The Bloody Puzzle (ON HOLD)

by Natural Born Sinner

Young Alexi, trained from a young age to be the best in her field, may have finally met her match; a killer who always seems to be 10 steps ahead of her. As her trust and resolve crumbles away, she'll have to put her fate into the hands of someone she had never expected: the very man she helped try to kill.

25. Fuck Coincidence

"It could purely be coincidence."

"Or it could purely be a provocation. He wants me to do something, wants me to know he's watching me."

"What makes you think it was a guy?" Abel asked. "Could be a chick. You never know."

"I'm open to any possibility. But, why am I being targeted?"

"God only knows why, Lex."

"Well, god needs to tell me why, before I fucking kill him, too."

"Hey, easy on the death threats on the Lord; remember, we used to work for him at one point." Abel said, grabbing my shoulders. "

"Right, right. Well, not anymore, so fuck that bastard." I dropped onto the couch. "Agh! I hate this shit, I really do, Abe."

"I know." He sulked. "Things will get easier as time passes. We'll figure this out, kiddo. It's gonna be alright."

I shot up. "Easier? God dammit, this bastard, whoever the hell he is, knows where I live. Or at least where I'll be residing. He's ballsy. Placing Cameron's head on the fence post? This person most likely knows who I really am, what I do for a living-kill. They could implicate us all. We could be put to death; Dexter could die. Deb could go to prison as well, for helping us."

Abel and Cole stared at me.

"Do you realize the gravity of this situation? I'm not stressed because someone stole my kill. I could care less. It's less work for me. What's really wracking my nerves, is that this ghost, whoever it may be, not only killed innocents, and put the lives of hundreds of students in danger, but knows who I am. And if they have any knowledge of what I do, we're all going to hell." I paused, my eyes widening at a sudden realization. "God only knows how long this person has been tracking me…they could have photo evidence of my kills….shit, Abe, they could have pictures of us down at the shipyard!"

I crossed my arms over my head, drawing in deep, ragged breaths, trying to calm myself down. Panicking would do nothing to better the situation. It would only cloud my mind more. I have never been this unnerved in any of my years of killing, not even when I was given my very first assignments. I always remained calm. Levelheaded.

Then again, never before has my semblance been threatened to be torn away.

I never had a thing to worry about.

And oh god, how I long for those times.

I shut my eyes tightly, and rolled over, pressing my face into the couch cushion. I groaned into the leather, my voice muffled. I wish I had never been assigned this hit. Although, I suppose if I have been tracked, whether this case was assigned to me or another very capable assassin, would not matter one single bit. I could have been given a task in Nigeria and the same thing could have happened. To God, I pray that I am not being tracked like a fugitive.

My heart sank.

I'm not being tracked by the gov-

Oh, Lord, Alexi; the government? No one knows you fucking exist. To everyone, you're just a normal teen…with a little extra baggage than most. This has to be another Brother. Otherwise, why would I be targeted specifically? I sighed and rolled over again, this time facing the two brothers.

Cole and Abel stood in the same spots, staring at me, their eyes filled with worry. I smiled sadly, burying my head somehow deeper into the cushion. I suppose I was trying to sink into the couch, to disappear from everyone. From everything. I wish this situation would end.

Even though it has only been two days, the stress is reaching an insurmountable level.

I can handle stress, believe me.

But if things keep happening the way they have been the past few days…the stress is really gonna kill me.

And even a trained killer has a breaking point, believe it or not.

. . .

Abel sat down on the couch. He lifted my legs and placed them over his own. He ran a tired hand over my calf, and through this simple touch, I could feel his own stress, his own worries and pain. I sat up and grabbed his hand. He looked at me.

"What is it, kid?"

I shrugged, tracing my fingers over the calluses on his palm.

"Come on. Gotta be something." He smiled. "You're not the type to hold hands."

"Or make any sort of affectionate gesture…unless prompted to do so." Cole laughed.

"So there's gotta be something wrong. Or on your mind at least."

"There's too much on my mind." I muttered. "Far too much."

Abel made a tsk sound. "Ah, you'll be fine, Lex. What're you thinking about?"

I leaned against the cushion. "Being tracked…revealed to the police as a killer, as a part in Cameron's death. Reaching my breaking point…" That last part I mumbled.

"You're not going to reach your breaking point."

I frowned. I still held his hand.

He squeezed my hand gently. "Stress is really killin' you, huh?"

"I wouldn't say it's killing me, but if things keep going this way it will. It's just getting to me. There's too much to think about. Too much to do."

"Well, I hope you know we'll be here to help." Cole said. He brushed his bangs out of his eyes. "You're always welcome to stay, whenever you like."

I smiled. "Thanks guys. But…I think I better get home to Nikki. I've got more to tell her."

. . .

The three of us jumped. Someone was banging on the front door.

"Jesus Christ, if they hit any harder, they're gonna break through the damn door." Abel muttered. "I'm coming! Relax." Abel opened the door. "Nikolai?"

"And Nikki." Her voice, though monotone, still boomed, as of she had been speaking into a microphone. Her voice was not one to be ignored, and rarely ever was.

Speak of the devil, I thought. I shot Cole a look.

He shrugged.

"Why hello, Alexi." Nikolai smiled warmly. "I trust you have everything under control?"

"For the most part." I sighed.

"Oh?" The two sat down across from me. "Why is that?"

I sat up straight. "Cameron's head wound up impaled on the fencepost this morning. I'm assuming sometime during the night while we were sleeping, the head was placed there. Whoever did it, holds the bodies of the counselor and the secretaries. The principal was found dead in his home, and had been there for quite some time."

Nikolai's eyes widened. "How? He talked over the intercom."

I nodded. "It was most likely prerecorded. And the email? His account was hacked."

"How can you be sure?"

"This killer must be organized. He knew what he, or she, was going to do. Probably kidnapped Fournier, had him read the speech, and then stole his account information and typed up the email. Then killed him once he was done with him."

Nikki crossed her legs. "And how have you learned all of this?"

"I have ties with Miami Metro. I am working with Dexter Morgan, as well as his sister Debra Morgan."

"The sister I understand, had nothing to do with the case previous to your interrogation? Afterward she was fully involved."

"Yes, that is correct. While the interrogation was taking place, unbeknownst to us all, Debra had reentered the house. She heard all of what we had spoken about."

"Her reaction being?"

"She was upset, mostly in disbelief, not wanting to believe her beloved brother is indeed a serial killer. She swore to maintain secrecy, so long as we provided protection for her while working on the case, as well as help with said case." I cracked my neck. "I offered help on the case; we know more about the victim than her whole department does. Both the brother and sister could be valuable assets."

"And after this is finished?"

"They're disposable. At least the sister is. Dexter has been Saved."

"So I have been told." Nikki said, sneaking a glance at Abel. He waved.

I looked at Cole. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." He looked away.

"Your face paled when I spoke of disposing Debra."

"There's no reason for her to die." He said.

"I suppose not. But for the time being, she is only of use to me until this case has been solved. Her fate afterward…only time will tell. Maybe she will prove to be of some use."

"Just…don't kill her. Think of how Dexter would feel." He frowned. "I know I shouldn't think like this, but she could help us quite a bit. We could help her, too."

Abel scoffed. "Just before, you were ready to kill her with your bare hands."

"You know I have a temper."

"Even so. Don't be a hypocrite."

"Shut up, Abel."

Abel stuck his tongue out at Cole. I snickered.

"Children." Nikolai said, his tone stern.

Nikki turned to me. "Anything else you have for me?"

"I spoke to Debra as well as another detective, Batista. I suggested they look into the heads of security, seeing as the whole front area of the school is completely devoid of cameras. And security itself is slack. Batista saw me as helpful, so hopefully he'll come to me with more information."

"That's definitely something to look into. Good observations, Alexi. Is there anything else?"

"Yes."

"Well?"

"It isn't possible that I might be being tracked by another member of the Brotherhood, is it?"

Nikki set both of her legs down, her formality faltering slightly. I raised an eyebrow. How unlike her. "Why would you ask such a thing?"

"Well. Why would the head of my kill appear on the fencepost in front of the house I am residing in? And why would she have been killed upon the day I arrive?"

"It…it could be coincidence."

"Bullshit." I glared. "Don't fuck with me. This isn't coincidence. There's no psycho killer running around; this is a professional. And they're playing games. Am I being tracked?"

"Alexi, that is not a question I can answer at this moment. I need to delve further into the matter before I can give you a straight answer."

"I fucking knew it." I threw my hands up. "I'm being fucking tracked. By who?"

"Alexi-"

"By who?" I growled.

"I cannot answer you."

"Well fuck you, then. You're of no use to me." I said angrily.

"I am your Guide, Alexi! You will listen to me, and stop speaking to me-"

"Exactly. You are my Guide, not my God. I will not listen to you. And I will speak to you in whatever way I please until you can answer me. Until then, you are nothing." I said flatly.

A tense silence fell over the room as I became locked in stare down with my Guide, Nikki. Her nostrils flared like a bull's, her anger rising. I had disobeyed my Guide, a punishable offense within the Brotherhood. You are never to disobey them.

I could care less at this point, to be honest.

I have much bigger things to worry about than breaking a small rule.