipulation he felt was at least a
slight infringement on his rights. they allowed him to see Amanda at least, so
he'd let it go. Amanda was in a small waiting room with a young officer
standing nearby. The officer looked about two days removed from the academy.
Amanda lit up when she saw James enter.
"What's happening?"
she asked as she hugged him "Is Crow a murderer?" The young cop
failed to suppress a laugh.
"What's so funny?"
James asked.
"Crow a murderer?"
the officer said "Get it?...Murder of crows?"
"...And you're done
talking, forever."
"Sorry."
"Yeah," James said,
turning his attention back to Amanda "In the most simple way I can put it,
Crow is the bad guy here."
"So maybe he wasn't gay.
Damn, you think you know a guy, and he turns out to be a serial killer. Was I
next or something?"
"We had...a strong reason
to believe you were a target."
"Awe," Amanda said,
touched before asking "Wait, is that why you want me to leave with you?
Because someone would want me dead?"
"Um," James said,
taken aback "There's that, but also because the commute to here from
Syracuse is outrageous, I don't care how good the sex is."
July 6, 2014
June 29, 2014
Demons Ascension - Cocky Moron
[Posted by Ted H]
Sick...bleh...
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[Demons Ascension - Cocky Moron]
"I'll drive," James said "You shoot." He climbed into the driver seat before John could even protest. "I got him, don't worry," John said just as Bradford's car was tossed out of the alley and into traffic, causing multiple accidents and a pile up. John climbed in the back as James took off down the other side where there were no cars. Croatoan leaped after, clearing the overturned car and ran after.
"How's you aim in a moving vehicle?" James yelled as he pulled into oncoming traffic.
"Better than yours," John said as he fired at Croatoan "Just don't crash into anything."
James could not shake the demon in the oncoming lane, so he switched to the right side and tried to speed passed slower traffic. Croatoan kept pace by jumping on cars and easily cut down the distance. "I have an idea," James said as he began to taper off speed "You have another head shot in you?"
"Whatever you're planning James, I swear to God it better work," John said as he reloaded. James cut in front of a truck who had also seen what Croatoan was doing and was speeding up to get away. James watch Croatoan easily jump well in front of the car and stand in its path, preparing to do again what he did to Bradford before.
"That's right you cocky moron," James yelled as John hung out the window and lined his shot up. James floored the gas as he sped towards a waiting Croatoan. "Now!" he screamed as John fired, Croatoan taking another shot to the head as he stumbled backwards and did nothing to impede the incoming vehicle. Croatoan went up and rolled right over the car and landed awkwardly on the ground behind them. He was just attempting to get up when the truck from behind slammed on the brakes, but couldn't stop in time and rolled right over the unsuspecting demon.
Other vehicles were caught off guard by the sudden truck stop and collided into it, causing yet another pile up. Croatoan ended up pinned by the truck and several cars. By time he collected himself and threw the vehicles off, James and John were long gone. He decided they were not worth pursuing and he had more important things to prepare for. He figured two mortals incapable of ultimately stopping him were of no concern at least until after his ascension.
"Where are we going?" John asked as he climbed into the front passenger seat. "The apartments," James said.
"We're going to where he lives?" John asked, not at all happy with the revelation "I thought we were trying to escape this guy?"
"We need to get Amanda."
"Look, I know you like her, but-"
"She's next on his ritual list."
"How could you even know that? No one could have guessed Bradford was next."
"This guys real name is Croatoan. He's a demon from hell trying to become a god. He needs to make seven specific sacrifices in accordance to some ritual. He tried this before but failed in the eleventh hour when his final sacrifice didn't work out."
"What happened?"
"No one knows. But he's made sure everything required for his next attempt is perfect, making sure everything is where it needs to be at the perfect time. But with Amanda, he's kept close in a personal way."
"Why?"
"If I were him, I'd make damn sure nothing went wrong with the final sacrifice this time around. Seeing me with Amanda last week must've really ticked him off."
"So not only are we going to where this demon guy lives, but we're going to also attempt to kidnap his final sacrifice. I've seen him choke a man out with another man's small intestines just for shooting at him, I can't imagine what he'll do to us for messing with his ritual."
"We get Amanda out of the city and Croatoan can't complete his ritual. What time is it now?"
"Noon."
"We get Amanda out and we keep her alive past midnight. Then we can do our end-zone dance."
"Great, thumbing out noses at a god-demon."
"He's not a god yet."
"Wait, Amanda's suppose to be the seventh and final sacrifice. Bradford was only the fifth. Who's number six?"
"I don't know. He's already made his star points, I'd bet number six is in the center of it all, in the apartments."
"That could be anyone in there."
"Maybe the location of the final sacrifice doesn't matter, maybe Amanda is number six, it doesn't matter. We get Amanda out and hide her from Croatoan."
It didn't take long to get to the apartments. "Wait here!" James said as he got out and ran for the entrance "Keep the engine running!" He ran under the scaffolding, trying not to notice that Marks paint job from before had burned away and Croatoan's name was once again in proud display. He made it to Amanda's room and franticly pounded on the door. No one answered. "C'mon," James said as he pounded again, then tried the handle to find the door unlocked.
"Amanda?" he asked as he walked in and searched every room for her. The entire apartment looked unchanged from the last time James was in. The computer sat open, boxes unpacked and bed sheets tossed. "Did she even make it back?" he asked himself as he double checked everything, then immediately crossed the hall and kicked in Croatoan's door.
There was hardly anything in Croaotan's apartment. The standard furnishings sat bare and unused, the kitchen as clean as possible and the windows were covered with thick curtains. The bedroom was empty of furniture and instead the entire room was covered floor to ceiling with a black substance that looked like melted candle wax but smelt like rotten fruit.
James covered his mouth as he tore down the curtains in the living room for better light and searched about anyway for Amanda. She was nowhere to be found and he was growing worried. He thought maybe Croatoan abducted her and stashed her somewhere while he took care of the other sacrifices.
He thought of returning to Dennys and asking someone there if someone had come for Amanda after he left or at least where Amanda went if she was still alone. He returned to the elevators and ran back outside to find numerous cops waiting for him with their guns drawn. John was behind them all with his hands up in confusion. "James Blake," the lead officer said as he holstered his gun and approached "You're coming with us. Keep your hands where we can see them."
Sick...bleh...
--------------------------------------
[Demons Ascension - Cocky Moron]
"I'll drive," James said "You shoot." He climbed into the driver seat before John could even protest. "I got him, don't worry," John said just as Bradford's car was tossed out of the alley and into traffic, causing multiple accidents and a pile up. John climbed in the back as James took off down the other side where there were no cars. Croatoan leaped after, clearing the overturned car and ran after.
"How's you aim in a moving vehicle?" James yelled as he pulled into oncoming traffic.
"Better than yours," John said as he fired at Croatoan "Just don't crash into anything."
James could not shake the demon in the oncoming lane, so he switched to the right side and tried to speed passed slower traffic. Croatoan kept pace by jumping on cars and easily cut down the distance. "I have an idea," James said as he began to taper off speed "You have another head shot in you?"
"Whatever you're planning James, I swear to God it better work," John said as he reloaded. James cut in front of a truck who had also seen what Croatoan was doing and was speeding up to get away. James watch Croatoan easily jump well in front of the car and stand in its path, preparing to do again what he did to Bradford before.
"That's right you cocky moron," James yelled as John hung out the window and lined his shot up. James floored the gas as he sped towards a waiting Croatoan. "Now!" he screamed as John fired, Croatoan taking another shot to the head as he stumbled backwards and did nothing to impede the incoming vehicle. Croatoan went up and rolled right over the car and landed awkwardly on the ground behind them. He was just attempting to get up when the truck from behind slammed on the brakes, but couldn't stop in time and rolled right over the unsuspecting demon.
Other vehicles were caught off guard by the sudden truck stop and collided into it, causing yet another pile up. Croatoan ended up pinned by the truck and several cars. By time he collected himself and threw the vehicles off, James and John were long gone. He decided they were not worth pursuing and he had more important things to prepare for. He figured two mortals incapable of ultimately stopping him were of no concern at least until after his ascension.
"Where are we going?" John asked as he climbed into the front passenger seat. "The apartments," James said.
"We're going to where he lives?" John asked, not at all happy with the revelation "I thought we were trying to escape this guy?"
"We need to get Amanda."
"Look, I know you like her, but-"
"She's next on his ritual list."
"How could you even know that? No one could have guessed Bradford was next."
"This guys real name is Croatoan. He's a demon from hell trying to become a god. He needs to make seven specific sacrifices in accordance to some ritual. He tried this before but failed in the eleventh hour when his final sacrifice didn't work out."
"What happened?"
"No one knows. But he's made sure everything required for his next attempt is perfect, making sure everything is where it needs to be at the perfect time. But with Amanda, he's kept close in a personal way."
"Why?"
"If I were him, I'd make damn sure nothing went wrong with the final sacrifice this time around. Seeing me with Amanda last week must've really ticked him off."
"So not only are we going to where this demon guy lives, but we're going to also attempt to kidnap his final sacrifice. I've seen him choke a man out with another man's small intestines just for shooting at him, I can't imagine what he'll do to us for messing with his ritual."
"We get Amanda out of the city and Croatoan can't complete his ritual. What time is it now?"
"Noon."
"We get Amanda out and we keep her alive past midnight. Then we can do our end-zone dance."
"Great, thumbing out noses at a god-demon."
"He's not a god yet."
"Wait, Amanda's suppose to be the seventh and final sacrifice. Bradford was only the fifth. Who's number six?"
"I don't know. He's already made his star points, I'd bet number six is in the center of it all, in the apartments."
"That could be anyone in there."
"Maybe the location of the final sacrifice doesn't matter, maybe Amanda is number six, it doesn't matter. We get Amanda out and hide her from Croatoan."
It didn't take long to get to the apartments. "Wait here!" James said as he got out and ran for the entrance "Keep the engine running!" He ran under the scaffolding, trying not to notice that Marks paint job from before had burned away and Croatoan's name was once again in proud display. He made it to Amanda's room and franticly pounded on the door. No one answered. "C'mon," James said as he pounded again, then tried the handle to find the door unlocked.
"Amanda?" he asked as he walked in and searched every room for her. The entire apartment looked unchanged from the last time James was in. The computer sat open, boxes unpacked and bed sheets tossed. "Did she even make it back?" he asked himself as he double checked everything, then immediately crossed the hall and kicked in Croatoan's door.
There was hardly anything in Croaotan's apartment. The standard furnishings sat bare and unused, the kitchen as clean as possible and the windows were covered with thick curtains. The bedroom was empty of furniture and instead the entire room was covered floor to ceiling with a black substance that looked like melted candle wax but smelt like rotten fruit.
James covered his mouth as he tore down the curtains in the living room for better light and searched about anyway for Amanda. She was nowhere to be found and he was growing worried. He thought maybe Croatoan abducted her and stashed her somewhere while he took care of the other sacrifices.
He thought of returning to Dennys and asking someone there if someone had come for Amanda after he left or at least where Amanda went if she was still alone. He returned to the elevators and ran back outside to find numerous cops waiting for him with their guns drawn. John was behind them all with his hands up in confusion. "James Blake," the lead officer said as he holstered his gun and approached "You're coming with us. Keep your hands where we can see them."
June 22, 2014
Demons Ascension - Promise Not To Move?
[Posted by Ted H]
Pointlessly gore filled death scenes? Check.
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[Demons Ascension - Promise Not To Move?]
"You ok?" James heard Bradford scream as he felt dizzy, but conscious. "Blake, are you ok? Can you hear me?" Bradford yelled again. James looked out where he could and could see Crow walking away. "I'm fine," he said as he struggled to get out of the car. "Stay here," Bradford said as he easily got out and sprinted after Crow.
"Wait," James stammered as he forced his door open and stumbled out. Bradford was already down the alley and screaming for Crow to freeze. "Bradford!" James yelled as he ran to catch up, the entire situation seemed wrong, as if they were being led by Crow. "Bradford!" James yelled again as he heard two loud gunshots.
There were sirens of approaching cops in the air as James heard three more gunshots. He turned out of the alley and felt a knot in his stomach as he entered an empty lot. Constructions materials and equipment were strewn about as the city was planning to build on the land. "Bradford!" he screamed as he weaved his way through equipment looking for the cop.
On the ground near some blood and bullet casings was a magnum pistol. James picked it up and checked the chamber; only one bullet remained loaded. "Bradford, say something!" James called out. He could feel that he wasn't alone. Croatoan was still lurking and was probably planning on finishing what he started before. "Headshots slow him down," James said to himself as he gripped the magnum and slowly made his way through the site. Dead or alive, he needed to find Bradford one way or the other before trying to escape.
"Oh no," he breathed as he came across a torn up pile of clothing, all things Bradford was wearing. He followed a nearby blood trail to find Bradford laid out on a tarp covered pile of wood; His legs were straight and his arms outstretched like he was on a cross, and his chest was ripped open. His eyes were still fixed open, wide and colorless. His heart was gone.
The approaching sirens were getting louder, making it almost impossible for James to hear approaching footsteps behind him, almost. He spun around and pointed the magnum as Croatoan stopped and smiled, a bloody dagger in his right hand and a mess of Bradford's blood on his mouth from when he consumed his heart.
"Finished your little art project in the city I see," James said.
"Not quite," Croatoan said, never losing that grin "But it's not like you'll be around long enough to see me complete my task."
"The police found one of your boys. They moved him. Whatever you're doing, it's been disturbed. It won't work."
The placement is key, but hardly static. It's more ceremonial than anything. You've stopped nothing. Unless of course you can make that one shot count."
Croatoan was taunting him, Matthew said a headshot would only momentarily inconvenience the demon if anything, but Croatoan wanted to give him the false hope of a chance before killing him. James scoffed at the notion but kept up the charade. Croatoan didn't know that James knew what he knew.
"One shot, huh?" James said, adding a little extra desperation to his voice for Croatoan "That doesn't seem fair, seeing as how this will be your second chance to off me."
"Life isn't fair, Blake. But seeing how hopelessly doomed you are, I might as well have some sport in the moment."
"What's to say you even have a weak point?"
"Oh, everyone has a weakness. Is it right between my eyes? Or perhaps it's where my ice cold heart should be? Or maybe it's somewhere else?"
"Promise not to move?" James asked, Croatoan was getting cocky.
"I almost wish that gun was fully loaded. Tell you what, you've impressed me a little. I left you for dead back in Syracuse and yet here you are, aimlessly trying to stop the inevitable. I mean really, the two most powerful forces in existence, your maker and my own, both powerless to stop me. And yet here you are, a mere mortal, honestly thinking you can do what literal gods are limp to do anything about. It be endearing if it wasn't so irritating.
"So when we're done here, Blake, after I've collected your soul and taken your heart, I'll hold onto you. For when my ascension is complete and I take my rightful place as god of this realm, you and I are gonna have some fun. I'll resurrect you, just to torture you for centuries on end, then, when your flickering soul finally gives out and you die, I'll bring you back and we can begin the fun all over again.
"You see, your insistence on being in my way has earned you a special place in my kingdom. Whether or not you find that to be a good thing is up to you but rest assured, I'll manage to enjoy your tortured company. You will be held up as an example for all to see; Gods, mortals, demons and angels alike will understand the fate of those who dare oppose me. And I have been opposed for so long that you, dear Blake, will be the outlet of my frustration for these centuries of denied ascension."
"So..." James said with a smirk "I take it you won't move on me when I shoot?"
Croatoan glared at James a moment. "Arrogant and a snark, even at the end," he mused "Go on then, take your shot. One, final defiant volley against that of a god!"
"You're not there yet, you self absorbed choke artist."
"What did you call me?"
"You messed up once, and you'll fall short again. I just need to figure out how."
"What makes you think you'll even live long enough to try?"
"Well, for one, I'm not dumb enough to take this shot."
Croatoan then tensed up as he prepared to rush James. "And for two," James said "You should've realized that I can't go two freaking minutes in this town without a cop catching up to me. Croatoan was confused by that until he looked around and noticed a number of officers surrounding them. He then looked back to James who had a big grin on his face. "You shouldn't monologue so much," he said before diving out of the way behind a truck.
Numerous officers screamed at a now furious Croatoan to freeze. Croatoan sprinted at a speed no one expected to where James had gone and overturned the truck with one arm. James was no longer there but the cops weren't patient anymore and started firing. Croatoan took every shot without notice and screamed "Blake! I will rip your spine out through your throat and shred your fucking soul into pieces!"
Croatoan gave up on his search for James and instead decided to take out some frustration on the officers shooting at him. He covered an intimidating amount of ground in no time and ran for an officer, ripping his hands into the man's stomach, then began pulling his intestines out. He then continued to pull as he ran to a neighboring officer and began to strangle him with another man's guts.
The other officers momentarily stopped shooting at the sight of the spectacle, some questioning the use of shooting someone that clearly did not care for the bullets, others opting to run away now while they still had the chance. Croatoan twisted and pulled the intestines tight on the officers neck until his struggles fades and he went limp. He then leapt to another officer who was trying to sneak in close, then began choking him with the same intestines.
The officer whose guts were being used meanwhile was unfortunately still alive. He laid on the ground, arms in a spasm, while he pleaded for someone to kill him. He was groping for his dropped pistol and was unable to see from the agony. Every twitch and pull from his intestines sent a new wave of pain through him and he began to choke on his own rising blood and bile, eventually he decided to stop trying to void his mouth because choking to death was more favorable than the constant pain he had no escape from.
The intestines Croatoan were using meanwhile had begun to tear and fall apart. The officer he was choking was gasping for air at every interval while Croatoan failed to salvage the organ as a viable murder tool. He decided there was no more pleasure to be had with it and instead chose to stuff the pieces of broken intestine down the surviving cops throat, taunting him as he struggled to either cough out or swallow the constant flow of innards.
James had no intention of watching the wanton display of gore and violence and instead was concerned with sneaking his way out. As long as there were cops dumb enough to keep shooting and hold Croatoan's attention, he figured he could escape. "James!" he heard John calling and he made his way over. "Keep your voice down and let's get out of here," James said as he ran up to him.
"What the hell was that?" John asked with wide eyes as they ran back down the alley.
"Are we ready to start believing all the crazy nonsense I've been suggesting yet?" James asked right back as they sprinted towards Bradford's car. John had parked right at the entryway in the street.
"I'm feeling a little more open minded," John said as James noticed all shooting had stopped. "What the hell though? Is he wearing kevlar? And how could he move that fast and rip that guy apart?"
"He's immortal. A demon," James said, hardly able to believe his own words said out loud "I'll explain on the way. How'd you even end up here?"
"I tried to get to you at the apartments before Bradford. I was in the area when he made the pursuit call. What happened back there?"
"Bradford's dead. It was a trap, he was the next sacrifice."
"What do you mean?"
"Blaaaaaaaaaake!" Croaton bellowed from down the alley, his voice echoing as it took a clichéd demonic accent. "Oh, fuck," John said as he worked his way around Bradford's car "He's coming." Croatoan was sprinting down the alley at Olympian speeds as James mind raced for a way out. "Head shot won't kill him, but it might slow him down," he said as John readied his gun. "Good enough for me," he said.
Croatoan made no effort to deviate his path as he came straight for the men. "You can make that kind of shot, right?" James asked. John didn't answer as he aimed, held his breath and fired, Croatoans head immediately snapped back and his body toppled over, rolling like a rag doll as his momentum carried him farther down the alley. Within seconds he was shaking it off and pulling the bullet from his skull. James and John had meanwhile ran out and made it to the car.
Pointlessly gore filled death scenes? Check.
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[Demons Ascension - Promise Not To Move?]
"You ok?" James heard Bradford scream as he felt dizzy, but conscious. "Blake, are you ok? Can you hear me?" Bradford yelled again. James looked out where he could and could see Crow walking away. "I'm fine," he said as he struggled to get out of the car. "Stay here," Bradford said as he easily got out and sprinted after Crow.
"Wait," James stammered as he forced his door open and stumbled out. Bradford was already down the alley and screaming for Crow to freeze. "Bradford!" James yelled as he ran to catch up, the entire situation seemed wrong, as if they were being led by Crow. "Bradford!" James yelled again as he heard two loud gunshots.
There were sirens of approaching cops in the air as James heard three more gunshots. He turned out of the alley and felt a knot in his stomach as he entered an empty lot. Constructions materials and equipment were strewn about as the city was planning to build on the land. "Bradford!" he screamed as he weaved his way through equipment looking for the cop.
On the ground near some blood and bullet casings was a magnum pistol. James picked it up and checked the chamber; only one bullet remained loaded. "Bradford, say something!" James called out. He could feel that he wasn't alone. Croatoan was still lurking and was probably planning on finishing what he started before. "Headshots slow him down," James said to himself as he gripped the magnum and slowly made his way through the site. Dead or alive, he needed to find Bradford one way or the other before trying to escape.
"Oh no," he breathed as he came across a torn up pile of clothing, all things Bradford was wearing. He followed a nearby blood trail to find Bradford laid out on a tarp covered pile of wood; His legs were straight and his arms outstretched like he was on a cross, and his chest was ripped open. His eyes were still fixed open, wide and colorless. His heart was gone.
The approaching sirens were getting louder, making it almost impossible for James to hear approaching footsteps behind him, almost. He spun around and pointed the magnum as Croatoan stopped and smiled, a bloody dagger in his right hand and a mess of Bradford's blood on his mouth from when he consumed his heart.
"Finished your little art project in the city I see," James said.
"Not quite," Croatoan said, never losing that grin "But it's not like you'll be around long enough to see me complete my task."
"The police found one of your boys. They moved him. Whatever you're doing, it's been disturbed. It won't work."
The placement is key, but hardly static. It's more ceremonial than anything. You've stopped nothing. Unless of course you can make that one shot count."
Croatoan was taunting him, Matthew said a headshot would only momentarily inconvenience the demon if anything, but Croatoan wanted to give him the false hope of a chance before killing him. James scoffed at the notion but kept up the charade. Croatoan didn't know that James knew what he knew.
"One shot, huh?" James said, adding a little extra desperation to his voice for Croatoan "That doesn't seem fair, seeing as how this will be your second chance to off me."
"Life isn't fair, Blake. But seeing how hopelessly doomed you are, I might as well have some sport in the moment."
"What's to say you even have a weak point?"
"Oh, everyone has a weakness. Is it right between my eyes? Or perhaps it's where my ice cold heart should be? Or maybe it's somewhere else?"
"Promise not to move?" James asked, Croatoan was getting cocky.
"I almost wish that gun was fully loaded. Tell you what, you've impressed me a little. I left you for dead back in Syracuse and yet here you are, aimlessly trying to stop the inevitable. I mean really, the two most powerful forces in existence, your maker and my own, both powerless to stop me. And yet here you are, a mere mortal, honestly thinking you can do what literal gods are limp to do anything about. It be endearing if it wasn't so irritating.
"So when we're done here, Blake, after I've collected your soul and taken your heart, I'll hold onto you. For when my ascension is complete and I take my rightful place as god of this realm, you and I are gonna have some fun. I'll resurrect you, just to torture you for centuries on end, then, when your flickering soul finally gives out and you die, I'll bring you back and we can begin the fun all over again.
"You see, your insistence on being in my way has earned you a special place in my kingdom. Whether or not you find that to be a good thing is up to you but rest assured, I'll manage to enjoy your tortured company. You will be held up as an example for all to see; Gods, mortals, demons and angels alike will understand the fate of those who dare oppose me. And I have been opposed for so long that you, dear Blake, will be the outlet of my frustration for these centuries of denied ascension."
"So..." James said with a smirk "I take it you won't move on me when I shoot?"
Croatoan glared at James a moment. "Arrogant and a snark, even at the end," he mused "Go on then, take your shot. One, final defiant volley against that of a god!"
"You're not there yet, you self absorbed choke artist."
"What did you call me?"
"You messed up once, and you'll fall short again. I just need to figure out how."
"What makes you think you'll even live long enough to try?"
"Well, for one, I'm not dumb enough to take this shot."
Croatoan then tensed up as he prepared to rush James. "And for two," James said "You should've realized that I can't go two freaking minutes in this town without a cop catching up to me. Croatoan was confused by that until he looked around and noticed a number of officers surrounding them. He then looked back to James who had a big grin on his face. "You shouldn't monologue so much," he said before diving out of the way behind a truck.
Numerous officers screamed at a now furious Croatoan to freeze. Croatoan sprinted at a speed no one expected to where James had gone and overturned the truck with one arm. James was no longer there but the cops weren't patient anymore and started firing. Croatoan took every shot without notice and screamed "Blake! I will rip your spine out through your throat and shred your fucking soul into pieces!"
Croatoan gave up on his search for James and instead decided to take out some frustration on the officers shooting at him. He covered an intimidating amount of ground in no time and ran for an officer, ripping his hands into the man's stomach, then began pulling his intestines out. He then continued to pull as he ran to a neighboring officer and began to strangle him with another man's guts.
The other officers momentarily stopped shooting at the sight of the spectacle, some questioning the use of shooting someone that clearly did not care for the bullets, others opting to run away now while they still had the chance. Croatoan twisted and pulled the intestines tight on the officers neck until his struggles fades and he went limp. He then leapt to another officer who was trying to sneak in close, then began choking him with the same intestines.
The officer whose guts were being used meanwhile was unfortunately still alive. He laid on the ground, arms in a spasm, while he pleaded for someone to kill him. He was groping for his dropped pistol and was unable to see from the agony. Every twitch and pull from his intestines sent a new wave of pain through him and he began to choke on his own rising blood and bile, eventually he decided to stop trying to void his mouth because choking to death was more favorable than the constant pain he had no escape from.
The intestines Croatoan were using meanwhile had begun to tear and fall apart. The officer he was choking was gasping for air at every interval while Croatoan failed to salvage the organ as a viable murder tool. He decided there was no more pleasure to be had with it and instead chose to stuff the pieces of broken intestine down the surviving cops throat, taunting him as he struggled to either cough out or swallow the constant flow of innards.
James had no intention of watching the wanton display of gore and violence and instead was concerned with sneaking his way out. As long as there were cops dumb enough to keep shooting and hold Croatoan's attention, he figured he could escape. "James!" he heard John calling and he made his way over. "Keep your voice down and let's get out of here," James said as he ran up to him.
"What the hell was that?" John asked with wide eyes as they ran back down the alley.
"Are we ready to start believing all the crazy nonsense I've been suggesting yet?" James asked right back as they sprinted towards Bradford's car. John had parked right at the entryway in the street.
"I'm feeling a little more open minded," John said as James noticed all shooting had stopped. "What the hell though? Is he wearing kevlar? And how could he move that fast and rip that guy apart?"
"He's immortal. A demon," James said, hardly able to believe his own words said out loud "I'll explain on the way. How'd you even end up here?"
"I tried to get to you at the apartments before Bradford. I was in the area when he made the pursuit call. What happened back there?"
"Bradford's dead. It was a trap, he was the next sacrifice."
"What do you mean?"
"Blaaaaaaaaaake!" Croaton bellowed from down the alley, his voice echoing as it took a clichéd demonic accent. "Oh, fuck," John said as he worked his way around Bradford's car "He's coming." Croatoan was sprinting down the alley at Olympian speeds as James mind raced for a way out. "Head shot won't kill him, but it might slow him down," he said as John readied his gun. "Good enough for me," he said.
Croatoan made no effort to deviate his path as he came straight for the men. "You can make that kind of shot, right?" James asked. John didn't answer as he aimed, held his breath and fired, Croatoans head immediately snapped back and his body toppled over, rolling like a rag doll as his momentum carried him farther down the alley. Within seconds he was shaking it off and pulling the bullet from his skull. James and John had meanwhile ran out and made it to the car.
June 15, 2014
Demons Ascension - Chase Scene
[Posted by Ted H]
I already know what I'm gonna do for NaNoWriMo 2014....be afraid, be very afraid...
-------------------------------------------
[Demons Ascension - Chase Scene]
James looked to Amanda and said "Start packing, I'll be back before you know it." Amanda smiled at him as he stood up and followed Bradford out the door, Bradford never even paying mind to Amanda. "Seriously," James said as they left Dennys "I have every intention to leave."
"You haven't done anything to this point without a reason," Bradford said as he walked to his car. "Get in," he said as he unlocked the doors.
"Am I being detained?" James asked as they climbed in and Bradford started up the engine. "I know you've been impersonating an officer," Bradford said "So I can defiantly arrest you if I wanted to."
"I never personally said that," James said "People just kept making that mistake and I never corrected them."
"What about impersonating a doctor, Dr. Blake?"
"You heard about that one too? I didn't even know that one was illegal."
"I just want you supervised. And I know you'll want to work this case firsthand so I don't have to worry about you disappearing on me so long as I'm going where the case leads."
"Awe, so you do care."
"I want to know what the girl has to do with this."
"You mean besides my obvious benefits?"
"There's a reason you were in that complex."
Before James could answer, Bradford's phone rang. As he drove, he pulled it out and put it on speakerphone. "This is Bradford," he said.
"It's Mangan," the phone said "Listen, the analysis came back on the contents of that John Doe's stomach. Hope you're not eating because this guy had eaten the heart of Father Nicholas Brooks. Finger prints match those found at the scene. He's defiantly the killer."
"What about the other crime scenes?" James asked as he snatched the phone from Bradford "Fingerprints match from the other scenes?"
"Um," Lyle said over the phone.
"Go ahead," Bradford said.
"No," Lyle said "All four scenes have different prints. But I've a bad feeling what these people are doing with the hearts."
"Keep me posted," Bradford said and ended the call.
"Are we ready to call them rituals?" James asked with a smile.
"Yeah, yeah. what else can you tell me then?" Bradford said sarcastically.
"The guy named Crow that John undoubtedly told you about? That's your mastermind. He's also the guy at crime scene number four."
"If he's the mastermind, then why start killing now? Especially his own people?"
"His own people?"
"Our John Doe was found in a park, heart cut out like all the other victims. This was different though, he was killed somewhere else and moved to the park. Left there intentionally. We only found him last night. Found out about his connection to the murders more recently."
"Probably killed in that basement bloodbath John and I found before I left the first time."
"All that blood was bleached. Too many chemicals mixed in there for us to figure anything out. But what makes you think Crow is involved? Praque talked to him a few days ago and his alibis checked out."
"I bet his excuse for this morning won't."
"Guy has no priors. Hell, we can't even prove he existed before last week."
"He resides in a low income dump and has had his little minions do everything for him until now. Of course he wouldn't have a record."
"Is this a gut feeling about him or what?"
"I bet you your John Doe lived in that apartment complex and is a known associate with Crow. That girl I was with would be one of probably many who could point that out. You don't even need to arrest him, just bring him in for questioning. You've got enough circumstantial proof to do that."
Bradford smiled. "Praque was right," he said "You are smarter than you look."
James laughed. "So you'll actually listen to me on this?" he asked.
"I've had an APB out on him all morning," Bradford said "We managed to dig up some footage from Hapdale that featured someone who wasn't supposed to be there. Only got the side and back of his head as he walked by, but it seems close. On top of the sketch from that runaway nut and his connections to the John Doe, you bet your ass I want to have a face to face with him."
"Nice. So where are we going now?"
"Station."
"How about we swing by an empty lot I got a hunch about?"
"You mean because of the star pattern? Already checked it out. Nothing. And that was before we found out about the guy in the park. The park doesn't fit the pattern."
"There is a pattern to these rituals. Maybe there's a different pattern that involves the other guys."
"There were no prints at the Williams alley, so for all we really know, there are at most two killers. We already have one accounted for. But we are looking into the idea that there are four involved."
"Alright Mr. I need proof, why four?"
"Remember that fabric? And how it looked like the same that runaway from the church was wearing? Well some guys at the Property Crimes division got back to me about that. About a year ago a second hand shop was broken into. Not much was stolen except, among other inconsequential items, four gray trench coats."
"Now if I were the one telling you that, you'd write it off as nonsense."
"Yeah, well, it all seems to fit now. I'm not sure if I like it."
"But what about Crow?"
"Just want to talk. Preferably with him at the police station in handcuffs because according to Praque, he's creepy as fuck."
"Good enough for me," James said as he looked out at the street and began to wish that he took some of that coffee from Dennys to go.
"Holy shit!" Bradford screamed as he hit the brakes. Tires screeched as James held on and other cars honked. "What the hell, man?" James shouted as he saw Bradford's eyes almost bugging out of his head. James followed his eyes and saw Crow standing near the intersection in a gray trench coat. Crow looked back with some disbelief at James before turning and taking off down the next street.
"Oh, I got you now!" Bradford yelled as he hit the gas and tires once again screeched as he took off after. As he turned the corner, James could see Crow had already gotten a steady lead. Bradford drove with one hand as he grabbed his phone with the other and called in his situation and where he was heading.
"This guy is fast," Bradford commented as he pursued, every time he thought he was catching up with Crow, the man turned a corner and when Bradford made the turn, he was already up the street faster than any man should have been able to run. "I'll catch this guy, don't worry," he said as he continued weaving through traffic to keep pace.
"We're heading west, aren't we?" James asked.
"I think so, why?"
"Don't you think it odd him showing up right now?"
"All I know is we caught him right when we need to."
"I don't believe in coincidences."
After a few more blocks, Bradford began to make noticeable progress. "Yeah, you're getting tired, aren't you?" Bradford yelled as Crow turned into an alley at the last second.
"Nice try," Bradford yelled as he turned to follow, but Crow was standing right in the way as Bradford barreled his car in. "Shit!" he yelled as he slammed on the brakes and James braced himself. Bradford was worried he was about to run over his suspect. James was worried because he suddenly remembered what happened to Rickey Kenton.
As the car was about to hit, Crow threw both hands up, braced his feet and stopped the car dead in its tracks. Both airbags deployed and the rear of the car momentarily went in the air as all four tires went off the ground. The car violently dropped as Crow merely shrugged off the collision and casually walked down the rest of the alley.
I already know what I'm gonna do for NaNoWriMo 2014....be afraid, be very afraid...
-------------------------------------------
[Demons Ascension - Chase Scene]
James looked to Amanda and said "Start packing, I'll be back before you know it." Amanda smiled at him as he stood up and followed Bradford out the door, Bradford never even paying mind to Amanda. "Seriously," James said as they left Dennys "I have every intention to leave."
"You haven't done anything to this point without a reason," Bradford said as he walked to his car. "Get in," he said as he unlocked the doors.
"Am I being detained?" James asked as they climbed in and Bradford started up the engine. "I know you've been impersonating an officer," Bradford said "So I can defiantly arrest you if I wanted to."
"I never personally said that," James said "People just kept making that mistake and I never corrected them."
"What about impersonating a doctor, Dr. Blake?"
"You heard about that one too? I didn't even know that one was illegal."
"I just want you supervised. And I know you'll want to work this case firsthand so I don't have to worry about you disappearing on me so long as I'm going where the case leads."
"Awe, so you do care."
"I want to know what the girl has to do with this."
"You mean besides my obvious benefits?"
"There's a reason you were in that complex."
Before James could answer, Bradford's phone rang. As he drove, he pulled it out and put it on speakerphone. "This is Bradford," he said.
"It's Mangan," the phone said "Listen, the analysis came back on the contents of that John Doe's stomach. Hope you're not eating because this guy had eaten the heart of Father Nicholas Brooks. Finger prints match those found at the scene. He's defiantly the killer."
"What about the other crime scenes?" James asked as he snatched the phone from Bradford "Fingerprints match from the other scenes?"
"Um," Lyle said over the phone.
"Go ahead," Bradford said.
"No," Lyle said "All four scenes have different prints. But I've a bad feeling what these people are doing with the hearts."
"Keep me posted," Bradford said and ended the call.
"Are we ready to call them rituals?" James asked with a smile.
"Yeah, yeah. what else can you tell me then?" Bradford said sarcastically.
"The guy named Crow that John undoubtedly told you about? That's your mastermind. He's also the guy at crime scene number four."
"If he's the mastermind, then why start killing now? Especially his own people?"
"His own people?"
"Our John Doe was found in a park, heart cut out like all the other victims. This was different though, he was killed somewhere else and moved to the park. Left there intentionally. We only found him last night. Found out about his connection to the murders more recently."
"Probably killed in that basement bloodbath John and I found before I left the first time."
"All that blood was bleached. Too many chemicals mixed in there for us to figure anything out. But what makes you think Crow is involved? Praque talked to him a few days ago and his alibis checked out."
"I bet his excuse for this morning won't."
"Guy has no priors. Hell, we can't even prove he existed before last week."
"He resides in a low income dump and has had his little minions do everything for him until now. Of course he wouldn't have a record."
"Is this a gut feeling about him or what?"
"I bet you your John Doe lived in that apartment complex and is a known associate with Crow. That girl I was with would be one of probably many who could point that out. You don't even need to arrest him, just bring him in for questioning. You've got enough circumstantial proof to do that."
Bradford smiled. "Praque was right," he said "You are smarter than you look."
James laughed. "So you'll actually listen to me on this?" he asked.
"I've had an APB out on him all morning," Bradford said "We managed to dig up some footage from Hapdale that featured someone who wasn't supposed to be there. Only got the side and back of his head as he walked by, but it seems close. On top of the sketch from that runaway nut and his connections to the John Doe, you bet your ass I want to have a face to face with him."
"Nice. So where are we going now?"
"Station."
"How about we swing by an empty lot I got a hunch about?"
"You mean because of the star pattern? Already checked it out. Nothing. And that was before we found out about the guy in the park. The park doesn't fit the pattern."
"There is a pattern to these rituals. Maybe there's a different pattern that involves the other guys."
"There were no prints at the Williams alley, so for all we really know, there are at most two killers. We already have one accounted for. But we are looking into the idea that there are four involved."
"Alright Mr. I need proof, why four?"
"Remember that fabric? And how it looked like the same that runaway from the church was wearing? Well some guys at the Property Crimes division got back to me about that. About a year ago a second hand shop was broken into. Not much was stolen except, among other inconsequential items, four gray trench coats."
"Now if I were the one telling you that, you'd write it off as nonsense."
"Yeah, well, it all seems to fit now. I'm not sure if I like it."
"But what about Crow?"
"Just want to talk. Preferably with him at the police station in handcuffs because according to Praque, he's creepy as fuck."
"Good enough for me," James said as he looked out at the street and began to wish that he took some of that coffee from Dennys to go.
"Holy shit!" Bradford screamed as he hit the brakes. Tires screeched as James held on and other cars honked. "What the hell, man?" James shouted as he saw Bradford's eyes almost bugging out of his head. James followed his eyes and saw Crow standing near the intersection in a gray trench coat. Crow looked back with some disbelief at James before turning and taking off down the next street.
"Oh, I got you now!" Bradford yelled as he hit the gas and tires once again screeched as he took off after. As he turned the corner, James could see Crow had already gotten a steady lead. Bradford drove with one hand as he grabbed his phone with the other and called in his situation and where he was heading.
"This guy is fast," Bradford commented as he pursued, every time he thought he was catching up with Crow, the man turned a corner and when Bradford made the turn, he was already up the street faster than any man should have been able to run. "I'll catch this guy, don't worry," he said as he continued weaving through traffic to keep pace.
"We're heading west, aren't we?" James asked.
"I think so, why?"
"Don't you think it odd him showing up right now?"
"All I know is we caught him right when we need to."
"I don't believe in coincidences."
After a few more blocks, Bradford began to make noticeable progress. "Yeah, you're getting tired, aren't you?" Bradford yelled as Crow turned into an alley at the last second.
"Nice try," Bradford yelled as he turned to follow, but Crow was standing right in the way as Bradford barreled his car in. "Shit!" he yelled as he slammed on the brakes and James braced himself. Bradford was worried he was about to run over his suspect. James was worried because he suddenly remembered what happened to Rickey Kenton.
As the car was about to hit, Crow threw both hands up, braced his feet and stopped the car dead in its tracks. Both airbags deployed and the rear of the car momentarily went in the air as all four tires went off the ground. The car violently dropped as Crow merely shrugged off the collision and casually walked down the rest of the alley.
June 8, 2014
Demons Ascension - Dennys
[Posted by Ted H]
...because who doesn't love them some dennys?
----------------------------------------------
[Demons Ascension - Dennys]
It was after 11:30 when James and Amanda finally left the apartment. A block away was a Dennys and the two were at a table in no time. James ordered the biggest pot of coffee available and Amanda requested tea. "So are you relatively new in town?" James asked "Cuz there were some unpacked items in your living room."
"I've been here almost a year," Amanda said "I just, I dunno, never get around to finish unpacking. I have too much stuff, I only unpack something if I need it."
"What brought you to Chicago?"
"Fresh start I guess. I mean, I've had like three fresh starts in the last decade, but I was pretty sure this time would stick."
"How many jobs have you had?"
"I've had eight jobs, four boyfriends and three cats since I began...or, will it be five boyfriends?"
"You're not very good at being subtle, are you?" James said as the waitress dropped off a cup of tea and a mug of coffee then took their orders. Amanda ordered some complicated dish that the waitress didn't bat an eye at. James, feeling unoriginal, ordered a grand slam.
"Subtlety is no fun," Amanda said as the waitress left "The time I spend around some guys is short enough, I don't want to lose any time by doing a will-they won't-they dance. I like you, I knew you like me, I figured why not?"
"Aren't you afraid I won't stick around?"
"If you don't, then you don't. At least we got something good out of it while we could."
"Interesting," James said as he drank from his mug "I like you for that."
"I know," Amanda responded with a wink before she sipped at her tea.
"I'm not really a cop," James suddenly decided to confess.
"I still would have liked you," Amanda said without missing a beat "But if you're not a cop, why the interest in Crow?"
"That friend of mine is a cop though, and he might have an issue with me telling you about Crow."
"Why are you involved then?"
"Added perspective. I don't think like a cop."
"Are you even from Chicago?"
"Nope. New York."
"The city? I was there for a couple years. Which borough were you?"
"Uh, upstate New York, not downstate."
"How big a difference?"
"Less personal respect, a lot more trees and an uncanny amount of rednecks for an area north of the Mason-Dixon."
"When are you going back? After whatever case you're on is finished?"
"Hopefully," James said as he placed his mug down and had an idea "I'd actually go back today if you're willing to come with me."
Amanda stopped mid sip at that statement. She placed her cup down and maintained eye contact. "Go to New York, with you?" she asked as James nodded. "Ok."
"Really?" James asked "Just like that?"
"Yup. What's another change in scenery?"
"I don't live glamorously."
"Don't care."
"My jobs are sporadic and prolly worse than yours."
"Don't care."
"The winters are crap and the summers unbearable."
"Don't care."
"What do you care about?"
"That you're not a criminal, and you can't be if you're hanging around that cop so much, and that what you and I did back in my bedroom will become a regular thing."
"What about your job now?"
"I'll call right now and quit."
"Let's go pack your stuff right now. We can be at my place before dawn tomorrow."
"Then what, finally sleep?"
"Later, I figure we could make a routine out of what we've done so far today."
"Early morning sex followed by Dennys? I knew there was a reason I like you."
James sat back with a smile as he raised his mug to drink. As he began to lower it, he spied the familiar black face of Bradford, flashing a smile of his own as he approached the table. "Here comes another real cop," James said as Bradford stood over them. "You need to come with me, Blake," he said as Amanda looked away from him and sipped her tea. "What if I told you I'm leaving for good this time?" James asked as Bradford shook his head.
"You can either walk out with me now, or I bust out some handcuffs."
...because who doesn't love them some dennys?
----------------------------------------------
[Demons Ascension - Dennys]
It was after 11:30 when James and Amanda finally left the apartment. A block away was a Dennys and the two were at a table in no time. James ordered the biggest pot of coffee available and Amanda requested tea. "So are you relatively new in town?" James asked "Cuz there were some unpacked items in your living room."
"I've been here almost a year," Amanda said "I just, I dunno, never get around to finish unpacking. I have too much stuff, I only unpack something if I need it."
"What brought you to Chicago?"
"Fresh start I guess. I mean, I've had like three fresh starts in the last decade, but I was pretty sure this time would stick."
"How many jobs have you had?"
"I've had eight jobs, four boyfriends and three cats since I began...or, will it be five boyfriends?"
"You're not very good at being subtle, are you?" James said as the waitress dropped off a cup of tea and a mug of coffee then took their orders. Amanda ordered some complicated dish that the waitress didn't bat an eye at. James, feeling unoriginal, ordered a grand slam.
"Subtlety is no fun," Amanda said as the waitress left "The time I spend around some guys is short enough, I don't want to lose any time by doing a will-they won't-they dance. I like you, I knew you like me, I figured why not?"
"Aren't you afraid I won't stick around?"
"If you don't, then you don't. At least we got something good out of it while we could."
"Interesting," James said as he drank from his mug "I like you for that."
"I know," Amanda responded with a wink before she sipped at her tea.
"I'm not really a cop," James suddenly decided to confess.
"I still would have liked you," Amanda said without missing a beat "But if you're not a cop, why the interest in Crow?"
"That friend of mine is a cop though, and he might have an issue with me telling you about Crow."
"Why are you involved then?"
"Added perspective. I don't think like a cop."
"Are you even from Chicago?"
"Nope. New York."
"The city? I was there for a couple years. Which borough were you?"
"Uh, upstate New York, not downstate."
"How big a difference?"
"Less personal respect, a lot more trees and an uncanny amount of rednecks for an area north of the Mason-Dixon."
"When are you going back? After whatever case you're on is finished?"
"Hopefully," James said as he placed his mug down and had an idea "I'd actually go back today if you're willing to come with me."
Amanda stopped mid sip at that statement. She placed her cup down and maintained eye contact. "Go to New York, with you?" she asked as James nodded. "Ok."
"Really?" James asked "Just like that?"
"Yup. What's another change in scenery?"
"I don't live glamorously."
"Don't care."
"My jobs are sporadic and prolly worse than yours."
"Don't care."
"The winters are crap and the summers unbearable."
"Don't care."
"What do you care about?"
"That you're not a criminal, and you can't be if you're hanging around that cop so much, and that what you and I did back in my bedroom will become a regular thing."
"What about your job now?"
"I'll call right now and quit."
"Let's go pack your stuff right now. We can be at my place before dawn tomorrow."
"Then what, finally sleep?"
"Later, I figure we could make a routine out of what we've done so far today."
"Early morning sex followed by Dennys? I knew there was a reason I like you."
James sat back with a smile as he raised his mug to drink. As he began to lower it, he spied the familiar black face of Bradford, flashing a smile of his own as he approached the table. "Here comes another real cop," James said as Bradford stood over them. "You need to come with me, Blake," he said as Amanda looked away from him and sipped her tea. "What if I told you I'm leaving for good this time?" James asked as Bradford shook his head.
"You can either walk out with me now, or I bust out some handcuffs."
June 1, 2014
Demons Ascension - Amanda
New stuff is coming soon.....for now just enjoy as we slowly work our way to the final act...
...this one prolly has more than a couple spellcheck errors since I'm putting this up real quick before I sprint out the door to work at the last minute...
--------------------------------------------------------
[Demons Ascension - Amanda]
James wasn't stupid. He had no intention of confronting Croatoan in person all alone. He made it sound that way in the letter though to light a fire under John's ass. It was a little after nine by time he drove by the apartment building. As he got out, he noticed Mark back on the scaffolding above the main entrance. "Officer!" he called down as he noticed James "What brings you back here?"
"Police business," James said, glad no one bothered clarifying his status to Mark. "What are you doing up there?" James asked "I thought you already took care of that graffiti?"
"Punk comes back," Mark said "Write same thing right over my paint. I'm thinking of setting up camera to catch them next time."
"Why do you think they even bother? I mean your doorway isn't exactly noticeable from faraway..."
"I do not know. Pride maybe, stupid gangs. Too much hassle over nonsense word like crouton."
"Crouton?" James asked with some amusement "I thought you can't read?"
"Some passerby point it out to me. Say it makes them want salad. It's all scratchy looking, passerby could not even read it clearly. See?"
Mark stepped aside and allowed James to see the graffiti. "That's not crouton," James said as he felt a weight in his stomach. "Officer?" Mark asked as James took off running into the apartment lobby. Mark scratched his head, shrugged, then went back to preparing his paint to cover up the scratching of the word "Croatoan" on his building.
James wasted little time calling for the elevator. He remembered what he could about the Roanoke Colony mystery. When the English returned and found the place abandoned, the one thing they noticed was the word "Croatoan" carved into different locations. Before James had assumed that was a simple message of where the colonists went. History seemed to have supported it, but James was beginning to wonder how much of recorded history could be trusted. History also claimed the colonists went to where the Croatan indian tribe was, no official mention of how or exactly why they went.
Let off at Croatoan's floor, James took off in the direction of his room. He didn't have a plan, not that he would have one if given enough time anyway. He just knew he needed to act and act now. He stopped in front of Croatoan's door, took a deep breath, then turned around and pounded on the door across the hall.
A moment passed and James' breathing increased. He heard noises behind the door and got his hopes up, but at the same time worried that he might be too late. He heard the door locks being undone and was elated at the sight of Amanda answering the door with no Croatoan in sight.
"You're back," she said with a smile as he held an ice pack to her head. She was obviously in bed recently as she stood barefoot in the doorway with mismatched pajamas and frayed red hair falling all over. "That excited about asking me to dinner?" she asked. "How about breakfast instead?" James asked as Amanda laughed and motioned for him to follow her inside.
The apartment was a mess, with boxes of items strewn about and a stack of pizza boxes by the couch near a television with three different game systems nearby. Near a window was a small packed bookcase with another several piles of books next to it. The kitchen had a pile of cups and dishes in the sink and a broken coffeemaker nearby. On the table was a closed laptop sitting on a small mess of papers and envelopes.
"So you're up early," Amanda said as she leaned against her counter and adjusted her ice pack. "I guess," James said as he looked around "Long night last night for you?"
"Yup. Crow and I went out for some drinks. Guess he's depressed all his friends are gone."
"Did he leave town the same time I did?"
"I don't think so. He did go out for work that night and I didn't see him at all the next day until he came back the following night. Why?"
"Just curious."
"I told your fellow cop friend about him though. They had a chat, but Crow didn't mention anything. Is he in trouble?"
"I, uh, can't discuss the details of a case."
"What about over breakfast?"
"Sold. Dennys?"
"Just let me slip out of these jammies and put on something a little more social."
Amanda placed the ice pack down and made her way to her bedroom. "Wouldn't mind if you just did that first part and stopped," James said under his breath but Amanda turned her head towards him and winked as she disappeared. James wondered if that was a sign he should follow her when he decided he had more important things to deal with.
He walked over to the table and noticed a map of Chicago strewn out alongside some take out menus. He cleaned it off and picked up a pencil. He remembered where the first three murders were and marked them on the map, then out of curiosity he opened the laptop and ran a search of the Hapdale Mental Health facility for an address. "Every location is important," he said to himself as he checked the map for where the computer said the address was.
After marking it, he remembered how the third murder was exactly east of the location of the first, and both were the same distance from murder number two. James made a number of additional marks on the map attempting to measure out and predict where murder number five would take place. One particular mark grabbed James' eye as its inclusion with the other murder locations made a downward pointing star with the apartments in the middle. "He's making a star," James said with a smile "Finally, I'm a step ahead of you." He checked the computer for a satellite image of the location, but it was only an empty lot. "How do you plan to make this one work?" James wondered when he notice Amanda step out from her bedroom.
Amanda clearly must have heard James before because she stepped out wearing an impatient expression on her face and absolutely nothing else. She had taken a moment to comb her hair as it now sat neatly and a majority of it was swept behind her back as not to obstruct the view of her perk breasts in any way. Her right arm had crept up on the wall and braced her as she leaned and looked towards James. He gazed down on her to see a piercing in her navel under which her left arm was idly brushing around. Lower he saw her unsaved public area, but he could tell she kept it that way by choice as opposed to yet another part of her life that was left neglected. Finally he took in her crossed legs which were, save for a few cuts here and there, perfectly smooth.
"I had a crazy night of drinking with Crow, but he didn't even try anything," Amanda said as he raised his eyes to match hers again. "I'm confident he's gay...what's your excuse?"
James took a moment to laugh to himself before rushing over and taking Amanda up into his arms. He conceded to himself that the world was in danger and he had less than a day to save humanity, but he was pretty sure nothing was going to happen in the next hour.
...this one prolly has more than a couple spellcheck errors since I'm putting this up real quick before I sprint out the door to work at the last minute...
--------------------------------------------------------
[Demons Ascension - Amanda]
James wasn't stupid. He had no intention of confronting Croatoan in person all alone. He made it sound that way in the letter though to light a fire under John's ass. It was a little after nine by time he drove by the apartment building. As he got out, he noticed Mark back on the scaffolding above the main entrance. "Officer!" he called down as he noticed James "What brings you back here?"
"Police business," James said, glad no one bothered clarifying his status to Mark. "What are you doing up there?" James asked "I thought you already took care of that graffiti?"
"Punk comes back," Mark said "Write same thing right over my paint. I'm thinking of setting up camera to catch them next time."
"Why do you think they even bother? I mean your doorway isn't exactly noticeable from faraway..."
"I do not know. Pride maybe, stupid gangs. Too much hassle over nonsense word like crouton."
"Crouton?" James asked with some amusement "I thought you can't read?"
"Some passerby point it out to me. Say it makes them want salad. It's all scratchy looking, passerby could not even read it clearly. See?"
Mark stepped aside and allowed James to see the graffiti. "That's not crouton," James said as he felt a weight in his stomach. "Officer?" Mark asked as James took off running into the apartment lobby. Mark scratched his head, shrugged, then went back to preparing his paint to cover up the scratching of the word "Croatoan" on his building.
James wasted little time calling for the elevator. He remembered what he could about the Roanoke Colony mystery. When the English returned and found the place abandoned, the one thing they noticed was the word "Croatoan" carved into different locations. Before James had assumed that was a simple message of where the colonists went. History seemed to have supported it, but James was beginning to wonder how much of recorded history could be trusted. History also claimed the colonists went to where the Croatan indian tribe was, no official mention of how or exactly why they went.
Let off at Croatoan's floor, James took off in the direction of his room. He didn't have a plan, not that he would have one if given enough time anyway. He just knew he needed to act and act now. He stopped in front of Croatoan's door, took a deep breath, then turned around and pounded on the door across the hall.
A moment passed and James' breathing increased. He heard noises behind the door and got his hopes up, but at the same time worried that he might be too late. He heard the door locks being undone and was elated at the sight of Amanda answering the door with no Croatoan in sight.
"You're back," she said with a smile as he held an ice pack to her head. She was obviously in bed recently as she stood barefoot in the doorway with mismatched pajamas and frayed red hair falling all over. "That excited about asking me to dinner?" she asked. "How about breakfast instead?" James asked as Amanda laughed and motioned for him to follow her inside.
The apartment was a mess, with boxes of items strewn about and a stack of pizza boxes by the couch near a television with three different game systems nearby. Near a window was a small packed bookcase with another several piles of books next to it. The kitchen had a pile of cups and dishes in the sink and a broken coffeemaker nearby. On the table was a closed laptop sitting on a small mess of papers and envelopes.
"So you're up early," Amanda said as she leaned against her counter and adjusted her ice pack. "I guess," James said as he looked around "Long night last night for you?"
"Yup. Crow and I went out for some drinks. Guess he's depressed all his friends are gone."
"Did he leave town the same time I did?"
"I don't think so. He did go out for work that night and I didn't see him at all the next day until he came back the following night. Why?"
"Just curious."
"I told your fellow cop friend about him though. They had a chat, but Crow didn't mention anything. Is he in trouble?"
"I, uh, can't discuss the details of a case."
"What about over breakfast?"
"Sold. Dennys?"
"Just let me slip out of these jammies and put on something a little more social."
Amanda placed the ice pack down and made her way to her bedroom. "Wouldn't mind if you just did that first part and stopped," James said under his breath but Amanda turned her head towards him and winked as she disappeared. James wondered if that was a sign he should follow her when he decided he had more important things to deal with.
He walked over to the table and noticed a map of Chicago strewn out alongside some take out menus. He cleaned it off and picked up a pencil. He remembered where the first three murders were and marked them on the map, then out of curiosity he opened the laptop and ran a search of the Hapdale Mental Health facility for an address. "Every location is important," he said to himself as he checked the map for where the computer said the address was.
After marking it, he remembered how the third murder was exactly east of the location of the first, and both were the same distance from murder number two. James made a number of additional marks on the map attempting to measure out and predict where murder number five would take place. One particular mark grabbed James' eye as its inclusion with the other murder locations made a downward pointing star with the apartments in the middle. "He's making a star," James said with a smile "Finally, I'm a step ahead of you." He checked the computer for a satellite image of the location, but it was only an empty lot. "How do you plan to make this one work?" James wondered when he notice Amanda step out from her bedroom.
Amanda clearly must have heard James before because she stepped out wearing an impatient expression on her face and absolutely nothing else. She had taken a moment to comb her hair as it now sat neatly and a majority of it was swept behind her back as not to obstruct the view of her perk breasts in any way. Her right arm had crept up on the wall and braced her as she leaned and looked towards James. He gazed down on her to see a piercing in her navel under which her left arm was idly brushing around. Lower he saw her unsaved public area, but he could tell she kept it that way by choice as opposed to yet another part of her life that was left neglected. Finally he took in her crossed legs which were, save for a few cuts here and there, perfectly smooth.
"I had a crazy night of drinking with Crow, but he didn't even try anything," Amanda said as he raised his eyes to match hers again. "I'm confident he's gay...what's your excuse?"
James took a moment to laugh to himself before rushing over and taking Amanda up into his arms. He conceded to himself that the world was in danger and he had less than a day to save humanity, but he was pretty sure nothing was going to happen in the next hour.
May 18, 2014
Demons Ascension - Pete
[Posted by Ted H]
...Lets all play make-up-a-mental-disorder!
------------------------------------------------------------
[Demons Ascension - Pete]
He drove back towards John's apartment at a less frantic pace. John's gas tank was almost running on fumes when he arrived and James hoped John didn't mind since he was completely out of money. "I think he agreed to pay expenses anyway," James said to himself with a chuckle as he killed the engine and pulled out his cigarettes.
He lit up as he flipped through radio stations and listened for any reports of the murders, old or new, but heard nothing. Either no one wanted to admit that people were getting their hearts cut out or it had become a very common occurrence in the six days James had been gone. A weather update caught James' ear though. A cold front had formed not far from the city and would be hitting over the night. "That's not ominous," James said as he finished his cigarette waited. He felt like this would end up being his last chance to relax for a long while.
Lyle's car later pulled up and John stepped out. "I'll meet you at the station," he said as the car pulled away and he met up with James. "Enjoy your vacation?" John asked as James circled around and motioned for him to get in the car. "What, straight to business? I take it your friend had information."
"We may or may not be in crunch time," James said "And you may or may not need to buy gas before we go too far either. "Tell me everything you know on the way," John said as he climbed into the car, but James remained outside. "There's someone inside your room," he said as he looked up and stared at the window that he swore he saw a shadow walk passed. "You sure?" John asked. "That corner room, third floor up," James said. John drew his pistol and made his way for the apartment. "Guess you aren't expecting anymore company," James said as he followed.
The door to John's apartment hung open as the two men approached. "Stay behind me," John whispered as he pushed the door open and silently made his way in. He swept the room with his pistol as James took a look around. The room was undisturbed so it wasn't as if someone broke in to steal or search for anything. John crept his way to his bedroom and peered in, then he kicked the door open fully and screamed "Freeze! Hands in the air!"
"Don't hurt me," the person inside pleaded as they made their way out, John training his gun on them the whole time. The man was a short, overweight and balding man in white sweatpants and sleeveless tank top. "Not exactly dressed for the weather now, are we?" James asked. "Keep back, James," John said, not lowering his gun "Keep hose hands up!" John took out his handcuffs and detained the man, then sat him down by the sofa in the living room. "You know this guy?" James asked. "It's complicated," John said "Don't talk to him though. Escaped mental patient, literally. Got out this morning."
"Would this have anything to do with another murder that happened?" James asked, but John didn't respond.
"You're Blake, aren't you?" the man said "An angel told me I could find you here."
"Shut up!" John commanded.
"Wait," James said "Who told you?"
"Amy," the man responded "She said to find you, that you were the only one who could help me."
"I know you said not to," James said to John "But I'm gonna go ahead and have a chat with this guy." James walked over and sat across the sofa from the man and faced him. "What's your name?" he asked.
"Peter. Peter Young"
"Ok Pete, where did you talk to Amy?"
"Um, at a truck stop. Few miles beyond the city limits."
"You were leaving the city?"
"I'm trying to get back to my family in Cincinnati."
"Start from the beginning. Why were you in a mental facility?"
"I don't know," Pete said, and James thought he looked authentic as he scrunched his face trying to figure for himself why he was in a loony bin "But I was there, and so was Sarah."
"Sarah?" James asked as John stepped in. "Sarah Langley," he said "AKA our newest victim. Found the same way in her room as the previous three vics."
"He was there, too," Pete continued.
"Who?"
"The bastard who killed her."
John and James looked at each other for a moment. James nodded and stood up. "Could you wait right here a moment?" he asked as he motioned John into the kitchen. "He's not going anywhere," he assured him as they entered, John positioning himself where he could still keep an eye out. "Tell me everything about the mental facility," he asked.
"Not much to say that you wouldn't already guess," John said "Sarah Langley found dead in her room at the Hapdale Health Facility, same condition as the others. We found that symbol outside the building several floors higher than where her room was located."
"This facility have security cameras?"
"Yeah, and you'll love this, a series of malfunctions hit the system, causing certain cameras to fail in succession. Our killer managed to walk right in and never be seen, then the cameras started working again. If you piece the static right, you could actually follow where this guy was at all times. We have tech combing through the footage that wasn't static, just to see if maybe there's something we could use."
"How the hell did this guy even get in? There are a lot of locked doors between the street and a patients room."
"Even Bradford can't explain this one, our guy forced open every single door. The whole place is on lockdown since there's no way to secure the patients and keep them from walking right out."
"And yet, we have our special guest."
"Well, first ask me how our killer managed to escape."
"He didn't sneak out like usual?"
"He couldn't. You don't break your way through a place like that and not expect a couple security guards to be on the trail. Our man decided to take a more unique way out and detonate some explosives against a wall and just five stories down."
"He got a bomb in there?"
"We don't know how and we're looking for evidence of what he used, but he blasted part of Langley's room and part of Young's room a floor down. He was able to climb over a destroyed part of the outer wall and jump for a nearby tree. There were other rooms that were hit, but their residents were not so lucky."
James then walked back into the living room and faced Pete. "Tell me everything," he said as Pete shrugged. "I don't think I can add much," he said "That cop summed it up pretty nice."
"What happened after the explosion?" James asked.
"Well, I was sleeping when it happened. I don't remember hearing a boom, but rather just that sound concrete makes when it collapses. Some of the ceiling had fallen on me, but I climbed out and immediately noticed a way out of that horrible place."
"Why were you in there to begin with?"
"I didn't know, and no one ever told me. They were more concerned with fixing me, and I only pleaded that how can they do that when they won't even tell me what they're trying to fix? I just wanted to go home and see my family. They wouldn't even let me call them."
"When did you see the man who killed Sarah?"
"I saw what looked like a person fall passed my room. I ran over to the hole and saw him on his feet on the ground. He turned back to look and that's when I saw his face."
James looked back towards John. "You used to sketch back in college, right?" he asked. John looked back at him confused. "You want me to be a sketch artist now?"
"You bring an escaped mental patient into the station, what he saw won't hold any weight."
"So why should I bother?"
"Because if he saw who I think he saw, then I'll know who to go after."
"Bradford wants you at the station, too. Once he finds out you're back in Chicago, he'll be on you like white on rice."
"Look, I can't really explain it quick but we don't have a lot of time. Crow is the guy we need."
"Yeah, your friend told me about Crow. But I talked to him and he had an alibi for all three murders, iron clad."
"He's the guy behind it all though, and he's only now starting to kill other people himself."
"Bradford isn't going to buy your reasoning and neither am I right now. And now you're telling me to trust an escaped mental patient because he had a run in with some mystery woman that no one else has encountered? James, I don't know what to tell you, man."
"Just, please, do the sketch. I guarantee you he'll describe Crow."
John reluctantly agreed and went to go find a pad of paper. James then turned to talk to Pete some more. "So what happened next?" he asked.
"I climbed down the tree," Pete said "And I just wanted to get home."
"You got out of the city without a cop finding you?"
"I took a taxi."
"With what money?"
"I, uh, bailed on him while he was in traffic."
"And you got out of the city where you run into Amy? How did that conversation go?"
"I went to a truck stop to ask for directions. That woman was waiting for me when I entered the bathroom."
"I've noticed she has a thing for walking out of bathrooms."
"She said she knew who I was and why I was trying to leave but I needed to return to the city and find you."
"And how did you know to come here?"
"She told me where to go, but for some reason she wouldn't lead me. She said she couldn't go into the city."
"And you listened to her?
"You don't tell an angel no. She said she'd get a message to my family that I was ok. She said she'd tell Anise, Billy and Amanda that daddy is fine and he'll be home soon. That I have to help you and I'll see them right after."
"Why me? Why not the cops?"
"She said that there isn't enough time. I had to go to you because if I went to the police, they wouldn't listen and lock me back up in that horrible place. You won't let them send me back, will you?"
"Never," James said and Pete smiled as if he could finally relax after acquiring so much anxiety. "Thank you," he said.
James nodded as John returned with a pad of paper and a pencil. "For the record, I think this is a stupid idea," John said as he tossed his coat aside and sat down in a nearby chair. "Noted," James said as he got up and turned to Pete. "You're gonna describe this man to officer Praque, ok? Afterwards, we'll see about sending you home."
"Send him home?" John questioned with an annoyed look "That's just not gonna happen, I don't care what you think about it."
"We'll figure something out, but I believe this guy. Why, is there something I don't know?"
John shook his head. "He's trying to get home to Cincinnati because that's the last part of his life he remembers," he was whispering so Pete couldn't hear "In 2004, Peter Young murdered his entire family after moving to Chicago. He went through some schizophrenic episode or something, the details were never explained to me. They're dead, all dead at his hands. The only reason he acts normal now is because they medicated his ass to the gills. Once those meds wear off, he's liable to have another psychotic episode."
"Wow," James whispered back.
"He's going to the station, and then back to the medical facility to continue his treatment."
"Well could you do the sketch while he's still thinking clearly?"
"Fine, but we all go to the station right after, got it?"
"No problem."
James stepped out while John made a rough sketch at Pete's dictation. When he was done, he had a picture that looked as spot on to Crow as possible. "Dammit, James," he said to himself knowing what James would say to that. He got up to find him but only noticed the open door and a note on the table near his coat.
"Dear John," he read from the paper "I'm not gonna stop you from bringing Pete to the station since it's probably for the best. I know I'm right about Crow so I'm gonna try to deal with him in person. Hopefully I won't get stabbed this time (long story). Call your partner and get Pete to the station cuz I'm gonna take your car. When you're done, meet me at the apartment. P.S. I borrowed twenty bucks for gas because...reasons."
"Son of a bitch," John said as he crumpled up the paper and pulled out his cell phone. "Lyle," he said after calling his partner up "Could you swing by? I got Young in custody, long story. By the way, remember how I asked you quiet about how James is back? We might as well tell Bradford now. Again, long story. Just get here, I'll explain."
...Lets all play make-up-a-mental-disorder!
------------------------------------------------------------
[Demons Ascension - Pete]
He drove back towards John's apartment at a less frantic pace. John's gas tank was almost running on fumes when he arrived and James hoped John didn't mind since he was completely out of money. "I think he agreed to pay expenses anyway," James said to himself with a chuckle as he killed the engine and pulled out his cigarettes.
He lit up as he flipped through radio stations and listened for any reports of the murders, old or new, but heard nothing. Either no one wanted to admit that people were getting their hearts cut out or it had become a very common occurrence in the six days James had been gone. A weather update caught James' ear though. A cold front had formed not far from the city and would be hitting over the night. "That's not ominous," James said as he finished his cigarette waited. He felt like this would end up being his last chance to relax for a long while.
Lyle's car later pulled up and John stepped out. "I'll meet you at the station," he said as the car pulled away and he met up with James. "Enjoy your vacation?" John asked as James circled around and motioned for him to get in the car. "What, straight to business? I take it your friend had information."
"We may or may not be in crunch time," James said "And you may or may not need to buy gas before we go too far either. "Tell me everything you know on the way," John said as he climbed into the car, but James remained outside. "There's someone inside your room," he said as he looked up and stared at the window that he swore he saw a shadow walk passed. "You sure?" John asked. "That corner room, third floor up," James said. John drew his pistol and made his way for the apartment. "Guess you aren't expecting anymore company," James said as he followed.
The door to John's apartment hung open as the two men approached. "Stay behind me," John whispered as he pushed the door open and silently made his way in. He swept the room with his pistol as James took a look around. The room was undisturbed so it wasn't as if someone broke in to steal or search for anything. John crept his way to his bedroom and peered in, then he kicked the door open fully and screamed "Freeze! Hands in the air!"
"Don't hurt me," the person inside pleaded as they made their way out, John training his gun on them the whole time. The man was a short, overweight and balding man in white sweatpants and sleeveless tank top. "Not exactly dressed for the weather now, are we?" James asked. "Keep back, James," John said, not lowering his gun "Keep hose hands up!" John took out his handcuffs and detained the man, then sat him down by the sofa in the living room. "You know this guy?" James asked. "It's complicated," John said "Don't talk to him though. Escaped mental patient, literally. Got out this morning."
"Would this have anything to do with another murder that happened?" James asked, but John didn't respond.
"You're Blake, aren't you?" the man said "An angel told me I could find you here."
"Shut up!" John commanded.
"Wait," James said "Who told you?"
"Amy," the man responded "She said to find you, that you were the only one who could help me."
"I know you said not to," James said to John "But I'm gonna go ahead and have a chat with this guy." James walked over and sat across the sofa from the man and faced him. "What's your name?" he asked.
"Peter. Peter Young"
"Ok Pete, where did you talk to Amy?"
"Um, at a truck stop. Few miles beyond the city limits."
"You were leaving the city?"
"I'm trying to get back to my family in Cincinnati."
"Start from the beginning. Why were you in a mental facility?"
"I don't know," Pete said, and James thought he looked authentic as he scrunched his face trying to figure for himself why he was in a loony bin "But I was there, and so was Sarah."
"Sarah?" James asked as John stepped in. "Sarah Langley," he said "AKA our newest victim. Found the same way in her room as the previous three vics."
"He was there, too," Pete continued.
"Who?"
"The bastard who killed her."
John and James looked at each other for a moment. James nodded and stood up. "Could you wait right here a moment?" he asked as he motioned John into the kitchen. "He's not going anywhere," he assured him as they entered, John positioning himself where he could still keep an eye out. "Tell me everything about the mental facility," he asked.
"Not much to say that you wouldn't already guess," John said "Sarah Langley found dead in her room at the Hapdale Health Facility, same condition as the others. We found that symbol outside the building several floors higher than where her room was located."
"This facility have security cameras?"
"Yeah, and you'll love this, a series of malfunctions hit the system, causing certain cameras to fail in succession. Our killer managed to walk right in and never be seen, then the cameras started working again. If you piece the static right, you could actually follow where this guy was at all times. We have tech combing through the footage that wasn't static, just to see if maybe there's something we could use."
"How the hell did this guy even get in? There are a lot of locked doors between the street and a patients room."
"Even Bradford can't explain this one, our guy forced open every single door. The whole place is on lockdown since there's no way to secure the patients and keep them from walking right out."
"And yet, we have our special guest."
"Well, first ask me how our killer managed to escape."
"He didn't sneak out like usual?"
"He couldn't. You don't break your way through a place like that and not expect a couple security guards to be on the trail. Our man decided to take a more unique way out and detonate some explosives against a wall and just five stories down."
"He got a bomb in there?"
"We don't know how and we're looking for evidence of what he used, but he blasted part of Langley's room and part of Young's room a floor down. He was able to climb over a destroyed part of the outer wall and jump for a nearby tree. There were other rooms that were hit, but their residents were not so lucky."
James then walked back into the living room and faced Pete. "Tell me everything," he said as Pete shrugged. "I don't think I can add much," he said "That cop summed it up pretty nice."
"What happened after the explosion?" James asked.
"Well, I was sleeping when it happened. I don't remember hearing a boom, but rather just that sound concrete makes when it collapses. Some of the ceiling had fallen on me, but I climbed out and immediately noticed a way out of that horrible place."
"Why were you in there to begin with?"
"I didn't know, and no one ever told me. They were more concerned with fixing me, and I only pleaded that how can they do that when they won't even tell me what they're trying to fix? I just wanted to go home and see my family. They wouldn't even let me call them."
"When did you see the man who killed Sarah?"
"I saw what looked like a person fall passed my room. I ran over to the hole and saw him on his feet on the ground. He turned back to look and that's when I saw his face."
James looked back towards John. "You used to sketch back in college, right?" he asked. John looked back at him confused. "You want me to be a sketch artist now?"
"You bring an escaped mental patient into the station, what he saw won't hold any weight."
"So why should I bother?"
"Because if he saw who I think he saw, then I'll know who to go after."
"Bradford wants you at the station, too. Once he finds out you're back in Chicago, he'll be on you like white on rice."
"Look, I can't really explain it quick but we don't have a lot of time. Crow is the guy we need."
"Yeah, your friend told me about Crow. But I talked to him and he had an alibi for all three murders, iron clad."
"He's the guy behind it all though, and he's only now starting to kill other people himself."
"Bradford isn't going to buy your reasoning and neither am I right now. And now you're telling me to trust an escaped mental patient because he had a run in with some mystery woman that no one else has encountered? James, I don't know what to tell you, man."
"Just, please, do the sketch. I guarantee you he'll describe Crow."
John reluctantly agreed and went to go find a pad of paper. James then turned to talk to Pete some more. "So what happened next?" he asked.
"I climbed down the tree," Pete said "And I just wanted to get home."
"You got out of the city without a cop finding you?"
"I took a taxi."
"With what money?"
"I, uh, bailed on him while he was in traffic."
"And you got out of the city where you run into Amy? How did that conversation go?"
"I went to a truck stop to ask for directions. That woman was waiting for me when I entered the bathroom."
"I've noticed she has a thing for walking out of bathrooms."
"She said she knew who I was and why I was trying to leave but I needed to return to the city and find you."
"And how did you know to come here?"
"She told me where to go, but for some reason she wouldn't lead me. She said she couldn't go into the city."
"And you listened to her?
"You don't tell an angel no. She said she'd get a message to my family that I was ok. She said she'd tell Anise, Billy and Amanda that daddy is fine and he'll be home soon. That I have to help you and I'll see them right after."
"Why me? Why not the cops?"
"She said that there isn't enough time. I had to go to you because if I went to the police, they wouldn't listen and lock me back up in that horrible place. You won't let them send me back, will you?"
"Never," James said and Pete smiled as if he could finally relax after acquiring so much anxiety. "Thank you," he said.
James nodded as John returned with a pad of paper and a pencil. "For the record, I think this is a stupid idea," John said as he tossed his coat aside and sat down in a nearby chair. "Noted," James said as he got up and turned to Pete. "You're gonna describe this man to officer Praque, ok? Afterwards, we'll see about sending you home."
"Send him home?" John questioned with an annoyed look "That's just not gonna happen, I don't care what you think about it."
"We'll figure something out, but I believe this guy. Why, is there something I don't know?"
John shook his head. "He's trying to get home to Cincinnati because that's the last part of his life he remembers," he was whispering so Pete couldn't hear "In 2004, Peter Young murdered his entire family after moving to Chicago. He went through some schizophrenic episode or something, the details were never explained to me. They're dead, all dead at his hands. The only reason he acts normal now is because they medicated his ass to the gills. Once those meds wear off, he's liable to have another psychotic episode."
"Wow," James whispered back.
"He's going to the station, and then back to the medical facility to continue his treatment."
"Well could you do the sketch while he's still thinking clearly?"
"Fine, but we all go to the station right after, got it?"
"No problem."
James stepped out while John made a rough sketch at Pete's dictation. When he was done, he had a picture that looked as spot on to Crow as possible. "Dammit, James," he said to himself knowing what James would say to that. He got up to find him but only noticed the open door and a note on the table near his coat.
"Dear John," he read from the paper "I'm not gonna stop you from bringing Pete to the station since it's probably for the best. I know I'm right about Crow so I'm gonna try to deal with him in person. Hopefully I won't get stabbed this time (long story). Call your partner and get Pete to the station cuz I'm gonna take your car. When you're done, meet me at the apartment. P.S. I borrowed twenty bucks for gas because...reasons."
"Son of a bitch," John said as he crumpled up the paper and pulled out his cell phone. "Lyle," he said after calling his partner up "Could you swing by? I got Young in custody, long story. By the way, remember how I asked you quiet about how James is back? We might as well tell Bradford now. Again, long story. Just get here, I'll explain."
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