A/N - thanks to everyone who has reviewed and alerted this story, this chapter is very unsub heavy but it is crucial to the rest of the story and after this we will be flashing back to our favourite characters. I had hoped to update more frequently unfortunately am dealing with a family crisis at the moment so apologies in advance if I don't update soon. Please read, review and most importantly enjoy...

Chapter 2- Contrapasso

As he walked through the dark streets, heading towards Monroe Park, he smiled at the thought of the beginning. This was going to be the first, the easiest, leaving him time to concentrate on the others and keeping hidden until it was time for him to announce his presence. He walked around for five minutes, staring hard at all of them sitting, drinking, smoking. He reached into his pocket and brought out his cell phone, quickly scrolling through the menus until he brought up the photo of who he was searching for. One of his biggest fascinations was research and the previous twelve, almost thirteen months, had been spent meticulously searching for the right people and perfecting the techniques in order for the whole project to be successful. He stopped momentarily to concentrate on the image displayed on the screen, a photo taken two days ago in the light, he had to ensure that the image was accurate, as who knew what state he would be in when he eventually took him. Once he had the image fixed in his mind he placed the device back in his pocket and walked towards the bench where the three men were sitting, sharing a bottle of cheap whiskey.

"Evening."

The three men looked at him, a look of puzzlement and cautiousness crossed their faces, he smiled widely, it was the exact response he had been expecting and it brought him great gratitude that the plan was working.

"Here, now leave us alone."

He held out two fifty dollar bills which the two men eagerly accepted and walked off leaving him alone to sit down on the bench next to the middle aged man.

"I don't do God."

"Sorry?"

"If you have to 'rescue' me, don't bother, others have tried before and failed."

He just laughed and the stench of the man sitting next to him raced down his nostrils.

"Oh don't worry, God has nothing on me. I just need some help, there is two hundred in it for you if you are interested?"

He held the money out in his hand, wrapped around the neck of a bottle of Jack Daniel's, a proposition that he knew would prove enticing.

"Sure, what do you want?"

"Come for a walk with me, my place is only five minutes away, I'm doing some research on the long term homeless and would like to ask you some questions and take a few photos."

The dishevelled guy nodded, slightly inebriated he was cold and hungry, hoping for a warm meal he stood up and walked beside the stranger as they made their way out of the park.


Natasha lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling, too scared to sleep. She could hear the soft snoring floating across the hall as her mother caught up with the sleep she had missed out on while she was away. Sighing heavily Natasha flopped on her side, her hand reaching out in the dark as she found her iPad once again, willing herself to concentrate she powered the computer up and brought up Garcia's program once again. It was if she needed to convince herself once again, that her mind and eyes had deceived her earlier. But as the map loaded and the red dot blinked, moving steadily westwards she knew that she had not been mistaken. The promise that she had made her mother a few months earlier sounded in her head, that she would let her know if her father or grandmother made a move to contact them, but Natasha wanted to know for sure what was happening before she said anything and that meant that first thing in the morning she would have to go and see Garcia, alone.


He unlocked the door in the abandoned building and pushed his victim inside, he was far younger and stronger and now that they were alone he had no problem of overpowering the other man if he needed to.

"So this is your place?"

"It is where I do some of my research."

They walked up the stairs and into what looked like a makeshift office, he sat the man on the chair and before he had a chance to take another breath the handcuffs were locked tight around his wrists, seconds later the ones around his ankles followed.

"Shit man! What are you doing?"

"Welcome to hell."

He smiled, showing off his bright white, perfectly aligned teeth before he powered up the machine.

"I'm surprised that this is going to be your first."

He pushed up the man's sleeve and saw the unadorned skin, he knew that the mark wasn't going take long but it was part of the plan, along with the photos that he would shortly take, the notes that he would write.

"Keep still or it will only hurt more!"

"You son of a..."

He didn't get a chance to finish as the pain suddenly hit his body, the black ink marking his pale white skin.

He smiled at the finished mark, focusing the camera in as he took several shots of the open gates he had tattooed onto the man.

"Are you ready now?"

The perfect smile returned once again as he saw the fear in the man's face, the other camera was already set up, the box ready for him to release them.

"What, what are you going to do?"

"Come with me and see, you coward."

He hauled him up and dragged his body along the corridor, stopping fifty yards down the warehouse he opened another door, this room was painted white and had a bright light hanging down from the middle of the ceiling.

"Welcome to the Vestibule."

He laughed as he shoved him inside and locked the metal door, returning to the office where he could watch from a safe distance. He sat down behind the desk and stared at the screen, laughing as the man ran around trying to find a way out.

"So NOW you want to do something in life, a pity it is too late!"

A broad smile crossed his face as he pressed a button on the keyboard, instantly the lid on the box opened and hundreds of bees, wasps and hornets flew out.

It was pitch black as he walked down the alley, the body cast over his shoulder, the bench was less than a hundred yards away and his surveillance had assured him that this was the time of night that it was safest to deposit him. As he sat him on the bench, he placed an empty bottle of Jack Daniel's in his hand, the bones cracking as he manipulated them. A minute later he was on his way again, he didn't stop to look back, he knew that he couldn't, he wouldn't be here again, his sparse belongings were already stashed in the car, ready for him to drive to his next destination, Fredrick Maryland.