Wednesday
9:55 PM
2.498 inches
Ethan Mars sighed once again, staring into empty space. He had completed two of the five trials but there were still so many letters missing… He wondered if the killer really was going to give him the right address. What if he was lying?
He looked down to Jayden's note once again:
I've been called by the fucking asshole. Wait for me so we can open the next Origami Figure.
Jayden… He had been so nice, helping him and taking care of him and yet he saw no real reason for that. He wanted to find out why he was helping him. What if he wasn't? What if he was helping the killer in someway? It was hard to believe in that but it was a possibility…
That's when he remembered how he had spoken to him through the cell phone while on the Butterfly trial. He really wanted to help and yet Ethan hadn't told him everything he needed to know… His greatest fear, the most important theory on the case…
What if Ethan Mars was the killer?
( - - - )
"I'm Police Lieutenant Carter Blake and this is Agent Norman Jayden of the FBI." Blake announced as they faced Ethan Mars' psychologist "According to our information, Ethan Mars is one of your patients. We'd like to ask you a few questions about him."
"I'm sorry, but that's impossible…" The psychologist said.
"I beg your pardon?" Blake intervened.
"I'm bound by an oath of secrecy. Under no circumstances may I discuss my patients."
Blake's formality disappeared instantly.
"My job is to find Shaun Mars alive and I don't give a damn about any bullshit oath!"
"Shaun Mars' life may depend on what you know. Tell us what you know, doctor!" Norman Jayden asked politely.
"I'm sorry, I can't help you" The psychologist said, calmly "Now I must ask you to leave."
Blake got up. The psychologist was already getting in his nerves.
"You better cooperate – For your own sake!"
"Are you threatening me?"
"I'm just giving you some free advice, Doc!" Blake said and, before Jayden could do anything, grabbed the man by its neck.
"Blake, are you out of your mind?" Norman intervened but it was useless.
"Back off, Jayden! This guy knows something and I'm not leaving here 'till he tells me what it is!" Carter said and threw the man across the table, approaching him and punching him without mercy.
"C'mon Doc! There's an easy and a hard way! It's your fucking choice!"
"You have no right to hit him!" Jayden exclaimed, trying to stop him but Blake just pushed him away.
"I'm saving a kid's life, for God's sake! If you don't like it… Leave!" Blake said. It was enough and Norman, furious, pushed him hard against the wall.
"What's up with you, Norman? You getting cold feet?" Blake tried to intimidate him, face to face "You don't like to get your hands dirty, uh? I thought you wanted to save that kid!"
Norman started trembling with anger. The fucking bastard, he was the one to leave Ethan Mars to die, he was the one to forget about the kid's life. He was only interested in being the one to arrest the Origami Killer, nothing else!
"I want to save Shaun Mars just as much as you do but that doesn't give me the freedom to do what the hell I like! So you're gonna stop this shit right now!" Jayden ordered him.
The psychologist, still moaning in pain, got up and sat over his desk. Carter Blake turned to Norman and stared at him right into his eyes.
"I'll get you for this, Jayden! Don't worry! I will not forget!" He said and Norman got a real bad feeling about his words.
"Ethan Mars has had psychological problems since his first son died…" The psychologist suddenly said both and men turned to him. Blake was smiling "He feels responsible for his death, a sort of morbid neurosis… He is haunted by visions of drowning bodies…!"
Norman kept looking at the man, remembering how Ethan cried and sobbed after remembering Jason's death…
"A few weeks ago, after one of our usual sessions, I found this on the floor" It must have fallen out of his pocket.
A deep silence fell over the room as an Origami Figure was shown to both cops. Blake looked at Norman and smiled, facing a very troubled FBI profiler.
"You drive."
( - - - )
They entered the car and just stood in there for a few seconds. Jayden laid his head against the car's window, thinking, trying to understand. Since he reached the Police Station everything became a mess and he feared he could do nothing to clean that mess up. It…
It just didn't make any sense!
"Where is it?" Carter asked exasperated.
"Where is it what?"
"The Figures! The fucking Origami Figures, they should be inside the box!"
"What do you mean "they should be"? I left them inside the box, just as you told me to!"
"I know it's with you, Norman! You took them so I wouldn't open them all at once!"
"Oh, so I assume you was going to do that?"
Carter cursed, thinking about the Origami Figures. He didn't care, he had the most important information he needed, the Figures wouldn't help them on this one.
"Just spill it out, Carter! You said Ethan's wife came in here with useful information!" Norman said, wishing they could go after Korda or Nathaniel but the twisted fuck facing him just wouldn't listen.
Actually, he wouldn't let him speak at all.
"Grace Mars told us something really interesting about your lovely husband…" He said, teasing Norman who was already impatient "She said that, the night before another child was kidnapped, Mr. Mars came home about three AM, soaked and talking about bodies and rain as if, just like she said, 'it wasn't really him"'"
"I see… And you think there's a connection between him and the Origami Killer?" Norman asked, calmly.
"I think nothing. Just thought I should share the facts…"
"Coincidences can happen, Carter!"
"Yeah, they can indeed. This one, however… Don't you think it is a little too much of a coincidence?"
"Are you saying Ethan Mars is the Origami Killer?"
"Once again, I'm not saying anything…" Blake said and smiled.
No, it couldn't be. What he knew of Ethan Mars didn't fit what he knew of the killer! Besides, shit, why would he kidnap his own kid and then come to the police asking for help? Would he be that stupid to get that near of the police?
"Do you have any clues?"
"Not yet. But I'm sure his psychologist has."
It was impossible! Having an Origami Figure didn't mean he was the killer, did it? Yet, Blake sounded so sure of it, so ready to arrest Ethan… He wondered why.
"What are you waiting for?" Blake asked.
"Sorry?"
"Well, you took him somewhere so you could… 'Take care of him'. You know where he is, let's go!"
Norman turned to face Blake, the man's eyes burning with sarcasm.
"You can't possibly be thinking about arresting him!"
"That's exactly what's in my mind, babe!"
Jayden shook his head, sighing.
"We've got absolutely nothing on Mars, we can't arrest him."
"Is that the reason you don't want to arrest him? Or is it because he has a nice dick?"
"Will you stop talking nonsense?"
"Ohh, you're shy. Don't worry, I respect you. I mean, everyone knows you're a fag so you don't really have to-"
A hard punch hit him, making Blake feel dizzy for a second.
"Say something like that again and I'll make sure you regret it!" Norman told him, angry.
Blake just stood there for a while, recovering from the sudden attack, Norman resting his head on his shaking hands. Before he could react, a fast movement pressed him against the window and he felt a sudden lack of air as Carter's hand closed around his neck, a maniac desire to kill him right here, not caring about anything.
"I suggest you to watch you mouth, Norman" He said maliciously as Jayden tried to free himself from Blake's tight grip "I wouldn't mind killing you right here, right now but that would make things worse for me and I surely don't want to be seen as a bad cop by the FBI. So you better remember that I give the orders" He finished and pushed Jayden's head against the window, freeing him from his grip.
Norman coughed and gasped as the good old oxygen was felt penetrating his lungs with a sudden relief, his hands shaking even more. Blake smiled and stood still, waiting for him to drive.
That's when it happened.
Incapable of controlling his fury, long sealed within him, Jayden punched Blake in a fraction of a second with all his might, a cracking sounding telling him he had just broken the Lieutenants' nose. He picked up the man's gun and his own and placed one between his eyes and the other one next to his head. He was sweating with anger and hate and Blake could do nothing but stay still, the pain is his nose making him feel weirded out. Norman stared right into his eyes and said, not even a shadow of a smile on his face.
"I suggest you to watch your mouth, Carter! I can be a very patient guy but when someone really gets in my nerves I swear nothing gets in my way so you better watch your back!"
Carter Blake didn't say anything. He really wasn't in the mood to do so, of course. His nose bleeding, he closed his eyes so he wouldn't have to face the fucking Agent staring at him.
"I'll take you to his motel room as you asked but as soon as we get in there we'll go separate ways. Understood?"
Carter nodded and Jayden took the guns out of his face, keeping both with him.
"Oh, yeah: If you ever kill me, you will lose important information on the Origami Figures."
"I knew you had picked them up! Where are they?"
"Why do you even need to know? You're not going to finish them all, are you? Now…"
He turned the car on and started driving towards the motel, the two guns still with him "How did things go with Ash? I heard he has a pretty big one… Did you suck it really hard? If you're going to do something, you have to do it well, right?"
( - - - )
Ethan was laying on the bed, unable to sleep. Looking to the clock, he saw it was midnight. He sighed. He had heard no word from Jayden, no word at all. He was beginning to wonder if he was okay when the door opened and he got in.
"Norman!" Ethan greeted him "You had me scared here, why did it take so long?"
But then Ethan saw the look on Norman's face and felt a heavy disappointment when he looked at him.
"Hey, what happened?" Ethan got up, afraid "What did you find out?"
The profiler sat on his bed and stared at Ethan.
"Your ex-wife went to the police station."
"My ex-wife? Grace?"
"And she gave us some information that sent us to your psychologist."
Ethan just stood in there, in shock, looking at him. Had Grace incriminated him? But why? What had he done? Did she…
Did she still blame him for Jason's death?
Norman seemed to know what was in his mind, for his look was so deep that made the poor man feel guilty. But he didn't say anything about Grace. It was worse than that.
"Your psychologist found an Origami Figure on the floor right after the end of one of your sessions" The profiler said and Ethan froze "The figure was of a dog, the exactly same figure the Origami Killer chooses to leave in the hands of his victims."
There was a deep silence after his speak. Mars felt as if he couldn't move or even breathe and the look Jayden had over him... It was as if he was a caged animal being tested, Jayden being the veterinary studying him and seeing how would he react under certain circumstances.
"Time is running out, Ethan" Norman continued "Time is running out for your son and if we want to find him I'll need your full support! I need you to fully trust me, Ethan!"
"But I do trust you!" Ethan said, a little too much exasperated.
"Do you?" He asked and the conviction in his voice made Ethan unable to say anything else "You came to the station, told us everything you knew at the time, gave us the box and all the information it was inside it… Still, I feel there's something missing from that equation Ethan. Something only you can tell me."
The 38 years old man felt as if his legs were about to give in. He rubbed his face, thinking of the answer. He couldn't lose Jayden's trust; he was the only one that actually cared! Hiding the truth, however, would only make things worse and, realizing that, Ethan Mars decided to tell about his greatest fear…
"I…" He started, without looking at Jayden "I sometimes have these blackout… Times where I don't know what I'm doing or who I am…" He sighed and rested his head against the wall, feeling Jayden's gaze fall over him but without looking back "It happened right before Shaun's disappearance. I was next to the carousel and then…"
He lowered his head, remembering of how terrible he felt.
"I found myself in this street for the second time, with an Origami Figure n my hand… I don't know what that means but I haven't seen my son after that…"
Norman kept on looking at him, analyzing him, and Ethan sat next to him not fearing his reaction. He had to tell everything.
"I… I think my other self is testing me!" He finally said, waving his hands "Testing my love for Shaun! I… I wasn't able to save Jason but… I-I just have to save Shaun, I need to prove myself I can be the father I once was!"
"So… You think you're the Origami Killer?"
"I saw the dog Figure! I held it in my hands even if I've never done Origami in my whole life! Please, Norman, don't hold it against me! I didn't tell you this before because… Because I was afraid you would lose your confidence on me…"
Jayden stared at the floor, not really seeing it. Ethan Mars was surely a disturbed person, jumping to conclusions like that.
"Just…" Ethan started and sighed once again, knowing there was no way out for him "Please, just promise me you'll save Shaun while I'm under arrest."
This time Jayden turned around and faced him. What the heck was him talking about?
"Sorry?"
"You're in to find the killer, aren't you? You found him, there's not reason why you wouldn't arrest me."
"And why should I arrest an innocent man?"
"How can you be so sure of that?" Ethan screamed, nervous, scared "How can you be so sure I'm not acting against my own will or something?"
"I don't know" Norman answered calmly "But I trust you."
Ethan lost his line of thought and just stared back at the pale man, not really knowing what to do or to say.
"I've seen what you've been going through to save your son, Ethan. Besides, your psychological profile has nothing to do with the killer's, I can assure you of that."
"Why do you trust me?" Ethan asked, still trying to understand what made this unknown man approach him like that and to go to the bitter end with him…
"Because you also trust me." He answered and smiled. Ethan blinked in confusion "You know I could easily arrest you for something you're not really sure of doing yet you didn't even try to flee."
"I didn't because I knew you wasn't really going to-"
Shit. He understood. Both of them understood. It wasn't just about saving Shaun anymore, it was about saving the three of them. They weren't just partners anymore, there was something more about that, as if they could fully understand each other.
In one day, after facing danger and fear together, they had become friends.
"The other policemen surely know about it, though." Norman said and got up, going to the bathroom and washing his tired face. He didn't remember having a good night's sleep… "So we'll have to be really careful from now on."
"Wait, what about Blake?"
"I took him to the Motel we've been to and took a taxi so we could change ways. But don't worry, he won't come after us, at least not tonight."
"Is there a reason for that?" Ethan asked, suspiciously.
"Maybe… Who knows?" Norman said, smiling "What really matters is that we open the next Origami Figure as soon as possible, save your son and prove you're innocent!" He said and pulled a mattress from under his bed "Right now, we better take a nap. I don't think they would come after me so you'll be safe in here."
Ethan smiled, relieved. It had been a long time since he met someone who actually understood him like that and he surely wasn't expecting it to be an FBI Agent. For the first time, something told him everything was going to work out. Even with the police chasing him, it would still be possible for them to-
"Oh shit!" Ethan exclaimed.
"What is it?"
"The Figures!" He said, freaking out "They were left at the station and we can't go back in there, can we? Even if you do, they'll surely question you and-"
"Oh… That…"
Ethan stared at him suspiciously. This guy was nuts!
"I can't believe you did that."
"Did you really think I would leave them under Carter's sight? No way!" Norman smiled and took the last three Origami Figures out of the bed side table's drawer.
Ethan smiled back. At least they agreed in one thing: Carter Blake was an asshole and they would do whatever they could to keep him away from the figures.
"There is a red toothbrush at the bathroom you can use. I brought my own, so that one is free" Norman said and took his shirt off, grabbing something more comfortable to use.
"Wait, you don't have to sleep in the mattress, it's your bed!" Ethan said.
"You're the one that'll face the third trial, I'll only help. A good night's sleep will be good for you, believe me" Norman said. It had been a long time since he managed to sleep and he doubted he would do it today. Just to lay in there for a while, however, would do him some good. Or he hoped it would...
That said, Ethan brushed his teeth and went to bed, fearing what the next trial would prepare for him. If he wasn't the killer, as Norman believed so, they had to find out who was the bastard. If he was, however, this man might be in danger… Before he could say something, however, he fastly fell asleep, having his so needed rest.
Next to the bed, laying on the mattress on the floor, Norman Jayden questioned if he was doing the right thing. Hell, Ethan could be the killer! Still, he just… He just didn't believe he was guilty! There was no way he could be and even if the was he had absolutely no control over his actions while facing these blackouts. "I'm an FBI Agent, that's what I do: Help people and make the world become a better place", John told him. And he was right. If they didn't fight for justice, who else would?
( - - - )
Thursday. It was 7:47 AM, 3.060 inches. Jayden didn't manage to sleep, as he knew he wouldn't. Dang, he felt so tired and yet… Was is Tripto that was keeping him like that? Was it fucking up his whole body, trying to make him lose its conscience in the most crucial moment?
The third Figure was of a Lizard. They had opened it around 7:10 AM, right after waking up, and had read it out loud:
"Are you prepared to make a sacrifice to save your son? 9711 Marble Street".
Now, they were entering an empty apartment, apparently burnt. They were especially careful while coming and, thanks God, didn't see any policemen around. The last thing they needed was to be followed by Carter Fucking Blake and his oh so precious Ash. They went up the stairs and found themselves in a corridor, five or even more new porcelain lizards laying on the floor, contrasting with the old beat up place.
"Porcelain lizards…" Ethan whispered to himself.
"And there's a door…" Norman added "A door with a green Lizard drawn on it!"
He tried to open it, knowing it would be locked. It was way too obvious, so Ethan picked up the green porcelain lizard and crashed it on against the floor. A key popped up and, without wasting their time, they entered the room.
It was even worse than the corridor. The room was totally fucked up, its walls seemed to be rotten, the floor was covered with dirt and there was a disgusting smell in the air. As they got in, however, both noticed a computer-like device over the table with a play button on its screen. Ethan approached it and pressed the button. The known woman voice spoke:
"Are you prepared to suffer to save your son? Your partner has five minutes to cut off the last section of one of your fingers in front of the camera. If he succeeds, you'll get your reward".
It took them a few seconds to absorb the whole information and when they did, a regressive counter marked 5:00 on the screen, both of them stepping back in fear.
"Wait, what?" Norman asked, desperate. This couldn't be happening, this wasn't happening! "He… He wants… Me to cut your finger off?"
Ethan propped himself on the table, sweats running all over his body. Damnit, the pain.. The pain would be terrible...
"Seriously, Ethan, this is unnaceptable" Norman tried to call his attention, trying to find another solution "I-I just can't do it! I just can't!"
But Ethan had already made up his mind.
"Quick: Grab everything you can find in the room and place it over the table! There's not much time left!" He said and picked up a saw at the right side of the table.
"Wha… Hold on!" Jayden asked, his hands shaking more than ever, pure horror taking over him, his heart beating strongly against his chest. Ethan, however, didn't listen to him.
"We need to find something sharp, it'll make things better and faster!" He said, trying to keep control of himself. Think about Shaun, think about Shaun…
Norman held his hands together, trying to focus but he just couldn't, he just… Shit, this killer was a maniac, a lunatic, worst than anything he had ever faced before. Why him, for God's sake?
"Norman, please, help me! _Ethan called. He was freaking out by now, he needed help!"
"I'm… I'm sorry, I…" Jayden started saying. But there was nothing to say, nothing at all. He went after supplies to cut the man's finger off, sweating through the bones, knowing he was the one to do it. By the time the voice announced they had 4 minutes and 30 seconds left, they had gathered a saw, a scissor, a butcher's knife and a disinfectant. Looking at them all over the table only made both feel worse but Ethan had already made up his mind, determined as always, and sat at the chair, trying to breath slowly in order to concentrate. He looked down at Norman, who looked even paler than he already was.
"Don't feel bad about it" Ethan said, sweating"It's for my son's sake, I've chosen doing it."
Jayden approached the table, a sudden lack of air grabbing him by the neck and trying to push him against the floor. He grabbed the disinfectant and applied it over Ethan's little finger. He closed his eyes which made the Agent feel terrible but kept on doing it. He laid the disinfectant on the table and picked up what was the best thing: The Butcher's Knife.
Now he felt scared. No, he didn't feel scared, he felt more than that! He was panicking, he knew he wasn't going to make, he just couldn't do it for fuck's sake…
He approached the knife of Ethan's finger and tried it out. If he applied the right amount of strength, it would easily be cut off and he wouldn't have to do it once again.
"You have 4 minutes left" The voice kept on reminding him.
He brought it up, aiming for the last section of the damn finger. He closed his eyes, focus, Norman, focus…
"Working alone may be harder in the beginning, but working with someone will make the ending even harder"
"I can't!" Norman exclaimed and let the knife go, turning back and pressing his hands against his head. He couldn't do it, he had no right to do it, he was in it to help the man not to make him suffer! The stupid Origami Killer thought he was strong but he wasn't! Day after day he lost his determination, something Ethan Mars had but not him! He closed his eyes, trying to understand. He couldn't cause anymore pain, not more than he had already caused!
Ethan got up, astonished. They were so close, what did go wrong?
"Norman, man, c'mon! If you don't do that, Shaun will-"
"I'm sorry, Ethan, I'm so sorry but I'm just not strong as you are!" He said, his vision suddenly becoming blurry, a terrible headache hitting him like a sharp sword going through his chest, his legs suddenly trying to bring him down and his heart burning with such a rage that it made him feel about to throw up…
"It's not about being strong, it's about confidence!" Ethan said and turned the man in order to face him. His eyes were blood red and he was so blank that his veins were easily seen under his thin flesh. "Oh, damnit, what wrong with you?" Ethan asked, worried.
Before he could ask more questions, however, Norman let go of his hands and turned around, hiding his pain and shame and said:
"I-It's nothing… Just a personal problem, that's all. I just…"
"You have 3 minutes and 30 seconds left."
"...Can't do it, Ethan. I'm really sorry…"
Ethan approached him, trying to calm him down from whatever was making him feel like that.
"Look, man, I know it's hard but it is our only choice! If we fail, we won't get the letters and all we've been through will be in vain! Please, man…"
"I don't want to cause you pain, there is no way I'd ever do that!"
"Only you can do it! Please…"
Y"ou have 3 minutes left."
Norman Jayden sighed, trying to keep his hands controlled, fighting against the will to faint.
"Why me, Ethan? If any other person were here, dang maybe even Blake,, he would be able to do it and yet you want me to do it!"
"I want you to do it because you're my friend!" Ethan exclaimed and that made Norman look back at him "I... I don't know about you but… You're the only one that trusts me no matter what others say. You're… You're the only one giving me support when I most need it, somehow you understand what I feel!"
Norman kept looking at him. He thought…
"I thought I was the only one to feel like that…" He said, surprised.
They kept staring at each other for a while, not knowing what to say. Both were lonely and understood each other, needed each other. Both knew exactly what the other had been through and there surely was a connection between them somehow. It felt weird and good at the same time and made them realize there really was nothing to fear at all as long as they were together. Ethan asked:
"Can you do that for me, Norm?"
Norman smiled awkwardly. Shit, what was he doing? Was he stupid enough to make Ethan's suffering on the first trials be in vain?
"I…" He started and closed his eyes, trying to make the pain stop "I can do it for you, pal."
Both sighed in relief and Ethan went back to the chair. Norman grabbed the Butcher's Knife and held it tightly.
"When you're ready" Norman said, trembling once again.
"I'll be ready when you are."
He brought it up, once again aiming for Ethan's little finger..
"You have 2 minutes and 30 secon-"
The woman's voice wasn't heard for Ethan's screams invaded the room, loud and painful screams, tears already rolling his face and dripping in the blood shed over the table, the pain far beyond than he had ever imagined. Ethan laid on the ground, twisting around his oun body in pain, begging for it to stop, praying to God for it to stop…!
Norman Jayden looked away, trembling more than ever in face of what he had just done. His hand over his face, he knew there was nothing he could do to help the man and that trying would only make things harder to go through. His screams… His screams made him feel so guilty but it was for the best, it had to be for the best…!
"Under the desk" The voice said and Norman had to fight against the tears. All Ethan had to endure only to know it was under the desk? For Christ's Sake…!
Ethan was getting up, still weeping in pain and Norman laid on his knees, punching the wood under the desk and picking the chip for the cell phone. He took Ethan's cell phone from his bloody hand and put it in only to see another video of Shaun, the water level so high that it touched his chest. Breathing slowly, both of the men saw the new letters.
There was nothing else to do here. It was over. Only two more trials ahead.
Norman put Ethan's arms around his shoulders and helped him out of the room. He was dizzy because of the pain and surely wasn't thinking straight. They left the room, closed its door and went down the stairs. Ethan laid a little on the old sofa left in there and, before anything was said or done, he smiled to Norman, as to thank him. Norman smiling back. They had nothing to say to each other, their looks already said it all. There's was a supporting silence around them and both realized how much they meant to each other. Being so close, however, would only make the trials harder and that was when the Origami Killer's personal message started making sense...