Heavy Rain: Origami Lament

Next chapter of my crossover story, enjoy.

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Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Heavy Rain, Until Dawn or their characters.

The Lizard and the Fugitive

Thursday

7:47 AM

3.060 Inches of Rainfall

MIKE POV

I bit my lip as I parked my car outside the empty apartment building that I had been instructed to go to. Exiting the car, I entered the building and climbed up the stairs, looking around, noting my surroundings.

'There's been a fire in here, everything's all burned up.' I thought, before groaning. 'The pain's coming back, the drugs are beginning to wear off. I'm still feeling weak, I can hardly stand.'

I looked around some more, wondering what I was supposed to do in this dump to help Shaun. Something about a sacrifice. Walking forward slightly, I stopped, startled, when my foot hit something. It was then that I saw what I had walked into. It was a porcelain lizard. They looked fresh, new, out of place. I realized right away that these were important and, unable to miss the one lizard that was a totally different shade of green from the others, I picked it up and heard a rattling noise inside. I shook it and heard the noise again.

I shook my head. 'Could it be that obvious?'

I broke the lizard figure off the ground and sure enough, it was. A key fell out and I picked it up, trying it in the nearby door, the only one in the hallway. It worked and it opened, so I entered the room, my eyes widening.

It was an apartment, as burnt out as the rest of the building, but with several sharp-looking implements inside it, along with a cooker in what was once the kitchen. Apart from that, the only thing inside was a chair and table, with a small computer device on it, likely to guide me through the trial. Nervously, I approached and, taking a deep breath, I sat down and pressed the play button on the touch screen.

It spoke at once. "Are you prepared to suffer to save your son? You have five minutes to cut off the last section of one of your fingers in front of the camera. If you succeed, you will get your reward."

I froze at this, eyes wide and horrified, staring down at my hands. This couldn't be!

'I can't cut off my own finger. I just can't do it! But I want to save Shaun. I'll do anything...anything but that.' I thought frantically. 'This could all go horribly wrong. I'm not going to save my son by dying here...'

Despite knowing that this would mean I failed the trial and wouldn't get the letters for the address, there was nothing else for it. So, with a heavy heart I turned and left the apartment. I wouldn't make that kind of a sacrifice.

HANNAH POV

I pulled my motorcycle up and parked behind Mike's car. He was here and so were the police, they had staked out the building. I had a nasty feeling about this, that my suspicions may be right. I had watched Mike leave the motel and had followed him here in secret.

Getting off my bike and making my way towards the building, I tried to remain composed, to keep a low profile. Entering the building, I found Mike coming down the stairs and I rushed up to him.

"The police, they're out there. I think they're here to arrest you." I warned him.

Mike stared. "What are you doing here? You followed me?"

"I'll explain later. Right now, we need to hurry." I told him urgently. "Come on, we've got to find another way out of here."

Mike nodded and we began looking around quickly, trying to find a way out.

"Hey, over here." I said quickly.

There was a collection of boards covering a window. Working together, we quickly got them pulled out of the way and I moved a crate over so that I could climb up and open the window.

"Okay, c'mon. We can get out this way." I said.

Mike followed me and we climbed out just in time as I heard the door opening inside. We were in an alleyway behind the apartment building.

"Don't move or I'll shoot!" came a cry.

Turning my head, I saw a police officer aiming his gun, which he then fired. Mike cried out in pain.

"Mike?!"

I turned and helped him up. He had been hit in the back of his shoulder.

"Ah, shit... I'll be alright, just hurry." Mike hissed.

I nodded, and together, we moved down the alleyway, still startled by what was going on.

'Shit, they spotted us! We need to move while we still have a chance!' my mind raced.

As we made our way down the alleyway, I held onto Mike; he was still in pain from being shot and couldn't move under his own power. I made sure that he could lean on me if he needed to.

"The subway." Mike gasped, pointing to the other side of the road.

I agreed and led the way through the traffic jam. We made it into the subway. It was packed, but then suddenly, Mike froze, breathing heavily and he nearly collapsed.

"Mike? Mike, what's the matter?" I asked in horror. "We've got to keep going! Mike! Mike, they're coming!"

It was clear that he was in some distress that had nothing to do with the bullet wound or his previous injuries. It must've been the crowds.

I urged him on, however. "C'mon, it's okay, it's okay."

I did my best to lead him through the crowd. We made it to the escalator and began hurrying down it.

"Police!" a male voice yelled. "Stop or I'll shoot!"

But I kept us going, finally getting lost in the crowd again, but the police were still closing in fast. There was no other choice. I led Mike to the edge of the platform that we were on and jumped down, hurrying along to the other side, and attempted to get up on the other side.

"Quick, Mike!" I yelled, seeing the train coming. "It's gonna hit us!"

I quickly managed to help him up and we finally managed to get onto another train, which then left the station, finally escaping.

MIKE POV

I sighed as I sat in the chair in my motel room, listening to the news report on the TV. It was certain now, the police were definitely after me.

"Less than an hour ago, we heard from the police, who have identified the man thought to be the Origami Killer. Michael Monroe, father of the kidnapped victim Shaun Monroe, is on the run and should be considered armed and dangerous." the reporter said. "A police manhunt is now underway and they hope that they will soon be able to announce the apprehension of this dangerous lunatic."

Shaking my head, I turned the TV off, just as Hannah returned with a bag of groceries.

"I brought some food. I didn't know what you like, so I brought some of everything. I hope that's okay." she said as she set the bag down on the desk.

She began taking things out of the bag as I thought for a moment.

"Why are you helping me, Hannah? You know nothing about me and you could have been killed." I asked her. "Why are putting yourself in danger for me?"

"I don't know, I guess it just seemed like the right thing to do." she explained awkwardly. "You needed help, so I helped you. Do you really need a reason to give help to someone who needs it? You're all over the news reports, Mike. Every cop in the country will be hunting you. They say you're the Origami Killer...but is it true? Are you the killer, Mike?"

I sighed, unsure how to even reply. Finally, I admitted, "I just..."

"Hang on." Hannah said. "Here, we should eat first, you're gonna need your strength to get through...whatever it is you're doing."

I paused, but then accepted, and we ate. I had to stay strong for Shaun's sake, and to make it through the last two trials.

As we ate together, I spoke. "I...I sometimes have these blackouts, times that I don't know what I'm doing. I'll wake up somewhere else later, with no idea how I got there, or what happened. All I'll remember is...drowned bodies..."

"Mike..." Hannah began, but then composed herself. "Why were you there, why have you been hurt the other times we met?"

"Trials. Things that I need to do, they'll...they'll show me where Shaun is being held. It's like my other self is testing me...trying to...to make me atone for my failure." I admitted.

I honestly couldn't believe what had just happened. How could I have said so much to her? Then I remembered that she had told me about her issues, about losing her sister. Perhaps, subconsciously, that was why I'd spoken up.

"Mike, does...does Shaun's mother know about all of this?" Hannah asked.

I tensed at that, the pain of recalling all of that was too much.

Hannah must have realized it, for she quickly added, "If you don't wanna talk about it, it's fine."

I considered it, but Hannah had trusted me with the knowledge of her sister, her loss. So I felt that I could open up to her and trust her with the story of my own loss. It only seemed fair.

Taking a moment to compose myself, I finally admitted, "I...went through something similar to you...with your sister. It happened two years ago." I took a deep breath. "I lost someone that I loved, too. My first son, Jason, Shaun's older brother. He...he died in an accident, got hit by a car, as did I, when I tried to save him... After that, my wife Emily divorced me, unable to bear the grief. I...I think sometimes she somewhat blames me for Jason's death, too. I really wouldn't blame her, if I'd just kept an eye on him-"

"Mike, no! Don't blame yourself and cause yourself even more pain. You said it yourself, it was just an accident." Hannah burst out. "That's...that's not fair on you, blaming you for something that you had no control over. Jason's death isn't your fault! Stop dwelling on the son that you couldn't save and focus instead on the son that you can still save."

I felt touched that she was showing so much genuine concern for me, and how she had helped me escape today and patched me up whenever I was injured. As much as I couldn't believe it, I was starting to feel something deeper for her.

Hannah continued, "And about your ex-wife blaming for Jason's death? She's wrong. That wasn't your fault and you had no control over it, so she has no right to blame you like that! She's just being petty and unreasonable, blaming you like that. And...if I was in her position, I'd never do that to you. I'd never cause you even more grief than what you were already going through."

Again, I felt touched by her words. She was helping me to put things into perspective, regarding Jason's death. She hadn't just helped me physically throughout the trials, but also emotionally.

I said sadly, "I'm sorry, Hannah. Thank you for everything you've done, but I really can't ask you to be involved anymore, for your own sake. With the police after me, you'll be a target, too. Don't put yourself in that danger."

Hannah looked like she was about to protest, but then stopped and nodded, leaving. But...something about her expression made me wonder if she really would leave me alone. Also, a part of me, in a way, didn't actually want her to leave me alone to deal with this.

I shook my head, however, telling myself to focus. 'I don't have much time. I've got to find my son before it's too late. The box. I have to open another origami figure.'

I picked up the fourth figure, shaped like a shark, and straightened it out, reading it and my heart seized.

'Are you prepared to kill someone to save your son?'

Another address. Taking a deep breath, trying hard not to think right now, I grabbed the gun, stashed it out of sight, and made my way back out.

I had to walk through the rain now, as my car had been impounded, although Hannah had been able to retrieve her motorcycle in time. Now I had to face yet another horrifying challenge. Was I really prepared for this? To kill someone?

End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.