Bridgette sat in stunned silence staring at the photos that lay on the table before her. She could not believe what she was seeing, but she knew it was real. There was no way these photos could have been faked and the scenes they depicted were real, which only made the pain worse. The photos were of a massive pit somewhere in the woods and laying in that pit were the lifeless bodies of Lindsey and Tyler. The photos had been found by Alejandro that morning, taped to the front door of the house that now housed only him and Heather. They had rushed over to Bridgette's house shortly after Alejandro had found the photos taking Bridgette and her roommates by surprise. But that surprise had quickly changed to horror when they realized why Heather and Alejandro had come by. The look on Alejandro's face and Heather's tears had given away their reasons for coming and the others had arrived shortly thereafter.
They were all gathered in the living room now, trying to absorb this latest blow, sorrow permeating every corner of the house. No one was more distraught than Heather who was beyond simple sorrow. The emotional pain she was feeling at the moment went beyond simple grief and entered realms of sorrow the others couldn't begin to imagine, save for Bridgette. Heather and Lindsey had been like sisters and Bridgette knew full well that Heather would never fully recover from this pain. No, Heather would never be the same again and all Bridgette could do was try to help her, even if that help wouldn't bring Lindsey back.
"I tried." Heather said, speaking for the first time since arriving at Bridgette's house. "I tried to warn her. I tried to tell her that he was Gideon, but she...she just wouldn't listen. She wouldn't listen and now...now she's..." Her voice trailed off as she dissolved into tears again.
"Heather you can't blame yourself." Bridgette said, trying to sound comforting. "I tried to warn her too, but Lindsey was independent and I don't think she would have ever listened to us, even if we'd had evidence that Anthony was Gideon."
Heather turned towards Bridgette, her eyebrows raised in a skeptical fashion. "You don't think we could have convinced her?" she asked. "What makes you say that?"
"Lindsey could be stubborn." Bridgette answered. "It was hard to change her mind once she had decided she wanted to do something. You should know that better than any of us."
"Bridgette's right Heather." Alejandro said. "Lindsey would have stuck with Gideon no matter what we said because that's what she wanted. She wanted to believe he was actually Anthony and wouldn't have listened no matter what we did. Tyler was the only one who had a chance of stopping her and even that didn't work."
Heather nodded seeming to understand their point. "I guess you're right." she said, her tone sullen. "Lindsey could be stubborn and I just wish I was strong enough to have made her see sense."
"And Tyler was the same way." Alejandro said. "He wouldn't have stopped trying to stop her, no matter what the risks were."
"Well said Alejandro." Bridgette said, glancing at the photos again. Despite the horror they depicted she couldn't help looking at them and wondering where the pit was. She was also curious to figure out exactly how Gideon had killed Lindsey, as there were no visible signs of what had caused her death. Tyler had two gruesome stab wounds, one to his stomach and one to his throat, but Lindsey showed no signs of what had killed her. Shaking her head Bridgette turned away from the pictures and refocused on the discussion.
"So, is that why you think Tyler was at Gideon's house?" Trent asked. "Because he would never give up on Lindsey?" He was looking at Alejandro, his expression one of honest curiosity.
"Yes, I do think that's why he was at Gideon's house." Alejandro answered, not quite meeting Trent's gaze.
"It's not actually Gideon's house." Dr. McLellen said, his voice drawing the attention of everyone in the room.
"What do you mean it's not his house?" Jonsey asked. "He was living in it, wasn't he?"
"This is true, but that doesn't mean the house is his." Dr. McLellen answered.
"Who does it belong to then?" Nikki asked, her curiosity peaked by this new train of thought. "And if it's not his how did he get in."
"Gideon has his ways." Dr. McLellen answered. "And as far as who actually owns the house I am afraid it would be unethical for me to identify them."
"Oh come on." said Nikki, her tone irritated. "Don't get all ethical on us now. The identity of that house's owners could help us find Gideon."
"Actually it can't." Dr. McLellen said. "Because the owners of that house are dead."
"What?" Nikki asked. "Really? Well that's just fucking perfect. We finally have a piece of evidence that could lead us to Gideon and it turns out to be completely fucking useless."
"Nikki calm down." Bridgette said. "We don't even know for sure that these people could have helped us, so just chill out a minute okay?"
"Why would you assume they couldn't help us?" Gwen asked, when Nikki didn't respond. "They obviously knew Gideon if they were letting him stay in their house, so they could have led us to him or at least given us a way to identify him."
"Actually that is incorrect as well." Dr. McLellen said. "While these people did know Gideon he did not come to live in their house because they let him."
"Then how did he get in?" Gwen asked, her tone confused.
"Because he was the one who killed them." Dr. McLellen answered.
"How the hell do you know that?" Trent asked, his tone also confused.
"Because I also knew them." Dr. McLellen answered. "And I know Gideon, or at least I can guess how his mind works as he thinks in a manner similar to that of my brother."
There was a collective shiver at the mention of McLean but Dr. McLellen didn't seem to notice. Bridgette did however and it was this that prompted her to ask, "If you knew them, then why can't you tell us who they are?"
Dr. McLellen looked at her, his eyes boring into hers and then he sighed. "Alright, I suppose I can tell you who they are, if you really must know." he said. "Their names are Charlie and Lauren Bates and they are longtime friends of Gideon's or at least they used to be."
"What does that mean?" Nikki asked, curious again.
"It means Gideon was friends with Charlie before he was sent to prison and that fact caused a falling out to occur between them." Dr. McLellen answered. "I assume it was that friendship that allowed Gideon to get so close to them." He fell silent then, his expression full of sorrow.
"Dr. McLellen, is something wrong?" Bridgette asked, suddenly worried.
"They were such a lovely couple." Dr. McLellen answered. "Charlie and Lauren, I mean. They got married three years ago and bought that house a little over a year ago. Charlie was thirty six and Lauren was thirty four. I still can't believe they're dead."
"It sounds like you were close with them." Bridgette said. "How did you know them?"
"They were students of mine a few years back." Dr. McLellen answered. "I always enjoyed reading their papers." He fell silent again before adding, "You know what the worst part of this is? Lauren was six months pregnant when Gideon killed her. She was six months pregnant. They even knew what the gender of their child was going to be. They were going to have a daughter and now they're gone." He fell silent again, his sorrowful gaze resting on Bridgette.
The room was silent following Dr. McLellen's story, the full impact of Gideon's evil hitting the group with the force of a freight train. They had all known Gideon was an evil bastard, but to learn that he had killed a pregnant woman and her husband just so he could take their house was more than any of them could bare. It was one thing to know that Gideon was targeting them, but they knew what his reasons were and to learn that he was killing innocent people just to further his schemes made Bridgette want to scream.
"Damn that bastard." Nikki said, her tone full of rage. "Damn him to the lowest, darkest pit of hell. I hope he fucking burns for all he has done."
"Oh he will Nikki, he will." said Bridgette. "I'll make damn sure of that. And woe betide anyone who tries to fucking stop me."
Several of the others were nodding in agreement, but Dr. McLellen didn't look so convinced. In fact he looked like he had seen a ghost and was staring at Bridgette with the most peculiar expression she had ever seen from him. It was as though he was trying to read her mind or get her to read his. Either way it was unnerving and Bridgette found herself moving to snap him out of his catatonic trance.
"Dr. McLellen?" she asked. "Is everything alright? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Yes, I'm fine." he answered. "I'm afraid I must go though. I need to prepare for class tomorrow and all that."
Bridgette nodded and Dr. McLellen left without a backwards glance leaving Bridgette in a state of bewilderment as she tried to figure out what had made him look like that. She ultimately decided it wasn't something to worry about, deciding she would ask him about it in the morning or whenever she saw Dr. McLellen next.
Dr. McLellen arrived back at his house twenty five minutes after leaving Bridgette's. He had headed directly home after leaving Bridgette's and was shaking with fear as he climbed out of his car. He had come so close to telling her the truth and that was what had him so riled up. The truth was more than she could handle now and to tell her would destroy her, something he could not allow to happen. No, she was the key, one way or another, she was the one who would bring peace to the world, or at least this little sliver of the world.
Dr. McLellen made his way up the steps and entered the house, locking the door behind him. After closing all the curtains he made his way upstairs to his study, intent on consulting the texts. But before he could enter his study something stopped him. There was something off about the room and Dr. McLellen knew exactly what it was.
"Why don't you show yourself Gideon." he said, his tone devoid of fear.
For a moment there was no response and then Gideon stepped out of the shadows, a smile on his face. "Hello William." he said. "Nice to see you haven't lost your edge."
Dr. McLellen glared at him and said, "I prefer Dr. McLellen now."
"Do you?" Gideon asked. "So your dull existence as a professor has changed you that much has it? I must admit I never thought I'd see the day when the great William McLellen hid behind false titles and ill gotten gains."
"The title isn't false Gideon." Dr. McLellen said. "I was a doctor before you ever knew me and the title has never been a mask for me to hide behind. It is my identity. It is the reason I survived my departure from the order and it is how I know things you will never understand."
"Tough talk from a man who spends his days behind a desk." Gideon said, his tone mocking and cruel.
"Yes, well, I prefer to look at it as an opportunity." Dr. McLellen said. "Living my life behind a desk allows me to gather knowledge and knowledge is the key to power the likes of which you could never imagine."
"Believe what you will William." Gideon said. "But know that your knowledge will not save you in the end. Speaking of which, I assume you know why I am here?"
"You are here to kill me." Dr. McLellen answered. "I have known this day was coming for years, ever since I left the order." He glanced at Gideon before continuing, "I'm sorry, did you expect me to be surprised?"
Gideon didn't answer, though he seemed to be annoyed by Dr. McLellen's question and lack of surprise. "You are only partially correct." he finally answered. "I have another reason for coming to visit you."
"Which is?" Dr. McLellen asked, though he could guess.
"I desire the texts you posses." Gideon answered, with only a hint of a smile.
Dr. McLellen was taken aback by this and it took him a moment to respond. "Why do you desire the texts?" he finally asked. "Do you not have your own?"
"No, regrettably I lost mine." Gideon answered. "Or rather they were taken from me when I was sent to prison."
This seemed to amuse Dr. McLellen, for he smiled at Gideon's response. "You are not a very good disciple Gideon." he said. "Any true follower of the darkness knows how maintain possession of his tools no matter what obstacles they face."
"Yes, well, my experiences were rather extraordinary, don't you think?" Gideon asked.
"I really don't, actually." Dr. McLellen said. "You were not the first of us to be imprisoned and you won't be the last, but none of the others lost their texts."
"As I told you, mine were taken from me." Gideon snarled, his eyes going dark.
"Oh, touched a nerve have I?" Dr. McLellen asked, with another smile.
Gideon glared at him before answering. "Perhaps." he said. "But it is of no consequence. Now, the texts if you please."
"Do you really think you can do what my brother couldn't?" Dr. McLellen asked, hoping to buy himself some more time. "For that is why you want the texts, is it not?"
"It is." Gideon answered. "And as far as your brother is concerned, he was a poor disciple and lacked the conviction to do what was necessary to sway her to the darkness."
"Really?" Dr. McLellen asked. "Is that what you really think? Did you miss what he did to her and her friends. And yet she still remains pure, so I ask again, if Chris couldn't do it, what makes you think you can?"
"I do not lack conviction." Gideon answered. "I am willing to do what is necessary to ensure she falls under my sway and I will not fail."
"You are mistaken." Dr. McLellen said. "Chris couldn't do it and he was ten times the disciple you are. You will fail in this endeavor Gideon and she will remain pure."
"No, it is you who are mistaken." Gideon said, a sinister smile twisting his features. "I will not fail and I will make her a disciple. There is no one who can stop me for this is my destiny and more importantly it is her destiny. That is why I will not fail."
Dr. McLellen smiled and nodded. "Perhaps you are correct in your assessment." he said. "Perhaps it is your destiny, but it has never been hers. I will not allow you to corrupt her any more than she has already been corrupted." With that he lunged at Gideon, but the force of a bullet striking him in the chest stopped him short of his goal.
Dr. McLellen staggered backwards, his hand going to the wound before Gideon shot him a second time. He felt his legs buckle beneath him and a second later he hit the floor. Gideon stepped over him and fired two more shots into his abdomen before crouching down beside him.
"You see, no one can stop me." Gideon said. "I will have her, one way or another, I will make her mine."
Dr. McLellen coughed, blood dribbling from his mouth, before smiling. "You are wrong my friend." he said. "She will never be yours. I have seen how strong she is and she will never bend to your will."
"We shall see." Gideon said. "Perhaps you are right, but I really don't think you are." He paused for a moment before bringing the gun level with Dr. McLellen's head. "Goodbye William." he said, before pulling the trigger. The bullet struck Dr. McLellen in the middle of the forehead making his body jerk before he slumped back, dead before his head hit the floor. Gideon stood and walked over to the desk where he retrieved the texts before exiting without a backwards glance at Dr. McLellen's lifeless form.
A/N: And so Dr. McLellen meets his end. Also, yes, there is a history between him and Gideon, a very mysterious and rather interesting history in fact which will all be revealed in time. What they were talking about before Gideon killed Dr. McLellen is part of that history, but again, you'll have to wait to get all the answers. But never fear, for the answers are coming and some of them might surprise you.