CHAPTER 3 - The Mind That Haunts
Barbara found her on the balcony. Cris looked out over the city but that was not where her eyes rested. She had a far-away look. It was hard for Barbara to see her childhood friend like this. She moved close to Cris. She broke the silence and asked, "How did it happen." Cris didn't look away; she took a deep breath in, "I don't know. We were so sure it would hold him and it did, for almost 2 years. Charlie, Susan and Lucky even started planning vacations, I was gonna take that Historian position in Egypt." She paused and looked down at her hands then carried on, "5 months ago, we started noticing some stress on the corner of the chamber. Susan wanted to transfer him just in case, but I ignored her warning saying it was nothing to worry about." She sighed; she turned to look at Barbara. Her eyes where haunted. "2 months later, I was in Egypt for a week to finalize everything. It had been a long, hot day. I was so tired, but I couldn't sleep, I felt feverish and I kept tossing and turning. It was about at midnight my phone rang. I picked it up. It was him, his breathing was labored and chilling. Then he said, 'catch me if you can'." She gritted her teeth, "I've been chasing him for 3 months non stop. He plays these games with me, and each time I get close he just slips away." She lowered her head, "I don't even know what it's like to sleep. I can't, each time I close my eyes I see his eyes, dark and haunting." Barbara put a hand on her shoulder. They sat there in silence. Finally Cris clears her throat and looks up at her. Her eyes now intense, "It stops here, I need your help." Barbara smiles and nods.
Dinah and Helena were already waiting for them at the computer station. Barbara immediately set out working on her computers. Cris stands behind the computers, "There's always a connection with a hobby or interest, or the person's profession. I suggest we search her apartment, look for anything. Do you have an ID for her?" "Lynn Faraday, 12 Jensen Street, Apartment 35B," Oracle replied. "What if he has already attacked someone?" Dinah asked. "He wont, not until we're close," Cris replied. "Right, I'll go," Helena said walking towards the elevator. "Huh Cris is coming too," Barbara said. Helena turned around and was about to protest when Barbara gave her a look that made her keep quiet. She walked into the elevator. Once the doors closed she looked at Cris and said, "So how often do you, uh. do the appearing act?" "Not much, the further I go, the more energy I lose," Cris replied. "Your brother, how long has he been at this?" Helena asked. "4 years, he used to be a good guy but when he discovered what he calls a calling, he turned sour," Cris replied. "Does he ever stop, you know, take a break?" Helena asked frowning. "Yes, but only to mock me, to play games with me, to." she pauses a while and then carries on, "to blame me." "For what?" Helena was beginning to feel sorry for her. "My parents death," Cris replied.
Barbara found her on the balcony. Cris looked out over the city but that was not where her eyes rested. She had a far-away look. It was hard for Barbara to see her childhood friend like this. She moved close to Cris. She broke the silence and asked, "How did it happen." Cris didn't look away; she took a deep breath in, "I don't know. We were so sure it would hold him and it did, for almost 2 years. Charlie, Susan and Lucky even started planning vacations, I was gonna take that Historian position in Egypt." She paused and looked down at her hands then carried on, "5 months ago, we started noticing some stress on the corner of the chamber. Susan wanted to transfer him just in case, but I ignored her warning saying it was nothing to worry about." She sighed; she turned to look at Barbara. Her eyes where haunted. "2 months later, I was in Egypt for a week to finalize everything. It had been a long, hot day. I was so tired, but I couldn't sleep, I felt feverish and I kept tossing and turning. It was about at midnight my phone rang. I picked it up. It was him, his breathing was labored and chilling. Then he said, 'catch me if you can'." She gritted her teeth, "I've been chasing him for 3 months non stop. He plays these games with me, and each time I get close he just slips away." She lowered her head, "I don't even know what it's like to sleep. I can't, each time I close my eyes I see his eyes, dark and haunting." Barbara put a hand on her shoulder. They sat there in silence. Finally Cris clears her throat and looks up at her. Her eyes now intense, "It stops here, I need your help." Barbara smiles and nods.
Dinah and Helena were already waiting for them at the computer station. Barbara immediately set out working on her computers. Cris stands behind the computers, "There's always a connection with a hobby or interest, or the person's profession. I suggest we search her apartment, look for anything. Do you have an ID for her?" "Lynn Faraday, 12 Jensen Street, Apartment 35B," Oracle replied. "What if he has already attacked someone?" Dinah asked. "He wont, not until we're close," Cris replied. "Right, I'll go," Helena said walking towards the elevator. "Huh Cris is coming too," Barbara said. Helena turned around and was about to protest when Barbara gave her a look that made her keep quiet. She walked into the elevator. Once the doors closed she looked at Cris and said, "So how often do you, uh. do the appearing act?" "Not much, the further I go, the more energy I lose," Cris replied. "Your brother, how long has he been at this?" Helena asked. "4 years, he used to be a good guy but when he discovered what he calls a calling, he turned sour," Cris replied. "Does he ever stop, you know, take a break?" Helena asked frowning. "Yes, but only to mock me, to play games with me, to." she pauses a while and then carries on, "to blame me." "For what?" Helena was beginning to feel sorry for her. "My parents death," Cris replied.