Authors note: for my homegirl, Luz. Thanks for being just as fucked up as I am. Love you.

Warningfor possible future slash Hotch/Reid


The razor sharp edge of the knife blade sliced through the tender surface of skin with the ease of a surgeon's scalpel, a thin line of red began to form along the path of the incision, and soon the blood began to flow without restraint.

The recipient of this impromptu surgery lay blind-folded, tied and gagged upon the cotton sheets of his bed; unfortunately for him he was conscious. The intruder had forced his way through the front door of his apartment when he'd made the mistake of opening it "just a crack" to see who was ringing his bell.

Now his muffled screams filled the air of his cozy one bedroom apartment, as the blade continued to cut along the center of his chest, penetrating, carving perfecting without nicking his heart. The red fluid flooded down his ribcage and sides, landing upon the white sheets. His brain was now entering a self-imposed state of numbness, as the shock to the rest of his system forced a shutdown, soon the blackness of unconsciousness would swallow him up.

The steel tip halted its journey as it neared a spot just above his navel, giving him the false hope that the pain had finally come to an end, instead his assailant plunged the blade into his belly up to the polished silver hilt that separated it from the handle.

The discharge of so much blood from the wound he inflicted gave the attacker such a tremendous pleasure that it augmented his yearning for more, with a flick of his wrist the sharp metal tore through the flesh around it, until pieces of his intestines joined the surge of blood which now sprayed the air in every direction. Still, he avoided the barely pulsing organ above.

Once he felt the thrill diminish as the body stopped squirming, he took off the belt of his robe which he'd used as a makeshift blindfold to peer into his lifeless eyes which had stayed opened even under the terrycloth material. The once vibrant doorways into his soul now seemed so absent of any signs of the life once held within.

Laughing softly to himself, he picked up the blade from where he'd dropped it and slowly carved out his prize and gently placed it in a jar he'd set aside before he began his work.

The sunrise was glimmering in the early morning when he walked out of the apartment buildings rear entrance. He lit up a cigarette, took a long drag of the sweet nicotine filled smoke and let it out slowly before continuing on his way.