A/N: Now, just a quick warning. I've added a TW in the first chapter but this chapter in particular needs a warning so consider yourself warned. SA is mentioned so keep that in mind as this chapter is more descriptive of that than previous ones although it's not explicit.

Chapter 18

The next few days were a blur. Everyone involved in the investigation was frustrated as they made barely any progress. Abby found it particularly difficult. On the Ark, she had been able to always count on science to help solve similar cases but now, science was failing her. Nearly all samples were analyzed and there was still no match. With only a few samples left, the investigation should be coming to a close, and yet all of those people had alibis. What if they had made a mistake? What if the DNA machine was faulty? Outdated? Broken?

She ran a hand through her hair, combing out knots that always found their way there. Desperate for solitude, she needed to take a walk. Clear her head.

She took off her blue coat and headed out of the office.

Deep in her thoughts, she let her instincts carry her. Her thoughts immediately flew to Kane. She'd been avoiding him since she saw him last… Him and Leanna. In fact, she didn't particulary wanted to see either one of them or even talk to them. Conversation with Kane was imminent, she knew that, but she lacked the energy to deal with it so she chose the coward's way out. Avoiding him again.

Space was what she needed. Without thinking, she reached out with her hand about to open the door to the hidden corridors when a nagging thought popped up in her mind. A promise she made. She stopped her hand mid-air and let it hang there for a moment before she dropped it to her side. With a sigh, she turned around trying to decide what to do. She put her hand in her pocket and felt around until she felt something with her fingers. A syringe. She grabbed it in her hand; it comforted her. Similar to a ripper stick, it was her weapon of choice. While she promised not to use the hidden corridors, she wasn't about to ask for an escort everywhere she went, and she never promised him that.

Abby clasped her fingers around the syringe and dragging her feet, she slowly made her way toward the elevator. The top levels were busy during work hours so she opted for one of the lower levels. While quieter, they wouldn't be completely deserted.

A soft ping announced that she arrived at her chosen floor. Without hesitation, she walked out and paused to look around. Quiet. It was quiet. She took a deep breath enjoying the silence. Her thoughts flew to Marcus again. If he only knew… If he knew, he'd probably tie her to a chair in his office just to keep her in his sight. Well, maybe he'd do that months ago, not now, not when he had Leanna to occupy his thoughts. A sad smile appeared on Abby's face. She missed him. He was there but so far away, so beyond her reach…

The sound of laughter took her out of her thoughts. It came from the left. She listened carefully. Just a group of people eating lunch in one of the workrooms, laughing and chatting. She turned to the other side and started to walk in the opposite direction to avoid them. Her head was full, emotions running high, and she needed to quiet her thoughts before she snapped at someone or made a serious mistake. Peace and quiet…

As Abby walked, the halls were empty, the corridors long, seemingly never-ending. Lights bright, brighter than usual to avoid any shadowy figures lingering in the corners. Unnoticed. She enjoyed the silence and despite her intention of remaining vigilant, a false sense of security washed over her. Her mind drifted off, preoccupied with the case. What if there's no match? What then? Are they going to wait until he attacks again hoping to catch him in the act? That was a grim prospect.

With no sense of urgency, Abby dragged her feet. Step by step, she moved slowly, her head physically low, mentally up in the clouds; absent-mindedly she fingered the syringe in her pocket as she walked.

A breath caught in her throat as a strong hand grabbed her by the writs. Thick fingers encircled her small hand, twisted it, and pulled her hand back. As she screamed in pain, another hand covered her mouth, squeezing it, muffling her scream. Immobilizing her head. In panic, she wriggled her body, trying to get away but a strong hand circled her waist, fingers dug into her flesh. Abby winced in pain. He lifted her with ease, only her toes were touching the floor as he started to drag her back. A nasty stench of old sweat hit her nose. Her eyes watered. She looked down at his hand, an intricate tattoo. With her free hand, she dug her fingernails around the design, clawing it. Despite the sickening smell, with her mouth, she tried to bite the hand clasped around her mouth, but he just squeezed her face tighter. Scratching him yielded no results, it's like he didn't even feel it. Behind her, the door cracked open, and she was dragged inside the dark room. He came to a halt, and everything stopped.

Stupid, she thought.

Abby tried to move away but in response, he pressed his body flat against her back. His muscles strong and taunt against her body. She recoiled in disgust. He was so much bigger than he was, taller and wider. His scent was strong. Sweaty and nauseating. Dirty.

His fingers dug into her stomach as he pressed her to him. His groin stiff against her back. With her free hand, she clawed at his arm. Blood dripped to the ground. Yet, he seemed immune to it.

With his hand still covering her mouth, he pushed her head to the side exposing her neck. He lowered his head and sunk his teeth into her skin. Her screams muffled by his hand as he sucked and bit on her skin.

Abby tried to ground herself. Focus. If she panicked, she wouldn't be able to escape. She needed to think. Outsmart him.

He dragged his hand from her waist towards her neck in an agonizingly slow motion. Abby looked around for a way out, her eyes adjusting to the dark. With his hand creeping up, she took a deep breath before he grabbed her neck and squeezed it. His breath quickened. He enjoyed it but was clearly not done yet. As unexpectedly as he choked her, he released her neck. Abby gasped for air. Her throat was sore. He reached with his hand and grabbed her hair, wrapping it around his fingers. Violently, he pulled it back. A scream erupted from Abby's chest. He pulled her head to the side again, exposing her neck where he bit her previously. He lowered his head and nuzzled his nose into her flesh, sniffing it. She recoiled but he steadied her with his other hand as he dragged his tongue on the side of her throat. Abby gagged.

With his other hand, he gripped her hip, digging his fingers into her flesh, bruising it. She tried to break free, but his hold was too strong. He pushed her back towards him, grinding his body into hers.

Be smart, Abby. Wait for the right moment. She reminded herself.

He pressed her body into his and moved his other hand back to her neck, squeezing it. Abby gasped for air, no longer able to scream. His grip tightened closing off her airways and as she was on the brink of passing out, he relaxed his grip, letting her know who was in control. Prolonging the attack.

Enjoying himself, he got too cocky. Underestimated his victim. Precisely what Abby was hoping for. With her hands now free, she reached inside her pocket. Her fingers clasped around the syringe she placed there earlier. She wanted to be alone, sure, but she wasn't stupid.

Gasping for air, she took the syringe out of her pocket, and in one swift move, she reached with her hand behind her aiming for his thigh.

She missed.

Her movement brought his attention back to her. He spun her around. The room was too dark for her to see his face but she could see the outline of his body. He lifted his hand and as he was about to strike her, she reached out with the syringe and stuck it into his palm.

He yelled out in shock rather than pain. A throaty groan filled with anger.

The needle went fully in, emptying the content of the syringe but he didn't waste his time. His other fist collided with her skull. The blow so hard that instantly, everything went black as her body fell to the ground.

Abby stirred when she woke up. Laying on her side, she tried to push herself up and groaned in pain. Her head was pounding. Despite her clothes, her body shivered from the cold metal floor that she was lying on. She reached out with her hand and touched her head. She hissed. An open wound, her fingers wet. In the dark room, she couldn't see much. She paused, listening to the surroundings. Nothing. It was all too quiet.

Trying to remember what happened, she pushed herself up and winced in pain as her wrist gave up. She wiggled it. Not broken. Good, she breathed. Scrambling to her feet, she made her way to the door. She grabbed the cold handle and opened it. Bright light flooded the room, blinding her. She squeezed her eyes and blinked waiting for her eyes to adjust. Memories from before came back in force and instantly, she turned around expecting to see her attacker inside the dark room.

Nothing.

It's empty.

She looked down on her body. Fully clothed. Dried blood on her sleeve. Again, she probed her forehead and hissed when her fingers touched an open wound. A split brow, nothing serious. She breathed in relief. It seemed that the content of the syringe did its job. But she didn't know how long she was unconscious for, and they needed to find him.

A noise startled her, and she sprung into action. Time for assessing her injuries would be later, now the priority was to catch this guy before the sedative wore off. If it hadn't already… But it was a huge dose, there's a chance he was still unconscious somewhere close by.

Promises be damned.

Abby dashed into the hidden corridors and made her way towards Kane's bedroom. It was closer than his office and she hoped to catch him there. Her throat was dry as she made her way through the empty halls. She swallowed and licked her lips trying to wet them. Metallic taste. Blood. She gently probed with her tongue. Swelling. A split lip.

When she reached the right floor, she exited the hidden corridors. But the halls were empty. Too empty. Too quiet. It must be nighttime, she thought. She sprinted towards his quarters.

Abby hated having to do that. To wake him up. But it was what it was, and it couldn't wait until the morning. They needed to find the attacker before he struck again. And unsatisfied, he was bound to go on a hunt for another victim sooner rather than later.

Out of breath, Abby paused in front of Marcus' door. She raised her hand ready to knock but stopped mid-air as a voice from inside reached her ears. Woman's voice. Leanna. Leanna was inside. Leanna was inside Marcus' bedroom. In the middle of the night. Abby froze.

Leanna's voice reached her again and Abby dropped her hand without knocking. It's all too familiar. Late night. Two of them alone. Working together in one of their quarters. Except that now it wasn't Abby who was with him. It was another woman.

Abby's body tensed and a lump rose in her throat. Medical, she heard Leanna mention. Suddenly, Abby felt sick. Both, event from before and things that were happening now took their toll on her body. Her mouth watered and she took a deep breath to settle her stomach down.

Overwhelmed with the events, she dipped her nails into her palm and pushed them inside her skin before relaxing them. The crescent moon-shaped dents were left in the soft flesh. The last thing Abby wanted was to explain what had happened to the pair of them. She hung her head low. She had to tell someone before he attacked again but it couldn't be Kane. It just couldn't.

Miller! A thought popped into her head. Head of guard. Perfect.

Abby turned on her heel and walked over towards Miller Senior's quarters. Without hesitation, she knocked loudly.

It took a minute before she heard a sound behind the closed door. As it opened, a taller, older guy appeared in front of her. Sleep still visible in his face but his eyes widened as he saw her.

"What happened?" he asked.

End of Chapter 18