It all seemed so hopeless. Fighting the never ending stream of demons was both emotionally and physically draining… and not without heartache. Having lost both wife and son on the same day to their own desires for apocalyptic destruction was not without its difficulty. Believing it was a series of his own selfish choice that may have caused their descent into madness was almost impossible to bear. For the last six months, Ichabod Crane's demon fight partner, Lieutenant Abigail Mills, would tell him the words his own mind already repeated on an endless loop—everyone makes their own choices.

He stood on the bank overlooking the lake near Corbin's cabin contemplating past events. Things had been quiet since that night. He was sure something even more dangerous than the demon Moloch was building up strength, but his mind always wandered back to his family and a series of what ifs.

What if he had never been chosen for this mission? What sort of life would he have then? Would his wife and son still be alive? Could they have had a happy life? Happy life. What is a happy life for a soldier?

And what of Lieutenant Mills? Would her life have been better off without him in it? Could she have been spared her life of torment thus far? Would he have been happier in the past with his wife than in his future with his 'Leftenant?' But a person shouldn't deal in what ifs.

He felt pressure squeezing on his arm. A quick glance down to his right and his eyes met Abbie's. He wasn't fond of the look on her face these days, a mix of worry and pity. The only look he'd seen in weeks. He offered her a brief smile but she only tightened her grip.

"I've been calling you," she said.

"Have you?" His eyes left hers overlooking the clear waters in the lake. "I hadn't heard."

"You doing alright, Crane?" She felt the muscles in his arm tighten, his hands clenched into tight fists at his side.

"Why must everyone constantly ask how I am doing? How would you be doing?"

"Me? I'd have been going crazy and probably filling as many things with as many bullets as possible. I'd be screaming at the top of my lungs until I was hoarse, pounding the ground and cursing God's name."

"No calm, relaxing yoga?"

"It's not a yoga moment. It's a punching holes in the walls moment. And judging by the shape of the cabin, you haven't been doing that either."

He took in a deep breath. "I appreciate your concern, Lieutenant, but I have my own way of handling things."

"Your way leaves anyone around you at risk to your sudden and unpredictable mood swings. You can't hold everything in like that. You've turned yourself into a ticking time bomb."

"I told you. I'm fine." He gently removed her hand from his arm and walked away.

"Still not talking about it?" Jenny hardly left her sister's side since the incident trying to offer up some sort of support.

Abbie felt like Crane's actions towards her seemed to voice the anger in his heart that he refused to say out loud. She killed his son.

"Have you told him yet?"

Abbie shook her head. "He's got enough to worry about. He doesn't need to add demons in on top of that." She pulled out her phone. A text from Sheriff Reyes. Abbie turned slightly away from Jenny.

"It's another missing person, isn't it?" asked Jenny. "How many does that make now?"

Abbie put her phone away and looked in Crane's direction.

"You should take him with you. He needs a distraction anyway."

They both looked in his direction.

"We've been doing fine so far, why bother him now?"

"Because this isn't right and you know it. I think keeping busy might help him out. Take him with you."

Abbie glance back in his direction. "Hey, Crane! We got a case."

They arrived at the house of the missing woman. It had been blocked off with police tape. Abbie talked to her fellow officers about their findings while Crane lagged behind. There was something strange about the house that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end but he couldn't quite place why. Seemed like a normal two story house on the corner of one street and another.

He stared at one of the upper windows and his mind went blank. Images flashed through his mind, not of people or places, but dreary colors blocking out his vision. A form emerged from the swirls of gray, a woman perhaps, unrecognizable. Was someone calling his name?

"Crane?"

He took in a deep breath. "What?"

And there was that look again. "Let's go."

He followed. The other officers had their own version of suspicious glances and all of them irritating.

"A missing person hardly calls for my attention, Lieutenant."

"You used to think it did. You used to insist on being with me on every case no matter what. You've really changed."

"Have I?"

She grabbed his arm with such force that he was compelled to look into her eyes.

"Don't shut down on me, Crane. I need you."

He tried to offer her a reassuring smile, but the fact that he couldn't quite muster one up made her worry even more.

He stayed at her side but his heart just wasn't in the investigation opting instead to look out windows at the growing number of people curious about what was going on while Abbie searched the small home office.

Abbie found a picture of the young woman with in the embrace of another woman, possible suspect. She also noticed a large amount of dust buildup on the shelves. Seemed odd that someone who was only recently reported missing would have more than a few years worth of dust on her shelves, but there was always the possibility she was just a bad housekeeper, though the meticulous organization of the office desk would suggest otherwise.

She looked at the deep pile of dust and lint. "I think I saw something move in there."

Almost before her statement had ended, some of the dust flew into her face causing her to cough.

Crane was ripped from his pondering mind trap. "Are you alright, Lieutenant?" He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Think I just breathed in a little dust. Shoulda worn a mask or somethin'." She fell back into him. "I'll be okay. Just need some air."

He barely understood her last statement as her words began to mumble. He tried to lead her in the direction she wanted to go, but her feet gave out underneath her.

As her vision turned blurry, she could feel her heart beating hard in her chest. What was this? Before she could make it outside, she was laying on the ground in Crane's arms.

"Help! Somebody help her." He cradled her carefully. "Abbie?"

She could hear the terror in his voice and was almost glad to hear another emotion besides complete apathy. But she knew she must be in real trouble if he was calling her by name.

Other officers clamored over, people touching her, shaking her. She didn't see them, only him. His was the only face she could find focus, and he looked so scared.

"Stay with me, Abbie."

She smiled and lifted her hand to his cheek hoping her touch would offer some sort of reassurance, but fell unconscious leaving her hand to fall limp into his.