On a dark and gloomy morning, you could see the outside of a terrifying asylum. The Boston Asylum is home to many criminals with psychological problems, it's not very often that anyone visits this desolate place. I leaned against the wall of my room and peeked out the window. It looked like the dark clouds were going to send a downfall of snow at any second. I couldn't see the city from my viewpoint, all I could see were the woods behind the asylum. The woods that I wish I could just run into and never stop running. But that dream would never come true, I'll never be free from this place. I sighed and let my body slide down to the floor, I lost hope years ago.
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvD9ZWV4Lba
"This padded room is very puny," I ripped at the constraints to my straight jacket with all my power, "they created this one to be slightly more troublesome." "Cas, you have removed three already. Maybe the orderlies are tired of having to create more potent ones for you," a distressed voice reverberated through my mind. "Maybe I would appreciate some wiggle room Thorn," I tugged and ripped at my sleeves further, "how do I get out of this foolish thing?!" "You can't," a man abruptly entered the small space with his arms crisscrossed over his chest. His deep red hair was smoothed back out of his face, but he had long bangs that framed his face, which showed a little inconsistency with slicking his hair back. He had a light tan which is odd for a redhead in this town, he had a cut athletic build but he wasn't skinny, and he looked about six feet tall. He wore a pleasing dress shirt and had a handgun holstered on his hip. Comparing him to my current state with my light brown hair tangled and down to my butt, my very short and slim body, and my torn-up gown. My five-foot and ninety-five-pound self looked like a child that threw a tantrum compared to him. "Who are you?" I demanded with my brows furrowed and my dark green eyes in a glare. My case was closed years ago, what else would they need of me? He moved up closer to me, met my gaze with his bright blue eyes, and held up his badge, "I'm Damian Lockhart. I'm a detective assigned by the chief of police to retrieve you. She requires your expertise."
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVc28cYQZY
What does he mean the chief demands my expertise? I have no skill in anything unless he means the murders I committed all those years ago. I snickered a little under my breath to cover my irritation, "why does he require my help?" He straightened the tie around his collar and cleared his throat, "SHE...... I can't answer that at this time. It was difficult for me to understand the orders she gave me, and she didn't explain all the details to me. But I am here to retrieve you and take you to the police station tomorrow."
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1bhLASYMi
I looked down at my straight jacket and rose from my chair to accompany him. "What about this?" I squirmed under the fasteners of my jacket. He motioned for the orderly to remove my restraints. But the orderly was reluctant, why would he want to let a sentenced serial killer loose? "I know what she is, but orders are orders," the detective said a little more stern than he was before. But the orderly is blatantly ignoring him. Damian grabbed the orderly's shoulder, "are you neglecting the chief's direct commands. Let her out of those restraints right this instant or I'll have you removed from this facility." The guard glared at him for a few seconds before he neared me with the keys. For shits and giggles, I lunged at him. He jumped out of his skin and promptly put his hand on his gun. Damian seized him by the wrist, "don't even think about it." Damian grabbed the keys from the orderly and removed my jacket himself. "Let's go," he flung the keys to the guard as we strolled passed him. I stuck my tongue out at him as I passed by him. In your face.
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpcpvKM3eG
"What if he is deceiving you?" Ace said concern filling my head. "Hard to falsify a gun and badge," I said out loud. Damian turned his head to me, "what was that?" I ignored him and stroked my arm anxiously. I couldn't help but look around curiously as we wandered down the halls to the elevator, I haven't been out of my cell in about a year for my annual exercise. Why would someone want me free? And why would they want my expertise on that subject of all things? Why would he not restrain me in some way? At least handcuff me or something! He motioned for me to match his stride, "How old are you now?" I was taken aback by the sudden interest but I had to consider it for a moment, "I'm twenty-five. Why do you care how old I am?" He didn't even bother to respond to my question even though I answered his.
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6y0vFQtZjK
When we reached the parking garage I stopped and stared at what I suspected was his car, "there is no way that is yours." "Why not?" he held open the car door, "can't a detective own a muscle car?" I was in awe, so I blurted, "No! There is no way you earn that much money!" He just shrugged his arms and designated to the inside of the car, "It's standard-issue now," he said beneath his breath. I slid into the passenger seat and just melted. He owns my favorite car, man it is so comfortable in here. This is crazy, we could never own anything this nice. He cleared his throat when he sat down in the driver's seat, "do you want anything to eat?" I just smirked and rubbed my hands together in excitement, "Japanese food?"
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPjxcYSF2s
He fired up the car, "Japanese food it is. I know a great buffet on the other side of town. Why do you think I don't make a lot of money?" I looked down at my lap and mulled over what I was going to say, "It's just that when I was growing up, my father was a cop and he didn't make that much, he barely made enough to put food on the table." "I'm sorry to hear that, I've not heard any complaints from the other officers about their pay. But it's time to head to the buffet." "BUFFET!" I looked up in excitement and I thought I saw the trace of a grin on his face. "Are you worried about being out in the real world after so long?" he inquired while we were stopped at a red light. Why did he have to ask that?
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZBWWXkbOp
Why does he care if I'm worried or not? "I suggest you say something, Cas, he is waiting and the light won't stay red forever," Ace said attempting to calm my nerves. I struggled to find my words, "w-well...you...why would I be worried?" I looked awkwardly at my hands and noticed them lightly quivering and saw little droplets of sweat trickling from my face. He shook his head and turned back to the road, "I'm sorry if I am being too intrusive, hard to stop normal habits. But I know I acted like a hardass in front of the orderly, and I want you to know that I'm not normally like that." "Oh, that makes me feel better," I tried to put on a confident smile. But it was nearly impossible to make it seem genuine. But he thankfully didn't push on the subject any further.
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ukLZsEV4D
I starred out the window as we rode passed the red light and proceeded to the restaurant, "when am I supposed to face your boss?" "Tomorrow, I thought I mentioned that?" he glanced at me as he drove. Stupid memory, why do you have to be awful? I waved away my thoughts, "no reason, I was just hoping I would have time to catch my bearings." He handed me a scrap of paper, "my orders are: to let you live in my house, buy your clothes, feed you, and protect you. If I do not succeed to do these orders you have the option to tell her and get me changed to another detective." I looked at the paper he handed me, "well right now I don't have a problem. I won't have you switched if you keep taking me to buffets. I can't promise that you won't request it yourself, people usually change their opinion about me once they get to know me." He didn't respond, I couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking.
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoO3QefCY5
We both sat down at a booth in the all-you-can-eat buffet and ordered our drinks. I sat there with my hands folded in my lap because I was too nervous to move, the only thing that broke the silence was my stomach sounding like an enraged bear. My face turned beet red, "I think I am going to go make a plate now." He nodded in response and pulled out his phone. I finally have a sort of date with a guy and it's because I murdered a bunch of people. He seems nice though in a weird guard-like way. I smiled at my thought as I moved through the crowd to get some sweet and sour chicken, everyone moved out of my way as if I had parted the red sea. I can't blame them though my hair was down to my butt, it was tangled up in all kinds of knots, and I was wearing dirty ripped clothes from the psyche ward. If I was a stranger in the middle of the restaurant I would scream and run at the sight of me. But whenever I looked back at the booth Damian was just sitting there looking at me like I was a normal girl. I didn't know what to think of him, how can someone like him be okay with me? I sat back down at the booth with a plate covered in food, "ya know when you first came in the room I was hoping you were the Girl Scouts." He was so stunned at my sudden outburst that he almost dropped his phone, he had to think about what I said for a moment, "I don't think Girl Troops would visit a place like that." I sighed and pushed my chicken around my plate, "I guess it would be a little too scary for them..."
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg57J2wU4FQ
He looked at me like I was crazy, "I'm pretty sure they would all wet themselves if they looked at the place you were in, no offense to you though." He noticed the disappointed look on my face, "but lucky for you one of the other officers is selling cookies for his daughter, I could see if I could buy you a box." I squealed in excitement, "do you think you could get me some Mint Chocos? God, I haven't had a Mint Choco in nine years." He chuckled, "you'd have to fight me for those." I giggled to myself and then went back to staring at my plate. "Um, I have a personal question," I said in between bites. He had finally gotten himself a plate at this point, "go ahead. I honestly have some questions for you too." I put my fork down, "why did you become a detective anyway? All you do is get yelled at by the people you protect and see the most horrible things that are behind the walls of this city." He set down his fork as well, "my father was a detective and my mother was an EMT. They both wanted me to become a doctor. But I always loved my dad's stories about his cases. There was one in particular that intrigued me. The case of Castiel Mathews. He was the detective in charge of your case." I froze in utter fear, "why would that intrigue you?" "I was an eighteen-year-old boy that wondered about the worst cases my dad was ever handed. I wanted to know what sick freak would do those kinds of things. Then one day I saw your face. Your face belonged to that name. I always thought Castiel was some forty-year-old man that was a sick psychopath. But when I saw your sixteen-year-old face on that file, I kind of broke."
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTLxq2EYco
Why would that tear at the heartstrings of anyone? My age shouldn't be a factor. I looked down at my plate again, "why would you even feel that way after I killed all those people? I'm more worthless than a forty-year-old sick psychopath." He lightly slammed his hand on the table startling me, "no you're not. I read your testimony and why you killed those people. Fear and mistreatment can drive people to do things that they would never have done. You had mental problems and your parents refused to see it, your father would get drunk and abuse your family, your sisters would take that out on you, none of your friends cared about you, and no one helped you through any of that. If we went to school together I would have loved to have talked you out of that. But what killed me the most was that you wrote down over and over again, why didn't I just die instead? A sixteen-year-old girl should not go through that-" His sentence trailed off when he noticed the tears rolling down my cheeks, "Castiel?"
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1x3qyouv4h
"I didn't mean to.....I didn't mean to kill them. I was hurting and I had no one to turn to. I couldn't get the pain to stop, then it got worse. I didn't have control of my body one day. The next thing I knew I was in my closet crying my eyes out covered in my friend's blood, their family's blood, and my family's blood." He handed me a napkin, "you don't have to go through that again. If you ever want to talk I'm here. I'm not saying that what you did was justified or good, but you needed help and you found it after what you did." "No, I didn't, I helped myself." He looked at me oddly, "what do you mean?" I looked at him with bloodshot swollen eyes, "those assholes in that mental hospital want everyone to think that they are helping people. They threw me into a cell and left me there, I never saw a doctor or anything. They took me out once a year for exercise. I was left in there like a regular prisoner to wait on meals. So I made friends with the voices in my head and forced myself into full control. They can't take over unless I permit them." He looked at me in disbelief, "what voices?" "Ace and Thorn, they were the ones that talked to me when no one else did. They are the ones that talked me into committing those murders. But now they know what I did was wrong, I've had nine years to talk to them, and only them." He looked at me in disbelief, "well now you have me too. I'm here for you whenever you need me." I smiled, like I haven't smiled for real in ages, "thank you, Damian, you don't know how much that means to me." "Can we stop making a scene now?" Ace laughed.
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTZzeZbHBm
We finished eating and sat at the booth to talk. Damian had me tell him everything that happened at the hospital, which he wrote down in detail. When we were done at the buffet we decided to go to a mall, I needed to do a few things before I could be a decent member of society again. So after nine years of no brushing and no haircut, I needed one badly. My light brown hair was almost down to my thighs and it looked like a rat or two had made nests in it. I wanted to just shave it off, to be honest. But I was able to get my hair detangled and cut short. My light brown hair was now in a gorgeous bob that sat perfectly on my shoulders. "I look so cute!" I looked in the mirror after the stylist went to get Damian. "Looks a lot better than that rat's nest you called hair." "Hey!" I pouted like a child. He raised his hands in mock surrender, "I kid, I kid, please spare me." I looked down at my clothes, "I need new threads." Damian held the door open for me after giving the stylist a large tip, "who even says that anymore?" I skipped out the door, "I do homie." He glared at me, "please don't talk like that." I mockingly copied him, "I kid, I kid, please spare me." His glare got worse, "oh haha. Just pick a damn store."
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnGt8t1Wp9
I skipped along until I found a store that suited my style, the style of an adult with the mind of a sixteen-year-old. All I had were old clothes from the asylum which did not look too good after poor maintenance and rarely getting washed, but the cashier thought it looked cool. I grabbed a bunch of different clothes and headed to the dressing rooms, the cashier made sure that I had a bunch of different outfits to try. Every time I came out of the dressing room wearing a dress or something that looked good Damian just stared with wide eyes. I scowled at him, "that doesn't help ya know." But after a little while, I decided on some girly suits for court if I have to go, a few outfits that a rock star would wear, some graphic t-shirts from my favorite shows, and a couple of oversized hoodies from animes that I like. Damian picked out a leather jacket with straps to tie my rock star outfits together. "Thank you," I hugged him and then quickly let go. "It's nothing, I'm just glad you like what you got," he smiled at me again but this one made me blush. No-no-no. I just met this guy I don't need to be falling for him right now, I can't marry a man that I just met. "That's not what Dibney taught you," Ace laughed again. "She isn't a princess Ace," Thorn said softly. Well, he is the only guy I've ever actually talked to in years, what can I expect. I didn't have the chance to grow up in that asylum, I'm basically a sixteen-year-old with the body of a twenty-five-year-old. Someone strike me down. "You ok?" he felt my forehead, "your face looks a little red." "I know where he learned that," Ace said through a grin. I moved away from his hand, "yea I'm fine. Um, was there anywhere else we had to go?" He nodded,, "we just have to get you some shoes to match your clothes, and then we're good."
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl167UnxmUf
His house was about the size of my old one, but way nicer. "Where will I sleep?" I pointed at the only bedroom in the house. "I'll sleep on the couch and you can sleep on my bed." "Oh ok," I shuffled into his room and I shuffled back out in my new socks. He looked at me funny, "why the hell are you just scooting around in your socks?" I shrugged as I shuffled from the living room to the kitchen and back, "I don't know, it's fun. Makes it seem like I'm skating." He laughed at that, "if you skated like that you would bust your face." I spun around real quick, I almost fell, and then asked him bluntly, "I take it you don't have a girlfriend?" He shook his head as he made a couch bed, "I broke up with my last one a month ago. Can't stand a girl who is manipulative and controlling." I turned away and smiled to myself, "ain't gotta worry about that with me. Oooh! You have an X-block Two!" He plopped down on the couch, "you like video games?" I plopped down next to him, "I loved playing video games. I used to play GTB, Page of Honor, and Wyvern Era. But I haven't played in years." "We can play tomorrow if we have time." "That would be awesome!" I shuffled back to the bedroom and peeked my head out, "uh Damian?" "Yea," he laid down. "Thank you again," I closed the door. He smiled, "you're welcome."
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Msw8546q3
When we arrived at the station the next morning I felt my blood run cold, my body was shaking and I felt like puking. What do I do? What if the other officers don't like me being there? What if I screw something up? I can't breathe. "Castiel? Are you alright? You look pale," it took Damian a second to figure out why I was pale, "you can sit in the car as long as you need to." I nodded at him maybe a million times in a matter of seconds, "I think I'm gonna be sick." He smiled at me, "don't worry, you will do fine. I'm here for you if you need anything just call for me." I nodded and took slow breaths, "ok." He helped me out of the car and walked me up the steps. But once we stepped through the doorway Damian's demeanor became stern and hard. Well, unfortunately for me, the Police Chief wanted to talk to me alone. Kill. Me. Now. I turned to Damian with a look of pity and huge puppy dogs eyes, men can't resist them. "You'll be fine," he whispered and gently pushed me in, "I'll be right outside the door." Dammit, they didn't work.
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7t66JrcFL
I sat down in the small cushioned chair in front of her desk. I didn't know what to do, I also didn't know what to say. So I just sat there analyzing her while I waited for her to start the most awkward conversation of my life. "Ah analyzing people, our favorite thing to do," Thorn hissed. She was in her late thirties, dark brown hair pulled into a tight bun, tired light brown eyes, about one hundred and sixty pounds, about five foot six in her heeled pumps, and her grey pantsuit made her look like a lawyer instead of the chief of police. She offered me a cup of coffee when I didn't say anything, but I refused it, "Coffee isn't my thing." She nodded and leaned back in her chair, "more for me then, if you are hungry or thirsty just let me know." She slid a vanilla folder across the desk to me and tapped it with her finger, "If you look through this case file you will be my new temporary junior detective. If you open it that will be my sign that you accepted our offer." "I like a woman that wastes no time," Ace chimed in. I hesitated for a moment, but I reflected on my life in that split moment. I ruined the lives of so many people, now is my chance to help others in the way that I needed it. I just hope I can keep my insanity under control like I have been. Damian's face came to mind, I have a friend now. A real friend that will help me with any of my problems. Before I opened it I asked one question, "won't you get in trouble for this?" She waved it off, "don't worry, the only one that can punish me at work is the mayor but he is too engrossed in his work to even come down to the station." I opened the folder, and the chief smiled. As I looked through the pictures I noticed that the bodies were killed and placed differently, with no matching pattern. "There has to be something, I mean they are mostly female," Thorn interjected. "Not every serial killer is going to have a calling card, especially when they don't want to get caught," Ace added. "But they could also know them personally, that might be their calling card," Thorn debated. I left them alone to discuss it themselves. But they were right. The profile of a serial killer in most cases has a visible link between the victims, but this one may have their own connection between them that only they can notice, "it is possibly a serial killer going based off the photos, there is no pattern in the bodies or in how they killed their victims, there is also no set gender or body type for the victims or any pattern that I can tell based on this. But I'm also just looking at the photos, there is always more to it." I placed a teddy bear in the arms of my victims, but I killed my bullies, their family, and then my family. I finally closed the folder, "who are your suspects?"
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7pOjP4vzC
The chief stood and motioned to a board to my left, "these three men were the last people seen with the victims, it could just be a coincidence or they could have all three had something to do with the murders." I studied their faces, "they don't look like murderers." She then motioned her hand to me, "neither did you." "The guy in the middle looks like a taxi driver, the guy on the left looks like he could be a landlord or something, and the guy on the right is the manager of Stallmart," Ace pointed out all of them. I looked down at my lap in embarrassment, "did their alibis check out?" She turned back to the board, "for two of them they did. The first one said he was with his wife but she said they haven't seen each other for two weeks." "Marital problems might lead someone to murder," Thorn added. These guys don't seem like they would kill these people, they all seem like they're around my dad's age. "If a kid can kill their whole family, then age doesn't matter when it comes to this," Ace was referring to an article we saw an orderly read a few months ago. The chief turned back to me and cleared her throat, "I know this must be strange to you and not easy to adjust to since you were just released. But I trust in your judgment and your skills, please don't let me, or this station down. I will have the suspects ready as soon as I can, until then please relax and get to know some of the officers you will be working with." "I hope she realizes that you didn't go to the school of murdering people," Ace said with a snarky tone. She opened the door for me, as I left the office she added one more thing, "oh and Castiel, good luck on your investigation." I nervously smiled at her, "call me Cas." She nodded, "alright, Cas, good luck to you and your partner." "Partner?" I asked confused at her statement. She pointed at Damian, who was sitting at his desk drinking a cup of coffee while going over another file. My face turned pink, "All alright, thank you, ma'am." Why do I feel tingly inside? "Well, I think Cas might have a little crush on the detective," Thorn teased. No way, there is no way he could ever feel the same towards a killer like me. "Don't say that," Ace coaxed, "maybe it turns him on." They both laughed at themselves. I hate you both. I scowled to myself as I stood there, the officers started to look at me funny so I hurried over to Damian's desk and sat down beside it. He looked up from the file to greet me, "how did it go?" "The chief made Cas all goo-goo gaga over you pretty boy," Thorn teased. Shut up! I cleared my throat, "she has partnered us up on the investigation, and has gone ahead and told me that she will get the suspects for questioning." He smirked, "I half expected her to team you up with my brother." I was confused, "I mean I'm going to be staying at your house so it would be weird to be partnered with your brother." He nodded and then sipped his coffee before speaking, "my brother Lance has been all over this case, it surprises me that she assigns you with me and puts us on the case as well." I looked down at my lap, "was your brother on my case?" He laughed, "that would be impossible, Lance is younger than me. But I know of the Lance you are talking about, he retired last year." "Oh, I kind of liked him," my shoulders slumped. I don't think I'm cut out for this.
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UOuwLH2z6
