Disclaimer: I do not own Instinct or the characters in any way shape or form... I will now cry into my wine over that fact..

i hope you enjoy!

"32 year old male found dead in a train car. Although there was blood found coming from his nose, there was no sign of any trauma or physical altercation." Lizzie read the file that was placed on her desk. "It appears his heart simply stopped."

"It's not completely uncommon for someone younger than 40 to have heart issues," Dylan stated. "But the fact that you are stating one thing that seems it may be innocent, means that it's very much not." He looked up from the paper he was reading, leaned against his hands and raised his eyebrows at her. "So?"

Lizzie looked up at him. "He is the third person to die that way in a time span of 2 weeks. No drugs were found in their system, and, besides a couple of broken bones, and one history showing a case of mono- all were completely healthy."

"The connection?"

"They were all part of that 'Evolvolution movement.'" Lizzie smiled slightly when Dylan gave her a questioning look. It was nice when he DIDN'T know everything.

"The movement is filled with people who believe they are evolving faster than 'normal' humans, therefore making them more intelligent, spiritual, and 'advanced.'"

"A group pillared by ego-inflation to make up for their individual insecurities," Dylan thinned his lips into a smirk.

Lizzie continued, "They then preach about how they are more evolved and can help others become so, to move towards a better more 'woke' future."

"Thus putting themselves above others to feed into their 'god-complex'."

"Something like that."

"Anything else about the group?"

Lizzie shook her mouse to wake up her computer, then proceeded to click through some pages she had already brought up. "Not too much. Membership is exclusive, they meet in the back of some shop, and people are reacting to them like they are the equivalent to "flat earth-ers" or 'crossfit-ters'."

Dylan pushed himself up from his chair, "Don't you do crossfit?"

Lizzie gave him a look, with a smile. As he came around over her shoulder, she clicked on a specific page. "Then there is this." She clicked on the video file, which was of a guy, filming himself walking through the streets with the camera on selfie-mode.

"Hey guys, Jeremy here. Just leaving the place I've called 'home' for quite some time. It's been a frustrating two years, but I now see all the damage that I have done to those I hold dearest. I was a part of a group that I thought was enlightened, that made me feel special, only to discover that what I was actually a part of was a cult." Dylan and Lizzie exchanged glances. Jeremy continued, "As long as you follow along and believe what they do, you have a chance to move up the ranks, or out-right be 'chosen' for something 'special'. And that's when they do chemical tests on you."

Dylan quickly reached over and hit the computer to pause, he pointed to the establishment behind Jeremy. "That's the bar." He said, recognizing the location.

"They gotta be only a few door down then," Lizzie replied, as she stood up and grabbed her jacket.

"Oh good," Dylan grabbed his own. "We can stop for lunch!"

Xxxxxxxxxx

"A small spiritual shop seems a bit out of place for this area," Lizzie looked around.

"Everyone will know how to find them," Dylan said. "They must do well for this piece of real-estate though." He opened the door and held it so Lizzie could enter first. There was a trickle of chimes as they walked in, and they were immediately greeted by an overly eager young lady.

"Hello! Is there anything I can help you with today?"

Lizzie flashed her badge. The girl immediately dropped her smile and looked a little nervous. "Roger?" She called over her shoulder.

A man in his mid-late 30s came out from the back. His shoulder length hair was nicely groomed, and he wore hiking boots under jeans, a simple earthy green fitted-tee, and had many bracelets, varying in beads, hemp, and threads.

"Can I help you?" Roger asked.

Lizzie held up her badge again. "Detective Lizzie Needham of the NYPD, and this is my partner Dylan Reinhart. We would like to ask you a few questions."

Roger feigned a surprised look, but his eyes were also filled with genuine confusion. "This IS the meeting place of Evolvolution, correct?" Lizzie asked, handing him the pictures of the three victims.

Roger nodded, "we hold meeting's in the back room." He looked at the three of them.

"You know these men?"

"Yes, they were members. It was sad when we heard Peter passed, and were surprised when Marc died a few days later. Now with Nick's death, a couple of our members seem scared." He looked back up at the two, "but I heard they died 'naturally'."

"There wasn't sign that they were attacked, nor any substance in their system" Dylan confirmed. "Which is why we are here, is there anything they might have shared?"

Roger thought for a moment and shook his head. "Nick and Peter would go to the same meeting times, Marc varied with his times because of his work schedule. They were all tier three though."

"Tier three?"

"We have levels here, that you can reach, when you put in the time to help others, and release certain mental and emotional restraints that keep us from realizing our full potential."

"What's the highest you can be?" Dylan asked.

"Level six. But it takes a special mind to reach that point."

"Is anyone a level six?"

"No one here. I'm even only a level four myself. But there are some people over in Asia who are very much a six."

Dylan smiled. "I'm sure." He studied Roger for a moment. His stance was relaxed, not like someone who was nervous or hiding anything. "Where are the meetings usually held?"

Roger nodded towards the back, "this way." He pushed aside a blanket, with the design of the chakra's, that was nailed above a doorway. Dylan started to walk forward, but as soon as the blanket was pushed out of the way, a blur emerged from it, barreling into him, knocking him down onto the floor.

"Hey!" Lizzie called out, mainly in surprise.

Dylan felt a pain in his hip from the impact, but held onto the figure that was currently on top of him. Lizzie rushed over, grabbing the assailant, pulling him to his feet. Roger jumped forward to help Dylan up, who placed a hand to his sore point.

"Are you okay?" Roger asked him. Dylan nodded in response. They then focused their attention on the man in Lizzie's grip.

"Jeremy?" Roger recognized him. Sure enough it was the guy from the videos. "You're not allowed to be here!"

"Are you afraid I'm going to uncover the truth?" Jeremy asked him.

"There is not 'truth'" Roger rolled his eyes. "There's no experiments, no matter what you say."

"Why don't you ask Matt?" Jeremy challenged. "You let him come in here and talk nonsense, and everyone follows along, and gives their money, but where is the limit? You fool people into thinking they are 'enlightened' based on how much money they give and how much of their souls they are willing to sacrifice!"

"You're crazy," Roger dismissed. "Don't come back in here, or we will call the cops."

"Well, we are right here, and we will take care of this," Lizzie said. "Dylan, why don't you look around the back, and I'll escort Jeremy out."

Dylan nodded and looked back to Roger. "It would still be good to get an idea if there is anything in the back, or anything we might be overlooking."

Roger nodded, "of course."

Dylan headed towards the back area with Roger, and Lizzie dragged Jeremy outside.

Dylan looked around carefully. Nothing seemed out of place. He took note of the vents, but it seemed stuffy, fans in windows. If anything was in the air, it would affect more than just 3 people.

"So, what's the story with Jeremy?" Dylan asked casually as he looked around.

"He used to be part of the movement," Roger leaned against the wall. "He was a devoted member. He would always volunteer for everything, and offered help where ever he could."

"What changed?" Dylan opened up the fridge to inspect it.

"Honestly I couldn't even tell you for sure," Roger shrugged. "Jeremy was always a little extreme, and suddenly him and Matt have a disagreement about the way to treat level ones," Dylan glanced at him and he translated with finger quotes "'normal' people."

"Oh? And how should they be treated?"

"Matt says we should treat them like we would anyone else. People become enlightened when they want to and it's time for them to. Jeremy believes people need to be forced fed."

"And the story of the experiments?"

Roger raised his hands in innocents. "Not sure."

"Is Matt around often?"

"He's due at the meeting later on tonight, if you are looking to question him."

Dylan nodded, "I'll keep that in mind." He rubbed his hip from the impact again. Roger nodded to it, "are you sure you are OK? Jeremy smacked into you pretty hard…He bowled me over the other day, I know he can be a bit of a heavy hitter."

"I'll be fine, thank you."

xxxxxxxxxxxx

"Nothing in the back besides some snack and a fridge with some water in it," Dylan informed Lizzie, as they headed into the bar. "No signs of any gas leaks, or mold, or anything that could have caused any issues. And, unsurprisingly, a lack of chemicals, needles, or anything else that would be a sign of any type of 'experiment'"

"Did Roger say what happened with Jeremy?" Lizzie asked.

"Only that he was very much into the movement, and was a 'model member,' involved with everything, and then one day he was fighting with their top member, Matt, and going on about experiments." Dylan waved to Andy as they sat down. He winced and put a hand to his side as he bent at the hip. "What about Jeremy? Did he say anything?"

"He claims that he got close enough to find out that the money was going towards some sort of drug testing to 'enhance' humanity."

"Some sort of drug that doesn't show up in any testing though," Dylan said.

"At least nothing that forensics found."

Andy came over to them, giving Dylan a kiss on the cheek. "New case?"

"Yes, and one that is in the neighborhood, so we figured we would stop in." Dylan said.

"Always nice to have some favorites in," Andy joked.

Lizzie glanced at her phone as it buzzed on the table. Dylan looked over questioningly. She looked at him, "My sister. She said she would call me after her meeting. I'll just be a moment" She picked the phone up and headed outside.

"So," Andy started. "We got a call from another social worker."

"Oh?" Dylan raised his eyebrow and smiled. "And?"

"They want to schedule a meeting soon." He studied Dylan, "As long as that's OK?"

"Of course it is," Dylan said, but his eyes gave him away.

"What's wrong?"

Dylan opened his mouth to answer, then closed it again. Andy waited a few moments, then sighed. "Well when you finally feel comfortable enough to tell me, let me know. Or maybe I'll ask Lizzie, maybe she knows." He gave Dylan a look as he headed back to the bar.

Dylan's heart sank a bit. He stood up and reached for his husband "Andy wait, it's just…"

Andy turned back as he heard Dylan's sentence stall, and saw his face go pale, as he grabbed his head and stumbled. Andy rushed back and gripped onto him.

"Dylan?" He leaned forward slightly to lock eyes with Dylan as he helped him back to sit. Dylan looked slightly confused, and shook it off.

"I am so sorry about that," Dylan apologized. "I must have stood up too fast."

"It's alright," Andy ran his hand over Dylans head and studied him. "That's not something to apologize about. Are you OK?"

Dylan looked around, his vision clearing.

"Yes. I'm fine."

"Maybe you should go lie down?"

"No, no…really, I'm alright."

Andy smiled, but his eyes were still filled with concern. "Alright, just don't push it…and don't worry about…the other thing. We can discuss it at another time."

Dylan nodded.

"I'm going to get you some water."

Andy walked away as Lizzie came back. She saw the look on Dylan's face. "Are you OK?" She asked.

"Yes, quite," Dylan responded. "I just had an off moment. It CAN happen." He gave her a smile.

Lizzie's phone, again buzzed. She glanced at it and then back at Dylan. "Jasmine," she informed him as she answered. "Yes?" There was a pause, and Dylan saw the look in her eyes, as she looked back at him. "We'll be there soon."

She hung up the phone and looked at Dylan, but he already knew before she could tell him.

"Another Death?"

"Roger"

Thank you so much for reading! Let me know what you thought of it! Chaoter 2 to

come soon!