Not of Sound Mind

by Pairiny10

Gavin Reed had escaped his family years ago and was now living a happier life, even after the chaos of the Android Revolution and some unwanted feelings developing. But the peace in his life doesn't last when a distressed ST200 runs into the precinct stained with his brother's blood. He's soon reminded of how much he loved Eli. He's also reminded of just how cruel Kamskis can be.

12. Chapter 11: What's The Heart of Dreams?

Disclaimer: I do not own Detroit: Become Human. This story contains violence, abuse, and dark themes. Viewer discretion is advised.

DATE: December 19, 2038

TIME: 11:13:03 A.M

Gavin walked into the precinct with Eli by his side, and Madison's reception was accompanied by a gasp of cheerful surprise. He noted that Hank and Connor weren't at their desks as he went to his own with Eli.

"Oh, you're here, Gav," Chris perked up at his desk, "How are you doing?"

"I'm still alive, so that's good."

"Shouldn't you be resting?"

"I should, but the suspect's being interrogated today. So I want to see this through, and Kamski's here to see if the guy is familiar at all."

"Nice to see you again, Officer Miller." Eli greeted the officer.

"You too. I hope you're doing better, Mr. Kamski. Anderson and some rookies are getting Woods ready for interrogation at the moment. So it shouldn't take them too long."

"Want a coffee while we wait?" Gavin offered Eli.

"I wouldn't mind."

"Sit tight then," he gestured to his desk before heading to the break room. Eli hadn't told him what he wanted, but Gavin knew he would drink whatever he gave him. He was watching the black coffee drip from the machine into the Styrofoam cup when someone behind him said:

"You came in today, Detective Reed?" Gavin jumped and spun around, seeing Connor with a perplexed look.

"Don't sneak up on me like that, tin can," Gavin grumbled, composing himself.

"My apologies, detective." The android apologized. Connor didn't have the same stiff posture or monotone voice he had in the footage. Then again, that was a Connor restrained by his programming, a tactful machine. He looked all too human now as he stood before Gavin, wholly detached from the robotic persona from before. "I heard you were attacked during the raid last night," Connor continued. Brown eyes went to the bandage on his temple, "And I see so as well."

"It looks bad, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle." Gavin said.

"The fact you're still standing here alive proves that much. I'm glad you're okay, detective." The android smiled, the kind of smile that made his face hotter than the coffee he was brewing.

"Thanks," He looked away and grabbed the coffee cup from the machine. "Do you know when Anderson will be ready?"

"He said to give in three minutes." Connor eyed Gavin's coffee. "You don't usually have your coffee like that." He observed.

"This isn't for me. I made it for Kamski." He gestured to his desk, and Connor's eyes followed. His smile cracked.

"Oh, I see… Kamski's in your chair."

"Yeah, well, I wasn't gonna make him sit on the floor." Gavin walked back over to his desk with Connor in tow. "Here you go, your highness." He smirked as he handed Eli the coffee, leaning against his desk.

"Thank you, peasant," Eli replied with a small smile, blowing on the hot cup.

"How are you, Mr. Kamski?" Connor asked.

"Splendid. You appear to be doing better, last I saw you."

"I am properly functioning. Thank you for fixing me."

"You're welcome." He took a sip of his coffee. "Hm, this isn't terrible."

"I'll take that as a compliment." Gavin said.

"I hope you don't mind me asking but," Connor clasped his hands together. "Are you two… friends?"

"We're friendly enough with each other." Eli leaned back in the chair. "Why do you ask?"

"I'm simply curious as I have observed how comfortable you and Detective Reed seem to be around each other… Including right now."

"What can I say?" Gavin spoke up, "This geek grew on me fast. Nothing like a violent home invasion to bring people together." Eli chuckled at that, the first sound of genuine amusement he had heard from his brother in a while.

"Woods is ready," Anderson said as he walked to the group. "Are you all?"

"It'll be cathartic to put a face to those that attacked my home," Eli said, and the group went to the interrogation site with Gavin, Eli, and Connor going into the observation room. Anderson entered the interrogation room where Woods was seated at the table, appearing much smaller with the Lieutenant in the room.

"In trouble again, aren't you, Woods?" Anderson slapped down the files and sat down.

"When have I been out of it," Woods sounded too nonchalant, considering the situation that he was in. But, then again, he was a repeat offender.

"Now you're talking?"

"I've had time to clean my mind."

"Do you recognize him at all, Kamski?" Connor asked.

"His voice sounds familiar," Eli answered quietly. "All too familiar."

"You were pretty beat up before you got arrested. What's that about?" Anderson questioned the man.

"Bar fights are a given with me," Woods answered with a smirk.

"What were you doing back at your old haunt?"

"Would you believe me if I told you it was to have fun?"

"If we didn't find Red Ice on you, maybe. But you're not in custody for last night. I don't know if you've heard, but we found your 'workplace' the other day. In there, we found this." Anderson slid over some photographs.

"A notebook?"

"Look through all of them." Woods did so, his expressions staying minimal. "Can you tell me what that is?"

"It's a bunch of crossed-out names and a sticky note. Not that interesting."

"Well, we wouldn't be here if it wasn't that interesting. Why's that note in your handwriting?"

"Because I wrote it," Woods rolled his eyes with an exasperated sigh, "Let me guess, you're gonna ask me who the 'rich asshole' is referring to in the note."

"You can go ahead and answer it."

"Alright, but if I tell you all this, can I get something out of it at least?"

"There's already a whole list of plea deals waiting for you. If you work with us, it'll make your punishment not as harsh as it could be."

"… The note was talking about the guy that built androids."

"Kamski?"

"That'd be him. I want you to know that I've never killed anyone. Wasn't my job. However, I did have a job of… paying people fun visits. Well, fun for me, not so much for them. Me and my coworkers with the bullet holes in them had Kamski next on our list. Duh, richest man on the face of this planet. Beat him up real good, and I mean a whopping he won't forget, and force him to give up whatever he could. That was the plan, at least. We thought he'd be alone, but he had three blonde bitches with him, which made things complicated. Even with our fancy tools it wasn't goin' our way. I don't know how long we were fighting there before we decided to cut our losses and leave." Anderson stared at Woods silently for a moment, taking in all the information.

"You did nothing else?" he asked.

"That's it! I wasn't involved in that android attack at Price's. Again, not my job."

"Is there anything else you want to say?"

"… The time for talking is done."

"So, it's over now?" Eli asked, relief on the cusp of his tongue.

"Yeah, it's done." Gavin put a hand on his shoulder. "This is over. We did it." Gavin allowed himself to smile, and Eli returned it wholeheartedly.

"There's still paperwork we need to fill out," Connor spoke frankly.

"Yes, besides all the damn paperwork, the case is solved."

"You heard the man," Anderson said as he entered the observation room, Woods being walked out in cuffs by a pair of officers. "We got the guy."

"Thank you, Lieutenant, thanks to all of you," Eli said. "This is such a relief to all of us. Finally, we can ease our paranoia and try to sleep soundly. Thank you."

"Our pleasure, Kamski," Anderson smiled. The group walked out of the room with the two detectives and Lieutenant headed toward the captain's office, but Chris approached them before they split.

"Mr. Kamski," he said, "You have someone here to see you."

"Who?" Eli asked.

"Your mom. She was here the other day looking for you, but you weren't here."

"I've heard," he pushed up his glasses. "I have to use your restroom first, and you're going to show me." He pointed to Gavin, who nodded.

"Not a problem." He looked at his coworkers, "You know, I'm starting to get a headache. Tell Fowler that I'm taking that day off." The pair walked off to the bathroom. They checked that the bathroom was empty before speaking.

"I don't think she's going away this time," Gavin said, holding back his dread.

"No, she won't." Eli confirmed, "But there's no need to worry. She's not bringing me back. Hand over your phone." Gavin did so and wasn't surprised that Eli already knew his password.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm calling Chloe so she can pick us up." Eli put the phone to his ear as it started to ring, which it only did twice. "I need you at the precinct right now. My mother's here… See you then." He hung up.

"That was a quick call."

"They tend to be. Chloe will be over in seven minutes."

"And we just stay in here until then?"

"If we do, Mother will cause a scene. I have to keep her busy."

"You're not talking with her alone. I'll be there with you."

"Right." He put a hand on Gavin's shoulder. "You have nothing to be afraid of. She can't hurt you. I won't let her. Are you ready?" Gavin collected himself before nodding. "Good. I'm guessing she'll be with guards after last night, so be alert. You go ahead first. I'll be behind you."

"Got it." Gavin left the bathroom, heading towards the front with a lump in his throat. He knew Mother would be there, her arms probably crossed over her chest and a scowl on her face as she impatiently tapped her foot. He wouldn't freeze like last time. And he didn't. Mother was as he had predicted, except for her expression, which turned from sour to anxious as her steely eyes laid upon him. He paid her no mind as he walked past her and out the doors. As Eli had guessed, a pair of black-suited men stood outside by the entrance. Standing across from them, he could feel their glares digging into him from behind their dark shades. He gave them a small wave.

"Elijah, I've missed you so much," Mother sighed contently as she and Eli walked out of the precinct close together, though he walked away from her the further they got into the parking lot. "Please, don't run away again," she pleaded, trying to catch up with him, but backed off when Gavin came to his side when they got to the sidewalk.

"Mother, listen," Eli said, stopping and turning to face Mother and the black suits standing behind her. "I'm not running away. I simply don't want to be with you." Her eyes narrowed as her scowl returned.

"Oh, and that murderous mutt is better company." She spat, taking a step forward while glaring at Gavin, who stood firm. Eli took a step forwards as well.

"Compared to the Gorski's certainly."

"You made them do that because you wouldn't talk! If you had just helped your family, we wouldn't be here yelling at each other in a damn police parking lot."

"You're the only one yelling," Eli stated calmly to Mother's irritation. "We just finished getting law enforcement out of our business. Let's not give them another reason to investigate us."

"I agree, so come with us willingly. I'm being very courteous compared to how your aunts, uncles, and cousins will approach you. I want to help you. Let me." She spoke so gently and softly that Gavin almost couldn't believe that it was her speaking.

"You're asking me to give up," Eli said.

"I'm asking you to rejoin the family. You've received your punishment. Now is the time to make peace."

"Peace? You, out of anyone, should know peace is a figment of imagination when regarding our family. Just ask Gabriel." Mother's face fell just as the hum of a car engine pulled up.

"Are you ready to leave, Elijah?" Chloe asked as she stepped out of the black car.

"Yes. Pardon us, Mother, but we must take our leave." He turned around and headed to the passenger side door.

"Elijah, wait!" Mother went to grab him, but Chloe blocked her path with a pleasant smile.

"Apologies, Mistress Kamski, but Elijah does not wish to speak with you any longer."

"You're a scourge on this family, know that, dolly." Mother sneered.

"Have a lovely day, ma'am." With that final farewell, she got into the car with the other two men and drove off. Gavin didn't spare another glance at Mother as she and the precinct disappeared behind a bend.

"I hope I didn't take too long," Chloe said.

"No, you arrived just on time," Eli said. "The case has been solved, thanks to your assistance, of course."

"You're welcome, Elijah. Where do we need to go?"

"The motel. We should move out before any more trouble comes."

TIME: 2:04:07 P.M

It didn't take long for Gavin, Eli, and Chloe to pack up the motel and put their suitcases and bags into the car, Chloe leaving a generous tip behind.

"Would you like me to get your luggage, Elijah?" Chloe offered as she parked in the parking lot of the apartment complex.

"My suitcase, please. I can carry my bag." Elijah said, getting out of the car. Gavin was careful carrying Junkie's crate through the halls. It felt nice seeing his apartment complex after being away for so long.

"Oh, I must tell you," Chloe said as she held open the apartment door, her pink lips forming a smile, "We have company." Gavin walked into his apartment, following Eli after setting the crate down on the kitchen counter. He saw two androids sitting on his couch in the middle of a conversation. Charity's jaw dropped to the floor as she gasped at the sight of Eli.

"Mister Elijah!" She ecstatically burst with excitement, hopping over the couch and rushing Eli with a hug that made him drop his bag. "I missed you so much!" She cried out in joy as she held him tight.

"I missed you too, Charity," he wrapped his arms around her. "I hope you've been safe."

"Yeah! Chas and I have been hiding out in New Jericho, and the androids there were so nice to us, and we got to meet Markus, who was so sweet, and we also— oh, sorry, I'm rambling. There's so much to tell you." She chuckled, wiping a tear from her eye. "Are you okay? I see you got yourself a new accessory." She drummed her fingers on his arm brace.

"Yes, I'm okay. It'll be gone in a few weeks. You've got yourself patched up as well, I see."

"Yep, the techs got me in working in order and helped Chas too," she turned to the other android, who had kept her distance, bashfully eyeing the ground. "Come say 'hi,' Chas!"

"… Hi, Mr. Elijah," Chasity shyly greeted as she anxiously twiddled her thumbs.

"Hi, Chasity," Eli greeted back, moving to approach her. "Let me take a look at you," he brushed the ivory patch on her temple, "Not horrible work. Does it bother you?"

"No, it's fine." She bit her lip, "I-I am so sorry for running away, Mr. Elijah." She apologized with a yellow LED. "I was scared that you… I just wanted it all to stop. I didn't mean to make things worse and drag him into all this… I'm so sorry."

"Chasity," Eli said softly, combing her blonde hair behind her ear to properly see her face. "You have no need to apologize to me for anything. You did what was right in the moment."

"You think so?"

"I know it. Because of you, we're all free from that house of horrors. Thank you, Chasity." He enveloped her in his arms, and she was prompt to return the hug.

"You're welcome," she smiled, her LED melting into a calm blue.

"I believe," Eli started, looking at the pair of ST200s. "Neither of you two have been formally introduced to my' associate,'" he gestured to Gavin, "This is Detective Gavin Reed. He'll be helping us for the foreseeable future."

"Hey," Gavin waved.

"Hi, Detective Gavin," Charity greeted first, shaking his hand with vigor with an exaggerated wink, "It's very nice to meet you. I'm Charity, though you already know that, I'm sure."

"Yeah. Do androids have their own kind of caffeine?"

"Boy, I wish. I could use the extra kick of energy."

"Hello, detective," Chasity smiled softly, stepping forward to gently shake his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Chasity. I'm sorry you had to be dragged into this chaos."

"Well, my life was getting pretty boring. So I needed the excitement."

"Help him get settled in, please, girls," Chloe said, carrying in the rest of the luggage and setting it down in the living room. She held onto a plastic bag which Gavin knew was carrying medical supplies and medication. "I'll be helping Elijah redress his wounds."

"We won't be long," Eli said, and the pair walked to the bathroom.

"So, what do we unpack first, detective?" Chasity asked.

"We can start with—"

"Oh my gosh!" Charity's gasp interrupted Gavin, "Who is that?" She pointed, and he saw she was talking about the cat crate, specifically Junkie, who was pawing through the bars like a prisoner desperate for freedom.

"That's Miss Food Junkie, Junkie for short." He introduced his cat, opening up her crate, and she stretched on the countertop.

"She's so precious!" Charity cooed and went to pet her, but Chasity grabbed her hand.

"Uh, is she friendly?"

"Yeah, she lets you pet her," he said as Junkie rubbed against his arm, "Because she knows you'll give her food."

"And she is absolutely right," Charity stroked the arch of the cat's back, "So soft. Where's her food?"

"It's in the orange bag. I give her two scoops."

"We've never had any pets," Chasity said as she and Gavin folded up clothes on the living room floor, with Charity going on to fill Junkie's food bowl, "At most, we fed the nearby birds and squirrels."

"Why didn't you get one?" he asked.

"Mr. Elijah said the animal would be another object of scorn."

"Did you guys have any fun?"

"Certainly. There were plenty of books to read, swimming was always a treat, and we watched many interesting films. We kept ourselves occupied."

"If you say so. How'd you and Charity come to live with Eli?"

"I used to work for CyberLife," Charity said as she came over, cat hair clinging to her black shirt and skirt. "I was in the middle of sorting files when Mister Elijah came to me, grabbed me by the hand, and said, 'Come with me if you want to live."

"That's how it went?" Gavin sounded skeptical.

"Exactly like that, just ask Mister Elijah." She picked up a stack of folded clothes and went to put them away.

"What about you, Chasity?" he asked, and her gaze drifted low.

"I was registered to the Gorski family, and my experience with them was unpleasant, to say the least. When the Gorski's wanted to discard me, Mr. Elijah offered to take me in. I'm more than happy that he did. What about you, detective? What have you been up to?"

"Just detective stuff, for the most part."

"Sounds exciting. What are the other parts?"

"Pfft, like… Tina tends to drag me to concerts and festivals whenever she can."

"Is Tina a friend?"

"Yeah, she's also my coworker. You met her. She was the officer that took you to get fixed up."

"Oh, yes, Officer Chen. I must tell her 'Thank you' the next time I see her. Unfortunately, I was… too much in shock to think to thank her."

"I think she'll be at the android-human Christmas party tomorrow. So you can—" A knock thumped against the door, and Gavin's attention snapped to the door.

"Please tell me you're expecting visitors," Charity said, peaking around the hallway corner to eye the door as Chasity nervously clasped her hands together and sunk down low.

"I'll get it," Gavin said as he got to his feet and slowly walked to the door, where another knock sounded louder.

"Mr. Reed?" a familiar voice called out from the other side, and Gavin looked through the peephole. He was relieved that Oscar was on the other side, the android that lived with his neighbor. "Mrs. Losa heard you come back and wanted me to check on you."

"Who is that?" Charity whispered, having grabbed a frying pan from the kitchen.

"My neighbor." Gavin turned the doorknob but froze as the image of a knife-wielding android with cold blue eyes flashed in his mind. "I hope." He kept the chain lock on as he cracked open the door. "Hey, Oscar," he looked closely at the android for any signs that he meant no good.

"Are you okay, Mr. Reed," the android looked and sounded concerned for his well-being, but that easily could be an act. An act he wouldn't fall for again.

"I'm fine. It's just a scratch. What do you want?"

"Well, you haven't been here for the last couple of days. Mrs. Lisa thought something bad had happened to you, but I told her that you were probably on a trip or something. I see now that was the wrong assumption."

"Look, I was on a job that made me bunk somewhere else and it got a little hairy. That's all."

"Is there anything we could do to help? I can make you something."

"No, thanks. I'm good."

"Are you sure? I don't mind." The android insisted.

"I don't want any food," Gavin said more firmly. "I want some rest, and for that, I need you to go. So go away." The android looked put off and even took a step back. He didn't say anything for a moment, confusion and hurt furrowing his brow.

"I'm sorry for disturbing you, Mr. Reed. I hope you have a nice day." The android bowed his head apologetically, and Gavin watched him walk back to his door, not closing his own door until the android disappeared into the apartment.

"Who was that?" Eli asked, having left the bathroom with Chloe.

"Well, I either just yelled at my neighbor or that killer computer virus."

"What killer computer virus?" Chasity asked worriedly.

"There's an AI with the ability to take over other androids," Eli explained. "Specifically PL600 models. He tried killing the Lieutenant and attacked Gavin and me previously."

"I think his name is Caesar," Gavin said.

"Caesar?" Chloe spoke up, "I used to work with him a long time ago, though he was just a simple android."

"He must have gotten an upgrade."

"What do we do?" Charity asked.

"We rest," Chloe answered before Eli could get a word out. "While we have the chance, we all should relax and give our bodies time to heal." She looked at Eli. "Please, you need rest."

"… Yes, we will rest." Eli gave in. "We have a party to go to tomorrow, after all."

DATE: -, -, -

TIME: 07:05:08 P.M

"Where are you going, Gabe?" Gabriel let go of the doorknob with a sigh at Eli's question and turned to face him. Eli's room was much larger than his own and made him feel much more comfortable, but he couldn't relax with Eli's current state. Eli sat at his desk, covered in open books and papers, with a pencil in his hand. He looked at Gabriel with worry but didn't fully face him.

"I'm just getting something to drink downstairs," Gabriel said.

"Here, you can have mine," Eli said, grabbing the half-empty bottle of water on his desk and holding it out for him to take.

"I don't want to take yours. I'm fine with getting my own."

"Then let me get it for you."

"But Father said you're not allowed to leave the room. So, I can get it myself."

"Gabe…" Eli sighed, looking away for a moment. "You want to go to the medicine closet, don't you?"

"… Maybe."

"Mother isn't in a good mood. Now isn't the time to disobey."

"I'll be quick, I promise. She won't even know I was there."

"… If you're not back in five minutes, I'll come and get you."

"I'll only need three." He hoped he sounded optimistic as he opened the bedroom door and silently closed it behind him. He stood there momentarily, looking down at both ends of the warmly lit hallway to ensure they were clear before quickly tip-toeing down the hall. The long red rug with a golden rim helped quiet his footsteps. Finally, he came to the staircase and looked down to see if anyone was there.

He saw no one and continued down the stairs. The hardwood floor made his steps louder than he wished, but that didn't stop him from walking through the entry lounge area and down a hall. He passed by the dining room and bathroom before he came to an open door. It was the family lounge area where the sizzle of a fire burning crackled, but it was not alone as irritated grumbles murmured over the flame. He ever so slowly crouched to the doorway and peaked around the corner.

Mother sat in her elegant red armchair with her back to him, a bottle of expensive wine in her hand. Though he couldn't see her face, he could tell by the tilt of her head that she was looking above the fireplace, where the family painting rested. He crossed his fingers and made a leap of faith to the other side, where he breathed a silent sigh of relief. The medicine closet was too far away, and he quietly opened the door, turning on the light. He walked inside and opened up one of the bottom drawers on the tall containers but was disappointed when he didn't see the bandaids he had been looking for.

He couldn't find them in any of the other drawers until he glanced up at the high cabinet that was cracked open, a box of band-aids hiding inside. He couldn't reach it or climb up with how achy his prosthetic was. Thinking fast, he left the closet, sneaked past the family lounge, and into the dining room, where he grabbed a chair. His plastic fingers held on tight to the wooden chair as he maneuvered quietly down the hall, holding his breath when passing by the lounge.

He set the chair down and went to climb atop it. He hesitated for the slightest moment but shook off his nerves as Eli needed those band-aids. Then, eyeing the doorway, he got up onto the chair and pushed down the guilt that his filthy feet were ruining Mother's furniture. Gabriel reached up to the cabinet and opened the door, immediately snatching the box of band-aids. He silently shut the cabinet door, a door that was kept spotless and stunning. So stunning, in fact, that it could reflect whatever stood before it. He saw his own terrified eyes reflected back at him as well as the figure of Mother standing in the doorway.

"Get off of my chair!" She angrily screeched, its ferocity startling enough for him to lose his balance and fall off the chair. Despite the pain from the fall, he got to his feet, knowing that it would be dwarfed by the injuries from Mother's rage.

"I-I'm sor-rry," he stuttered, heart freezing over, as Mother stomped over to him.

"Sorry?!" She snatched him by his prosthetic arm, the firm material creaking. "What part of 'don't get on my furniture,' don't you understand? You ruined one of my beautiful chairs. Just like how you ruin everything else, you filthy boar." He felt his eyes start to water.

"I-I was uh, t-trying to— to get—"

"Does it look like I fucking care about what you have to say?" She snapped, leaning in closer, her mascara running down her face and her breath reeking of alcohol.

"N-no, ma'am." Her scowl deepened as she dragged him out of the closet by the arm, struggling to keep up with her quick pace as she marched down the hall, away from Eli's room.

"You know, your father goes too easy on your whiny ass. He'll beat my beloved son, but not the bastard that crawled out of that witch's womb. Tell me, how is that fair?" She tugged hard on his arm; he bit his lip to keep quiet from the pain shooting through his shoulder.

"It's n-not." Tears escaped his glossy eyes.

"And Elijah just takes it for your sake, like you can ever do anything for him. Why can't he see you're worth less than the furniture you ruin?!" She pulled again, and he couldn't stop the cry from escaping his throat. She spun around to face him with a sneer.

"You don't get to cry! You're not a damn baby."

"S-sorry. It-t hurts."

"Oh, what? This?!" she forcefully tugged on his prosthetic, synthetic flesh threatening to tear from his warm skin.

"Let me go!" he cried out, trying to get out of her grip to no avail as she continued to twist and jerk.

"Make me!" he heard something snap underneath her frenzied cackle, and pained panic set in.

"Let go!" he screamed, kicking out and striking Mother, he didn't know where. The force holding him at bay released, and he fell backward onto the ground. There was a numbness in his body as his ears rang terribly. He tried getting to his feet but found that only one hand was there to support him. The burning pain that sprung up from what remained of his arm was enough to tell him that something was horribly wrong. Seeing his lifeless prosthetic in a puddle of purple ooze and red blood on the floor confirmed it. He didn't know if he wanted to scream in pain or cry for Eli. Regardless the shock and terror took his voice away.

"Now look at the mess you've made." Mother's voice growled like a bloodthirsty beast. Gabriel tore his shaky gaze away from the limb and looked up, an apology ready on his lips. But Mother wasn't there. He looked around and found that he was alone in the silent hallway. Almost silent. A crisp creak broke the silence as if it were made of fragile glass. His eyes settled back onto the limb, and watched in stunned silence as the fingers twitched one after the other. Then the wrist began to shake, and the forearm pulse as a dark purple fluid that glittered in the warm light seeped from the torn end.

Like a serpent slithering out of a dark cave, a dark cord with vibrating purple veins crawled out from the ruined end. Many more joined along with the first, coiling around each other to create the rest of the arm attached to a forming shoulder supported by a broad chest. Gabriel was frozen on the spot, consumed by the visual of this thing, creating a thin torso and long legs. The head was the last body part to come into creation, the skull forming first before skin filled out the haggard face with ghostly white hairs sticking out from atop its head. It had finished creating but was not complete as two dark empty sockets were its eyes and its right arm nonexistent.

It moved stiffly and jerkily as it got up on its feet like an old doll with its joints horribly rusted. Its head snapped downward with a creek to face Gabriel, more than daunting. Then, sporadically, it raised his prosthetic hand, fingers folding back and leaving one left to point directly at him. Its mouth opened where a grey tongue flicked.

"Give," it croaked like a static radio. It took a step forward, which was all the encouragement Gabriel needed to get up and run down the hall. He heard it chase after him with distorted shrieks and chaotic footfalls, but he didn't look back.

"Eli!" he screamed, terrified, as he ran into the dimly lit entry lounge and tripped up the stairs in his mad dash. Hearing the monstrosity crash into furniture urged him to spring back up, and he raced to Eli's bedroom as the lights flickered around him. Gabriel barged into the bedroom and hurriedly locked the door behind him. The room was much darker than before, with the only light being the burning candle on Eli's work desk, though he ignored that as he ran up to his older brother, who sat hunched over at his desk.

"Eli, there's a monster out there!" were the panicked words he found spewing from his mouth.

"… Monster?" Eli quietly repeated, his long dark hair hiding his face. Gabriel nodded, grabbing Eli's arm for comfort and letting go when he felt a warm sticky substance coating his skin.

"Eli, what…" the words died out before they could leave his mouth when he looked at his hand. Even in the dark, he recognized that it was blood coating his palm.

"I know of a monster," Eli spoke again with a hoarse voice, slowly sitting up as his chair creaked, "One that blights everyone it lays its filthy hands upon." Gabriel's horrified eyes widened as they caught the dull glint of metal in the candlelight. "One that is as malicious as it is pathetic." Rods of rusted metal jutted out from Eli's back, tearing through the bloody fabric of his robe, "One that fails to bring itself happiness." Eli slowly turned his head to face Gabriel, greeting him with a gaunt face as pale as a corpse and bloodshot eyes that hauntingly bored into him. "A monster that abandoned the one he said to 'love.'" Bloody water spilled past his cracked lips to splatter on the whip whose rope was so tightly wrapped around his pale neck it slit skin.

"N-no, Eli," Gabriel whimpered through his tears, "I didn't w-want to leave you."

"Liar," Eli hissed like it was a curse and stood up so quickly that his chair flipped over, and Gabriel found himself cowering on the ground. Pounding thundered at the door behind, but that was at the back of his mind.

"I don't lie. Please believe me," Gabriel pleaded.

"Loveless words from the foul mouth of a cruel bastard," Eli unsteadily walked forwards, the patter of his bare feet joining the sound of fluids trickling on a hardwood floor, and Gabriel crawled backward. "I may not feel any of this cursed pain," his ripped red robe slid down his shoulder, showing the bleeding cuts and chard burns marring his heaving chest, "But oh, how unkind the hurt is which scars my frail body."

"I—" Gabriel's back hit the door, and he could feel the pounding vibrate through his fearful body. "I'm so sorry!" he sobbed as Eli came to stand before him.

"Finally, the bastard admits guilt." Eli mused, "All those who are guilty must face sufficient punishment, yes?" He reached a sliced-up hand for the doorknob.

"Eli, wait!" The door opened, and the world went dark as he became weightless, drifting in a chilling black sea. Gavin was startled awake by a touch on his shoulder that made him sit up and try to get away, knocking harshly into the couch as his heart pounded fiercely.

"It's okay, Gavin, you're okay," Chloe's soothing voice reached his ears as his eyes adjusted to the dimly lighted room. He was on his living room floor, where pillows and sheets were strewn around, and the lamp in the kitchen provided dim lighting. Chloe was crouched in front of him, palms outward. "Breathe, Gavin. Slowly." She calmly told him, and he did so, not having noticed that he had been holding his breath. "That's it, just like that." The rhythmic breathing and Chloe's calming words helped ease his racing heart. He relaxed against the couch and held his head in his hands, both of them. He heard Chloe quietly shuffle to sit beside him though she kept her distance.

"I'm sorry for startling you," she apologized, "I could tell you weren't having any pleasant dreams."

"… Thanks for getting me out of that fucking nightmare." He looked at her, and seeing her in grey sweatpants, and a navy-blue tank top with her blonde hair down made her appear unusually casual.

"It must have been an awful nightmare to have you tossing and turning as you were."

"I didn't wake anyone up, did I?"

"No, the others are sound asleep in the bedroom. Do you need me to do anything to help you relax?"

"No, I'm good." He sighed.

"Are you sure? I can tell you a bedtime story if you wish." She offered with a sly grin.

"Ha, ha, very funny. I'm not a baby anymore."

"You're never too old for a bedtime story… May I ask… what you saw?"

"It was just typical spooky crap with goblins and ghosts."

"Hm," from how she quirked her lip, he could tell she didn't buy it, "I know you've been through so much in so little time. The stress you're under must not be only agonizing but detrimental to your well-being. Talking about what you're going through can help take some stress off your chest. But only if you want to, Gavin."

"… When I watched the tapes of… inside your house, I saw what happened when Anderson and Connor visited you."

"Oh, that's unfortunate," she sighed, "That must have been troubling to see. Know that I was prepared for that outcome. It also wasn't the first time my body's been destroyed."

"You don't seem mad at Connor for it."

"Why would I be mad at a machine following its programing? It was his ingrained nature for him to complete his mission, as it is my nature to be rebirthed again and again. I know Connor is deviant now, and I can tell he regrets what he did." She put a gentle hand on his arm. "I'm not going anywhere, Gavin. We'll go through this together." he nodded appreciatively and moved closer to her, resting his head on her shoulder and enjoying her warmth. He flinched at first when the hand combed through his hair but unwound at the comforting touch. It was… pleasantly gentle.