So after another playthrough of Heavy Rain, two playthroughs of Fahrenheit, a birthday and four computer fails, this chapter is finally up! I've decided not to give excuses anymore so.. yeah. But hear me say this before I give up my privilege of excuses, I WILL POST MORE OFTEN! I will! Things over here have just been a little busy recently but, you know, c'est la vie, ahaw haw haw! Anyway.. please enjoy this chapter and be kind (first time doing anything.. action-y.. n00b.)
OH. And thank you for all the subscriptions and reviews. Srsly.. you guys.. I'll buy you all gold watches :')
Wednesday
12.00 PM
Mia walked up the stairs that led to Nathaniel Williams' apartment, Carter Blake in front and Norman Jayden tailing behind. She acted as a sort of barrier between the two - the burns from the conflict the night before had not yet healed and the atmosphere was overbearingly awkward. The sound of a couple viciously arguing was audible from a few floors above. The apartment block was situated in one of the better sides of town, yet the building did not show this favourable distinction.
The three reached the door of Nathaniel Williams, Blake immediately taking to resting against a bland cream coloured wall, arms folded expectantly. Mia stood awkwardly beside Jayden in front of the entrance and the three were locked in a silence. Mia found herself reaching to knock the door whilst Norman did the same, their suited wrists touching. Both pulled away as if they'd been hit with individual electric shocks and glanced at each other, an apologetic smile curling on Jayden's face. A 'tut' caught under Blake's breath as he looked up at the ceiling.
It was clear after two knocks that Nathaniel was not home. Silence returned to the group before an expression of slight annoyance was drawn on Norman's face. "Nobody's home, we wasted our time coming here," he muttered, standing beside the door with his hands on his sides. As soon as she saw Blake lever himself from the wall, Mia knew what would happen next. True to her prediction, in less than three seconds, the door hung open, damaged by the force of the lieutenant's kick. "There is now," Blake muttered, his words laced with a glowing sense of self-pride.
A musky odour immediately emerged from inside the apartment, combined with the choking smell of smoke. Blake entered, leaving the two profilers in his wake. Jayden stood with a shocked expression on his face, it serving as the main sign of his disbelief. "I..I'm not sure that's entirely legal," said Jayden, words tumbling from his mouth. Christ, what is with this guy? He looked at Mia for some sense of reasoning. Blake poked his head out of the doorframe. "Call the cops." Mia shrugged at Jayden and entered the apartment, Jayden following her after a few cautious looks around himself.
The first thing that struck Jayden when he entered the apartment was the distinct stench of mould and smoke that hung lazily in the tainted air. The main room of the small living space was covered wall-to-wall in crucifixes of different sizes, some featuring a porcelain Christ complete with solemn expression. Wax candles were the only source of light, emitting an eerie glow that further poisoned the already heavy atmosphere. The only windows found were coated in dirt and grime, unfit for their purpose.
Norman walked back into the main room, floorboards creaking under his well-polished shoes. Mia was kneeling down by a small bookcase filled with bibles, a surprisingly neutral expression on her face. Her head tilted to look at him, her face illuminated in the candlelight. Norman hastily struggled to find something to say, unsure as to whether his temperature was physically rising under her warm gaze or whether he was just imagining it. "Looks like Nathaniel Williams is a pretty religious guy," he said lamely. She smiled, the expression seeming unfit with the scene all around her. "Really?" she began, straightening up. "Whatever gives you that idea?" Norman couldn't help but feel a little something inside, if not relief, at her sudden playfulness. Blake emerged from the bedroom, taking one definite step after the other until he was in the centre of the main room, looking at his surroundings. He rubbed his hands against each other in a frustrated manner, irritated by the very mention of the owner of the apartment and regretful that his fists were not yet dancing on Nathaniel's face. "He's a God-fearin' idiot waiting for the end of the world," said Blake with obvious distain as he unhooked a crucifix from the wall, examined it and placed it on the small mantelpiece.
Mia had disappeared into the kitchen and, by the sound of things, was searching through the drawers that contained a mix of plastic tablet capsules, some containing pills, some not. Norman hovered by the doorframe as Mia held a labelled pill bottle close to her face. "He's not running low on pills, that's for sure," she said, placing the bottle back into the drawer and opening it wider, leaning over to get a closer look at the discarded bottles. "Anticonvulsants, lithium pills…" the profiler closed the drawer, placing her hands on her back and wrinkling her nose at the dust cloud that convulsed in anger of her actions. She turned her head to face Jayden, herself barely visible in the dimly lit kitchen. "D'you really think this guy could be the Origami Killer? I mean, yeah, he fits some of the profiling but look around," she began, gesturing to the moulding sink full of filthy, stained once-white plates, "I don't think he could really have committed such well thought out crimes, if lead a criminal life at all.."
"Don't forget we caught that motherfucker in the park before! Freakshow thinks I'm the anti-Christ or somethin'" Blake's voice was audible from the small hallway, followed by a loud bang and heavy footsteps. Not entirely sure that that's legal either, thought Norman and, by the look of irritation that was painted on Mia's face, he could tell she was thinking the same thing.
Jayden stepped back to let Mia past into the main room. She leant on the small bookcase filled with bibles, a chain of rosary beads falling to the floor. He gave a small noise of agreement. "Yeah, the more I look around this place, the more I'm thinking that he's just a guy with a list as long as my arm of mental problems, not a murderer. All the signs of a mystical obsessive neurosis.."
Mia bent down to pick up the rosary beads, placing them back onto the bookcase. "All packaged up with a persecution complex, complete with a nice ribbon?"
A smile curled on Norman's lips again, one that Mia couldn't help but return. She liked his smile. With dust kicking up from the worn, discoloured rug, Norman walked to the opposite side of the room and leant over a small table which held a glass of milk and an opened Bible. The guy is definitely taking a break from reality holed up in this crazy apartment, that's for sure.. But he's not the killer.. I just know it.. so does Mia.
The creak of Nathaniel's front door announced his return, as did the thump of two heavy grocery bags. The look in his eyes suggested he was considering running, but the thought was snatched from his mind as soon as Blake cut the momentary silence with his speech - "Good timing, Nathaniel. Just the guy we're looking for." The lieutenant entered the main room through the bedroom, teeth grit. The candles lining the floor and bookcase cast a huge, unnerving shadow behind the lieutenant, obscuring most of the crucifixes and portraits of Christ on the decaying wall.
Suddenly spotting Mia looming from the kitchen door, Nathaniel ran helplessly into the centre of the main room, now trapped in the middle of a triangle of officers. Already beads of sweat were falling from his forehead and his breathing was heavy, uneven. He wore a small crucifix around his neck, and rosary beads hung from the left pocket of his jeans. Words tumbled from his mouth at a rapid speed, each generously dipped in fear and uncertainty. "Angels and ministers of grace, defend us.."
Norman held his hands in front of himself, demonstrating classic inviting body language. "I'm Agent Norman Jayden, FBI.. I'd like to ask you a few questions."
Nathaniel appeared to listen, but began twitching, staring at Mia, then Blake. Yeah, it's us back again, Nathaniel. Long time no see, thought the young profiler to herself, arms crossed. He's obviously riveted to see Blake again..
Nathaniel rubbed his hands together, creating a furious friction. His eyes were tinged with desperation. "I..I didn't.. As God as my witness, I haven't done anything." His voice was surprisingly steady and certain for one who had the look of a condemned man on his way to the electric chair in his eyes. "I'm innocent!"
Norman took a few steps closer. "Nobody's accusin' ya of anything, Nathaniel, we just wanna talk." The FBI agent took a look around himself casually. "What's with all the crucifixes, Nathaniel? You afraid of something?"
The agent and Nathaniel exchanged questions and answers, the latter's voice noticeably cracking under the glare of Lieutenant Blake. He was pacing the floor in front of the crucifix covered wall, hands behind him, brow furrowed. Oh, please, Blake, please don't say anything.. inwardly begged Mia. She knew this was a futile attempt as the firey contempt became increasingly pronounced in Blake's dull green eyes. He was a ticking time bomb, waiting to go off. Mia almost found herself moving into action as Blake turned to face Nathaniel. He was the hunter and Nathaniel was the prized hare in his sight.
Mia took a step toward Blake, hand outstretched. "Blake, don't."
Carter Blake took no notice of her protests. "What about the voices, Nathaniel? Do you still hear the voices?"
A shiver seemed to travel throughout Nathaniel's body, and a weak 'no' escaped his lips, barely audible over the heavy footsteps of the lieutenant approaching him.
Blake began circling around his prey, spitting out words at the terrified man while a perplexed Norman looked on. His eyes met Mia's who bit her lip in response, watching the beast that had spawned from Lieutenant Blake attack Nathaniel who stood with his hands over his ears, whimpering. Mia took a few steps forward, pushing Blake as if to knock him out of his malicious trance but he only shrugged her off violently.
"We know who talks to you, don't we, Nathaniel?"
"Blake, what are you doing?"
"No.. no.. you mustn't speak.. that name!"
"Stop it, Blake!"
"What did he say, Nathaniel? He orders you to find new prey, doesn't he? More.."
"No.. stop…"
"..And more. He told you to go find that kid in the park, didn't he?"
"Blake, stop it now!"
"You took that boy with you and drowned him, didn't you?"
Blake was at the climax of his rage, fiercely pushing the weakened man to the floor. "You killed them, didn't you? Are you gonna confess, you bastard?"
Mia gave her protesting one final shot, yelling with such tenacity that she shocked herself more than anyone else in the room - "Lieutenant, stop this right now!"
Blake, with a snarl on his face, growled back at her. "You shut the fuck up, Greyling, and let me handle this prick!" It seemed however that most of his rage had subsided as he allowed himself to be pushed slightly into the corner by Norman, albeit with curses under his breath.
For a moment all that could be heard was Nathaniel's uneven, heavy breathing as the three authorities looked at each other, each maintaining their battle stance. A lull spread over the group until a flash suddenly appeared from Nathaniel's jacket pocket and, in a second, he found himself behind Mia, pistol to her head and free hand wrapped around her stomach, preventing the movement of her arms.
It had all happened so quickly that the average person would have taken a second or two to register the situation but, with no time to spare, Blake had his own weapon out within moments, followed by Norman.
Blake pointed the gun at Nathaniel, "Let the girl go or I will blow your fuckin' brains out, Nathaniel! I am not kiddin' around here!"
Mia fidgeted under Nathaniel's grip but movement was strictly controlled on her upper half. She could feel the heavy pounding of Nathaniel's heartbeat against her back, and the severe shakes that coursed through his body. His head was pressed against hers and her ear just below his mouth. She doubted the others could hear the soft pleads spilling from his lips - "I didn't want to.. I'm sorry.. Oh, God.."
Poor Nathaniel, she thought to herself, still fidgetting. Got himself into one sticky situation he doesn't think he can get out of now..
"Drop the gun, Nathaniel. Nothing good will come out of hurting this girl," Norman began, staring intently at Nathaniel with a tone firm enough to let the man know he was serious yet calm enough to coax him into letting Mia go. "Plus.. It's Blake you really want, right?" I have a feeling this is going to get me into a heap of shit with the lieutenant later on…
Carter took his gaze away from Nathaniel to look at Jayden. "What the fuck, Jayden?" he mumbled, frowning.
Jayden noticed that Nathaniel had softened his grip on the firearm, and it now rested at Mia's neck instead of her head. "This girl has done nothing, Nathaniel. Let her go.. You don't need her." Nathaniel looked from Norman to Blake and back again. He was becoming distracted, tears congregating in his pale green eyes. Norman gave a small nod to Mia, her eyes twinkling back to him in confirmation of their plan. "Listen to my voice, Nathaniel. Listen only.. to my voice."
Nathaniel focussed on the FBI agent, his grip around Mia becoming looser, allowing her more freedom to move. The female took this window of opportunity to swiftly kick her foot backwards, landing right in the prime position. Nathaniel expelled a high-pitched yelp and fell to the floor, his gun landing at Mia's feet.
Blake bounded over to the injured man, spitting out insults at him while he hauled him from the floor and roughly handcuffed him. "Okay freak, show's over. You're under arrest." He pushed the quietly weeping man to the front door, before turning to the two profilers. "You're pretty damn cool under the circumstances, Jayden. I woulda' just shot him."
Norman shrugged. "A gun isn't the answer to every problem, Blake."
Carter waved him off and disappeared behind the front door, not before adding from the apartment staircase, "And nice legwork, Greyling."
Mia half-smiled and bit her lip, holding her head in her hands as if had suddenly become overbearingly heavy. She turned to Jayden, a neutral expression on her delicate features. He could tell she was still a little shaken, even if she believed that she was concealing it well. "Thank you back there. You know, for distracting him like that." She grinned, and her smile towards himself seemed a little more genuine than the one she had given in response to Blake's comment.
Norman found himself shrugging again, unsure whether to look directly into her big blue eyes or not. "No problem. I mean, it's -"
A booming voice was heard from a few floors down, the empty apartment halls only amplifying the noise. "Would you two quit acting like such lovebirds and hurry the fuck down here?"
Norman simply smiled in response to the interruption and followed Mia as they left the apartment building to meet Blake on the ground floor.
Did 'Blake had his own weapon out within moments' sound wrong to anyone else? Aheheh.. couldn't think of better phrasing. At past 3am my brain generally isn't.. good.. for.. working.
Reviews appreciated as much as Paco appreciates a good backrub (I'd imagine.)
And special thanks to niki-nikster for *INSPIRATION* :D
