Black and White: the Opposition of Red

[Fallenreaper]

Chance pulled him closer the moment she felt the shift in gears, the speed increased, the wind slapped around her visor, traveling up the legs of her exposed skirt. A skirt wasn’t the most idea fitting for most women on a motorcycle, a discomfort and sense of exposure left them blushing or cursing but not her. Her skirt was tight stopping a few inches up her shapely thighs, exposing more and more skin to the stroking air. The hair uncovered by the helmet was swept up in the wind’s play like streamers. Her heart raced lost in the adrenaline inducing velocity.

Despite how much Chance could lose herself to the experience, there always seemed to be something that made her lose it, her mind always the cause. If she had skin to skin contact then the woman would have been dizzy, confused and best of all…pleased. It couldn’t be helped, she was a female and the idea of having a guy attracted even now would bring a sense of excitement. Thankfully it was only a mild tug of emotion she only noted for the briefest of time. Her lips smiled as she saw the towering building of her apartment come up in view, he seen her file and it wasn’t astonishing he would know where she lived. It only surprised her that he remembered it in glimpsing for a short time with such ease and never once asking her where it was.

Chance was slightly disappointed that ride was done, fortunately the visor hide it. Chance leaned away, pulled the helmet from her head, flipping and running her fingers though her hair to rid herself of any helmet hair before handing it back. While she messed with the helmet, her hips unknowingly had slid closer to him. Her feet finally touched the ground to push herself back. At least he didn’t ask to meet Gage; she thought and pulled her leg from over the rear of the seat trying not to flash a tiny bit of lacy white in her dismount. His number was snuggly tucked away in the coat she wore, her legs goose bumped with the chill of the air. She stood close to the motorcycle, her one hand rested on the back of the seat while the other clasped the upper arm. His shades hide his eyes from her, a unsettle feeling of being watch from behind those tinted lenses made a excited and pleasant nervousness.

“Yeah, thank you for the ride. I will make su-“her sentence cut off mid-word, images and a mingling of panic widened her eyes. Blood on Gage’s hand, he was upset. His body rushed to the sink, knuckles pressed over the edge. Alarm, her knees wobbled a bit and her hand curved about her forehead, pressed tightly to maintain control. She looked as if she was about to faint but her stomach became lead, dropping out from under her, adding to that scared feeling.

Her eyes shot up to the apartment window and a whispered curse of Shit followed by Gage’s name was all she could muster, not even realized she bolted right for the door. It was simple, old world elegant like something one would find in Italy. Inside black iron railings, decorated with triangle flowers and twisted swirls pounded into simple made stems, curved about the stone stairs that lined the square building’s sides colored light beiges and rich chocolate colors. It wasn’t spotless, the walls stained from months of neglect, annually cleaned or when the grim was impossible to ignore. A few potted plants in concave shelves along the path, dotted green between the levels and each one had max of two rooms on each floor. Number 7 was hers on the fourth level and her hand gripped about the metal handle, resistant at her attempt to open it. Locked, it was still locked.

She made her way up effortlessly barely realizing the surroundings. Hands flicked though the keys Chance had whipped out from her pocket, jingling from the shaking until a fresh wave of fear steeled her to shove the key into the lock. A fresh wave of sickness came over her, drained away as she walked though the hallway leading into the four room apartment, across the living room into the kitchen. A young teenager had a bloody hand over the sink, breaths uneven as the panic attack made him wheeze, his knuckles white from the pressure upon the while he looked on the verge of passing out. Her thin fingers wrapped about a clean dish towel on a bar attached to the side of the doorway, gently taking the dark haired boy’s hand into the soft material to starch the bleeding.

“Gage did you take your medication?” The only words she could speak to him were gentle and soothing, her eyes flickered to Eric, likely followed behind, while her arms wrapped about her brother to see the fear in her eyes unable to guess what went though his mind. Instead she simply lingered into his face, desperate to find something other than suspicion finally adding a request,” Would you get his medication; it is above the sink in the bathroom. The white pill case on the top shelf, likely to the right corner if he hadn’t moved it. From the living room should be a narrow hall with pictures that leads down to it. Please?”

Eric didn’t need to see what she was going to do, Chance didn’t want to but she had to calm Gage down quick. It was the only way she knew how or his heart would give out before the meds, Paxil, would kick in. Her eyes noticed the debris of shattered glass with a few small hot peppers scattered on the floor, he tried to clean up and gotten cut. No wonder.

******

Eyes watched every movement, the slight movement for his breast and the image of the gun flashed in the creature’s mind like a warning. His fangs pulled forward, daring him, mocking for an excuse. His head peered out of the darkness of the alley enough to be seen. Slight cuts graced his head, one eye had a scar running vertical that was already healing and in hour’s time, his punishment would be nothing more than a faded memory.

The wolf wondered if the man realized the position he was in, too real danger of being so near her as many had found out so quickly. He was careful not to let her see him until today then the time was drawing close. Soon… the alpha had promised. He wasn’t pleased with waiting, killing any male that posed a threat to his role and enjoyed ever moment of it to pass the time. The last one was especially delightful though the method was an unusual attempt-Nick had a phobia of dogs and carried a gun or did, exposing him before exterminating Nick as the man’s mouth twisted in a horrified look to his face. “You?” were the last words he uttered. The gun was a trophy. His muzzle pulled in something similar to a doggy smile but the eyes were pitiless orbs.

Once the cycle moved, muscles strained and pulled into action. A trashcan rattled an obstacle in his way as he turned in a grey blur ducking down the back alleyways, staying as much out of sight as possible. His paws made loud splashes in his quickening pace; clearing many of the water they had held with each pounce. The machine pulled away from him when every he glimpsed it between buildings. His tongue lopped out, body moved in a flat out run, and misty breath was left behind until he forced to come to a halt. It should have been easy cursed the wolf. A low threatening growl ripped though the air at his condition, lacked in strength and vitality that he had when he crashed though the police window. It only mere minutes after Eric picked up the speed that the wolf had lost the chase, close to collapsing from exhaustion.

The alpha spoke in his head, Interesting… send a warning to him when he’s alone but don’t kill this one. I will send another to be certain you don’t cross over your boundaries this time. I want to observe what he does before I make snap judgments. Careful now, he may just be simply very perceptive.

[Lyzan]

Eric watched as Chance took off the helmet and combed her hair back. He's also aware of the pressure her thighs made against his hips as she slid forward. But his expression remained stolid. Betraying not the sudden jolt his heart had just made. As she dismounted, Eric gritted at the sight of those legs. Damn, was all he could silently say. He then looked up to her face and studied her posture after retrieving his helmet. The words was cut short. Incomplete as she suddenly seemed drowsy. Eric impulsively reacted, reaching out to grab her by the elbow while his other hand hooked the helmet onto the handle. But before he could do more help for the woman, she'd quickly dashed into the building after muttering her brother's name.

Sensing something wasn't right, Eric kicked down the stand before getting off his bike and glanced up to the direction where Chance had earlier looked at. Then he too made for the door. But before he disappeared into the building the cop checked the streets out of habit. Ensuring that they weren't being followed. It only took him a fraction of a second to tell that nothing seemed to be unusual. Satisfied with the surroundings, Eric then chased after Chance. His hand slid over his chest and pulled out the revolver as he closed in on Chance. The hammer was pulled back and a finger slid over the trigger. Most would never risk doing so, fearing they might accidentally squeezed the trigger as they ran up the stairs. But not Eric. The man was in-tuned with his weapon that he was confident such incident wouldn't occur. He was in complete control of his "baby".

The image of the wolf returned before his mind's eyes. From the mirror's reflection, the features was brought forth. He zoomed in on it, observing as the creature peered out from the shadows. Taunting at him as it bared it's canine fangs towards him. A scar, seemingly fresh could be seen over an ember eye. It seemed slightly battered as well. Was that his doing, Eric wondered. Impossible. What the fuck was going on, he asked himself. It's quite far-fetched that the possibility of this creature's injury was his doing from the earlier encounter. Yet he'd no doubt it was the same one. The same one..? Just how many of this thing was out there, he suddenly wondered.

When Chance stopped and head for the door on the fourth floor, Eric almost wanted to step in front of her. But the man was relieved when Chance began to jingle her keys in an attempt to jam it inside the keyhole. He peered down the staircase as he waited. Gun pointing to the floor. He's a cop after all and such a reaction shouldn't be weird. Especially not after a night of being at a murder scene where the possible suspect probably got a lead or a connection to the killer. On top of that, these wolf creature that he'd spotted twice in the same night. When the door finally opened, Eric followed closely behind. He frowned as she went straight for the kitchen and to her brother. As he made his way across the living room, he made the common habit he'd always did during a raid or a rescue mission. Which was to look for signs of break-ins and signs of struggle before anything else.

Seeing that the Deacons were not under any immediate threat, he returned the revolver's hammer back to it's sitting place before he holstered the weapon. His eyes then took in the settings. An accident. The boy, Gage, seemed sick as well. So was it a sister's instinct, he wondered. Or was it more clearer than that? Like a vision or the sort, he asked himself. But now wasn't the time to further interrogate. He'll demand an explaination some other time. Just as he'd promised to Chance. Or he would listen to them once she's ready and more willing. Right now, he'll only make matter worse. He could see just how much her mind was on her brother.

Upon her request, Eric simply nodded and briskly made his way for the living room. He looked about him and followed the pictures in the narrow hall before entering the bathroom. He flicked the switch and took the white pill case as per Chance's description. Eric then took a quick look of the bathroom and the trash as well before he switched the light back off and left. Making his way back to the kitchen, he kept his senses on high alert. Again, out of habit, his eyes darted about the Deacons' apartment. Taking in the furnitures, pictures and even for magazines or mails. Letters were especially his main interest. One could tell a lot by the mail of another.

Who could've resisted, he told himself. An opportunity to enter a suspect's unit without the need of a search warrant? Who in the right mind would not grab the chance, Eric pondered. It wasn't necessary for the man to spend more time than the time reasonable enough to locate the requested item. Eric merely needed a couple of a second and he could tell which furniture as well as which pictures goes where. The man was trained in such an environment. His field of expertise was the urban warfare, especially crucial to recognize such things before spotting the difference between hostile and hostage.

Sooner than expected, Eric returned. He walked over to Chance and extended an arm with the requested item in hand. His eyes lingered on the boy but his expression remained unchanged.

"Here you go.." Eric managed.

[Fallenreaper]

Chance was distracted, distressed and upset, her emotions nothing more than a jumbled like mismatch of a familiar friend called panic. Focus, Chance, she scolded herself as she guided Gage’s hand to the towel making his unresponsive mind and overreacting body to grip it tightly, the bleeding had to stop. Despite his harsh inhalation, wide eyes and struggle to calm, Gage gripped the towel absentminded as she placed her arms about him. Chance led him slowly down. She supported him as he began to fall quickly. Lowered the boy slowly to the floor as she came up behind him, sitting with him between her legs like a sister comforting a frighten brother, her coat tossed to the side hastily pulled him close.

It worked best with skin contact, even strangers could feel the tiny spark of what happened but she wasn’t about to go the extra mile. Their deep bond of blood and the fact she cared for him was enough that just her forearm touching his would do the trick. She intertwined their arms, his hand still clasp tightly at the towel and her cheek touched his, for the moment her heart pounded just as fiercely as his.

First she had to calm her mind down. Steel grey eyes sank beneath heavy lids and her breath slowed, mind forced itself in to calm the fear and worry, all of it melted away leaving a sense of nothingness. A soothing array of dull colors formed in her head, shift lazily from bright red to orange, then to yellow and so forth. It was technique William taught her to manipulate emotions on the fly and now it was being put to greater use. She was out of practice.

On the outside there were nothing special, no mystic lights or flashy display, just her breathing with her brother leaning against the refrigerator in the small kitchen. The physical difference would be her looks. Chance appeared to be high, eyes glazed over and unseeing even when Eric arrived, ear’s deaf to everything around, and even Chance’s body became weighted like a stone. The atmosphere however felt different. A serene sense without a cause, engulf a foot radius around her and Gage drowning her, him and likely Eric when he drew near into a relaxed mood. For Eric would be a slight pull in that direction while Gage’s was far more intense from the skin contact clearly seen when his appearance shift drastically, his breathing regained a steady pace and the pallor of white flooded once more with a healthy complexion very slowly. The boy’s heart tried not to choke itself now.

It was impropriate to think of the last time she used it, but Chance was too mentally drained not to care. It was the last time her and Nick had slept together, the closer the connection the more intense the effect as her ex-boy friend discovered. Nick never passed up an opportunity. He enjoyed the high, the sights, and realization of feeling the utter enjoyment their activity brought her. Chance believed it boosted his ego to know how great of a job he did.

“Who the hell is this yoyo?” Gage’s voice broke across her mind cracking it back into the present as he replied to Eric's words.

She had forgotten about Eric being here, more worried about her brother as she didn't think of what he might say at her brother's mysteriously calmer state. Something told her he would notice it.The teenager was not happy as he stared Eric down, a comical attempt at imitation. He was anything but that, a mousy looking boy with the same black hair in a short cut. Not single bulky muscle on him, all scrawny and thin.

“Watch your language, he’s… Eric… what happened, where is William...he’s supposed to be here with you…” Chance sounded mentally drained,” crap…looks like a shower will have to wait or I might just drown in it. Gage, take your meds before it wears off and get that wound taken care of. Now, I am in no shape to fight with you.”

The boy pressed his lips tightly still sitting in, twisted about to face her and replied,” Fine, I will but you look like you could use a Monster. I think there’s an orange one in the fridge still, on the bottom shelf,” then added,”

You know William will want to know about this event and also the reason you screamed in your sleep last night.”

Chance looked astonished, she didn’t remember screaming but it was possible, at him as he explained,” I heard you though the walls, you screamed a few minutes before you hit the floor. Why do you think I never asked why you weren’t at work? I knew something was bothering you. Will rescheduled my appointment because some other patient. Something about the guy leaving town so he would have to fill him in now when he called. I didn’t pay attention and the jar fell, I went to clean it, ending up cutting myself and…”

“You panicked, I felt that part,” Her eyes jerked up to Eric and a soft curse came beneath her breath finally realizing he was there. Please she silently pleaded for him not to ask, her eyes practically begged him. Then it would be clear she didn’t have the strength to fight the topic if he pushed it. The cat was bound to come out of the bag sooner or later, but why now?

“Gage,” she whined at him farther evidence of the fatigue etching inside of her,” Please… just go.”

Gage kissed her on the forehead, a loving gesture, before picking himself up and staring intensely at what he viewed as his sister’s new guy. The teen shrugged with a whatever, his hands still bleeding as he pushed pass Eric, shoving the guy’s shoulder on his way pass. His eyes glared in warning if Eric tried anything he would be sorry. His footsteps were loud going down the hallway and his emotions, even in her weak state she could sense he wasn’t happy with leaving her there, irate. Gage was heading towards the bathroom, his pills in hand while the toweled injury was still held under his arm. She didn’t speak until she heard the running water of tap.

“Don’t mind Gage he’s still sore about the whole Nick thing and now every male is at fault. It will change once I tell you are a cop.”

She paused for moment before resuming.

“I have some explaining to do, don’t I… Where would you like me to begin?” Chance was assuming he would want to know, she really needed that drink but as of now, she couldn’t move. Let’s get this done and over with if she could stay awake long enough.

[Lyzan]

As soon as he'd stepped within the one feet radius of Chance's ...gift, he felt himself drifted to a place he usually would feel when he's in a garden. Or when he was viewing the sun setting over the mountains or the sea. Somewhere in the presence close to nature. Somewhere calm. Serene. It was rather a weird but natural respond his body made yet at the same time very welcoming. In fact, Eric was drawn towards it. Strong was the need for him to simply shut his eyes then. To simply allow himself to drift with the current where the soft tugging was leading him to. No doubt the feeling was brief, he'd believed it kind of felt like he'd spent hours in such a state. Surprisingly, he realized then that his eyes were still open. Still awake throughout the whole phenomenon. Furthermore, he was actually holding Chance's lazy gaze with his own. Somehow, he was bewitched by the tired expression of hers which closely resembled either that of one suffering from an extreme state of drowsiness or somewhat rather simply of lust.

It wasn't until Chance's brother, Gage, started questioning his sister of Eric presence that he finally became aware of his whereabouts. He snapped back into reality and simply straightened himself back. Gathering his focus and blinking almost frantically to keep himself ....sober. It was indeed a feeling he'd never before experienced. Or maybe just never expected it under such circumstances. Soon, his senses returned. Luckily for him, there was no "hangover" effect to follow whatever it was that he'd felt. So he began to comprehend the conversation between the siblings before him. Details and informations that might be crucial to the case started to unravel themselves. He registered them mentally. Resisting the urge to jot down some notes which he might later find useful.

When Gage stared intensely towards him and brushed his shoulder deliberately, Eric didn't entertain the kid and his childish attitude with any physical reaction. Instead, he was paying his attention to Chance. Distracted. So his theory was right, he thought. The girl did have a strong connection with her brother. Perhaps it's one of those twin-thingy kind of things. He'd heard those stories before. About how a twin could feel the other's who's in pain. Either physically or emotionally. Or even both. And there was also a tale of how their closeness could heal the other. Puzzling fact was however, Chance and Gage didn't seemed to be twin. But the man simply concluded it must've been due to the strong bondings between them. The sibling did seemed like they've got only each other and have gone through a lot together. Pretty much explained the affectionate embrace of Chance and the over-protective younger brother.

Eric glanced over his shoulder for a moment until he heard the water running followed by Chance's word as she addressed him. The man then turned to hold her gaze. Still saying nothing, he reached for his shades and took them off before pocketing them into his chest jacket pocket, revealing his dark pair of eyes. He approached Chance. The obvious state of phatique brought him to conclude that the woman had somehow exhausted herself during the process of bringing her brother back to his senses. Then again, it might also mean that she'd quite a long day and was just plain tired.

"We can begin by getting you off the kitchen floor and move to somewhere more comfortable. Come, allow me to help.." having said that, Eric bent over her and slid an arm under both her knees while the other went across her back. He lifted her off the ground without waiting for her consent and silently, with ease, carried her out of the kitchen and into the hall where he then laid her down gently over the comfort of her sofa. What wasn't as effortless however was the struggle he'd to put up with that's happening inside him. He wasn't sure if it's simply the awareness that their skin made contact and it was just a reaction a man would get when touching a woman or if that familiar but odd wave of relaxation he'd felt earlier. Whatever it was, it's gone as soon as he'd backed himself away.

"Wait here.. And you can start arranging your words while waiting on what to tell me or when to begin.."

Eric then headed over to the door to Chance's apartment and shut it after he checked the surroundings before he disappeared back into the kitchen. Immediately, he went for the fridge and reached for the orange bottle on the bottom shelf and a bottle of cold plain water. Placing them over the counter, Eric then opened the cupboard above in search of a couple of mug or glass. He poured the drinks once he'd found them. One for him and the other for Chance. Then he returned to Chance's side and sat.

"Here's your.... Monster," Eric said with a smile as he handed her the glass. "You can tell me how you do that.. Or maybe just tell me what the fuck was that you did.. And what dream did..." Eric paused as he realized he'd actually had too many question for her for the night. "You know what..." he leaned back into the seat across of Chance and took a sip from his glass. "..why don't you just spill everything out and whatever it is you feel like telling.."

[Fallenreaper]

It seemed like her gaze would never leave his, then again without much strength in her mind that was an extremely difficult task. Her eyes soften at the sight of seeing his pretty peepers staring at her. It was obvious her skill had affected him even while she was occupied with Gage her sight wandered over to Eric, now she could see it all too clearly. The image stayed with her, burned beyond both memory and thought. He was lovely with that dazed look and so peaceful, how often was he really like that in his life? Chance was surprised at herself as the thought crossed her mind; she usually kept to herself as he offered get her off the floor. She wanted to object but he didn’t give her chance to.

Chance just couldn’t fight him and found her not wanting to, her eyes widen in surprise at his closeness of his arms moved about her. It was true the floor was a bit chilly but he didn’t react, flinch at her touch or the fact she manipulated his emotions while in her efforts to calm Gage. Odd she realized. Her shirt was thin enough to feel the hand placed about her side, fitting nicely to her ribs as her arm hung down over his. It was limp and unresponsive. Chance felt her body lean into his, thick male scent engulfed her sense of smell making her heart leap a bit, and broad shoulders were firm but held that softness only pure muscle had. Her face retained its neutral expression even as his hand grazed the ticklish spot on the back of her knee. Chance’s body on the other hand lightly jerked, not alarmingly just notable, to the stroke of his fingers against the small indention where her knee began, releasing a small outlet of breath right into his ear at the touch.

Chance though it was mercy they had skin contact, hoping her little reaction would slip by him. It was probably a false hope. The effect was pain staking slow in dying down, making her wonder if it even wanted to, it also worried her. Head seemed to be filled with rock weighting it down near his neck; the steady rocking of his body had her lids grow heavy with the time until she felt the familiar scratchy texture of her sofa’s orange brown against the expose flesh. It twitched in protest at the contrast between Eric’s touch to this cheap piece of furniture as he set her down. Chance molded herself, not very comfortably, to the basic shape of it, a rectangle block with arm rests and a simple back farther proving how well she was paid at her job. The arm rest supported her back while her head leaned against the top part, cascades of straight black hair spread across in front and it seemed all that held her up were her bones.

Chance laughed at his words, knowing that she would be lucky to even talk let alone organize into a sentence until she could drink something. She licked her lips at thinking of energy drink in the fridge, true it was what most might consider a teenage junk drink but for her it was better than coffee. It woke her mind up best… almost. Steely eyes caught his retreating ass as the apartment door closed with a slight thud, the air tight sound of the fridge door opening and clicking of the bottles both plastic and metal hitting each other. Then the cupboards rattled, two glasses were pulled as he moved out and in Chance’s eyesight, he was being admired. She liked what she saw, it was only natural she would soak in his features and feel a sort of, growing slowly into higher levels, appeal to them. A single baser instinct of all people, attraction.

Every part made a small smile creep across her lips, from his muscular legs, to the thick board shoulders, the well toned arms that reached for the glasses and even the kind gesture of caring for her. It was sweeter than anyone, save for her brother, had ever done. Nick never really ever did that. It was she could to stop that drowsy sensation from washing over her, drowning her in darkness and dreamless sleep that would follow. The hiss of the carbonated beverage ensnared her attention causing her to meekly pull her head in his direction. A hand pulled up, wrapping about the glass with ease while the other came to assist.

Chance’s finger grazed his hand; a brief shot of her warm emotions might have shot into him, clumsiness at the fatigue that plagued her. He didn’t show it, the weak flash of excitement would be easy to tolerate, but she wasn’t disappointed. Maybe it was fading after all she thought. His questions were like needles, flying spears that stabbed her mind like a barrage that was merciless as her eyes closed at the idea of answering every last question. No, Chance couldn’t as much as she wanted to get it over with, not tonight. She compromised something she learned while dealing with Gage.

It was easier not to spill most of it out if not all, either way he would likely be coming back. She set her glass in her lap; one well portioned leg lazily crossed over the other and did her best to sit up straight.

“How about I answer your three questions and we call it night… or day…whatever.

First I appreciate that you are taking this with some sort of normalcy and not freaking out like other guys. William says it’s a type of psychic ability- no, I can’t read minds, just emotions. Now I don’t details of how it works but I do know how to start it up. It is emotion based, so whatever I am feeling then …. gives, no, projects if I want to another or I sense the other person’s… The closer relationship or touch, I have to someone then the easier it. Stranger are easy to ignore unless I‘m stressed.
Comes in real handy at times, mainly to avoid trouble, protect someone,” her mind wandered to the times she sent Gage out of house whenever she sense her father’s mood shift into anger on his way home, her head slouched a bit more fighting to stay awake,” or tell what someone is feeling.
As for the dream, I guess I screamed because I saw the moments Nick was killed… I could tell you where he was beaten, with what he was killed by, and the word he spoke before he died. But the killer was darkened, blotted out like shadow for whatever reason I don’t know. This was the first time it’s been so vivid and personal for me, I just want it all to go away…,” Her voice had a low wept to it as she stopped talking her eyes lingered out into space while once more her head leaned against the sofa back. It was some time before she found more words to push through her lips.

“I am sorry. I am just really tired right now, I extended too much so this is the aftermath… the last time I tested my…gift…out was … honestly during sex with Nick…I can’t stay wake…can’t…”

Chance’s eyes drooped, her head slinked down as her chin rested against her chest in sleep. Beautiful sleep, the glass leaned from its position in her lap, threatening to spill cross her blue jean skirt with her slack in grip. Her chest heaved up and down; exhaustion laced her features while she slept. The effect had finally worn off at last the moment her eyes had closed.

Gage waltz out several moments later, his hand completely bandage as he glared at Eric,” You are still here?”

Despite his sister’s request of being nice, Gage didn’t like or trust the Eric the boy’s face showed it point blank. A scowl of dislike curled his expression into a sour look meant to chase the guy off. It was clear in both body language and tone that Eric wasn’t welcome, the teen took a step forward as his bandaged hand balled up, the blood leaked though the white. His hand reached out and jerked the door handle, a quick twist and force nearly yanked the weak and fail hinges off. It just proved that despite the good looks of the building, the apartments were far from well kept and Gage looked as if he going to try to toss Eric out.

“Leave now…I don’t need another ass like Nick hitting her ever again,” the boy’s eyes darkened in anger as his teeth clutched together. He couldn’t take the guy but that wouldn’t stop him from swinging a hit if he had to.

*******************************
In the Autopsy Room, Police Station

In the autopsy room, cold steel and dull lifeless colors reflected Joseph’s mood while he shifted his old gaze to labeled draws until he halted on one name. Checking the name, Francis Marquise, against his paper work before the coroner scratched away thin flakes of scalp with the Bic pen and stared back to the messy carcass splayed upon the examining table, Nick or what was left of him. Hmmm, the chart said Francis was found outside an alley exactly three to four days ago drowned in a potent cocktail of urine, beer and his own decay. Died from a dog attack, a rabid stray dog conveniently put out its misery the next day, and it stated a gang had found the body, assaulted it before the asses discovered it wasn’t just some slumped over homeless drunk. One mark was clear, up near the wind pipe where the voice box laid was what marks looked like a canine teeth sinking just below the surface. That made the rabid dog story only mildly believable.

Strange how it appeared to have enough control not to clamp totally down upon the jugular, as If letting his victim bleed out slowly.

Other note worthy wound as Francis’s broken nose cavity, fractured in several places. Odd that he gets his face busted in and then attacked by the dog. Either this guy had seriously bad luck or this preplanned, Joseph grunt at the thought. A hunch, Joseph slide over to Nick’s knuckle x-rays and his became more focused, there were hairline fractures just healing over of hitting something hard like maybe a face. Did these two clashed in life or was it an odd occurrence without relation? Then again Francis’s busted nose it could be from the gang assault.

The placement slatted to the side and crunched unnaturally, the fierce attack spoke that the elder man’s assailant came out better. Dead glazed over eyes stared into stretching time as Joseph’s wrinkled hands, covered in latex gloves, pressed against the flabby face to careful examine the sides. His dark eyes widen and a smile brightened his old contortion adding a sense of mirth. Careful, steady hands found their place about metal handles of tweezers shifting it though the balding hairs to find a single short strand of what could be a white whisker. It brought endless joy to bring the short coming of his co-workers, petty yes but it help keep his job, his passion, to attention.

The only drawback was notifying that lab tech she devil to examine the fine mangy hairs. Joseph’s chapped lips ticked, his cheek slightly shuddered with bother at how absurd of an idea it was, a senior coroner playing second fiddle to a young woman only a few years out of college. She was as old as his granddaughter and finally pushed the disgruntle thoughts from his focus, eyes rapidly scanned between Francis’s and Nick’s reports. That was where his common factors between the latest victim and this man, late thirties, ended. At least on his end save for one thing: what made the two victims so different that one would be partly devoured while the other merely suffered a neck wound? There was little doubt about it being the same mutt, the teeth marks matched up perfectly to the coroner’s growing trepidation.

[Lyzan]

Indeed what's being told was way beyond something that's considered normal. Something the men of today would find rather hard to believe. It's human nature to deny such mystical phenomenon from truly happening when their simple mind could not grasp or find a logical explaination behind the events. Tonight, Eric was overwhelmed with one abnormal occurrence after another. Mysteries overlapped. The appearance of a huge wolf capabled of walking on its hind legs and was spying on him, over the gifted sister to an over-protective little brother, who'd the capability of sensing or manipulating emotions to those around her. If they weren't being witnessed with his own pair of eyes and felt beneath his touch, Eric would never have believed a single word. The only thing that'd allowed him to keep a straight face was the thought and the sincere desire to help this woman. She wasn't crazy. For if she was, then he too would be categorized as one. Furthermore, there was just something about her that was drawing the man towards her. Something that Eric himself couldn't put a finger on.

His eyes may betray him with a glimpse of confusion then. He needed time to absorb what was uttered from the woman's lips. The debate within his mind was on the contrary to what he'd seen within the last couple of hours. Yet they persisted with the argument. Seeking logic from the deepest corner of his mind. Eric knew he would find nothing. And he'd to constantly, repeatedly remind himself that this wasn't a dream. Although he wasn't quite sure if the current light-headedness he was experiencing have got anything to do with Chance's condition. Was his emotions being manipulated at the moment? According to what she'd said, he seemed to be out of her influence. Probably, just for now.

He'd remained silent throughout her explaination. Occasionally sipping from the glass and simply studying Chance. When she ended her tale with the slow embrace of slumber, Eric set his drink down and stepped towards the woman. His hand reached down to the glass on her lap, saving Chance from sleeping in a wet jean skirt. Carefully, he placed the glass down on the table and hooked a hand under her knees. Lifting both her legs unto the sofa before he gently brought the woman to lie down on her back. Another close call to a bad cramp in the neck should she be sleeping through the night in that position.

Then Eric stood by her side. Watching over her. His gaze swept from her head all the way down to her feet and back up again. The contours on this beauty was very much appreciated. Where was his professionalism then? Merely lost at the sight of Chance's sleeping face. He was driven momentarily with an emotion he'd almost forgotten. Was it love? Or was it just plain lust, Eric wondered. This would be madness, he reluctantly protested. It's not wise to have such feelings on a suspect. The outcome of the case may be swayed. Although he knew that Chance wasn't one, Eric needed to prove it on paper. And it wasn't easy so far. Not when he've to omit certain statements that would invite frowns instead of a decent verdict.

Gage direct comments abruptedly pulled him away from the brim of lust. It was almost a hard smack to the back of his head. He turned around and his eyes followed the boy's disapproval gestures to the door. Eric immediately understood what they meant. He stole another glimpse at the face of the mysterious beauty who're now fast asleep. Completely exhausted and seemed to have been drifted far into the dreamworld. Silently, he bid her goodnight before he marched up to Chance's brother. Although the tone to his words was considered rude, the man didn't blame the kid. He was somewhat proud of the boy for behaving in such a way. Somehow, Gage had assured him that no harm will come to Chance despite of his scrawny appearance. At that point of time, Eric felt a strong urge to give the boy his number as well. And to tell the kid to give him a call if there's trouble. But he figured that it's best if Chance were to tell her brother instead.

"Good.." Eric said. "..you make sure nobody do that!" he finished as he left the apartment without looking back.

Down the stairs he went. Shades sitting on the bridge of his nose once again. Wisps of smoke wafted from one end of a cigarette stick as he peered around the corners from the building's entrance. It's clear. He headed for his bike and saddled in. Helmet in hand, he glanced up to the windows of Chance's apartment. A puff from his mouth drifted towards the nightsky as he kicked his Harley to life. Gears shifted as he strapped the helmet onto his head before the steel horse then roared away from the site. It'd been a long night. Time to head home for some rest. Or perhaps more work. There's still something Eric needed to look into.

Normally, it would probably take about fifteen minutes or so from Chance's place to his. But due to the situation and under such a unique circumstances where the possibility of being hunted down or merely being followed by a wolf creature was high, he'd to take the long route. He arrived home an hour later. After several turns and a couple of record breaking laps on the highway. Absurd? He didn't think so. He would like to think of them as precautions.

He flipped the switch to his simple apartment and headed for the laptop on the table in the hall. As he waited for the screen to prompt him with the password, Eric divested his clothings off. Leaving him bare as his fingers typed the keyboard. Once connected to the network, he Google-ed;

"Giant wolves on two legs."

Interestingly enough, there was about twenty two million and three hundred thousands results from it. And the first thing that caught his attention was the word werewolf. Hesitantly, he clicked that as the next search and entered the "wikipedia" about the subject. His gaze then settled on the image that's on the right side of the first few paragraphs. Damn! Eric leaned back into his sofa. The thing that he'd seen returned before his mind, replacing the image on his computer screen. He shook his head and reached for his mobile phone which was on the table along with the rest of the items that were on him before he'd undressed. Flipping the phone opened, the man cursed. Just great, he thought. Need to recharge. It's no wonder it'd been quiet for so long. So the man charged his phone while he headed for the bathroom. He figured it's best to take a shower and calm himself from what he'd discovered. Werewolves. Right. Or do they prefer being called "lycanthrope" instead. Whatever the case, Eric needed to freshen up.

Therefore in the tub he now rested with the home-phone within reach. But the longer he waited, the more impatient he grew. He decided it's best to call them instead.

"Jake... Any news from Joseph yet?"

"...'fraid not, Eric.. Where ar..."

"Listen.." the sergent interrupted. "..I need you to punch out when the sun is up. Don't leave until most of the day-shift guys have taken over or at least when the road is busy.."

"Wha..?"

"I got no time to explain, Jake.. Just do as I say... And don't forget to punch mine as well."

"...O.. okay.."

With that, Eric hung up and quickly dialed up for the coroner.

"Joseph, its me Eric.. Talk me through with what you've got so far or is it ready for me to come in, already?" Eric said, uncertain if it was the voice message that'd answered him on the other end of the line or simply Joseph himself.

[Fallenreaper]

Gage

Gage didn’t like the way Eric was staring at his sister then again what brother would?

He noticed her shift in position, eyes soften once the man left, Eric’s words drew a strange look at his retreating back. Gage didn’t peer his head out to glare at the man’s retreating back, instead quickly shut and locked the door in case he came back. Nick was given the benefit of the doubt but not the next guy, not again. Chancy was laid out on the couch, her jacket casted off on the floor and the jar fragments were still upon the floor. His hand ran though his hair as his hips cocked, he looked like a boy with a large mess to clean. It was true to his dismay.

He looked at the medieval ring upon his finger; silver serpents intertwined swallowing each other and hooked beneath a blood red ruby, held tightly in teeth lined jaws alone. He thought it was neat and his sister brought it for him at a whooping two hundred bucks, her savings for a spa trip with a co-work. He smiled. The things she did for him, each showed love and how much she was good for him that’s why he wanted to protect her. Well back to the mess.

Gage took long legged steps to take up her jacket, the piece of paper floated from the pocket, catching his eyes as he bend over to retrieve it. There was a number and his head turned back to the exit Eric had made, wondering if it was the douche bag’s. Great…meant Chancy would entertain another ass’s bed at some point and her mind’s skill would go haywire during that time. He couldn’t get away with anything during that time, Chancy would know instantly before he could mount a defense or realize he was screwed. He tossed the coat half heartedly while Gage’s lanky form made its way to her bedroom. His arm reached out for a body pillow, his gift to her thanks to the internet ordering, figured she would like the idea of something to take the place of her ex-boyfriend’s place. Then a thick blanket, black and wooly like fur, it reminded him of animal skin and seeing as she like the gothic style of things it was perfect.

He pushed the door out to see Chancy passed out; her sleeping form was something he found peace in as he jerked the blanket up. He pushed the pillow against her body, unthinking her legs and arms wrapped about tightly, her head leaned into top part as it nuzzled deeper. Flipping the blanket up once, twice, then three times before it fell upon his sister just as he turned away. The glass was still shattered upon the floor, his body leaned over to delicately pick up the broken shards, a garage can pulled from beneath the sink cabinet in his wounded hand. It took a while to clean up the pieces, even more to sweep the tiny wreck into a dust pan as well as a job he did, Gage there was bound to be something left. A mental note not to walk around bare footed.

His gaze was drawn to his sister’s tired form and he sighed, she was peaceful that a smile crept into his lips. Then taking the paper he set upon the counter, Gage pulled out a draw and gripped the notebook of phone numbers out. His forefingers gripped about a pencil also. He went to his room, taking everything with him while casting one last good night look in his sister’s direction then shut his door. The things he did for her were ridiculous.
*****

Wolf

The wolf’s eyes studied Chance’s apartment, penetrating and dark while his muscles waited. His body was aching from the wait, stiff from being held in a position too long but his mind refused to give up the chase. He lost that damn man but knew where he headed was easy: her place, his nose had little trouble tracking her scent time and time again until he knew where she was. Savoring the enjoyment that her female hormones brought his sex drive and eagerly longed for day to show her the pleasures he could bring. He loathed the cop watching him, arriving as Eric exited the building onto his motorcycle, and it only curdled his resentment into driven hate. His wolfish eyes finally ceased the damp watering from his clamoring nose at the scent of day’s old decay and sulfur nearby. His eyes flickered to take in his two babysitters; the Alpha’s lap dogs as it were, so different from him yet the dog like traits were still there.


Electric green eyes stared from beneath endless grinning canine skulls, wisps of black and purple smoke flowed about their skinless, fleshless bodies of white bone. Larger, a head or two above the creature’s own height on all fours, they were intimidating phantoms of the dead but where their toes touched had crumpled and feel away. The concrete had aged, cracked and old, to the very end of its life. They were hell hounds, demons born of brimstone, human hate, and doomed slaves of anyone strong enough to manipulate them. Disgusting creatures that made his instincts fear and long to run away, but Alpha’s orders were law. The wolf had messed up once, his blunder wouldn’t be forgiven as easy the next time.

They were out of sight behind some building nearby Chance’s home. The trash cans clearly barred his view from the exit and entrance of the apartment. There was only one male he couldn’t kill but the boy posed little threat to his role, so his desire to kill him was suppressed easily. Chance loved her brother… the only guy the wolf feared to kill because it would hurt her so badly, ruining his chances to make her his. He didn’t like her upset, not when the man within the bar groped her and her previous boy toy had marred her, tried to bruise that image of her. They all paid. That was his favorite kill, Nick wasn’t it? Yes…he remembered her calling out the guy’s name during a stalking; he made sure to focus his attack in one certain area of his frustration, memories of their unions at man’s apartments as his red eyes stared though the windows. It wasn’t pleasing to have someone touch her in that way when he couldn’t. His fur rippled at the thoughts increasing his size and making his outline fuzz. A warning growl caused his mind to shudder and calm.

Naturally when Eric took off, the wolf followed in hopes to knock the man from the high speeded bike only to halt as he turned into the slowly beginning rush of traffic and neck breaking speeds. A long mournful howl followed Eric as sign the wolf had lost his quarry. There was one other place the man would at some point head, even if he didn’t then there was always other ways of warning him off. Other victims… One of the hell hounds had made his way to the wolf, drowning the air with sick cocktail of death and decay before darkness had revealed it. The wolf growled his frustration but the skeleton mere stared with sightless eyes and impassive response while the next creature strolled up.

Wordless, three creatures darted off into the direction of the police station… their chaos just beginning.
*****

Joseph, police station

Joseph was twisting about Nick’s intestines from the wound, mostly located in the stomach and pelvic area, likely a female hate crime as he couldn’t find any genitals left. The idea made him uncomfortable to think about what this man might have felt as the mutt was chewing on the soft jewels, grinding them in pulp, and then latching onto any exposed belly to let him bleed out and weakly struggle. That was if he was still awake.

Joseph nearly jumped out of his wrinkled old husk of skin as his phone clicked over to speaker the moment a call came, a feature he found necessary since his hands were currently covered in bloody remains. Eric’s voice came over the speakers. Joseph’s face scowled, didn’t that man know well enough to sleep, as his crackled voice reached to the white machine. Sounds of his current project, from shuffling bones and untangling entrails were clearly background noise, while his stern and old voice was raised a level.

“Damn it, Eric, you know when to call at a very bad time,” His raspy voice was filled with obvious disgust and distaste,” I was just finishing up the corpse from the scene before heading home. Been told I work too damn much.”

At least he could be spared taking evidence down to the lab tech that was the only relief he could find in the whole predicament. Still he was grumpy and shriveled to the fact he was forced to work harder, the higher ups were getting on his case about his hours. They kiss his ass but then he would be out of a job, something he loathed as he caught the devil woman darted pass his door. Likely to run that DNA sample of Nick’s to verify the ID, a long and very time consuming task to wait the computer even then it had to be run twice because of the machine’s age. He pulled away his white latex glove with a loud snap, the clean wrinkled finger pressed down on the phone as Joseph’s usual charm peered though.

“Since you can’t seem to sleep like other people, just come in and I will show what the hell I found. What was that woman’s name by the way? The one at the crime scene…” his voice became undistinguished murmurs of displeasure,” Don’t tell me you let her go? Never mind just get your ass down here so we can talk, I am up to my old ass in remains.”

[Lyzan]

Frankly, Eric hadn't expected the man to answer the phone. He was somewhat rather hoping that he would be transfered into the voice-message instead. Just so that he could probably call it a night then. A lot had happened during the couple of hours and he was just doing what he thought was his duty. Simply being responsible. Alas, there on the other line, that annoyed tone of voice replied. Barking at him for checking up on things. And when he'd asked if it was ready for him to come in, the man wasn't really expecting a yes either. Or immediately for that matter. He was hoping to drop by the autopsy room at least after some rest. Eric was stunned for a while. Utterly silenced by the volley of questions from the coroner. Damn grouchy old man, Eric thought.

You must've had a fucking lonely childhood huh?

"Her name's Chance Deacon and yes... I let her go.. You know we couldn't hold her for too long without solid evidence.. Unless if you're telling me that you've found something that might prove it was her who'd murdered the man.. Whatever it is, I'll be down there as soon as I can, Joseph. Hang tight.. See you soon, then.." and the phone went clicked as he ended the call without waiting for a reply.

Knowing the old man, Eric figured that the coroner was hardly even offended when he hung up on him. He had after all, wrapped the conversation pretty well. Settling the phone down, Eric slid himself lower into the bubbly tub. He sighed as he stared up to the ceiling. A timid partner, grouchy old coroner, a gifted suspect or a source, her sick brother and an angry werewolf; what a combination. He should start saying goodbye to the old and boring life and start welcoming the upcoming "roller coaster ride". This was what he'd always been wishing for. Silently. To himself. Slowly, Eric shut his eyes. At least momentarily for him to fully absorb the scene he had with that woman. Chance Deacon. Her words replayed within the recordings of his mind. He set his mind straight with that information. Dismissing the slightest of doubts and resisting the urge to find a logical explaination to it.

Soon, Eric was back out in his hall. A towel in his hand drying his hair as he stared at the monitor screen. Lycanthrope. Wolf-man. Shape-shift. He then reached for the mouse and scrolled down but paused as his attention was caught on another line. ...human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or an anthropomorphic wolf-like creature, either purposely or after being placed under a curse and/or lycanthropic affliction via a bite or scratch from a werewolf, or some other means... Human? Eric stood stumped. Of course, that's what a werewolf was; Eric told himself. But who, he wondered. His forefingers started rolling the the rubber wheel between the mouse to his lap-top. He skimmed through the articles. Skipping the piece about "Becoming a Werewolf" but only to squint his eyes on the "Vulnerabilities". Silver weapons. Eric took mental notes and scrolled further down. Nothing caught his interest then aside from what he'd learnt.

Hastily, the man shut down his computer and disappeared into his bedroom with a new set of clothing. He'd rummaged through his old luggage bag in the mids of getting himself clothed. It was his gears during his service as a special agent to a secret government organization. Highly confidential. There, he retrieved a silver-dagger with a nine inches double edged blade. A gift he'd gotten from a high ranking officer who he'd once rescued from a hostage situation. Eric strapped the weapon to his belt right by his lower back for easy reach. The only thing that concealing his weapons, both the dagger and the revolver would be his black leather jacket. He gathered his stuff and left the unit. His mind remained focus on getting to the station. Not back to his bedroom and it's alluring bed.

On his way towards the station, Eric ran by the list of names he'd earlier written down. He then mentally cross checked them with the werewolf knowledge. Damn! Was he starting to lose his mind, the man thought. Two of the names stood out to him. As if they were being highlighted. Brightly shining under the little cone of "Eric's Spotlight". Francis and William. If there was to be a third name, it would've been Chance's boss. But he didn't see the motive to that man. Unaware about the status of Francis, he set himself out with a task. One which he would assigned to his timid partner, Jake.

Half an hour later, Eric arrived at the station. His beloved steel-stallion rumbled down to a silence as he got off the bike. Taking off his helmet, the man suddenly froze in place. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on ends. Fucking hell, that damn thing's here. Quickly without turning around to locate it, Eric headed into the station.

"Jake, need you to run down to the working place of Miss Chance and start questioning around if they knew any details on one of their customers. The names Francis. He may be..." Eric wasn't able to finish the sentence when his partner interrupted.

"..Francis? Francis Marquise?" Jake asked with a mixture of confusion, probably to the man's return and pride for knowing something Eric didn't. "His body was found three to four days ago in an alley.. Dog attack. The coroner handled the man's case as well. Ask him.. You're probably not told because it was your day off if I remembered correctly.."

"..Dog attack..? Really?" the man said almost to himself. "Alright, Jake.. I'm off to see Joseph then.."

The door to the autopsy room then swung opened and Eric stepped in with a cup of black coffee in his hand. He needed the god damn drink to stay awake. At least fresh looking and presentable enough for the coroner just so that the old man wouldn't think that his trip here wasn't a waste of time. So he strolled in as if the two of them were partners somewhere back in the years. Casual and as friendly as possible with his words but at the same time maintaining some professionalism as pertained to his duties.

"Alright Joseph, I'm here.."

[Fallenreaper]

Joseph

Joseph just shook his head, that damn man was getting on his nerves but then again everyone did. Eric was right that he hanging up didn’t bother him in the least it was the man’s blunder. Sloppy police work it was, well it was up to him to find what was needed wrap up this case and move onto the next. His forefingers pressed into his temple, squeezing the bridge of his nose as his spectacles slip downward, stopped just at the thickest part beginning. The only connection between the woman and the murdered men was a dog, new hairs found on the cadavers, the teeth marks and the whisker, another found on Nick’s body proved without a shadow of a doubt that someone was training a dog to kill.

It bothered him how she just came at the right moment, too convenient and the body hadn’t even been board casted to the city. No one but the killer should have known the dead body was there. His eyes opened as he moved to the shifted out body, Francis halfway hung out of his drawer begging to be placed on a cold slab. It was going to be a long night indeed for the old man. A rolling table was easily pulled about, the squeals of the wheels echoed with the force behind the jerking motion as it came to halt right against the cabinet wall. It made loud bang ripping the old man from his semi sleepy state, his body far more tired than he expected as eyelids dropped and body became sore. He hated feeling his age at times like this. His white sneaker scuffed the tile floor as he struggled to lift the thick man from the cooler drawer, placing the dead weight upon the frigid surface and once more moved him about. His pace was painstaking slow. It made him more irritable, his gloved hand pushed the jaw at an angle before making sure the mark would be easily seen.

The object to kill Nick hadn’t been discovered, just round eclipse bruises and markings, there were defensive wound upon the victim. It meant he didn’t know his attacker or very well at least. The oldest one was near the base of the neck, not enough to snap the spine or kill then just to beat the shit out of him. Strange.

Over half an hour later.

Joseph’s head yanked up, catching sight of Eric’s tall figure strolling in. Energetic and chipper, a sharp contrast to the night wearied man and it only pissed off his mood farther, even more the man had the impudence to bring along a cup of coffee. Dark bags had started to etch into his brown eyes, deepening the ancient look upon his face. A shaggy untrimmed eyebrow rose up at the sleepless man. Once more Joseph’s charm shined though in a snappish voice.

“Alright lets get this over with…” grumbled the aged coroner, his small stature moved easily to the two bodies side by side on identical steel tables,” Both men were killed by a canine, a large one by the jaw measurements and length. I got one whisk and a few hair samples which that damn devil woman lab tech is running though. Result won’t be done until tomorrow, likely noon, that damn machine is older than dirt. My guess is that it’s the same animal.

I haven’t looked, but if I didn’t know better I would say these two clashed in life. Look at the x-rays, Francis Marquis’s nose is broken; see the disjointed and dark color about the bridge. It was broken not too long before he was killed so the vessels hadn’t much time to yellow and heal. The bruising on our recent victim, still waiting on an ID from DNA, is days older as the knuckles have yellowed but he did manage to fracture them on impact. Unlike the last body, this one didn’t have dark discolorations on his body just merely abuse from the punks that found him.

The only thing I can’t figure out is this… if both were killed by the same person, what did this fellow do differently than this one to deserve his lower torso to be rendered to pieces? It make me think it was a female hate crime since the attack’s focus in this general area,” Joseph had ran his fingers along the male’s pelvic letting Eric take in the clear ripping and tearing fringed red meat,” It’s strange, either this dog was very smart or he was well trained. The jugular on Francis was only punctured…”

He jolted to Francis to move the man’s jaw, pointing out the inward curve of the bite and how easily it slipped into the flesh.

Joseph’s eyelids had dripped close, his body pushed forward as he rushed a hand to catch himself. He was working himself to the bone and even he couldn’t deny it. Times like this made him realize his limitations, a flash of sorrow haze over his face at his failing before a scowl cracked it, and wrinkles on wrinkles covered his face. His head shook and once Joseph pushed onwards. His hand still glided over the edge, moving across to Nick’s body and retracted a chart passing it to Eric. Everything was written down in a violent and messy chicken scratch, barely eligible.

“Those are my notes…everything comparing the bodies, and such. At least until the DNA comes in,” Joseph waddled to a desk chair of black leather, turned his body around with an age old crack before slipping down into. His head leaned against his liver spotted hand was white wisps of hair fell down the side of his face,” That’s all I have… Take the notes, those are the copies anyway. Personally…if the victims are connected, the odds are this Ms. Deacon is the murder. That is your evidence Eric.”


******

Wolf

The wolf watched, fervent as the man froze in place beside the steel horse of fire and smoke. The wolf’s black lip ripped back with anticipation at tearing into the flesh, envisioning the man’s loud screams while his teeth spill blood. His body was fidgety, barely held in place as his two escorts molded from the darkness like dead shades. He couldn’t decide if the cop knew he was there or shrugged off the notion of his presence as eyes never stop staring at the man, burning and furious tore into his rival’s back.

Even the Hell hounds could sense the wolf’s impatience, forcing one to slip by and into the shadows. Its body melted like sugar into hot tea as the phantom flames burned its body as bones moved with amazing silence. It emerged from a wall shadow in the police station by passing a room, a slight faint scent of sufur could detected but just as easily missed. A young officer was standing at a desk as two voices talked, Eric’s and Jake’s, but the creature wasn’t interested as it made its way to a back door. Slowly, the hind legs pulled beneath the long segregated tail bones and reached a forepaw out to push open the door as the wolf’s grey body pushed in aggressively. It had taken some time before finding as the hound growled with unseen voice box as the wolf pushed in.

A death rattle voice spoke,” Remember wolf…the Alpha said to maim, turn him if you could, but not to kill… you attempt to kill, we have orders to stop you by any means… We will be watching but not to interfere.”

He growled his understanding. There was only one thing on his mind, making his rival scream and slowly bleed, his muscles rippled beneath his fur. Moved with silence grace towards the autopsy room as likely the moment Eric would emerge from the swinging doors. A large body would rush forward; his bulk would send the man back though the doors, paws slammed down on the shoulders, pinning him beneath, and likely make him helpless. Without thinking he intended to clamp down the arm, feeling the taste and warm blood leaking down his throat as he ripped the tendons free from the skeleton.

[Lyzan]

He ignored the coroner's reception. As usual. Damn that tone, he cursed silently. Just when or how could he ever get used to this grouchy grandpa, Eric thought. His attention quickly shifted to the two bodies on the steel table. Casually sipping from his cup while listening to the old man's grumbling. If ears could be squinted, then that's what Eric would be doing. How did Joseph expect him to understand the report when the words that'd reached his ears were partly gibberish. Some mumbling and the whatnots was what he could gather. Eric had to really look at the lips and the gestures made to fully understood what Joseph was saying. Francis. It's been confirmed then. The poor man died too because of the wolf. But why indeed the difference in its killing methods.

Eric's mind began to wander off again. Influenced by Joseph's words, he started to see things. Sub-consciously playing a movie in his head which he'd never before seen. Simply a theatrical display of several possibilities much like in the "CSI" programme or the "Sherlock Holmes" moments. An image of two men. Locked in a confrontation. It's Nick giving a strong blow to Francis's face, breaking the nose. He rewinded the images to the cause of the scene. Ah yes. For groping Chance. So Francis was killed for groping the woman. Then he followed Nick's phantom. Violence. Him hitting Chance. Bruising her. Fucking her. Fucking her, Eric repeated. Nick lost his dick for fucking Chance? Damn! This wolf is quite a bitch, thought Eric. It's jealousy level seemed to surpass that of a toddler. Suddenly, on the far corners of his head, he saw himself. On a bike with Chance. Shit!

The man blinked himself out of the theater his mind was playing for him. Just in time to take the chart Joseph was handing him with. He skimmed through the scribblings. Hardly could he make anything out of it. Then he concentrated. It's starting to form words. If this was to be the kind of effort he needed to put in just to read a bloody report, then he's afraid he needed to find a better time. One when he's not faking a fresh look. His head then turned to look at the coroner. Clearly exhausted. He listened to his accusations. How the heck was the report, all pointing to a dog attack be prove enough to put Chance behind bars, thought Eric. Even if they're both connected to the woman, there was nothing on them that was pointing to Chance. He almost grunted out aloud. Obviously disagreeing with Joseph.

"We should wait until we get the DNA results on the things you'd found and see where that would lead us. If trained dogs are involved and that she's their trainer, then a search warrant is what I need to look into her apartment. Otherwise, you know as much as I do that the evidence is not solid enough to take her in.." said Eric before he turned towards the door. "So get back to me as soon as you gets them.."

Nearing the door, he paused. His head turned to his left, staring down the corridor before doing the same with the right. It seemed clear. But something was amiss. The air was too silent. Not a sound was heard down the whole stretch. Nothing from the other occupants either. Not even the whisper from a television set within any other units. Nor were there even the feint squeaks of mice in the air ducts. The keys then jinggled in his hands as he inserted them into the slots. It's teeth grinding over the springs within the locking mechanism too loudly in the mids of silence. He turned the key clockwise. One round, then another before an astounding click could be heard. Then he turned the doorknob and pushed the door opened.

Before his eyes could focus to the darker interior of his room, something came for him. A flash of light from something sharp caught his attention. Impulsively, Eric side-stepped out of the way. An arm went pass his abdomen with a knife in hand. His right hand quickly went for the wrist of the shadowy figure before slamming his left forearm hard for the intruder's elbow. He pushed his weight down and the joints snapped backwards. Eric heard the man yelled in pain before both him and the masked assassin reached the ground. Viciously, he grabbed the man's head, pull it away from the ground before slamming it back down. Nasal bones cracked from the first impact. The second knocked the man out cold and the third extended the man's sleeping time.

Somebody was trying to kill him in the hotel. It's been only a couple of days since the incident and he's already a target. Laura must've been right all along. They might've thought that Eric knew about it too. Thus they're sending men to kill him. Whoever these people were working for, they seemed to know where he would be. Nowhere was safe for him. He've got to move to a smaller town. Somewhere outside of the big city. Somewhere plain and simple.

The man then attempted to take a long drag from his coffee. Forcing himself to stay focus as he pushed the door of the autopsy room opened. Just why did he have that memory returning to him then, Eric pondered. Was it due to the lack of sleep? Or did he just miss the good old days? Either way, he needed to get himself back home. But before he could take another step further, his eyes caught on something moving. It was huge. Gray. And very fast. Yet time seemed to slow down for Eric as his instincts and adrenaline kicked in. Partly, it was the sight of those rows of teeth and canine fangs as well as those reaching claws that'd triggered his reaction time.

Upon impact, the cup tilted and left the man's hand; spilling the still hot coffee onto the face of the beast. Eric's limbs was thrown out forward as his body curled, slamming back into the swinging doors. The charts in his right hand was thrown back towards the drawers where the dead resides, threatening to awake them with a loud thud. Papers flew out from the clips, swirling about in the gust of wind from the pair of bodies that'd just rushed in. Eric's left forearm went over the creature's right hand while his right went around his back as both his legs kicked the beast's torso. But the kick did not help much as he was slammed unto the solid tiles of the room, hard. He could've sworn his head just bounced a couple of time before it settled. His vision blurred and the room seemed to spin for a moment. Blood pounding within his ears and his body was starting to ache all over. But his mind kept alerting him of the danger he was in. Hence, pain mattered least to him then. He hadn't even realized that his left forearm was in between the creature's jaws as it attempted to go for his arm. He didn't fight the attempt at tearing his arm off for he knew it would only worsen the situation. So instead, Eric let his left arm almost without control. His joints and bones felt like thousands of needles were going through them. The man gritted. Biting down hard on his teeth as he struggled and kicked to gain some room between his back and the floor. Since it was his shoulders that'd gotten pinned down, he managed it.

Tight was his grip on the silver dagger as he motioned it towards the wolf. Eric first swung it under the beast's left armpit, in an attempt to slide through or pierce the rib bones and puncturing it's lungs or heart. The close proximity as well as the sudden counter-attack would take the gray wolf by surprise. Hopefully finding it's target before he would then swung it over the arm and straight to the side of the creature face. Aiming especially for the eye or the temple. He would repeat the attempt should it struck the head even once. His life was at stake and Eric would never take the chance. The man wasn't even certain if the silver thing would work. If not, then he hope his impulses were more rewarding.

Eric stared into the pair of eyes that was before him. No doubt he was scared though. Too damn scared that he became furious at himself. Thus, his own eyes were gleaming with anger instead of fear. Like hell was he going to die in the autopsy room, Eric thought. Just then, he felt as if Joseph was never there. The old man was too stunned to do anything anyway, he presumed. So he'd to only rely on himself. And that was what he did. All energy was concentrated on that single arm as he delivered the blows.