**_JACK_**

I, from an early age, had always been fascinated by the idea of death and rebirth. I wondered if someone could die and truly become anew. I suppose my adoptive parents, who were Christians, brought on my fascination with the concept of rebirth. For they said you could become a new person with Christ—our dear lord and savior.

So why did I see people make the same mistakes? I thought back, only then, that the only true way to come anew, was to die.

And death calls all to its power.

——

I wake up to a warm, sweet smelling breath against the shell of my ear. On any other occasion, I would have pushed Adon away and scolded him for once again coming into my room without permission, but I just don’t have the mood for it now. My mind is thinking over what had happened last night with the woman.

I hadn’t been able to immobilizer like I had planned to after seeing her there, eyes wide and crazed. She was much stronger than I had expected and ran off before even Thomas could lay a hand on her.

“Why must the interesting things be so far from my reach?” I ask myself softly. Adon stirs at my voice; his eyes stay closed, but his head moves to rest on my chest.

Strong smells comes wafting through my room, tingling my nose. Eggs and the sweet smell of bacon. Or maybe human meat, I don’t have a nose like Thomas. It seems that the others are awake.

“Adon,” I rise and his head slides off from me and lands, bouncing for a second after contacting, on the mattress, “Wake up.”

I roll my eyes when he does the opposite. He reaches out a hand and sleepily grabs my blanket and pulls it over his shoulder, tucking himself back in. I’m about to pull it off when Holland bursts through the door. His hair is groomed as normal, but his cheeks are oddly flushed, eyes wide.

“Jack! Th-there’s an investigator here!”

I blink. Adon hadn’t informed me about this—that was a first. But maybe this is something that was purposely not mentioned to him. Maybe they’re beginning to suspect us.

Well, always assume the worst.

I stand and walk to Holland, who I realize is not shaking, instead still. I kiss his forehead reassuringly; the most important thing is that I have a part to play and if it is done incorrectly, everything that I’ve planned for is done. That is why I must sooth them—they have a part to play as well. That’s the only reason their still here.

Holland sighs, cheek resting against my chest. “Here’s the plan, Holland, and listen carefully. If you mess up one part, we are all done.”

I am done. And I, of course, am the most important factor.

——

**_SADIE_**

Sending me straight to their apartment complex is the stupidest thing that Chief has done. But sadly, I’m not the one who makes orders around here.

My new partner, Diane Young, twitches beside me—the moment we told her what this mission was about, she’s been like this. She has a reason to, though. Getting assigned to a serial killer case for your first one isn’t exactly ideal.

My attention snaps back to alert as the door yawns open. Standing behind it is a sleepy looking Black man is an oversized shirt with a disfigured image and large pants. His hair is adorned with curls cut closely to his head, and his nose looks crooked, eyes wide even when lidded.

So this is Adon Freeman.

He rubs his eyes, looking at me and Young, before straightening and clearing his throat. “So, what is this for? Did I forget to submit something in the office.” My mouth opens to answer, but he speaks again. “Well I’ve never seen you two before, so that can’t be the case.” He mutters to himself after this. Then a blond man comes up behind him, putting his hands on Adon’s shoulders and smiling at us.

“I’m sorry for him, he just woke up and we were busy making breakfast,” the blonde, Holland Smith, opens the door wider and lets us inside. “So, what are you here for?”

I look around the surprisingly clean from, Young as well. Nothing appears to be out of the ordinary, and they don’t have a basement. But I know from previous cases, you don’t need a basement to commit a murder—and hide someone. I turn back to Holland, who is busy stroking Adon’s head while the still struggles to wake up fully. Holland’s smile is gone and his face is pale; his movements are jerky and stiff.

It seems that they do have something worth searching for.

“My name is Sadie Quail,” I pull out my badge, Young does as well, introducing herself in the process, “Private Investigator of the GPD, and I am searching for Penny King who disappeared from her cell in the Flain Asylum about a month ago.”

“You’re welcome to look anywhere you want, but I will tell you that Jack is in his study and that Thomas is out,” Holland starts stroking Adon faster and faster. Adon’s nose flares from what seems to be pain, but he looks up at Holland’s expression and says nothing. “Can I get you any water?”

“And I will. Thank you for your offer, but I will have to decline.” I nod my head towards Young, who seems more confident. “Let’s start in the kitchen.”

——

**_AUBREY_**

I look up at the winding stairs above me, to see two women in police uniforms enter the apartment; I know I shouldn’t have followed the men after they had nearly tried to kill me, but I couldn’t help myself.

My ITCH—such an itchy ITCH. It wants to be scratched.

——

_Author’s Note: My hands are acting up again. If you read my other posts about Judges of Man, you know what’s happening. If you haven’t, it’s fine, or you can read the other ones (there are only three and they’re not that long) if you really want to know. Tell me what you think. Imma think of a new character soon who’s going to be like on neither side. For my The Disordered story—they’ll come back soon, I swear._

_Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day!_