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protege-not-protagonist · 9 months ago

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Criminal Minds: The Protégé Chapter 9

Ch 9: The Mountain King- Pt. 2

Blurb: The Appalachian case proves to be a challenge. The Victims remain unidentified. The geography is screwy. There's a new behaviour the Team hasn't seen before. The Profile is unclear and immediately, Grace is unsettled by something about this case, but she struggles to figure out exactly what her instincts are telling her.

Masterlist

Previous Chapter

Audience: mature audience for depictions of violence and sexual references

Author's Note: if you see a trigger warning that concerns you, you can scroll to end and I'll have a brief description what happens. And how to read around it. TW: violence, crime scene depiction, This case mentions sexual assault, autopsy, kidnapping, decapitation, Necrophilia, slight body horror involving needles (mentioned in autopsy)

BAU Jet, US Airspace, Monday, July 17th 12:20PM

Over the weekend Grace had a think over what Dr Reid had said, and how the geoprofile in the last case had revealed an important aspect. So she had spent a whole day designing a template for a quick reference fact file and saved it to her tablet. Now, if she completed this for every case on the plane trip over, by the time they landed, she would have a profile of every town and enough facts to reference quickly if her team asked for specifics. If they revisited any places, she’d eventually be able to do it from memory.

The Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical area encompassed the counties of Perry Cumberland and Dauphin, and right through the centre of it was the Appalachian trail and Susquehanna valley. And in the middle of that was State Game Land 170 reserve which the unsub seemed to inhabit.

The total area had a population of 603,493 according to the last census. The majority of that were under 40 and white. Violent crimes and homicides were low, property crimes and theft were common, but that was to be expected with over 20% of the population below the poverty line. Though none of that probably was probably relevant as the bodies were dumped close to isolated boroughs and townships with less than 3000 people.

The region had a lot of interesting features in its history with timber and agriculture being the main historical industries with coal mining and industrial towns in the surrounds. Grace continued to trawl through census data and crime stats and compile similar data. Grace knew there was no way she could know enough to pass as a local, but she wanted to be as prepared as she could in the 30 minutes before the plane landed. She had heard that the many Appalachian communities distrusted people from outside their region. It was her hope that knowing enough to not be ignorant would combat some of the hostility that they could receive coming into an investigation as federal agents.

‘So if you named your violin Vincenzo, is Foley an animal or an instrument?’ Luke asked halfway through the flight.

‘He’s a pet.’ She didn't look up from her tablet, viewing the walking trail routes around the towns.

'You have a pet?' Tara asked in a quizzical tone from the seat next to her.

'Yeah, why does it surprise you guys?' She glanced up to see Dr Lewis grinning back at her.

‘Grace has a pet, and she won’t tell me what it is. It’s not a dog, and she doesn’t like cats,' Luke explained to Tara.

‘Not a dog or a cat, hamster?’ Tara asked.

‘Nope.’ She smiled, continuing to work on pinpointing key features on the maps.

‘Fish?’ Luke guessed with a smile and pointed at her. ‘Tropical saltwater fish, because you miss Hawaii!’

‘I See the logic there but, no,’ she grinned. This was more fun than having them try to guess her birthday. ‘I’ll give you a hint. My dear sweet companion Foley is the reason I have to live on the Maryland side of the river.’ She looked up at them with an evil grin.

‘Wait, you live in Maryland?’ Tara frowned.

‘Yeah, Oxen Hill.’ She said with a smirk.

‘How?’ both of them said at once.

‘You said you have a car today in Penelope’s office, so you do drive, so that is like what an hour’s car ride normal and hour and half hour?’ Luke said.

‘Yeah it, but it’s been better since Covid, most people work remote, commute is not too bad these days.’ She said with a shrug. ‘What can I say? I love my little guy. He lights up my world. If that means I have to drive a little further to work, it’s worth it.’

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. One new text message. She saw the contact name and opened it immediately.

‘Oxen Hill is not too far from Indian Head and the surrounds has a bit of forest, undeveloped land. A lot of a space… Foley, or should I say Foal-ly is a horse.’ Simmons joined in and theorised.

‘Nah, she said he’s in her apartment.’ Luke shook his head.

Basement Buddy: Hey G, are you in town tonight?

Grace stared at the message, blinking three times. He’d had texted her during the day. Texted Her while he was still at work. While he knew she would be at work. She checked her watch; not his usual break time. She leant back in her chair and subtly tried to shield the screen from Tara’s view.

G.M: No sorry. On case. What’s up?

She stared enrapt as the three dots showed he was typing.

Basement Buddy: Nothing. Just wanted to hang out.

Typing the word ‘nothing’ at the start of the sentence indicated that there was, in fact, something he was hoping to deflect from. Which meant he wanted to talk to her, but knowing she was on a case he didn’t want to bother her or make her worry. Which meant something was wrong.

What happened? R U ok? -She typed, but then backspaced, opting instead for:

G.M: Whens ur shift end?

Basement Buddy: 9

G.M: Do you want me to call you?

Basement Buddy: I’m ok

No emoji in that response. That was a lie. She typed her reply:

G.M: Want me to write an essay to tell u how I know that’s not true?

G.M:Chat tonight?

He took a full two minutes to reply. The three dots disappearing and reappearing. She nervously bit her lip. Had she been too assertive?

Basement Buddy: I’ll wait by the phone. 😉

She breathed again.

Basement Buddy: Btw. Got it in 4.

She snorted and shook her head. A deflection, but a welcome one. At least he agreed to chat later. The cryptic message was about the Wordle. They must have been some of the only people that still did it every day.

G.M: Got it in 3.

G.M: I win. Sorry.

He sent the GIF of the old man holding his chest in pain.

Basement Buddy: No your not you Sadist 😝

G.M:*You’re

‘Who’s got you smiling like that Five-O?’ Luke peaked over the table.

She pulled her phone to her chest. ‘Your mom.’

‘Oooooh ho ho,’ Tara laughed.

‘Grace has a special friend?’ Luke said in a singsong tone.

‘No, I couldn’t resist a well placed your mom joke and, I have land lady who uses a lot of emojis and they are hilariously in the wrong context. I mean, look-‘ she leant over and showed him a text from her she got this morning covering the time stamp with her thumb.

Mrs Hudson: Will get 💦💦 ⬅️ 👀 by tonight

'She is saying the water leak I’ve had is being checked today, but it just looks so suggestive.’

‘Heh. That is funny. But we-' He gestured to Tara and him ‘-are on to you.’

‘I bet it’s you it’s Ashley from fraud detection, Ashley was making eyes at her the whole seminar.’ Tara smirked.

‘She was?’ Grace said. That whole seminar she thought Ashley had forgotten her glasses or needed eye drops or something.

‘Nah, it’s got to be Cody in ballistics at the Seattle office. They spoke for 45 minutes about ice bullets. Nothing to do with the case. Tangents and fun facts, that’s Five-O’s love language.’

‘It was actually meat bullets, and it was case related.’ She hid her head in her hands. ‘Rossi, when are we going to focus on our approach to the case?’ Grace called out for rescue.

Rossi chuckled, ‘Okay, behave, kids. That’s enough teasing each other. Don’t make me tell your mother.’ He got up and stood between the seats. ‘When we land, I’ll go to the local PD and set up. Simmons, Alvez, you go to the crime scene and see what you can learn. JJ and Matthews go to the M.E. See what you can find. Tara, can you try to bring in the family and friends of victim one? We need to talk to people from the new year’s party. I’ll help with interviews once we’ve set up. Hope was the first victim. She is significant. We will reconvene tonight at 7 to share what we found. We start with victimology and M.O. hopefully this case will start to take shape.’

-------

Appalachian Trail, Wertzvile, PA 1:40 PM

‘Good afternoon, I’m SSA Alvez and this is SSA Simmons. You are Detective Garner and Head Ranger DeBraun, I presume?’

The detective stuck his hand out and shook both of theirs. ‘Welcome to Wertzville agents. Sorry you aren’t visiting under better circumstances.’

‘We get that a lot, detective. Can you talk us through how the body was found? Was it similar to the previous two?’

The detective looked at them with a tilted head. ‘Well, the missing head is pretty unique. Can’t say I’ve seen this kinda thing before the first one, has to be the same guy. This isn’t the big city, homicides are rare. This though? This I’m hoping is rarer.’

‘What I meant to ask was is the presentation of the body similar or different from the others?’ Simmons asked.

Head Ranger DeBraun answered this time, ‘I was the first responder. I’ve also seen all three scenes, it’s the same reserve. I would say this scene is pretty identical. Similar story with discovery as well. The hikers found me and another ranger doing track condition survey.

'They were pretty shaken up. There’s spotty reception here, if you’re not with the right provider, you can find yourself in dead spots that are miles wide. The couple had been trying to get help for half an hour. They’re photographer’s, they started out at 5, wanted to get an early morning shot of the creek with the low cloud that sort of thing. They found me and showed me where it was. On the way to the body I radioed it in to Garner here, cause he was on the first one.’

‘Can you point out where the body was?’ Alvez said. The ranger lead them over to the creek bed.

‘Like the other sites, bodies were right on the edge, wrapped up and left there. The second one had her feet in the water, but others were just close to the edge. All sites were on slight bends of the creeks, hidden from the trail’s view, but they’re kind of scenic points. People often venture off the track to take photos here.’

The detective walked up and pointed to the area where the evidence flags showed the bodies had been laid out. ‘The only other difference is this time there were two, but everything otherwise is the same.

See, at the water’s edge, there are no footprints that trail back toward the track, no shoe prints we can identify. Judging by that and the fact that is takes about an hour to get here on foot using the trail. I don’t think this guy was carrying them all the way. One theory we’re working with is he’s got a boat. Jumps out stands in the river, throws the bodies out and goes back the way he came. We had the dogs out here. Nothing came of that except that he came from upstream, east aways.’

‘That’s toward Summerdale, Marysville, right?’ Simmons asked.

‘Sure is, and the site there had the same thing happen when we brought the dogs out. They lost the scent down steam heading further west.’ Detective Garner shook his head. ‘Our combined police forces and rangers swept that forest cleaner than a germophobe’s soap box, found nothing.’

‘So the bodies were never in the water fully submerged, just on the edge?’ Alvez asked.

‘Nope. Just toes touching for one, but otherwise laid out on the bank.’ Garner confirmed.

‘If you want my opinion agents, it's a forensic countermeasure. This is bear country. Animals come to the water’s edge regularly to feed and drink. I guess this guy was hoping they'd clean it up. And honestly, that has me worried since we've got a big gap of time between victims.’ DeBraun surmised.

Simmons nodded, ‘I agree with you both that it’s unlikely, but if this guy was to come on foot, how long would it take him to get to a site like this from town? Is the trail connected at to where the other bodies were found on?’

‘Of for sure, the trail connects eventually. It’s all the same river, same valley, same mountain range. But there are obstacles. As the crow flies, we’re pretty close, but in actuality, going around the mountains would take a day and a half at least to get to Marysville. Each site was a over a hour’s walk away from the populated area’s entry on the trails. That’s a long time and way to be carrying a body.’

‘Any secluded places nearby here or the other sites?’ Simmons asked.

Garner laughed darkly, ‘It’s the forest. If a tree falls on you in the forest, and there’s no one around, there’s no scream. And most people 5 minutes from the town centres have acreage. It would be harder to find a busy area round here. You can see why we’re worried.’

‘I more thinking abandoned places, places nomadic types would live. Whoever did this knows the area very well. They probably spend a lot of time in the wilderness. Can you think of any caves or bunkers or ranger huts?’ Alvez clarified, looking at Simmons to see if he was also getting the same idea he was.

‘Not really. I'm aware of a cave nearby that’s inhabited, but Booboo’s not your guy. He’s got a microchip and an alibi.’ DeBraun said.

‘Booboo?’ Luke asked.

‘A bear?’ Simmons guessed.

‘Yeah. Caves are rare here. I doubt there would be one uninhabited. I doubt a human would be brave enough to live in one.’ DeBraun explained.

‘You know of any hermits living in the area?’ Alvez asked.

‘I can think of a few transients that walk the trail between towns,’ Garner said. ‘I’ll get you people a list.’

-----

Central Police Station, Harrisburg, PA, 2:23 PM

‘So the police report seems to suggest that Hope walked into the forest in the middle of the night in winter? But your testimony means that Hope was taken from her car as she drove home, and the car was dumped back at your place. So you can see why we are a bit confused, Jenny, because these are two very different stories. You want to tell us which one is right?’ Rossi asked the young woman who sat in silence across from them. She didn’t look up at them. ‘See, people don’t usually just walk into the forest at night, especially young girls like yourself and Hope. And when you say to the police that you walked Hope to her car at midnight and saw her drive off, then in the morning you call the cops because her car is still out the front of your place, it doesn’t add up. It’s a bad look for you Jenny. It implies that you know why she went into that forest and you are hiding something from us?’

Jenny fidgeted in her seat, but remained silent.

‘I don’t think you did this, because you called the cops as early as you did, but I think you’re scared that you’re going to implicate yourself or someone else by telling the truth. We know you were probably drinking underage, maybe on drugs. It was New Year’s party after all, but we don’t care about that, we need to find who did this to Hope. You need to help us by telling us the truth of what happened that night because Jenny, cause this guy is still out there, he killing other girls.’ Dr Lewis said.

Jenny looked up at that news and swallowed. Tara observed the sheen of unshed tears as she shakily opened her mouth.

‘It was a stupid dare.’ She began and her hand shook, placing down the photo of Hope she had been clinging on to face down on the table. ‘We were drunk-No, I was drunk. Hope wasn’t. She was good like that. At about 11, people started to dare people to do this thing we called 7 minutes in hell, where you give someone something scary to do for seven minutes.

‘There was a stretch of track that went past the back of the houses on my street, backed onto my yard. But you could come off the trail down the end of the street and walk back in front of the houses. It was only a 10-minute walk. After the first person got dared to do it… We all did it. In the dark, with only our phone light, we had to film it to prove we did it. We all did it, but… Hope, she was scared. She chickened out.

‘We laughed at her… We locked her outside on the porch for the rest of the party as a joke. I was drunk, and I was stupid. I told her she away plays everything safe, and she never does anything fun that she was a boring person. I told her that. It wasn’t true. Our last night together, I was such a shitty friend. I was awful to her. After that she said she was leaving… I watched her from the window walk back to the car…’

‘But you didn’t see her drive away, did you?’ Dr Lewis asked.

Jenny shook her head and sobbed. ‘It was stupid. It was my fault.’

‘So she was taken from her car off the street?’ Rossi asked.

‘No…’ Jenny cried harder. ‘I-I opened the window and told her she couldn’t come back unless she had proof she walked it.’ Tears spilled down her cheek and her voice cracked. ‘When I saw her car still there when I woke up, I knew something bad had happened. I think she, got out of the car and tried to walk the trail. She’s dead because of that stupid dare! She’s dead because I told her she was boring!’

Rossi looked to his colleague and sighed, passing a tissue box across the table to her.

‘Do you think Hope probably had her phone with her, to capture proof?

‘Yeah, she would have filmed it.’ Jenny sniffed.

‘Jenny, was anyone else missing or leave early that night?’ Dr Lewis asked, reviewing the answers she had given to police.

‘No, but I passed out about 12:30, Hope was the only one who left early.’

The same answer she had given before, but she had to be thorough, if Jenny had lied the first time, then she might have lied about something else.

‘Did you see anyone hanging around the trails before or after that night?’

Jenny shook her head ‘No. But it’s a trail. People walk it all the time. Especially the bit that goes behind our property. People go jogging there.’

‘Can you remember anything strange happening at the time? Any repair men around, surveyors, salesmen, anything like that?’

‘No.’ She shook her head again, giving no knew answers. Tara nodded and was about to signal to Rossi that they had all they could get when Jenny’s expression changed. Tara cocked her head

‘What did you just think of Jenny?’ She asked.

‘It’s stupid.’

‘Nothing is stupid, it could help.’

‘It sounds crazy, but… I heard things, from the forest.’

‘Like what? Noises? Screams?’ Tara prompted.

‘No, um… in the following days… sometimes, when I was in the yard, I thought I heard someone call my name.’

‘Why didn’t you tell the police?’ Rossi asked.

Jenny hung her head, ‘I thought it was just in my head. You don’t understand… when you live here, it’s different. There’s a saying: if you heard your name called in the woods, no you didn’t. Look people say they hear crazy things all the time, and they say there’s like skin walkers, feral people and cannibals. Strange things that happen out there in those hills. I just tried to forget it. Pretend I didn’t hear it.’

‘Do you remember exactly what the voice that called to you said, was it just your name or was there anything else?’ Tara pressed.

‘It was really weird actually, that’s why I thought it was in my head.’ She blew her nose and a look of concentration crossed her face. ‘I would hear my name. But sometimes I heard him say, “Jenny… Your friend trips inside the hill.” Over and over. She trips inside the hill. Like that’s crazy right? No one would say that? That had to be myself hearing things?’

She shared a glance with Rossi, what were they supposed to make of that? Sure it could have been Jenny’s internalised guilt manifesting in auditory hallucinations, but it could of also been the killer attempting to lure her too. And more disturbingly, the later seemed more likely.

‘Why didn’t you tell someone this Jenny?’

‘I thought I was going crazy or something. I don’t believe in the supernatural, but everyone around here is like superstitious. There are legends. You don’t have to believe them to be scared of them. I thought maybe, me hearing my name from the forest, was like my punishment. Like the forest wanted me too.’

Tara stood and opened the door, gesturing to Jenny that she could leave.

‘You’re free to go Jenny, but we’re going to need any footage you and your friends have from that night.’

‘Yeah of course, I’ll get it for you, and tell the others to do the same.’ She nodded and hurried out of the interview room.

‘If that girl would have told the truth the police investigation would have not spent a month looking at Hope’s car for evidence.’ Rossi shook his head and packed up the files.

‘It seems she’s is suffering enough,’ Tara observed. ‘She has to live with that night being the last time she saw her best friend.’

-------

Harrisburg Morgue & Coroner's office, Harrisburg, PA 1:15 PM

‘Hello all, I’m Agent Grace Matthews, I’m just here to examine you. I’ll be as quick and respectful as I can. I want to figure out what happened and who did this to you.’ She greeted the three bodies laid out on the metal slabs under white sheets. JJ shared an uncomfortable glance with the medical examiner, who Grace had unintentionally ignored on the way in.

‘I’m SSA Jareau,’ JJ shook the Medical examiner’s hand, giving her an apologetic look. ‘Dr Davis?’

‘Ah, Actually No, I’m Dr. Ganley, I’m the new coroner assigned here. Dr Davis retired last month. But I’ve gotten up to date with the case. Hope has been buried, but here is her report. We still have Jane Doe here-’ she pointed to the first one, ‘-And victims Three and Four, I’ve just finished their reports.’

‘And what have we learned, Dr Ganley?’ Grace turned to her and glanced down at the Doctor’s extended hand. ‘Oh, sorry…’ Grace extended her hand half-heartedly and avoided eye contact, focusing instead on the doctor’s hand in her own. Grace took her hand back and smiled up at the doctor, but she was met with a frown and a raised eyebrow. Dr Ganley turned back to JJ and continued talking to her.

Grace was immediately put at unease. She stared at her hand, flexing it and un-flexing it a few times. She inspected her fingers as the doctor continued to talk to JJ. It felt wrong. Grace hated physical greetings from people she didn’t know. If Covid had been good for one thing, it was reducing the number of times she had to awkwardly oblige the invasion of her personal space. But usually as a woman, and a young, timid-appearing woman, people tended to not bother. Generally, she had observed men tended to only shake hands with other men or people in charge. When women initiated handshakes, it always read as more assertive than friendly to her. Well, that was how she perceived it. But there was just something about that action Grace felt she missed. That it wasn’t just her being unreasonable.

Was it the context? It was odd that a person in the medical field would extend a physical greeting in a post pandemic world. Was it the feel of the hands? The Doctor’s hands weren’t gloved or clammy from being inside gloves recently. Fair enough, she had just been writing a report. Was it the doctor’s eagerness to shake her hand even though she gave cues she did not want to? But then again, Dr Ganley was the new coroner. Maybe she was trying to be assertive and display confidence.

‘-Cause of death was decapitation.’ Dr Ganley finished and passed a clipboard with the reports to JJ.

‘In all cases?’ Grace chimed in, looking around for a box of latex gloves.

Dr. Ganley inhaled in a shocked laugh. ‘I would say so, yes.’

‘From the photos, I noticed Hope, and Two have rough severances, indicating multiple hacks and struggle, but Three and Four have cleaner cuts.’ She spotted the gloves near the wash sink and made her way over to it and began to scrub up.

‘That is correct,’ Dr Ganley confirmed.

‘So what killed Three and Four?’ Grace prompted more directly, pulling on latex gloves.

‘I’m sorry Agent Matthews, I don’t follow?’ Dr Ganley gave her a pacifying smile with an irritated undertone as she fiddled with a gold ring worn as a pendant on a chain at her neck. Married, Grace observed. Medical professionals often worn their wedding rings as pendants so they didn’t interfere with gloves. People played with their jewellery when they were anxious. Grace felt bad. She didn’t want the doctor to feel anxious, but she couldn’t let a mistake like that go unchecked.

Grace walked with purpose over to the slab and peeled back the sheets. ‘Excuse me,’ she whispered to victims and folded down the sheets. ‘A clean cut like this indicates Three and Four were already dead or incapacitated at the time of decapitation, so what caused it?’

‘It was my assessment that the cleaner cut was due to the killer gaining experience.’ Dr Ganley huffed as she scrubbed up and put gloves on.

‘Experience doesn’t render a victim motionless while a killer hacks their head off with an axe, it just reduces the number of swings it takes. What you see between Hope and victim Two is experience, what you see here-’ Grace pointed at the distinctly different cuts between victims Two and Three. ‘-Shows an evolution in M.O.’

Dr Ganley stared at Grace incredulously.

JJ broke the tension. ‘Matthews, hey, Dr Ganley is just doing what she can. See here she has run tox screens on the new victims. If there was a sedative, we will know soon. This is still a preliminary examination, right Dr Ganley? I imagine you don’t see a lot of homicides like this in these parts?’

‘Yes, this is the first one I have encountered that is this violent,’ she sighed. ‘I am still waiting for a few reports to come back. Most importantly DNA, to check that the semen is from the same individual, we’re also waiting on toxicology, particulates from the victims’ fingernails, and fingerprints for the ID of the victims.’

JJ looked over the report, ‘So Three was killed about three days before being discovered, and Four only one day before. And then both bodies were disposed of at the same time? Are the time lines similar for Hope and Two?’

‘Hope we have the best time line for. We know she went missing on the 1st of January 2022. Her body was found January 6th 2022, at discovery she had been dead about 24 hours. Two, we don’t know how long she was held by the killer, but she had been dead for about 72 hours at the time of her body being discovered.’ Dr Ganley reported and sighed, ‘Which brings me to the sexual assau-What are you doing, Agent?’

JJ turned her head to see Grace had pulled back the sheets to the chest of victim Three and was lifting the body up, looking at their back.

‘Grace-’ JJ began in warning.

‘There’s no pooling at their back. Have you pumped them?’ She asked.

‘I would prefer for integrity of evidence that only I handle the cadaver, Agent Matthews.’

'Cadaver?’ Grace asked, somewhat incensed. She could feel herself getting worked up, but she was unsure why. She was helping. Why was the doctor irked by her questions? Grace looked to JJ’s face. JJ didn’t seem to observe any problems, so Grace had no reason to get so worked up. She took a breath. I need to be polite, trust the Dr Ganley was doing her job the best she could. ‘I apologise, doctor, if I overstepped. I just believe it’s important for our profile,’ Grace explained and gently laid Three back down. Softly apologising as she did.

‘Well, you can talk to them without touching them.’ Dr Ganley said, folding her arms across her chest.

Grace turned to stare at her. JJ eyed her with a look, as if to say, ‘Don’t.’ But it was too late.

‘I understand you might not have autopsied murder victims very often in a city like this Dr Ganely, but these women, have already been dehumanised enough, they’re not cadavers for you to practice on or poke around, they did not volunteer themselves to this. I choose to talk to the dead because that’s I how I show respect. And I know that it’s not a foreign concept to you because you’ve been taught to talk to corpses in medical school. It’s etiquette, but you obviously don’t practice it. Instead, you protect yourself by reducing these women to objects. Now, it’s okay to be nervous, it’s okay to be detached and to be clinical, but if you’re going to be disrespectful to these women or mock me for how I deal with the dead Dr Ganley, then please don’t do it around me.’

‘I didn’t mean any offense, Agent Matthews.’ Her demeanour shifted. Dr Ganley seemed to make herself smaller and her eyes watered.

‘And neither did I.’ Well, that was a lie. But looking at her face now, Grace regretted taking a tone.

JJ Stepped in between the two and smiled nervously, ‘Doctor, I’m sorry, Agent Matthews is our resident expert with mutilations and overkill. She can forget not everyone is used to the level of violence we see in our field.’ She shot Grace a chastising look. ‘Can we continue?’

The doctor smiled curtly at them both and walked between the tables, ‘To answer Agent Matthews’s earlier question. Only victim Two, has been pumped. She was embalmed after her autopsy to preserve the body. Three and Four have not been pumped yet, but Agent, the absence of discolouration from pooling is because there was no blood left to pool, which again I believe is consistent with decapitation.’

Grace bit her tongue. That was not correct. Decapitations left blood pooling in the feet and limbs, at least. For no blood pooling to occur after three days, meant complete and utter exsanguination. Perhaps the bodies had been hung upside down after decapitation.

‘Your killer also washes his victims. All of them have small scrapes and abrasions, like they were dragged over rock at some point, but getting particulates was difficult. Where there were traces of dirt and blood on the body, they have been cleaned. But that brings me to the sexual assault…’ Dr Ganley lifted the lower half of the sheet of victim Three.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JJ Stepped to the side, averting her eyes.

‘Excuse me Mam,’ Grace said.

‘What?’ Dr Ganley turned around.

‘I was talking to her.’ Grace inspected the legs of victim Three. There were no indicators of a ligature marks or anything else that would indicate the body was hung upside down. But as Dr Ganley parted her legs. Grace grimaced. She knew what the medical examiner was going to say, and it made her feel queasy.

Dr Ganley pointed with a probe as she explained, ‘They all have traces of semen. He didn’t clean them here, so I think the cleaning wasn’t a forensic counter measure. But here’s a thing we haven’t been able to tell until now with the newer bodies, because they’ve been found relatively quickly. As you maybe able to tell from the state of victims’ genitals Agent Matthews…’

‘We’ve got a necrophile.’ Grace finished in disgust.

‘Eugh,’ JJ remarked.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Grace moved over to victim Four’s table.

‘Pardon me Mam, I’m sorry I have to look.’ She lifted the sheet. She had to check the same indicators were on this victim. Dr Ganley hovered over her shoulder. As she carefully examined the young woman. It was very similar to the previous victim. Except for one thing. A tiny blemish caught her attention.

‘What is this here, just above the Mons Pubis and below the stomach?’ she asked the doctor.

‘What?’ Dr Ganely appeared beside her and lifted the sheet further up. ‘This here? It’s just a minor bruise. Perhaps something sustained in an attack or from bumping into a corner of furniture? It’s only superficial, but I did note it in the report. None of the other bodies had it.’

‘Can we turn the examination light on?’ Grace asked.

‘Sure.’ Dr Ganley said quietly and flicked the switch. ‘Do you want a hand lens?’ She asked, but Grace detected a sarcastic tone.

She ignored it. ‘Yes please, doctor, that would be helpful.’

A magnifier appeared in front of her and she examined the bruise to see what she expected in the centre of it.

‘This is a needle mark,’ Grace told her.

‘Really?’ Dr Ganley asked, seeming shocked. She snatched the lens from her hand and double checked the bruise. ‘Yeah, um… you’re right, yeah, it is. I’m sorry I can’t believe I missed that.’

‘Needle mark?’ JJ asked and came around the side of the table to look at it too. ‘That’s a weird spot for one. Could they have been drugged? Or would it be from like a local anesthetic?’

Grace fixed her glasses and squinted. ‘No, not likely. It’s an 18 gauge. It’s not usually used for administering drugs. If the average person were to buy a needle, they wouldn’t buy this type.’

‘You can’t tell the gauge just by looking at it-‘ Dr Ganely pulled out measure and peered under the hand lens ‘-Its… Three millimetres, which is… that’s impossible.’ She looked at the measure and double checked it.

Grace didn't do well to hide the satisfied smirk that twitched on her face.

‘Why?’ JJ asked.

‘A diameter of three millimetres is 18 gauge,’ Grace smiled.

‘No, why wouldn't a regular person not buy this needle?' JJ asked.

‘Oh, the smaller the number, the bigger the needle. This is the second biggest needle they make. This is for inter-muscular injection, administering blood, or large amounts of emergency medication quickly, this is like an ICU needle, JJ,’ she explained. And then it occurred to her what the needle would have been used for in that particular spot. She looked up at the doctor. ‘Can I probe this?’

Dr Ganley scoffed, ‘No. You’re not qualified to come in here probing stuff like you own the-‘

‘-Then respectfully, doctor, can you probe it? How deep does it go?’ she tried her best to remain polite.

Dr Ganley sighed and walked over to a tray of instruments, and picked up the thinnest probe available. She inserted it into the puncture. Her brow furrowed in concentration and after a while, the doctor pulled it back out.

‘3 Inches, then it’s through into the bladder,’ the doctor reported.

‘Well, can’t say we’ve dealt with something like this before.’ Grace frowned. ‘JJ, you may want to step out of the room.’

‘Why? What’s that mean?’ JJ looked at the probe and then Grace.

‘Dr Ganley, can you perform a dissection of the bladder right now? We need to check its contents.’ Grace gave JJ an apologetic look, knowing the next words were going to conjure unpleasant images in her mind. ‘I think this unsub externally filled this victim’s bladder with something.’

‘Oh, gross,’ JJ baulked.

‘I’ll stay here till this is done. You could go fill the others in at the station? I’ll see what Dr Ganley can find here and see if I can pull some stings at the lab to get the reports fast tracked, then met you guys tonight for the debrief?’ She suggested.

‘Sounds good,’ JJ nodded and before she left the room, nodded her head in the direction of Dr Ganley and mouthed the words, ‘Be nice.’

‘Me?’ Grace scoffed back at her silently.

‘Yes, you.’ JJ pointed and left.

---------

Next Chapter

Taglist: @bridgeoverstrawberryfields

Spencer will be in the next chapter, I promise this one was just getting to long to not split it I'm sorry. Hopefully you liked it.

If you love this story or even just like it, leave a comment, like, reblog, ask a question with Character Mail, whatever, it is much appreciated and it really motivates me.

if you want to be added to taglist please comment on this post.

TWs:

Sexual assault, Necrophilia : I will try not to be graphic at all in this story, this chapter just has it mentioned as part of what the unsub does, but at the morgue Grace does inspect the bodies, medical examiners office and the unsub is revealed to be a necrophiliac. this scene is not graphically described but if you don't want to read it, stop when you see the -------- and continue after the next set of dotted lines.

Autopsy: the whole section under time stap where is says Harrisberg Morgue... is a post mortem exam.

Slight body horror : I will try not to be graphic here, but in autopsy it is found that unsub fills Bladders externally with a injection. Again not going to describe that more than I have too.

violence, crime scene depiction: cannon typical throughout this story

kidnapping: Unsub is implied to kidnap victims and hold them for a few days.

decapitation: this is part of the unsubs M.O.

#spencer reid #BAU #criminal minds #oc #luke alvez #mentor spencer #big brother spencer #spencer gets a happy ending #the protege #OC Grace Matthews #fanfic #my fic #criminal minds case #spencer reid fanfiction #criminal minds fanfiction #the protege chapter 9

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warwickroyals · 2 years ago

Text

beginning - previous - next

this one is packed with references and light spoilers . . . happy hunting. ("quay" is pronounced like "key", I've saved you all from saying it the wrong way for half your life like I have ^_^)

[MARK ASHLEY] Queen's Quay is the typical vacation hotspot for Sunderland's wealthy and elite. Cliche in its glamorous beauty.

[MARK] It hardly seems the place for a royal scandal, but the presence of King Louis’s youngest grandson has attracted controversy . . . and droves of photographers.

[ARTHUR] News ‘copter.

[MARK] What do you think they’re doing?

[ARTHUR] I don’t know, taking pictures, probably, some guy’s in there with a big-ass camera.

[MARK] Do they bother you?

[ARTHUR] Nah, I’m used to it. But it’s loud as hell, huh?

[MARK] But other than the cameras, you’re enjoying yourself?

[ARTHUR] Yeah, totally, we’ve got the three Bs: beaches, beers, and babes. So, uh, yeah it’s been great.

[MARK] Better than up north with grandpa, I’d bet?

[ARTHUR] Oh, one-hundo-percent.

[MARK] But while the prince might be well accustomed to intrusive photographers, the people of Queen’s Quay are not. Noise complaints and police reports have almost doubled in the past week.

[ARTHUR] I’m here to help you bitchless individuals out.

[ARTHUR] It’s easy, like, do this shit and: instant bitches

[ARTHUR] Chicks love sandcastles, just bullshit it. They love artsy shit like this.

[ARTHUR] You can be a 4/10 but if you can make a 6/10 sandcastle, you’re set.

[ARTHUR] I failed honours arts but bitches think I’m Beethoven when I bust out one of these.

[FINCH] Beethoven was a musician, tho . . .

[ARTHUR] I literally just said I failed AP art, Finch, why are you surprised?

[MARK] Your older brother is currently enrolled at Warwick Metropolitan University. If he graduates he will be the first member of your family to receive a graduate degree. Do you have any plans for post-secondary education?

[ARTHUR] Not really? People always get mad when I say this, but why do I need a degree? So I can get a good job?

[ARTHUR] Be real, I’m wearing a shirt with pineapples on it, you don’t want me filing anyone’s taxes. My brother’s the smart one.

[MARK] University can provide you with a lot of amazing opportunities.

[ARTHUR] I’d just fail. And even if I did well, people like you would just say I got unfair treatment like last time, so . . . I’m good.

[LOCAL WOMAN #2] I think it's just frustrating because you know that if he wasn’t royalty the police would have already shut it down. We don’t treat celebs like this.

[LOCAL MAN #1] The hotel is right across the street from us. It’s constant music and noise and traffic. It’s terrible.

[FINCH] What type of vape is that, my man?

[ARTHUR] Strawberry ice cream. I prefer the mango, but this one is alright.

[FINCH] They’re clowning you for vaping in chat, Art.

[COOKIE] Probably because it’s gross as fuck.

[ARTHUR] Omigod, shut up, both of you.

[ARTHUR] You guys are like my dad. Cigarettes are fine but vaping is so bad for you.

[FINCH] You’re not worried about popcorn lung?

[ARTHUR] You know I don’t believe in that shit.

[COOKIE] But he’ll believe once he develops it, tho.

[LOCAL MAN #2] I think the people here are being a little dramatic. Sure he's loud, but so are the local kids. Sure he's causing trouble, point me to one boy that hasn't? Stuff like this happens, people only care because of who he is.

[COOKIE] . . . Like, yeah, why do you think I'm here? Woodbine is, like, so freaking boring in the winter, bitch—Oh, can I swear or will you censor bad words?

[MARK] We won’t censor, um, that one

[COOKIE] Oh, goody! I thought I’d [REDACTED]ed it up for a second there.

[MARK] Are these your friends from school, Your Royal Highness?

[ARTHUR] Well, I went to an all-boys school, so yes and no—

[COOKIE] His school was scuffed

[ARTHU] —she’s just saying that, she was always visiting afterhours, if you know what I mean. I have that effect on bitches.

[COOKIE] OMIGOD, ARTIIIIIEEE.

[COOKIE] I don’t give a fuck if they’re talking ‘bout my tits. I’m built differently for these little boys, the fuck?

[COOKIE] All white bikini my body looks like milk.

[ARTHUR] White on white?

[COOKIE]White on white on white. My nails are white too.

[COOKIE & ARTHUR] White on white on white on white

[FINCH] They’re both so fucking annoying, guys. Pray for me.

[MARK] In recent years, the status of the Duke of Woodbine’s two sons has been subject to controversy. Last year, both young men were stripped of tax-funded police protection after senior members of the royal family reportedly expressed concerns. Prince Arthur refused to answer questions about his family. Back to you, Ana.

[MARK] Is it safe to say you’re dreading the end of your vacation?

[ARTHUR] As much as you’re dreading the end of this interview, yeah.

#warwick.story #chapter three #tw smoking #ts4 story #ts4 storytelling #ts4 legacy #ts4 royal legacy #ts4 edit #ts4 screenshots #ts4 royalty #ts4 monarchy #ch: arthur #ch: cookie #ch: finch #✨

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sunshine-overload · 1 year ago

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[BSTS] Main Story S5CH3 'A Wall Broken' - Chapter 5 + SideB

in which nekome decides to threaten his own brother

Chapter 5

-outside shrine, very early morning-

takami: This is a rather strange place you've asked me to meet you.

taiga: A place where no one else is around is better.

takami: Have you been getting enough rest? If you make another mistake on stage I won't be able to protect you a second time.

taiga: I can't rest until I've cleared these things up with you.

takami: Ok, then what is it that you wanted to talk about?

taiga: Isn't that obvious? I did as I promised and analysed the data from the old Starless building. So fess up the information you have about my brother.

takami: ...I recall watching every single file of that data deleting itself right in front of my eyes. Are you saying something was saved?

taiga: Nope. I looked thoroughly for anything afterwards but it was all wiped clean. Nothing was left.

takami: Then I think calling that a successful job is a little naive.

taiga: After that, back at home I checked over all of the logs again. No matter how many copies of the file I made, the same thing happened everytime I decrypted it... So, I concluded that the files all deleting themselves wasn't a trap.

takami: Meaning?

taiga: It means that the file itself was a program that automatically deletes itself and wipes the computer when it's booted. Put in more simple terms, it's a highly effective landmine. Regardless of this being the result, I still broke the encryption and technically analysed what the data was. I've held up my side of the deal.

takami: (soft laugh) I guess you're right, I get it. Then if you agree to my terms, I'll tell you what I know.

taiga: What do you mean by terms?

takami: That you won't ask any unnecessary questions, nor try to find out the sources of my information. Also since there's the chance it'll get you dragged into trouble, passing this info on to anyone else is strictly forbidden.

taiga: Got it.

takami: The previous Starless location was hiding a secret. One that a number of different organisations caught wind of. And Nekome was deeply involved in this secret.

taiga: Big bro was?

takami: This is just my own theory, but I think the reason for Nekome's disappearance is because this secret was about to be exposed. He escaped with a 'fragment of the secret' which left only cast members who knew nothing about it behind at the store.

taiga: Then, why did he...

takami: I may not have any idea as to what he was doing whilst he was missing, but I suspect that right now he no longer has whatever that 'fragment' was. That's why he was able to waltz back into Starless like it was no big deal. Except... Though he may look composed on the outside, there is no doubts that Nekome is still caught up in the middle of this secret.

taiga: ...What even is it, why does he have to go this far to hide it?

takami: Well, I had been hoping there would be a hint in that data... However, that hasn't worked out.

taiga: I'm not allowed to ask you how you know this much about it, right?

takami: It's not always beneficial to know everything. Make sure you don’t lose sight of your goal.

taiga: ......

takami: Oh right, one more thing. It appears Nekome is going to be meeting with somebody in secret this afternoon. I'm busy so I can't go, but if you're curious you can go and confirm. The details are written on his note here. In exchange I'd like you to tell me if you learn anything valuable.

taiga: So, you're basically using me as your gofer then?

takami: Even if I was, you're still going to go aren't you?

taiga: ...You really have one great personality.

—end

Chapter 5 (extra)

-starless office-

rindou: Then, we'll be taking the rehearsal room on these days.

nekome: Okay~

menou: Yep, got it.

maica: Fine by me. Do these days work fo you too, Shinju?

shinju: .....

rindou: Shinju?

shinju: Oh, sorry! I was busy thinking about the tasks I need to complete today so I wasn't listening...

maica: You must really have your hands full.

nekome: Oh yeah, you're currently on trial for the temporary management team aren't you? How's it going?

shinju: I'm doing my best but I keep getting slowed down by all the computer work. I don't feel like I'm being very helpful, rather I feel like I'm just holding everyone else up. Oh but, if I keep at it and get more used to it, I think I'll be of more use.

menou: If you're causing the others trouble wouldn't it be better for you to step down than needlessly continue?

nekome: Well, that's why he's a trial member after all.

shinju: Uu... That's true. I've put my hand in now though, so I'm going to work hard on the work relating to the performance until the end.

taiga: Yo, Shinju, Unei-kun was looking for you. He was asking how the summary of peoples impressions on the show is going.

shinju: Sorry, it's still not done yet... I just need a little longer.

rindou: I'm not doing anything after this so I'll help you out. Let's finish it up together.

maica: Well in that case, I'll help too.

shinju: Thank you!

menou: I'm not cut out for that kind of work so I'll pass, keep at it.

shinju: I will!

taiga: Why don't you help too bro, aren't you good at this sorta thing?

nekome: I'd love too but I actually have plans after this.

taiga: What kind of plans?

nekome: Not telling~ See ya.

-nekome leaves-

taiga: ......

—end

Chapter 5 SideB

-street, daytime-

nekome: .......

taiga: ........ (trailing Nekome)

-nekome ducks into alleyway-

taiga: Huh wait where'd he go!? Shit!

-taiga finds alleyway-

taiga: If I saw right, I think he entered here...

-nekome appears and quickly grabs taiga from behind-

taiga: (scared) Uwah!?

nekome: Move and I'll stab you. I'm assuming you don't want a hole in your throat right?

taiga: H-hold on...!

nekome: Hm? Wait, Taiga?

taiga: Huh? Brother...?

nekome: I did think it looked like you, but to think it actually was you. Never thought I'd have to catch you like this.

taiga: W-when did you manage to get behind me...

nekome: I've been sensing eyes on me lately so I decided to try and set up a little trap.

taiga: What, a trap? Actually, could you let me go already...?

nekome: Even if you're my brother I can't grant that request just yet.

taiga: T-then at least lower the knife would you?

nekome: Before I can do that, tell me. Who is the one that leaked information about me to you?

taiga: Who, you ask?

nekome: If you don't tell me my hand might just slip, what if I said that?

taiga: Guh... S-stop...!

nekome: You're being used as a decoy. Answer me, just who the hell is it that's using my cute little brother as bait?

taiga: ... I wiretapped you myself!

nekome: ......

taiga: What was it that you took from old Starless? Tell me!

nekome: (whistles) Wow, do they teach you how to have guts at Starless too?

-nekome releases taiga-

taiga: Gwah! (heavy breathing) To point a knife at your actual brother... You damn bastard...

nekome: It's not even a knife. It's a motorbike key, see? As long as it's got a sharp point the person won't know any better.

taiga: ........

nekome: Well, if you want to know about me that badly, then out of respect for the amount of guts and courage you just showed me, I'll tell you a little bit.

taiga: Huh...?

nekome: I settled the matter of what I took away here and there. What it was and why I did so is a secret. Because of some weirdo a small fire broke out...

-nekome looks around-

nekome: Mm~ I don't want anyone coming and bothering us either, let's take this somewhere else.

—end

Chapter 5 SideB (extra)

-park-

nekome: Here should be fine, there’s no one but some kids around. Here I got you a coffee, think of it as an apology for earlier.

taiga: ….. (glares)

nekome: This is your favourite brand isn’t it? C’mon take it.

taiga: …Thanks. (opens coffee) Then, about continuing our conversation…

nekome: Ah, a ball. I wonder if it belongs to that kid over there. Here you go!

-nekome throws the ball back-

nekome: Haha, that was a nice catch. Hmm, it’s so peaceful here isn’t it.

taiga: Yeah, quite the contrast to before.

nekome: The line between the two is only paper thin. You might not even have a single page’s worth, so before you know it you've stepped into something you shouldn’t have. I'm talking about you here, have you been watching your step?

taiga: ....... (glares)

nekome: I've told you this before, but if you get yourself involved any further than this prepare to be killed in some explosion. Actually, you'd already be dead right now wouldn't you? To a swift stab wound in the throat.

taiga: That was cause...! You.......

nekome: Well, for the time being you have your show to worry about, Taiga-kun. If you make another mistake on stage Kokuyou really will kick you out y'know~

taiga: ...Fine, I get it.

nekome: Then that's good. Go ahead and show your big bro what you're made of. Whilst you're venting your anger, don't step over to this side.

taiga: .......

nekome: I'll throw away your empty can for you, see ya.

-nekome leaves-

taiga: ...Shit! Godammit! Fine, I just have to do the show right? You shitty brother.

—end

#bsts main story #bsts taiga #bsts nekome #bsts translation

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inkabelledesigns · 2 years ago

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Did not think I'd be getting emotional about Splatoon of all things, but here I am! So we just got done with the cryptid Splatfest, and this one introduced two new Squid Sisters songs. Tomorrow's Nostalgia Today is such a bop, and it has me feeling so many things, thinking about all the previous Splatfests I've played and how it hasn't stopped being fun.

I've been playing since the first game, got Splatoon back in 2015 to play with friends but didn't really get to that much. My youngest sister and I loved playing it together though, it was our game. We'd have a sleepover in the basement where we'd start playing Splatfest at midnight, go to bed, then one of us would wake up early and rank up to Queen level before the other got up, then we'd both get there before noon and call it a day. There was a magic to it that I can't really put into words, but it was special, it was our thing.

Splatoon 2 happened while I was in college. I was a little late to pick it up, but I loved it. Pearl and Marina were great, the music was lovely, and I adored Shifty Station. Came to almost every Splatfest, save for the ones where I was out of town. Didn't love playing the story mode (though I do love the story). I actually didn't finish it until relatively recently, and it wasn't even me who did it. It was my little brother. See, he asked to play the first two games after I got into 3, and so I let him borrow my copies. He finished my file, save for the final boss, where he handed me the controller and said I should have the honors. (He had already beaten it on his own file apparently.) The thrill of hearing the Spicy Calamari Inkantation was amazing, the music all throughout the boss fight had a story to it, and I was enchanted by it. Finally Callie was saved, I was so happy. I missed out on Octo Expansion (makes sense, why would I get it if I don't like the single player?), but I've been told I need to see a Let's Play of it, so that's on the to-do list. XD

Now we get to three, and my bro wanted to experience what my sister and I had growing up. Between you and me, I think he's gotten something even better. We don't do sleepovers anymore, but now we play as a team. It's myself, my bro, my sis, and my sister's husband. Sometimes they come over, and sometimes we call on the phone and play together. We've got strategies, we all play a variety of weapons (I fancy myself a bucket more often than not now!), and we have such a good time. There's a little yelling when other teams have poor sportsmanship, and sometimes we need to pause when it stops being fun, but overall? I love my squad. During the chocolate Splatfest we got a x333 battle and won, and it was one of the best multiplayer moments I've ever had, took so many pictures with Frye after that. I now take a photo every Splatfest of my octoling with my Amiibo. It's nice to have new traditions.

Needless to say, this funky little squid and octopus game means a lot to me. I'm so glad I get to share this with my family, but also now with my friends. We don't play together super often, but it's gotten me to be a little better at asking to play than I used to be, and we also have such a good time.

I haven't gotten the DLC, since once again with 3, single player isn't quite my vibe. It's better to play, I've at least beaten it and loved the story, but I haven't gone back and done every stage. But my brother has, so now I get to see my old stomping grounds when he's playing, and seeing the Squid Sisters share the stage with a new song hit me right in the gut. I did not expect to feel that, but after everything they've been through as characters, and how long I've spent with them on their journey and my own, seeing the two trucks combined into one stage just, it MEANS something to me. They're together again and better than ever, and it's so GOOD! AAAHHHH! I love all of our idols so much but these two have a very special place in my heart.

#splatoon #splatoon 3 #splatfest

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detective-luca-montoya · 2 years ago

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Feeling inspired, so have some Christmas-adjacent whump! Malik belongs to @lumpsbumpsandwhumps!

A virtual cookie to anyone who gets who this drabble's villain is a reference to! EDIT: It's McCracken from The Mysterious Benedict Society! I suppose this counts as my entrance into the fandom.

Warnings for gun violence, regular violence, murder, and whump. Message me to add tags or warnings!

11:17 AM, December 24th

Carjacking was not how Luca would prefer to spend her Christmas.

This was why she was doing it as quickly as possible, rifling through the mess of a trunk for the documents she was looking for, and who the hell kept loose-leaf paper in their car boot?!

Evidently, someone who was trying their very best to keep their secret files secret- it had been hard enough finding the car, let alone tailing its owner and waiting for the right time to search. She shoved aside another pile of bills and leaflets, spotting a flash of color drowning in the sea of paper. Bingo.

She grabs it, inwardly cheering. Hopefully she has enough time to deliver it to the client and she can make it back to the agency in time for Christmas day. She just hopes Jake saved her some gingerbread-

Her train of thought is rudely interrupted by a cold sensation on the back of her neck. She looks to the ground, spotting a reflection in a puddle. A man- the car's owner, probably. Pointing a gun at her back. She raises her hands automatically, turning her head just enough to show him she's aware of his presence.

"Turn around," he orders. His finger is off the trigger, but that doesn't reassure her as she turns and sizes him up. Average build, average looks. An office worker, she thinks. Glasses and all. Looks like he hasn't seen the sun in weeks. And yet his aim didn't waver, even a bit. Strange.

His eyes didn't seem to move, and yet the corner of his mouth still rose in recognition. "I know you. You're that private eye- from the papers. Montoya, was it? Yeah..."

She doesn't dare move with the gun trained on her- she's fast, but she's not the Flash. She'll just have to watch and wait for an opportunity.

Oh. He's still talking.

"...saw you following me," he says. Shit, really? She must be losing her touch. "Didn't think you'd have the guts to follow me down here, though."

"Gotta take chances in my line of work," she retorts blithely. A stupid one, apparently...

"A pretty stupid one."

Yeah, didn't need to hear it from you.

He takes a step closer, still aiming at her head. "Now, how about you give me those papers and we can both forget this ever happened."

"Why don't you come over here and take them from me?"

A dumb question? Absolutely. But she was much more likely to survive a fistfight than a bullet through the skull. If she could get him close enough...

The man raises an eyebrow, before lowering the gun and shrugging nonchalantly. "Well- alright."

She drops her hands when he advances, covering the distance between them in three steps, and makes a rapid grab for the gun. He pivots on his feet- fast, too fast for her to react- and pistolwhips her with an audible crack. Luca staggers and falls against the back windshield, clutching her rapidly swelling cheek. A hand slams down too close to her ear, and she sees spiderweb-like cracks spread from the point of impact. Above her is a pleasant man in a now-disheveled suit, who fixes his tie before smiling disarmingly at her, marred only by a single gold tooth.

"Is this rather close enough, ducky?"

His hand not currently in a toxic relationship with the windshield reaches and takes the papers from her. They're wrinkled and torn from Luca's desperate gambit, but he just makes an annoyed noise and tucks them into his inside coat pocket. "That's better."

His previous tough behavior is long gone- now he looms above her, gesturing with the gun for effect as he spoke. "Now, how about you answer my other question and tell me what a spunky little thing like you is doing with my very important papers? They're crucial for my work, you see. Not for the eyes of children."

She ignores the barb (barely) and narrows her eyes. "Then why were they hidden in a giant pile in the trunk of your car?"

Another shrug. "You have me there. So maybe they're not my papers... but they're still quite important. Which begs the question, why are you so desperate for them?"

"You first," she says.

"You're awfully demanding," the man notes. "If you must know, old McCracken was paid quite a large sum to get these papers. But they'd be worthless to anyone else, I was assured. So...?"

Alarmingly, he taps under her chin with the barrel of the gun, and Luca is suddenly hyperaware of his finger on the trigger. "Your turn."

She swallows. "Like you said. I'm a PI. It's my job."

The barrel presses into the soft flesh under her chin. The man- McCracken- leans closer, studying her expression. "You wouldn't be telling a fib to old McCracken, would you? My trigger finger gets twitchy when I'm lied to."

She grits her teeth and says nothing. McCracken's gold tooth winks at her. "Cat got your tongue?"

She purses her lips in silence. McCracken leans back, blowing a raspberry in her direction. "The silent treatment? Really? You're just that determined to make things difficult for me?" He rolls his shoulders, Luca just now noticing the muscles underneath his prim outfit. "Well, me duck, that's quite a shame. Disposing of you here would make a rather big mess... we'll continue this discussion elsewhere."

He finally removes his hand from the window and pulls a handkerchief out of his welt pocket. Luca smells disinfectant- no, that's not right-

McCracken grunts, and suddenly the air feels much clearer- Luca shakes her head and looks down to see the man lying in a pool of blood, prompted by the hunting knife sticking out of his back. Her vision still swimming, Luca blearily looks back up, words of thanks on her lips.

They immediately shriveled up and died, because Malik was standing in front of her.

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me..." she mumbles. Malik looks up, seemingly only now just noticing she was here. "Huh? The hell are you doing here?"

"Getting threatened, what are YOU doing here?!" Luca unsteadily pushes herself up, staggering towards Malik and jabbing a finger at his chest. "Why'd you save me?!"

"I didn't do no such thing," Malik says, seemingly offended at the suggestion. "This son of a bitch cut me off during a procession. I'm just returning the favor."

"So you were going to kill him anyway."

"I'll be honest darlin', I didn't even know you were here." Malik leans down and yanks his knife out of McCracken's ribs. "Then again, someone else roughing you up lowers your value and I still gotta turn a profit with you."

"Like hell you will," she spits, keeping one eye on him as she kneels to take the papers off of the body. Malik is busy examining his knife- he doesn't even spare her a glance as she straightens up, grimacing at the blood soaking half of the writing. She unfolds it slowly, doing her best not to tear it, and reads the loopy cursive with bated breath.

9 left

Nine left.

Luca looks up, fear suddenly flooding every cell of her being. "Malik-?"

But the man was already gone, leaving Luca alone with the body- and questions that she wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer to.

#whump writing #my writing #my ocs #tw: violence #tw: injury #case file maj

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foxstens · 2 years ago

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why does zote keep showing up in p3 -_-

#my posts #gameblogging #liveblogging hollow knight #im doing bindings now #and the two times ive tried it he was the first boss both times #i never fought him in the overworld in this save fike?#i forgot to let him die to but i left him in deepnest #and he's not unlocked in the hall of gods #might it be a bug since im using a ton of mods #and also randomized pantheons #altho its weird he only showed up during the charm binding :/#and this hasn't happened on my previous save file #where i let him die and basically only played randomized pantheons #lets just hope he doesn't show up in p5 -_-

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theficplug · 4 years ago

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|Next Lifetime|Erik Killmonger|

previous chapters : Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

erik killmonger x black reader

|part 4|

warnings: um definitely smut this chapter at the end. so 18+ for this chapter! and a possible trigger warning for grief but i promise it gets better and its a romcom.

synopsis: reader grieves Erik until she doesn’t (i’m trying not give too much away). This one is a long ass chapter. So, grab you a snack and something to drink! I hope y’all like it.

“You promised on our birthday that you would give me something far more special than the charms you would gift to me. In 2018, you wanted to avenge your birth parents and you went off and did something foolish and when you- when they returned you to me you were-.” you struggle for a bit to find the words to explain it all to him as he takes a step back to gather himself.

He rubs his eyes before grabbing your arms gently and massaging them . He leans down to look you in your eyes before asking “Ma, did you take something before I came to pick you up? You alright? Cause what you saying don’t make no sense at all... Your pupils don't look dilated though.”

“I know how this must sound. Batshit crazy. I know it sounds crazy to me too. I’m still trying to figure out if I’m losing my own damn mind. I don’t know how or why. I just know that you came back to me.” you say to him and he shakes his head.

“Erik. You’re talking about your ex boyfriend...The one that passed... . Alright, I’m going to take you home now... I still don’t understand what’s going on here and I’ve had about all I can take of trying to understand what’s going on here.” N’Jadaka says quietly to you before going around and opening your car door.

The drive was silent as you picked at your nails and let the soft r&b roll over the tension between the two of you.

Your own thoughts were going in about a billion different directions again. It didn’t feel right to just sit on all of that and not say anything at all. As ripped from a science fiction film as it sounded at least he knows.

He was never one to think quietly because you could practically read his thoughts with the changing of expressions across his face.

The relief of seeing your building washed over you as he offered to walk you to your door.

It was bittersweet because there was still so much of him in this different version of him. Even when he was upset with you or livid with whatever ghost that was haunting him back then, he still showed nothing but tenderness to you.

You nod and give him a small smile before following him up the stairs , to your elevator, and finally your door.

“I know that this is a lot. I mean who in their right mind would be able to process all of that.I wish there was any other way to say it... But thank you, I had a really nice time.” your soft words snap him out of staring at your face as if he was trying to piece it all together.

He knew deep down that there was something about you and what happened that weekend while dreaming in colours and other worlds but he couldn’t wrap his head around all of this happening in real life.

You lean up to kiss his cheek and he grabs your shoulders softly. “With all due respect. You seem like a lovely person and a good woman, but I just - this all a lil too weird for me and I don’t think it’s a good idea that we continue seeing each other.”

He kisses your hand and leaves with one look over your shoulder as you call out “Meet me at our spot. If you are still anywhere in there. You’ll know what I mean.”

“What the hell happened ? I didn’t expect you back until tomorrow morning?” Iri says as she settles on the other side of the sofa and patted the spot next to her as you kick off the sandals and lay your head on her lap with tears already prickling your eyes.

“Oh you didn’t? Please don’t tell me you told him about the soulmate reincarnation thing? Sweets, you probably scared the hell out of that man. We needed you to keep that waaay down in the vault.” Tiki adds as she pops the cork off the bottle of wine in her hand and pauses the movie playing on the screen in the background.

“Here’s what we’re gonna do . You’re gonna text him and tell him that you had just gotten your wisdom teeth removed earlier today and the meds had you unexpectedly zooted as fuck. “ Iri suggests and you chuckle softly.

---

Meanwhile at N’Jadaka’s house he was already being pestered by Lina and Penn for some type of details about what happened during the date. Orleans was already in the kitchen cooking and ear hustling but went back to his conversation on the phone with Big Mike when he realized there wasn’t any tea.

“I don’t feel good. I’m finna go lay down. I’ll talk to y’all in the morning”. He says simply to them before trudging his way to his part of the house.

They had been friends since college and just got used to the idea of living together as they did in the dorms so they made it work after graduation.

It helped them save money for when they finally separated and all of their schedules kept them busy so they didn't have time to get sick of each other. They also knew him well enough to know when something was bothering him and to leave him alone when he gets this moody.

"What the fuck?" He whispered under his breath

"What the fuck was all that?" He continues talking to himself as he strips and walks past the bathroom mirror to the shower.

He stops when something catches his eye. He sees a birthmark on his chest that almost resembles the shape of claw marks. He lets his fingers linger over the mark for a second. Thoughts of a panther mask clouded his memories for a moment before he shook his head and entered the shower.

---

A few hours later of talking through it with your girls about possibly seeing a therapist about all that's going on and you were ready for bed.

It didn't take long to drift off, you were ready to put the whole thing behind you.

The familiar setting of purples , pinks, and hues of blue came into focus and you looked around letting the butterflies land on you again.

You walk through the flowers and find Erik sitting by a stream of water weaving some of the flowers together.

"What the hell, E?" You ask as you run over to him and wrap your arms around his neck

He turns to you and smiles big , his dimples on full display before shrugging.

"It ain't perfect but it's the best I could do. They said it's like a do-over or something like that. I get a second chance but as a result of the way I did things the first time it's a lil different. Like when you restore a computer and it lose all it's files and shit. I get a new life but I'm still kinda stuck. I kinda like it though. I don't remember all the other shit when I'm awake. It really is like starting over. Shits crazy to explain when you think about it. But for you , you already know. I'd find you in this life and the next and the one after that. I don’t think I’mma ever fully remember what happened with all of that when i’m awake. I’m cool with it. It ain’t something I’m tryna remember." He says tipping your chin up to look at you and kissing you softly

"I know. At least I get to hold you in the real world. It's just different. But guess what I saw today? I seen that bench that you and me signed all them years back. It's still there." You say to him and he places the lil flower bracelet around your wrist as y'all sit and talk for the rest of the night.

By the time you wake up with the aroma of breakfast wavering throughout the loft you feel a little better about the whole situation with Erik, not Erik.

You opened your phone and sent him an I'm sorry gif with a few extra words inspired by Tina's wisdom tooth lie.

After easing into the kitchen and standing in the doorway you see the two lovebirds dancing around the kitchen singing to each other and laying food on the plates.

"Morning lil sleepy head. Don't forget that I'll still be coming down to the center with you today for the seminar. You hungry?" Iris asks as she places the plate in your hands with a kiss to the top of the head.

"Of course. There's a young girl, Sophie there that I really think would love to talk to you. She's just starting her transition. And her parents are wonderful but they don't really have much money. She hasn't really had the chance to get more “feminine” presenting clothes and she likes makeup. " You say and she nods catching your drift.

"Well it'd brighten anybody's day seeing a beautiful successful trans woman like myself honey. But let's lift her spirits even more. I'm gonna bring some of the makeup I got from pr packages and some of the clothes from this collection. I really hope it helps." She answers and Tika just saunters over to her proclaiming her love for her.

"Alright alright alright. I get it. I'm single as hell." You say laughing softly

---

Two weeks ticked by with radio silence on N'Jadaka's end. After the 4th day when he gave you the cold shoulder at a coffee shop, you decided to stop trying.

Maybe it wasn't fate and maybe you were just believing what you wanted to believe.

You reason with yourself as you walked around the loft making notes about the new housing project you were working on.

Finally having the house to yourself with the lovebirds gone for the day on a little adventure. You got to work budgeting and calling different areas to rent out apartments to you for women and lgbtq+ with housing insecurities.

Your ramblings and thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door , thinking that Iri or Tika left something behind.

"I told you to take your sunscre- Daka?" You question as he stands in front of you

You cross your arms and furrow your brows while waiting for an answer from him.

He stands for a moment like he’s trying to gather all of his thoughts together in a way that makes sense to both of you.

"What're you doing here?" You ask putting your hand on your hip.

He drops his shoulders and lets out a soft sigh before looking at you.

"I didn't wanna believe it. What you said that night cause like how the fuck does something like that happen? I’mma be honest. I wanted to just believe that you were a lil off and leave it at that but something keeps telling me that you right. I can't remember shit before college and all I wanted to do was be with you. From the moment I met you in the store. I was like, this is it. This is what's missing. A piece to a puzzle that's all jumbled up." He admits and you nod slowly before letting him in.

You walk around the kitchen getting a cup of tea for yourself and sitting a cup of coffee down on the counter for him.

“Don’t worry it’s black, I know you dont like it sweet.”

"You know I didn't exactly expect my fiancee that I buried months before to show up at a damn supermarket of all places. This isn't some movie or fanfiction. These kind of things don't happen in real life. Daka you, you had claw marks all over you. The last time I laid eyes on you. And now you're here in front of me. I thought that I was losing my mind." You say and he starts to unbutton his shirt.

"These." He says peeling his shirt off and showing you the birthmarks on his chest and shoulder.

You trace your fingers over it before leaning your head on his shoulder.

"I asked my parents about my childhood and when I passed by my old neighborhood a few days ago andI remembered some things. I remember what happened to my other parents, in pieces. Shit’s brutal." He says dropping his gaze

"It's okay." You whisper to him and wrap your arms around him. You rocked him for a moment letting him let all of those feelings wash over him.

He embraced you for a moment before kissing you tenderly. You tug at his bottom lip before deepening the kiss when he press you against the counter.

"We'll figure it out... Something telling me I'd be a fuckin fool to lose you again." He says quietly against yours lips.

"Are you gonna make love to me or are you going to keep looking at me like that?" You ask as he studies your whole face like he's looking at art.

"A memory. It's you. We stood right here and I kissed you the same way. You were saying something like "you bring yourself home to me"." He says and you nod frantically, holding him closer to you.

"I did. It was right before you left." You admit and he nods before lifting you up onto the counter and kissing you heatedly this time. He kisses down to your breasts before looking up at permission from you to unhook your bra.

Always a man that knows what he's doing. He takes kisses around your breasts and nipples. He takes his time to lick and caress you until he works his way down.

You shake your head yes before moving to slide off your panties but his kisses and his mouth is already beating you to it as he kisses down to your thigh.

He slides your panties off with his teeth and tosses them over his shoulder.

You tilt your head back as you feel him wasting no time massaging over your clit and working you over with his fingers, curling them and stroking you gently.

Your soft moans fill the room when he hooks your leg over his shoulder and begins to suckle your clit softly , swirling his tongue over it.

"Tika will kil- Ooh god. How does your tongue feel like it's vibrating?" You ask and he only chuckles and grips onto your cheeks to bring you closer to him.

He was feasting on and devouring you like he was going to lose again and you could grind your hips down against his tongue and moan his name sweetly.

He didn't stop his tongue or fingers working in you until your legs are shaking and you're gripping at his head.

"You have- fuck. I'm a squir-" you moan his name brokenly while trying to get out your words and lean back for a moment licking his lips before realizing what you're trying to say.

"Hold that for me. I wanna come with you." He says to you and you pout and protest as he removes his fingers. He picks you up off the counter and carries you bridal style asking you which room is yours.

"Left , left." You giggle into his shoulder as he helps you slide your dress off and you unbutton his jeans for him.

You capture him in a kiss for a moment feeling his soft plump lips against yours again for the first time in what feels like forever.

"It's been a long time since I've done all of this. . . Gentle." You say and he runs a calloused finger over your cheek moving a curl away from your face as he looks at you.

He gets a quick flash of a memory of you and him in bed. You wore a smile on your face before telling him "happy anniversary".

He trailed his fingers down your body remembering almost every scar , every moment.

When Erik got to a scar at your side. He chuckled, unlocking a memory of you two running from the neighborhood rottweiler , Smokey.

That old ass dog hated you and he hoisted you over the fence first after being out late one night in high school. The gate had caught your side when you jumped.

Erik felt so bad he brought you food from anywhere you wanted everyday from to school for a month.

He leans down to place open mouthed kisses to it.

He traced over your thighs to the cellulite and stretch marks remembering when you first got them.

He was moving homes at the time and he wasn't ready to be further away from you yet. You two just sat for hours at the park in the grass, talking.

" You know white men behind all of that anyways. They want y'all to feel like you gotta look the same way. That's how they make them billions. My mama had 'em . Yo mama , and generations back. And it ain't ever stop them from being the women they are. Besides if any dirtneck nigga ever try you , just tell me. Imma handle it." He would say as you sat with your head on his lap, staring at the sun setting, knowing good and well your grandparents were gonna ground you for being late when you get home.

They never did though cause you were with Erik they knew you were gonna be alright.

"Nothing to worry about. I… I've never done any of that stuff before…Have you?" you question hesitantly as you stare off.

"Tisha. From Ms. Wilkes class. We was coming from the kick back-"

"Uh uh . That's your business , you ain't gotta tell me all of that." You say slightly upset at the fact that Tisha of all people was his first.

----

"I got you." He says kissing your forehead then your nose before hooking your leg over his hip and easing into you slowly while his lips are still on yours. His eyes never left yours as he cupped your face sweetly like he didn't want to lose you again.

In this moment he gets a glimpse of prom night and how things changed between the both of you forever.

He wraps his hands around your waist. One of his hands splayed across your belly.

He remembers the pregnancy scare you both had afterwards with him holding your hand and telling you no matter what happens he wanna be there for both of you.

Luckily, nothing came of it but you were definitely closer because of it.

You let out an open mouthed gasp at the feeling of being so full of him after so long.

You rest your hands on his neck and shoulder and he bottoms out fully settling into you as he moves his arms next to balance himself.

You close your eyes as he begins to stroke into you trying to set a rhythm for you as his praises for you fall from his lips.

He kisses his way down your neck licking the marks that are already starting to form there.

"My lil baby." He mutters out after licking a freshly formed hickey forming on top of your breasts.

You open your eyes slowly , looking at him and the way he's looking at you .

"It's been way too long since I've heard that from you. You're remembering?" You ask quietly as you let out a soft moan.

N'Jadaka's muscles flex and tighten as he picks up his pace. His abs clenched as he pulls out almost completely and filled you at a different angle.

The sounds of your moans filling the room with every stride and stroke of his hips, it seems like you're closer to floating in space. The man was fucking you like his life depended on it and at this point all you could do is wrap your arms around him again to comfort you as he shutters and rolls his hips deeper into you. Your walls tighten around him as you relish in the feeling of him.

"Fuck. I remember all of it." He says half chuckling at the way it's coming to him and half nearly in tears cause he really missed being with you.

"I also remember that this is your favourite position cause you like to see my face." He teases before leaning down to kiss you again with them plump ass lips.

"E?" You ask , grabbing his face with trembling hands.

"Baby?" You ask again

He moves his hands from your waist and places your hands in his. Then moving them above your head as he flashes in between making love to you for the last time and now.

You roll over with him and place your hands on your chest riding him slowly getting the rhythm as he strokes into you from below.

He laughs softly when he realizes what you're doing.

"Are you spelling my fucking name , baby?" He asks and you tell him that you can spell both.

You let out a whimper when he brushes your spot and let him take over as he runs his hands over your thighs to your butt and over your back as he strokes into you.

He plants his feet on the bed and work your hips in rhythm with him.

It didn't take long for you to orgasm with a loud shriek of his name . You had forgotten how he gets when he's close as his hands on gripping all over your thighs and your back. You were already feeling sensitive with your second orgasm coming through and this man felt like he was trying to put it in your belly.

He rolls you onto your side giving it to you deeply.

With a loud hiss and panting from him he cums , holding you in his arms.

"I don't think it has felt like that since our birthday last year." He says into your ear as he pulls you closer into his arms.

He engulfs you fully in his embrace and presses a kiss to the side of your head.

You laugh softly and roll over to face him , resting your forehead against his.

"I remember. You took me to Paris. I had never been and at the time I was obsessed with everything Parisian. We fucked on the balcony and somehow I ended up popping the straps to my favorite dress. You still owe me by the way." You tease and he shakes his head laughing.

"I think we ended up saving they marriage from across the way though. They was arguing the whole time. Then they gon watch us like we ain't see them." Erik says laughing as he squeezes your thigh playfully.

"I know they was trying some things." You joke

"I missed you so much. You don't even understand." You admit with a somehow saddened and relieved expression.

"I know. I want to start over this time. All of that Erik Killmonger shit is over with. I wanna keep the name N'Jadaka and just start over. All of that was too heavy on me to carry. I wanna let it all go. I wanna do it right with you." He explains

"Good because if you put me through that again. Wakanda will be the least of your damn worries." You say to him and he nods giving you his word, sealed with a kiss.

"It'll be alright. Everything happens for a reason. And I think that right now a bath needs to happen and I'm gonna need you to do that thing again that you did in the kitchen cause I'm tryna figure out when you learned that-"

At some point after the bubble bath/ shower combo you were both out like a light until Iri and Tika decide to come busting in like they usually do with little gifts and food for you.

"Guess who's your fave- SHE GOT A WHOLEASS MAN IN HER BED" Iri announces to Tika before your pillow hits the door as she closes it.

"Sorry about that. This is kinda our cuddle hour so they're used to just coming on in." You say sleepily and he just laughs it off while holding you closer.

"It's all good. I remember that I ain't know them much before but when we did spend time with them, they were good people." He says, still trying to piece it together.

----

You fell asleep more peacefully than you had in a long time. Now granted, good sex didn't fix the many layers of issues and mysticism surrounding everything.

But for now, you knew that you had him, you had your girls, family and your business. Everything felt alright again.

Right up until the point of sleeping through the first alarm to meet the property owners.

"Bae. Bae your phone going off." N'Jadaka whispers in the dark room , voice still riddled with sleep and grogginess.

"Shit. Shit. I'm gonna be so late." You call out , quickly jumping out of bed and stumbling around the room.

It takes you about 25 minutes to speed through getting dressed in your best skirt suit.

N'Jadaka sits on the end of the bed putting on his shoes and watching you shuffle around.

He had offered to drive you there and stay with you and check out the property with you.

He slows you down by grabbing you by your arms gently and placing a kiss to your lips.

"Good morning, handsome. Let's go"

You walk through the living room with Iri and Tika already posted up in the kitchen placing two breakfast burritos in a container to grab and go.

You grab your things from the counter all while thanking them and jetting towards the door.

"Good luck pooh!" Tika calls after you.

"Byyyyeeee Dakaaaa" they call out after him

---

"Here it is . These are the apartments. I know they don't look like much now from the outside. But from the pictures it looks great. And they'll be safe and comfortable here-" you babble on to N'Jadaka while you both stand outside of the building where Erik grew up , until you notice two women walking to a car that clearly wasn't from this area.

You notice Shuri and your breath hitches in your throat.

Frozen in your anxiety, the seconds ticked by and it was too late to leave. She looked you dead in the eye and then at N'Jadaka like she had seen a ghost.

She gasped and Nakia followed the eyes before back into the car.

"SHURI WAIT - PLEASE" you yell out to them but the car was already speeding away.

tag list : @doublesidedscoobysnacks @chaneajoyyy @mirandkimy @doitforthevine67 @amyhennessyhouse @dasia21 @depressionandfandomsinc @sinfully-dope @ambitionwood @heybriheyyy @wholelotta-melanin @theesotericqueen @mbakuwife @spookys-girl @teardropzih @bigchoose @ceo-of-baby @sweetpeachjones @lost-ssoull @shyblackgurl @justpeachee @nijajoha @imayhavemisunderstood @beautifullmelodyxx @alookintohersoul @rbhp @champagnesugamama @just-peachee @almeda-344 @mahogany2021

#black panther #erik killmonger #black panther smut #erik killmonger smut #Erik killmonger x Reader #fanfic for black girls

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echo-three-one · 4 years ago

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Whatever It Takes

Sequel to A Forgotten Memory

Now facing an internal battle between her heart and mind, Samantha faces her fears and searches for the truth. Will she accept the past? Will she listen to her heart? Or will she let her memories get the best of her?

Chapter 10 to another story made by Ray (echo-three-one) Comments and Reviews appreciated! I hope you enjoy! Love you all ❤️

Previous Chapter : Roach - A SurPRICE Visit

What is this o.O

The Heart knows what the Brain Doesn't

Samantha Coleman

141's High Value Individual

Task Force 141 Base - General Shepherd's Office

The base was quiet. Everyone else fled off to their mission and all Samantha could think about is Alex. But why? Maxine told her he wanted to meet him, but Alex told her it's because she dropped her pendant. Whose story is she going to believe in? She could feel her heart beat differently ever since she saw him with General Shepherd. Her whole body except for her brain reacted to his presence. She even felt weak after slapping him, it's like her brain commanded it but her hands wanted to disobey. Who is he?

Maxine passed by with an apple she got from the kitchen counter.

"Sam, you okay?" she asked, biting the fruit and sitting in the chair across from her.

"I've been thinking… about how you knew Alex and how she knows me…" she sighed, it was relieving to let out all her bottled thoughts, especially that now they're both alone.

"Well, we met in a bar. Had a few drinks then showed me a photo of you." she said, holding her hand.

"I honestly believed he did know you and tried to lengthen the conversation, just so I know he's good enough and knows a lot. He actually aced the test but he was very drunk when I told her to meet again. After that He showed up the next day and I had to work. Whatever happened after my shift was- ow." she interrupted herself because of a minor pain from recalling her memories. She still hasn't been able to remember all of them, even after a lot of sleep.

"Yeah. That's about it on your side. Mine's just that… He looked creepy, his eyes felt like he was looking for me in a weird way and so I ran. After that life continued. You went on a leave and I resumed working." She supplied, staring at the grey walls of the mess hall.

"I wish I'd remember where I went on that vacation. It'd be cool." Max commented, crunching on another bite.

"My heart… beats differently when he's near. It's like he's really familiar." She whispered.

"Oh. Someone's been struck by the Cupid. He is attractive though. Without those ink, he'd probably be your type." Max teased, winking at her and nudging her. Samantha was serious, though.

"Look. I admit my heart feels something for him. It's a mix of guilt and longing. But why would I long for someone I just met?" She sighed and dropped her head on the table, groaning as her mind and her heart battled against the inconsistencies.

"Look. It's not too crowded here. Maybe we could do some research by their library!" Max suggested, creating finger guns and humming the Mission Impossible theme song as she stood up and went to the library. Samantha chuckled.

"So we're spies now?!" She placed a hand on her forehead as she followed her wacky best friend.

Maxine typed down Alex on the search bar, his public profile appeared and they began reading his file. It was all basic ideas, Nationality, Height, his name was redacted and they couldn't bypass it so they just ignored it and headed to the next term.

"CIA Agent Alex helped locate and detain CIA Mole." Samantha read with her mouth. Maxine quickly clicked the article and photos of her appeared on almost every page.

Unlike Maxine, these notes didn't hurt her mind except it hurt her heart that she treated him that way, after all this time. He was there to save her. He located you through Maxine to save you from the same captors that played with your brain months ago.

"Ooooh. It says here you two were safely housed in a remote safehouse for almost a month. Really Sam? Maybe something happened within that time? Can you please remember how he looked underneath those clothes. For me?" she giggled. Samantha knew she was joking but it was an honest possibility.

Could it be that she fell for the guy that saved her and sat with her for almost a month? Or the two of them fell in love? Her heart was racing as the possibilities overloaded her brain, her cheeks started to blush as her thoughts consumed her. This wasn't her mind talking to her, it was her heart. It's reminding her of Alex.

"Oh. Shit." Maxine muttered and Sam snapped back to reality, putting her hand on Max's shoulders and looked into the screen once again.

Due to a special favor promised by Samantha's father, he has authorized to apply an MK Ultra procedure to her, whose main intention is to Alter her memories of the IP Address along with the events that happened prior to kidnapping.

"You agreed to forget him?" Max looked at her, a frown formed as she started to console her.

"I guess so… Maybe something happened between us." She sobbed. She didn't want to cry, but the realization set in on her. They met, they bonded and she forced herself to forget him. No wonder Alex felt sad after being slapped.

"I want to ask him about us." Sam said with determination. Maxine liked the confidence but was also concerned about her feelings.

"What if you wanted to forget him, that's why you did it? Would you be ready to feel the sadness all over again?" Maxine asked. Samantha paused for a while. She made sense but her gut is telling her to push through her initial plan.

"I'm sorry Max, but I made my choice. I have to know everything about us, Whatever it Takes." she said.

"I'm here to support you. After all, you're the only memory I have left. They took everything. I don't know why but my memory began when I moved in. That's where my story started. Maybe there's a reason for it so, here I am for you. You're my family." she said, hugging her tight.

"Well, you could add a few more people in your family." she smiled.

"Yeah. It's full of tough looking brothers ready to protect us. And one soft Gary." she noted.

"He is a sweetheart, huh?" Samantha asked, getting a hint of something else from her.

"Well, he talks a lot and he gets me sometimes. It's a shame he's always out there saving the world." Max chuckled. Samantha froze.

"I know you want this to work..."

"This is our proposed digital art for our ad…"

"... and I know in my heart that I do too…"

"The colors need to be more vibrant!"

"...but I can't live loving you with worry in my heart..."

"I'm staying a little bit longer, See you tomorrow!"

"... and I don't want to be the reason that you'll stop saving the world. I know you want that. It's your job to. It's what you built your whole life to become..."

Her head started projecting two realities, it confused her. Which was right and which was wrong? She knew the work one was right, but the memories she just made right now while crying in front of Alex made more sense. Which was real? Which was fake?

"Sam! You okay?" Maxine snapped her fingers and Samantha blinked rapidly.

"I'm going crazy Max." she panted.

"What's wrong?" she consoled.

"My memories. They're all wrong. Why did I agree to this?" Samantha continued breathing heavily.

"Well, for starters. It's to forget that IP Address you memorized as a kid."

"But why did they change the recent ones too? Did I decide that my time spent with Alex is worth forgetting? Did he break my heart or did I break his?" She sighed. She knew for herself that she was unable to love again because of her loss, but what if Alex made it right for her? Alex did something that helped her move on? That's why her heart felt yearning for him?

"Sam. I'm no love doctor but if this really bothers you, you should talk to him. I have no idea when they'll get back but I'm looking forward to your resolution." She patted her shoulders and gave her a soft hug. Samantha felt like crying, but why?

After a while, Samantha actually had the courage to ask about Alex's whereabouts. Word has it that he's being redeployed to Germany to investigate another alleged Augustus base and that they had no idea when he'll be back.

This worries Samantha because they already heard about a transfer of authority, which in simple words meant : You're leaving the base. And that meant she won't see Alex anymore.

Maxine and Samantha sat on their beds at the infirmary to recover once again, both of them fell quiet as the news they got started to bother them. They already got attached to the people in the base and were sure that they're going to miss them. All they could do is hope that the team gets home before they leave the base.

“You think Alex will be okay?” Samantha shifted her sleeping position to Maxine, who was still awake humming to soothing melodies. Maxine shifted to face her too and smiled.

“You’re worried.” She teased, making her smile and giggle.

“Well, my heart told me I have to worry…”

“That’s normal. And don’t you worry ‘bout a thing… He’s a tough guy, remember? He’s trained to survive such harsh conditions. That’s what his file said, right?” She reminded Samantha, giving her an assuring smile. Samantha shrugged off her worry and closed her eyes. She started to imagine what it felt like being with him, based on information from his file. She can’t help but smile at her crazy idea. She felt like a teenager all over again, obsessing herself on fictional characters she watched on TV, since she could only base his personality on words alone. But she did remember how his cheeks felt, from the slap, and placed her palm on her cheek as well. It felt like he was with her and her heart felt excited as she awaited for his return.

Next Chapter : The Berlin Tower

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