He stood in the shadows, a huddled mass of bodies around him. Everything was still and silent. The moon shone down pleasantly.
The music rang out into the night…a huddled mass of bodies lifted their heads up to the DJ booth
Your cruel device
your blood, like ice
One look, could kill
My pain, your thrill...
The music picked up as the lights came on, putting the moon to shame and the desert rave kicked into full swing. Bodies began to grind and shiver in this orgy of dance, alcohol, and drugs. He was in the thick of it, people all around him, but they did not interest him. He was on a mission, a hunt. He moved through the grinding masses of flesh and walked through calmly, like a tiger in the jungle.
He saw his prey before she saw him. She was lithe, supple, and blonde. Her clothes were quite literally painted on; he could still see the glisten. He licked his lips. Her curves were exquisite, though her midsection had a tightness, that most would think came from exercise. He smirked as he knew the real, reason she was this thin. Time slowed down as she glanced over in his direction, looked him over, then crooked a finger at him. Beckoning him over.
Time sped up as he became focused, his breath caught quickly. It was game time.
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He was almost disappointed how easy it was. She was now pressed beneath him. Her lips infused on his. He felt her small tongue duel with his. He broke the lip lock, and heard a small sigh of complaint, then a sigh of pleasure as he began to kiss softly down her neck. He got to the nape of it, when he open his mouth wide, and bit down on her flesh. She cried and pulled away for a minute.
"You bit me!" she squawked
He arched his eyebrow and said "Tell me you didn't enjoy it?"
There was a pause, and for the briefest moment he considered that he had made a mistake. She then smiled and said "Do you have a place around here?"
He held up the motel key.
Rock and Roll.
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She purred her approval as he dismounted her.
"That was great." She said with a playful smile. He admired her body, now wiped free of the paint, in its full nudity.
"Thanks." He said "Want a drink?' He rose from the bed, and poured two glasses of what appeared to cheap whiskey. He handed one to her and they downed the glasses.
He chuckled a little, she inquired why.
" No reason, I'm gonna grab a shower…then it's time for round two" he said with a wolfish grin.
She meowed as he went to the bathroom.
He felt the cold water run over his body, as he began to focus. His vision became sharper. He then exited the shower, toweled off, and removed from the sink a slim black bag.
He walked back out to the bedroom. The girl was now slumped her eyes closed, to the casual observer it would appear as if she was asleep. He, however was not the casual observer, he grinned.
The drugs had worked, as always.
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A maid, her name tag reading the name: Eunice tapped on the motel door
"Housekeeping…"
To her surprise the door opened with her tap. She shrugged and opened the door, wheeling her cart of cleaning supplies in. She turned around to face the room…and screamed.
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"Helen Page.". A smiling picture of a Raven haired girl appeared on screen facing the BAU conference room.
"Ashley Truman" The previous picture was joined by another one, this time a brunette.
"Jennifer Redford." Another brunette joined the other two
"Nicole Reifel." The fourth picture of a thin blonde girl, appeared by the others.
JJ clicked the remote and more information on the three girls popped on the screen. She continued
"All college students, from the same college in Arizona. They were found in various motels, all brutally slashed to death."
The smiling photos were replaced by the grim crime scene photos. The girls each lay sprawled on a cheap motel bed. The stab wounds were so numerous and vicious they looked as if a large animal had mauled them.
"They also each had this cut into the right side of their chest."
JJ clicked to the next photo, showing a blowup of the symbol. It was heart, drawn almost artistically, with a small check mark in the center of it.
Derek Morgan arched his eyebrow " So what, do we have a romantic unsub on the loose?"
" Actually Many classical and medieval philosophers and scientists, including Aristotle, considered the heart the seat of thought, reason or emotion, it was only until recent times did we start to associate them with romantic feelings or love." Reid interjected.
"Also," JJ said " These numbers were placed on the wall above the victim written in their blood." She clicked the button and blowups of the numbers came into view.
The first one was: 100
The second: 150
The third: 200
The fourth: 250
"What do they mean?" Prentiss asked looking from number to number.
"They clearly are significant to the unsub, however what significance is still unknown." Hotchner said
"One thing is clear though.." David Rossi said from the door entering in late "These girls number was definitely up."