Sarah clung to James in the lift as it descended. Neither had spoken on the walk down to the lift lobby. There was nothing left to say. She took a tissue from her pocket and gently wiped the blood from his face.
"Thanks," he whispered.
"He's a thug," she shook her head.
Keats stroked her cheek. "It doesn't matter. None of it matters anymore, except you're here with me."
"Eternity." She smiled, and she saw something flit through his eyes. "James?"
But it was gone. The lift came to a halt and the doors slid open.
"Shall we?" He gestured.
She stepped out of the lift into a long, black corridor. It was hot; searing, burning hot. She fanned herself.
"You'll grow to love the heat," he began walking towards a door at the far end of the corridor, leading her by the hand. She noted with every step his injuries seemed to dissipate, until he was striding ahead, tall and strong.
They heard screaming from behind the door. "What was that?" She froze.
Keats turned to her. "What would Discipline and Complaints be, without the discipline?"
Still she stood, frozen with fear. He wrapped his arms around her. "Hey, come on," he soothed, stroking her hair. "You're with me. I won't let anything bad happen to you. I promise." He looked down into her eyes and kissed her softly.
"I trust you, James," she murmured.
He stepped back, looking at her strangely. "Come on, we're running late."
He turned and strode ahead towards the door. She tailed behind. Suddenly his whole body lurched to the floor and he howled in pain.
"James?" Sarah ran toward him.
"Go back," he hissed. Another wave hit him and he writhed on the floor. Noises seemed to emanate from deep inside his body; inhuman noises.
She froze, unsure of what to do. He pulled himself to his knees.
"I can't stop him," James cried. "I can't hold him. He's going to hurt you. He's going to burn you, and I can't make him stop. I don't want to give him to you. Get away, now. Run."
Tears poured down her cheeks. "James…"
"Run!"
Sarah turned and ran back towards the lift. Behind her Keats reared up with an animalistic howl and began stalking towards her. She hit the button to call the lift and turned towards him. His eyes glowed with an eerie red light; his face, though still mostly human, was distorted and twisted; his body was hunched. He hissed and spat and snarled like a rabid animal.
"You're mine," he growled. "The things I am going to do to you..."
With a ping the doors opened and she fell backwards into the lift. She hit the button repeatedly, desperately, as he took off into a sprint towards her. She pushed herself into the corner of the lift as he ran at her, roaring. She closed her eyes, and as she did the doors slid steadily to a close. There was a crash and a manic scream as Keats hit the metal of the doors, leaving a huge dent across them both.
The lift glided upwards, and soon she could no longer hear his outraged howls. The doors opened in the lobby and she staggered out, dazed, and somehow climbed the stairs back to the main CID floor. She stumbled out of the stairwell just as her legs finally gave way. She crawled into the corner of the corridor, curled into a ball and sobbed. A few moments later she felt someone sit next to her and she could smell whisky, aftershave and cigarettes. Gene pulled her into his arms and let her cry.
"You're safe," he murmured. "You're safe now."
