“I need you to hack this video and get the location. He’s losing it and we need to get to him before he destroys her.” I’m white knuckling the seat at this point.
I will never understand how sick people can be. They dangle people's lives like some sort of puppet, teasing them through pain and violence.
“I’m already on it, but this guy is intelligent. He must have a tech background because I can’t get past the walls. He has it down lock and key.” Beckett types furiously with codes that keep getting a kick back.
“Beckett, you will not find me. No matter the amount or type of code you click on your keyboard.”
We both stop dead in our tracks as he addresses Beckett. This is not just a video but it’s live and he’s watching us. He’s in our system. This makes us wonder if he knows every step we take, research we do, and calls we make. This is disturbing and we’ve been compromised. “FUCK!” I yell, causing everyone to look up.
“What’s going on?” Director Stevens walks out of his office with knitted brows.
“We’ve been compromised. We need to get the tech team to build a wall now. The assailant has hacked into our systems. He’s live now, addressing us as we tried to get his location.He’s blocked us out while also monitoring our moves.” I gesture toward the screen.
He takes out his phone and dials to the tech team, barking orders to get a fire wall up. “Everyone, stop what you’re doing. Stay off your computers!” he yells throughout the office. “Logan, Xavier, I need you to get to the other levels now. Get them off the damn computers. No communications on the phones as well. Now!”
“May I resume? I have a ritual to complete.”
The assailant brings our attention back to the screen. The girl is thrashing and now going hysterical. Her eyes are red-rimmed and wide as she’s looking past the camera to the evil man in front of her. Something is thrown at her that looks like liquid and she screams loudly. Sizzling can be heard as her skin begins to blister.
“Shame. Shame. Shame. Demon, leave this body and give it back to the girl. You are not welcome. Submit yourselves, then, to God, resist the devil and he will flee you. Stay strong, girl. Resist the urge. You see her skin melting, proving that demons have taken over. As her skin burns, the devil keeps his claws in her. There’s nothing left to save.”
The girl's body seizes and goes limp as the last breath leaves her body. He killed her. She’s gone and we’re too late. Another life taken with a brutal torture. My shoulders slump in defeat and bile peaks my throat. I run to the nearest trash can before vomit spews out. I can normally stomach this kind of stuff, but at this moment, seeing the girl being tortured, I couldn’t hold it back.
“Her body will be released. You will find it in two days. Give this poor girl a proper burial. Do better and help cleanse this city before it falls.”
The feed is cut and the whole room goes silent. Shock, sorrow, and defeat can be heard loudly from every singleperson in this office. They didn’t need to see the video to know it was as tragic as it sounded. Heading to the bathroom, turning on the faucet, I cup my hand to collect water and bring it to my lips to wash out the vomit. Once rinsed out, I splash water on my face, trying to cool myself down.
My demons start to surface as images flash from the disturbing events I’ve seen from when I served. Gunshots amplify all around me. Bullets whiz past my ears as I duck, trying to get to the building holding the hostages. But I’m too late. The building is on fire and before I know it, I’m making my way through to try to save them but the smell of flesh and silence bulldozes into me. Crackling of the flame and falling timber surround me. Getting to the room they were held in has nothing but two skeletons holding each other.
Coming back to the present, my hand shakes, and before thinking, my fist flies into the mirror causing glass to shatter onto the countertop. My hand has glass embedded in it and blood covers my knuckles. I’ve had the flashbacks under control and why, of all times, do they have to come to surface now? Director is not going to be happy about the mess I just made.
After getting cleaned up at the infirmary we have on site, I head out to get some fresh air. I’m going to be taken off this case, I can feel it. After my outburst, he has to. I’ve been triggered and it would be seen as a weakness that could slow us down. God, I sure hope not. I need to find this guy and make him pay for what he’s done to these women.
Grabbing my phone out of my pocket, I dial Monroe to check on her. She’s been gone a while and missed everythingthat happened. The line rings several times before going to her voicemail. Weird, she always answers. I send her a quick text to make sure she’s okay as it’s not like her to be silent. The times we wish she was silent, she could blabber on and on giving us the finger as she finished her stories or whatever the hell was on her mind. Times like this, though, we need her to be vocal, and it’s not like her to not answer her phone.
I take to the sidewalk to clear my mind, not realizing my feet took me to the coffee shop where I met the beautiful, green-eyed, mystery woman. The thought of her brings a smile to my face. I can’t wait for Wednesday to get here so I can see her gorgeous face again. Opening the door, I walk up to the counter and grab myself a coffee and take a seat at the table by the window. My phone chimes, alerting me of a text, and I quickly take it out to see if it’s Monroe.
Celeste: You know, I didn’t think drinking a cup of coffee would remind me of you. At least I won’t have coffee stains on my blouse.
It’s like she knows where I am and that she’s in fact on my mind too. I smile as my thumbs hover over my phone trying to figure out how to respond to her without sounding like an idiot.
Me: Funny, because I’m at our coffee shop. You stalking me, Celeste?
Celeste: Oh, our coffee shop? I love that we have a place now. Unfortunately, I'm still out of town. Not able to stalk you today, Agent Solace.
How is it that she's able to wash everything away with a single text? Not like it was anything special but to know she’sthinking about me? I can imagine the sparkle in her eyes, the seductive grin she flashes me, and her soft hands against my chest. The way she says my name, or texts, makes my cock stir. Ah, shit, I’m in trouble.
Me: Damn, I was hoping you would come out of your hiding spot and grace me with your gorgeous face. Where are you, anyhow?
Celeste: Italy. It’s so gorgeous here. Are we still on for our date on Wednesday? A nice stiff drink and good company sounds so good right now.
Me: I’m jealous. I’ve always wanted to go there. Wish my job would send me to fancy places. Yes, of course! Counting down the days to see you.
Celeste: Perks of being a boss ;) See you soon!
Pocketing my phone, I finish off my coffee realizing that the shop is closing up and it’s two o’clock already. Fuck, I better get back to the office and bear the consequences of the mirror I shattered. Getting up from the table, I place a five-dollar bill on the table before waving at the barista. She gives me a wave before going back to putting the chairs on the tables.
Once back in the office, I’m greeted by Director Stevens signaling me to his office. Goddamn it, here it comes. Following him inside, I shut the door pinching my nose.
