Dedicated to Bryan McDaniel. God rest your soul.

Prologue:

"Hey.. do you want to stop in for coffee or something? ..It'd only take a sec, and I think we both need it. Long day, chilly night." Becky grinned.

"Sure. That'd be great." I said, trying not to smile too broadly. This was going perfect..

Becky unlocked her apartment and led me inside, into her spacious apartment. Pausing in the mirror on the wall, she frowned at her image.

"Oh, I look like hell." She said, frowning deeper at her windswept curly auburn hair and freckles, her chestnut colored eyes hidden behind pale red glasses.

"No, don't be silly. You look beautiful." She was pretty, after all.

"Thanks." Becky said dryly. "I still look like hell though."

Shaking her head, she moved on. I grinned. Becky always acted like this.

"Hey, Sparky!" Becky cried, picking up her grey tiger cat, who meowed in protest.

"I'll go make the coffee." Becky said, turning to me.

"No. I'll do it, you rest."

"But.."

"No. Come on, you're tired. Let me at least give you a minute or two of peace." Your last. I silently added.

"Oh, alright. I need to feed Sparky anyway. Come on, girl, come on Sparks!"

I went into the kitchen and headed straight toward the drawers. I fished around in them, until I found a large, sharp butcher knife.

Holding it up so the light hit it and made it shine, I chuckled softly. I ran my fingers over it lightly.

"Honey? Is it almost ready?" Becky called from the other room.

"In a second!" I called back. And then I walked quietly out of the kitchen.

Becky was petting her cat, crouching and humming. I nearly burst out laughing. Oh, this was so perfect! This would be so much easier than the other two!

I silently crept up to her, holding my knife in front of me.

She must of seen my shadow, because she jumped around.

"Oh! You scared me.." Her voice drifted off and her eyes filled with horror and surprise as she saw the butcher knife. I grinned.

"How 'bout a little blood in that coffee of yours?"

Then it began. Thrusting the knife at her exposed stomach, she gasped as blood began spilling out of the slashes.

**********************************************************************

Pain came in flashes to Becky. More warm blood flowed out of her, leaving her freely, willingly. She was hardly aware of it, she was only aware of the pain.

He stabbed her again, in the chest. She tried to speak, could only grunt and make little whispers of mutterings. She slid down the wall, leaving a trail of blood with her.

More flashes, longer. It began to dim, she knew it was the end. Why? She looked up imploringly at him, but he only laughed. How could he?

He's insane. The thought entered her mind distantly, as though she were thinking it in a dream. This all seemed a dream to her, surreal. He stabbed her once more, the last time. The last flash came to Becky. A flash that's darkness lasted forever.

*********************************************************************

"Meow!" Sparky leaped down from the table she'd been sitting at and glared reproachfully at me.

Waving her paw, she hissed at me, her ears laid back.

I wiped off the knife with the paper I'd brought along, put it into my baggy and then into my pocket.

"Shut up, stupid cat!" I walked out of the apartment, making sure to kick the cat on the way out.

Introducing.. The Reaper Cometh-

# 1 The Shadows Of Death

Chapter 1:

The shadows of death had come quickly. Elisa had watched, with horrified eyes, as her love had fallen. Fallen for her!

"No, no, Goliath!" Elisa had sobbed. She fell to her knees and held Goliath's blood-soaked head, cradling it.

"Wake up, Goliath. You must wake up. Please!" She had whimpered, like a child.

She sobbed, her tears falling onto Goliath, streaming down his face like he was crying too.

What a cruel twist of fate. Elisa was supposed to have died. But Goliath was dead. A group of drunk men had held a gun at Elisa's heart. They had taken her money and now they would kill her. Counting to three. One.. Two. .. There was no three.

Goliath, flying above, saw Elisa at that moment. He knew there was no time to save her, no time to get the gun out of the men's hands. So he had, in an act of love, pushed Elisa out of the way just as the man pushed the trigger and taken the bullet.

Gargoyles protect. They live to protect. Goliath had died protecting Elisa.

Why? Elisa wanted to die, now, looking into Goliath's vacant eyes. She couldn't live without him!

But she had. Now, twenty years later, in 2017, Elisa was 44 years old. 44 and counting. Each year that passed was empty, full of loneliness and hate. For the men that had killed Goliath were never found, never punished. Elisa lived in a world of cold anger and revenge. For the first ten years, all she had cared about was Goliath's revenge. She was bent on it. Some would have called her obsessed. Then she realized that there was nothing she could do and revenge would never come. She went on with her life, but still the bitterness of it was evident in her eyes.

The clan had been good to her. They had tried to comfort her, do fun things with her to cheer her up and just be there for her. But they had given up when they saw that she would never get over Goliath's death. The bullet may have never pierced her heart, but it broke it just the same.

Some people with broken hearts die mercifully of grief. Elisa was not among those who were that lucky.

***********************************************************************

"Elisa, stop staring out that window and get to work." Mr. Hawkins, her new boss, ordered.

"Yes sir."

***********************************************************************

"Hey Mom, how was work?" Megan, her seventeen year old daughter asked.

Elisa had married Matt Bluestone, her old partner, two years after Goliath's death. Matt had been with her all along during her worst times of grief, and sometime during that time, somehow, she had fallen in love with him. Hopelessly. He had returned the love readily and five months later they had married. Perhaps it was just a mixture of her grief and her family urging her to get on with her life, because three years ago he had divorced her.

Elisa sighed and fell into a chair, staring remorsefully at nothing. She had seemed destined for tragic love affairs.

"Mom? You okay?" James, her 13 year old son asked.

"Yeah, sure, honey." Elisa said dully. "Just had a hard day at work and I'm kinda tired.."

Megan and James exchanged glances.

"Hi Mommy!" Ginny, her 6 year old daughter, ran into the room and crawled into her "Mommy's" lap, hugging her tightly.

Ginny's full name was Virginia, but they had called her Ginny for short.

Ginny was the youngest, with honey colored hair and blue eyes. She was a sweetheart, and everyone loved her.

James took after his father, with red hair, blue eyes, and the same kind of face that ensured that you could never take him seriously. He smirked instead of grinning, and everybody always took poor James as a mischievous trouble maker, even though he was actually a good boy, though not exactly what you'd call quiet.

Megan was the oldest, and she had shoulder-length jet black hair like her mother. Her eyes were light brown. She was smart and athletic, but she was the quietest of the group.

Elisa looked at her family and smiled a little. She may have made a mistake with Matt, but she was glad she'd made that mistake, for it'd given her 17 years of happiness and blithe, plus these wonderful children.

"Mom, do you want me to make dinner tonight?" Megan asked gently.

Elisa touched her head lightly- she felt a mild migraine coming on. "Yes, dear, that'd be lovely. Thank you."

Megan went into the kitchen and James walked into his room, where he appeared moments later with his skateboard. The latest trend in New York outside of clothes was skateboarding.

"Mom, I'm gonna go cruise around the 'hood, with Chris and Steve, be back at six." Elisa nodded and James went outside.

"Don't slam the.." SLAM! Elisa cringed. "Door." She whispered.

"Mommy, want me to kiss your head and make it all better?" Ginny said innocently.

"Uh.. sure."

Ginny kissed her on the forehead. "Still hurt?"

"No. Thanks, I'm a lot better now." Elisa said, even though it hurt like hell. Ginny grinned and scooted out of Elisa's lap, running into her room to color with happy ignorance.

Elisa went into the kitchen, opened the cabinet, and took out the Tylenol. Megan frowned.

Chapter 2:

"This is strange." Elisa murmured to herself, adjusting her reading glasses and studying the newspaper she was reading.

"What's that?" Cassandra Smith, Elisa's "new" partner came in the door. She was called Cass for short, and had become Elisa's partner when Matt had quit the force after the divorce, saying that it was too hard to work with your ex-wife. Elisa had agreed and had greeted his departure with a sigh of relief.

Cass was a lot younger than Elisa, maybe 25 or 30. She was engaged and would be married this May. She had short blonde, almost white hair and blue eyes. She was short, 5'5, but very agile and quick. Perkier than Matt but more serious, Elisa liked her a lot. She was nice and a welcome change from Matt. But she had much to learn on the force and had been partnered to Elisa so Elisa could teach her with her "experience."

Elisa set down her newspaper. "Oh, nothing, Cass. Just talking to myself as usual."

"Well what's strange, then?"

"This article says a new murder happened, same as those other two a few months ago. The victim, Rebecca Turner, stabbed and slashed with a knife about a billion times in their own home."

"I fail to see what's strange about that, though very gross." Cass said, crossing her arms over her chest and grinning.

"Well, here's the strange part. It says that witnesses have seen the killer. Some claim it- it- to be female, and others swear it's male."

"Think their mixing the killer up with someone else?"

"No. Because they have the exact same description in both sexes."

"Weird!"

"Definitely. Listen to this. The male form has black hair with a pony-tail, light blue eyes, pale skin, a goatee, and is 6'2. Mid twenties. The female form has long black hair, blue eyes, pale skin and is 5'9. Mid twenties."

"So? You said they had the same exact description and their not. Their a little different."

"So? Maybe it isn't just one killer, maybe there are two. Or one's an accomplice, or they're sister and brother."

"Hmm.. but who..?" Cass wondered aloud.

"I've got it!" She cried.

"What?" Elisa said.

"You know that new computer program designed for the police by Xanatos Inc.? The one that lets you see look up any license of a citizen in the world?"

Elisa smiled at the name. The memories it brought back to her were starting to lose their sharpness. "Yeah. Let me guess you're gonna look for anyone that resembles those two descriptions."

"Exactamundo, Elisa!"

When the program had first been made, the public had been outraged. They thought anyone could get into their personal files. But Xanatos assured them it was only available to the police and they could only use it with permission from their boss and a guard watching to make sure they did not look up anyone they shouldn't.

"Well, okay. I'd better get home before the kids wonder where I'm at. See ya, Cass!"

Chapter 3:

Megan looked around her on the bus in disgust. Kids were talking everywhere and she had a headache. Her best friend, Annie Xanatos sat next to her, staring out the window. Annie was a skinny, kinda short girl with bright red (well, orange) wavy hair down her back, creamy face and big grey eyes that always made a person look at her twice. Her eyes were a little sad looking, holding the wisdom of that much older than a 15 year old girl.

Annie was a really pretty girl but didn't seem to realize it. She was always a million light years away from everyone else, probably planning out a poem to write in her journal that night or just thinking. Megan liked Annie because she was quiet and different from most girls. She was smart, shy, and a great poet and artist. She loved to sketch.

Megan was also quiet, but she wasn't as shy as Annie and she was more serious while Annie was on the dreamy side. People always said Megan seemed older than 15. Megan didn't like that- why should all 15 year old kids just like to party and stuff? She thought she was a nerd or something until she met Annie.

She hadn't liked her right away. Everyone knew Annie was the richest kid in the whole school, possibly the whole city. Her family was really, really rich. Probably billionaires, though Annie never mentioned how much.

They lived in a big building called the Eire Building with a huge medieval castle on top. The castle was from Scotland, and Mr. David Xanatos - Annie's father- had put it there for some insane reason about 20 years ago. Some Gargoyles lived there. Hudson was the oldest, a tan gargoyle with a long white beard and a real Scottish accent. He went blind about five years ago, it had been coming on for quite a while and then one day it just.. happened. He was getting sick. Everybody knew he was going to die soon. God knows he'd lived long enough.

Then there was Broadway. He was green, kind of, and fat. He used to like to eat but recently he decided to go on a diet, exercise, basically lose weight. His mate was Angela. Angela was very pretty with black hair, grey-blue skin and really nice. They had two children- they called them hatchlings- 17 year old Kay, a green gargoyle with shoulder-length black hair and hazel eyes. She wasn't skinny and she wasn't fat. Just normal. She liked to do gliding stunts, play in a punk rock band called Skull Head and dress in black.

Danny was their other kid, he was 12. He was bald with grey skin and really skinny. He liked to goof off and be a dork. He also liked to skateboard and was James' friend. Go fig.

Then there was Lexington. His mate was Benny, a short gargoyle from England. She moved to New York when the public accepted the gargoyles and she and Lex just.. hit it off. She was kind of quiet, but really sweet. She could get kinda sad though, at times, because she couldn't have any children. She was hit by a train in London one night and became unable to have babies. Which was really sad, because both she and Lex really loved children. They were considering adoption, but never really made a decision.

Last but not least was Brooklyn. Brooklyn was tall, skinny, red and had a long beak instead of a nose! He was once a real rebel dude. Megan liked him best. He used to be girl crazy but always had trouble finding a girl who liked him. Then he and Kris got together. Kris was a tall, skinny gargoyle with tan skin and long blonde hair. Her eyes were green and she was very pretty. She was blunt and tough but also nice, and Megan liked to talk to her because she understood things. Kris ran away when she was a teenager and lived off the streets until the clan found her. She had some magic powers, but never told anyone anything about them, except for maybe Brooklyn.

Then.. there was Bryan. He was Megan's age, and looked almost exactly like a 16 year old male version of what Kris would look like. He was pretty cute, and nice. But Megan never thought of him as anything other than a friend.

Next was Bailey, a little girl that had a strange reddish brown color skin and a beak. She was 8. (In between Danny and Bailey was a huge age gap because Kris kept having miscarriages and they wondered if she couldn't have babies anymore, but then, miraculously, Bailey was born and they spoiled her because of it).

Then there was the baby, 1 year old Little Herc. Brooklyn wanted to name their next child after Goliath and decided on Hercules. Which is pretty funny, because Herc is really weak!

Megan's thoughts shifted to Goliath. She'd never met him, he'd died a few years before she was born but she'd heard a lot about him. He was really strong and looked like Angela. He was a good, kind leader and everyone looked up to him and loved him. Especially.. Megan's Mom. She'd heard the tale a billion times. How her Mom first saw Goliath and was so surprised she fell off the castle and Goliath caught her. They fell in love and then Goliath was killed saving Mom although Mom never gave the details on how he saved her.

Megan shivered involuntarily. She knew that Mom had never gotten over Goliath's death, and that was why she was sometimes sad, possibly depressed and had migraines. Megan had to cook for her then, or get take-out.

Annie turned to Megan. "Megan, you've been quiet the past ten minutes. What's up?"

"Just thinking. Oh, did you hear about Mom's new case?"

"Yeah. It's kinda scary.. two killers on the loose, stabbing innocent young men and ladies. I wonder who will be next? It could be any one of us, we're kinda in the age group."

"Stop it, Annie. No killer's going to get any of us."

"I know.. but still! ..Oh well. Oh here's your stop. See ya, Megan. Drop by my place sometime today, kay?"

"Sure. Oh there's Ginny, her bus must have come early." Megan got off the bus and hurried to Ginny. Ginny stood clutching her pink Barbie lunch box with one hand and twirling her blonde hair with a finger with the other.

"How long you been waiting?" Megan asked as she took Ginny's hand and led her across the street. They had two blocks to go.

"Not long. Look, Megan, look what I drew!" Ginny held up a drawing of a house and a chimney and smoke coming out.

"That's our house. See? The teacher said it was nice."

"It's pretty."

"Oh guess what, guess what!" Ginny began to jump up and down excitedly.

"What, Gin?"

"The teacher said I was the first to learn to read and I was the bestest, too!" Ginny grinned proudly, showing a gap between her front teeth.

"That's great, Gin! I'm not supposed to tell you this but your teacher told Mom you might get skipped to first grade!"

Ginny gasped.

"Really? Wow! I'm real smart, huh? But.. I wouldn't want to be in first grade. The kids are so much bigger!" Ginny shuddered, and Megan tried not to laugh.

They turned onto their street, and soon reached their house. It was big and white. Megan took her key out of her backpack and put the key in the front door. But suddenly the door opened slightly..

"Hey.. it's unlocked!"

Ginny started to walk in but Megan grabbed her arm. "Ginny, no! Someone might be in there.. I'll go in first.."

Megan took a math text book out of her backpack and held it in front of her chest as a weapon. She tip-toed in, trying not to look scared.

The place was a wreck. Furniture was overturned, paper was everywhere and everything was strewn out onto the floor. Megan sucked in her breath when she saw it.

On the mirror that was above the TV, in big, black, magic marker someone had wrote:

ELISA MAZA STOP YOUR WORK OR I'LL GET YOU

Chapter 4:

"Yes, Mom. I looked everywhere but no one was there - Ginny, stop crying!- Come over right away Mom I'm scared." Megan hung up the phone and faced Ginny, who was clutching Megan's hand like it was the last thing on earth and looking up at here with tears in her big green eyes.

"Will they really get us? Will they hurt us? Oh, Megan, I'm scared!" Ginny sobbed and wrapped her arms around Megan's waist.

Megan picked her up and wiped the tears off her face. "Don't worry everything will be alright." Megan wondered silently, though, would it?

***********************************************************************

"Holy Shit!" James shouted when he came into the house.

"James, don't swear!" Elisa yelled. She was on her hands and knees, cleaning up the paper and everything. The warning on the mirror was still there.

"Will they really get us?" James said in a dread-filled voice, then he burst out laughing.

"Don't laugh, it isn't funny! They're gonna get us! For reals!" Ginny cried.

"No one's going to get us. It was just a prank by some drunk-assed kid." Elisa said tiredly.

"Mom. Ginny." Megan reminded her.

"Oops."

"Oh what the hell, I already said holy shit and Mom said drunk-assed, the kid's already done for." James said.

" JAMES PAUL MAZA/BLUESTONE, IF YOU SAY ONE MORE SWEAR WORD YOUR GROUNDED FOR A MONTH!!" Elisa screamed at the top of her lungs.

"What's a swear word, Mommy? Is it something bad?" Ginny asked innocently.

"Oh for the love of.."

"Hey, Mom, do you think the killer wrote this?" Megan brought them all back to reality.

"Uh.. I'm not sure."

"Killer?" Ginny whispered, her eyes huge.

She tugged on Elisa's sleeve. "Mommy, there's a killer? Is he gonna kill us?"

Elisa groaned and then sighed. "Megan, take Ginny and James to Central Park for an hour. You may bring Annie along and James you may bring your skateboard and . I promise by that time I'll have everything cleaned up and let's not talk of this again."

Chapter 5:

"So a killer broke into your house and put a warning 'Elisa Maza stop your work or I'll get you?" Annie said casually. Annie and Megan were walking along a path in Central Park. James was way ahead on his skateboard and Ginny was walking out of earshot.

"Mm-hmm. And Mom was really pissed. Not that I blame her. And James comes in swearing and acting like it's a big joke, God, when will that kid grow up?" Megan cried.

"He's 13 going on 8." Annie mused.

"Really. Anyway, how was your day?"

They both laughed.

Suddenly Annie stopped and looked solemnly at Megan. "Do you think your Mom's gonna get killed, Megan?"

Megan gulped. "I.. I don't know. I.. hope not."

"Maybe she shouldn't work on that case."

"She's pretty determined. She acted like that whole break-in was nothing."

"If.. she dies.. then you'll have to move to that apartment with your Dad." Annie said carefully.

"God.. I love Dad and everything and he's a great guy but his apartment is so little."

"I know. Oh, I didn't mean to be gruesome. I'm sure your Mom won't die.."

Megan didn't answer. She was lost deep in thought.

Chapter 6:

"Damn. Damn, damn, damn!" I cried, throwing down the newspaper in disgust. "Why won't they live me alone? They do not know!"

The papers were at it again. Filled with tragic talk about the life and death of Becky Richards, talking about the murderer, how the murderer may have an accomplice or there may be two, brother and sister or cousins or something. Two sketches were drawn on the newspaper article which was on the front page, one of a male and one of a female.

I gazed down at the male sketch thoughtfully, fingering my goatee. It would have to come off. I loved the goatee, but it would just have to come off. And.. what else? I could change my hair a little, and wear a hat. Maybe even get a wig or change the color of my eyes with those colored contacts lenses.

"Am I feeling like a blonde today, with brown eyes? No, I think a brunette suits my mood today more. With green eyes!" I laughed at the thought. That may be going too far.. I could just shave the goatee, change my hair and wear a hat. They wouldn't recognize me. And.. I could always buy a wig if things get too hairy!

Laughing at my own stupid joke, I decided to leave my cluttered apartment for a while and take a walk downtown. Maybe find a new victim.

*********************************************************************

"Mommy! MOMMY! Bryan yelled at me!" Bailey was screaming at the top of her little lungs when Megan entered the Eerie building. She looked at Owen, who only shrugged helplessly.

"Megan! You're here!" Annie appeared at the top of the long stairs, racing down them, her shocking red hair flying behind her.

"Don't mind Bailey, Bryan only snapped at her because she wouldn't leave him alone." She said.

"I figured as much." Megan said dryly.

Megan followed Annie back up the stairs.

"This place is a nuthouse! I sure am glad we live in a mansion, there are so many people and gargoyles and little kids running around I don't know what to do! Half the time I spend now is baby-sitting."

Megan nodded. The mansion was a sharp contrast to her home, where half the time James and Mom were gone, leaving Megan alone to take care of Ginny or do.. whatever. 20 years ago, the only people who lived in this mansion were Xanatos and Owen, but things changed rapidly when Xanatos got married and the clan came. As the clan's younger members, Brooklyn, Lexington and Broadway found mates, there become more and more families until it became like a zoo. Since Annie liked things to be quiet, and so did Megan, Megan did not particularly feel envious of Annie at this moment.

"Let's go up to the top of the castle and look at the stars, kay? It's probably the only peaceful place in the mansion!" Annie said.

At least during day-time things were more quiet. None of the clan was up. But then, it was November, and as the days began growing shorter there was less and less time for peace.

"All I do nowadays is wake up, go to school and like an hour or so after I get back the clan wakes up. Sheesh."

They reached the top of the castle. The sky was a deep blue which was slowly turning black. It was nearly 7:00 and the sun had set two hours ago, meaning the clan had been up for two hours. Megan was used to coming over at night because on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and weekends Elisa had night-shift. She'd had a little day-shift so she could spend a little time with her family.

"Look at the stars. What would you wish if you could wish upon just one star, Megan?" Annie whispered dreamily.

"I don't know.. to be rich, to have a movie star hottie as a boyfriend and to be a famous movie star?" Megan cracked. There really was nothing Megan wanted. (Author's Note: Which will change later on in the series..)

Bryan walked out onto the castle top. "Well what a nice surprise. My two favorite humans on the same roof. Not to mention the cutest." He said, grinning.

Annie blushed and smiled. "Hi, Bryan."

"Hi." Megan said with a short wave.

Bryan walked up to the edge and gazed silently at the night for several moments. Finally, Annie smiled awkwardly.

"Nice night, isn't it?"

At that moment, Kris walked slowly out of the room connected to the castle roof. Her hair was a little mussed, and Kris always had perfect hair. She wore no lipstick, Kris always wore lipstick. And she had the saddest look on her face..

"Kris.. are you okay?" Megan asked.

"Yeah. Sure. What's the difference anymore." She said bitterly.

Brooklyn walked out, frowning. He seemed older than the last time Megan had seen him. "Kris.."

No one spoke for a moment. Then Megan looked at Kris worriedly.

"What's wrong?" She asked softly.

The reaction was fantastic. Kris's eyes blurred with tears. She looked around in bewilderment, and then with a sob, ran back into the castle.

Brooklyn looked sternly at Megan. "You shouldn't have done that!" And then he followed Kris. "Darling.. wait.."

An awkward silence ensued. Megan looked uncomfortably at the others and then cleared her throat.

"Um.. what's wrong with Kris?" She said, her voice trembling.

Tears filled Annie's eyes. For a moment Megan was afraid she was going to run in the house. But then she blinked and looked sadly at Megan.

"It's Herc.. he's sick." She said.

"Oh.."

"Well.. not sick. But something's wrong with him. The doctors say he may never walk or fly, but they're not sure why yet. They're doing all these tests.. and it's really killing Kris. Every time one of us even mentions Herc's name she bursts into tears."

"And Brooklyn. He acts all tough and nonchalant, and always comforts Kris, but you can tell sometimes he just wants to cry, too. Me, I just want to scream and scream forever. The tension's so bad, everyone thinks Herc will die. I don't know what to do." Annie looked away, at the stars.

Bryan cleared his throat. He had been standing there silently the whole time Annie had been talking.

"Thank you for that nice speech, human."

His eyes turned white and with a growl he turned and jumped off the castle and down into the sky.

"Bryan, wait! I didn't mean- .." Annie was cut off.

"Just leave me alone!!" Bryan glided off into the night.

Another awkward silence. More sadness. More guilt. God, I hate this night. Megan thought bitterly.

Annie was still looking out at the sky. Megan noticed she was shaking. A single tear dripped slowly down her cheek, glistening in the moonlight.

"Annie, I-.."

"Thanks a lot, Megan! Thanks for ruining everyone's night! You make everyone feel bad." Annie swiveled around and faced her friend darkly.

"Annie!" Megan cried in surprise. She'd never seen her so mad.

"I hate you! Why don't you go home before you make someone else cry!" With a sob, Annie ran away.

Megan stood still for a moment, sadness washing over her like a blanket. Then she turned and walked slowly into the castle.

I'm probably the only one who actually walked into the castle tonight. She thought unhappily.

***********************************************************************

The phone rang. With a sigh, Elisa reached over her desk and picked it up from somewhere inside the depths of a hundred papers.

"Hello?"

"Elisa. It's me."

"Cass! Good timing. I was just going through these files looking for a match, and my desk is covered in files."

"Sorry, Elisa. But this is important."

"What? Did you go on the computer and find something?" Elisa asked hopefully.

"No." Cass sighed. "It's out of order. Has a few bugs in it or something, and they're fixing it."

"Oh. Darn. Well, what then?"

"Listen." Cass's voice automatically lowered, and she sounded more serious.

"Listen. I've found out what apartment the victim, Rebecca Adams lived in. We can check out the murder site, and talk to her neighbors. I've got a search permit and everything."

"Okay, now we're getting somewhere! Let me clean up and I'll meet you there at the apartment in about a half hour. Give me the address."

************************************************************************

"Finally! What took you so long?" Cass cried good-naturedly as Elisa met her in front of the apartment.

"Well, this is the place. Apartment C2. Scary!" Cass said.

"Oh, shut up." Elisa said, smiling.

The door was ajar. They walked through, and saw two men in the apartment. Cass showed them the search permit and they nodded and went on with their work, which was dusting the place for fingerprints.

Elisa gazed at one spot of the empty apartment silently. It was in a corner, with a cat's food and water dishes beside it. Blood stains covered the wall and dark puddles of faded red, now brown stained the white carpet.

Cass followed her gaze and her eyes widened. Gulping, she walked over to it and crouched before one puddle of dried blood. Face pale, Cass turned to Elisa.

"I.. didn't know it was so bad. Look at all this bloodwow." She shivered.

"I know.. what horrible person could have done this?" Elisa whispered.

"We have to ask her neighbors. They might have seen her with someone.. this could be our key to solving this case, Elisa. Some one must have been here tonight."

Stepping out of the apartment, they went to one next door, Apartment C3. Cass rapped on the door and they waited. After a few moments, a man with unruly brown hair appeared. He scowled at them as Cass held up their search permit and they each held up their police badges.

"If this is about the murder.. I ain't talkin' no more." He said in a gruff voice.

"Sir.. we have a search permit. Please let us in, we only want to ask you a few questions. It will only take a moment." Elisa said softly.

"Ah, that's wot the other cops said. An' then They's kept me up half the night, barkin' they's head off at me. They's said I was a sispect. Well I ain't done nothin'! She was dead and I wan' there, so's you can's leave me alone now! " But after this speech, he let them in.

The apartment was cluttered with all sorts of junk and grime. The man noticed their stare and cleared his throat.

"I ain't had time ta clean up.. me job keeps me busy all night lon', and I's too tired to clean in da' day."

True enough, he appeared to have been sleeping. He was wearing a stained grey T-shirt over blue and white striped boxer shorts. Elisa nodded sympathetically.

After he bade them to sit down on a faded but surprising clean green couch, he began to talk.

"Me name's Johnson. Kelly Johnson. Please excuse me bad grammar, I ain't been in da states too lon' an' even though I know the language, I ain't too well at speakin' it good, know what I mean?"

"Forgive me for asking, but where did you live before, Mr. Johnson?" Cass asked politely.

"Grew up in Germany, I's did. Me Dad was in the army, but American. We din' move to America 'till I was near 12, and in da small southern hick town I lived in, most people spoke like this."

"I see. Mr. Johnson, where were you at the time of Rebecca Turner's untimely death." Cass said.

Elisa smiled. Whenever a murder was involved, Cass got melodramatic at the questionings.

Mr. Johnson immediately became sullen and surly again. "I's alreedy told's the other cops, I ain't no where's near her when she was keeled. I's was at work, an' you can call me boss, if ya's don' believe me." He scowled.

"Um, that's okay, Mr. Johnson. We believe you." Cass said, exchanging a look with Elisa that said: This man's innocent.

Elisa nodded. "Mr. Johnson, what do you know about Rebecca Turner? Did you know her well?"

The man softened at the name. "We all knew her well.. she liked to be called Becky, she did. She was a young one, only 28. Me, I'm 50, only ten more years an' I can retire an' clean this place up, me boss says." He smiled and for the first Elisa noticed his graying hair and wrinkles.

"She was a sweet one, always had a nice word for someone. When I had's a headache, she always came over an' gave me some Tylenol an' tea. I's had a headache each day since she died, but no one came over.." Tears filled his light blue eyes.

"Er.. she was an artist. Always drawin' and sketchin' and dreamin'. An' always with that damned cat of hers! What's her name, Sparky? Mrs. Goode across the hall took her. I woulda took her, but I ain't have time or money fer a cat."

"Mr. Johnson.. did Becky have a boyfriend?"

Mr. Johnson smiled. "Why, yes, she jus' got one a while back. She was so excited, she's blabbed all about him to me."

"Could you tell us about him? What was he like, what did he look like, what was his name?"

Mr. Johnson's head shot up. "Why, you don't think he did it, do ya?"

"We're not sure, but there's a serial killer who kills people this exact same way. We believe it may have been her boyfriend, because in all the killings, people said the boyfriend or girlfriend came in right before the victim was found killed."

Mr. Johnson stared out the window for a moment. In a dull, sad voice, he answered them. "His name was Jacob Sanders. At least that was what she said. His hair was black and his eyes blue - the most amazing blue, Becky said- an' he had a goatee of sorts. He was tall and well-built, Becky said. Mind you, I never met him afore in me life, but Becky talks.. talked.. about him all 'da time. She din' know him to long, but they's met at the park. She was sketchin' at 'da park and, well, he comes up and says a compliment of sorts. She always fell for people easy, it don' surprise me she took to a killer. She was always too sweet, too innocent.. too naïve." He cleared his throat.

Cass and Elisa looked at each other.

"Mr. Johnson, thank you for being so cooperative. We're sorry for taking up you're time, and we'll only ask one more question. Did Becky tell you where "Jacob Sanders" lived?" Cass said.

"Why no, 'course not. She jus' said he lived in New York City too, and also in a apartment."

"Thank you. We'll be on our way now, we are very sorry for the pain all this has caused. Becky seemed so nice."

"She was. The nicest person I's ever met."

**********************************************************************

They asked a few more people around but found out nothing more. All the people said the same thing. That she was sweet, nice, and they all liked her. As Elisa and Cass began walking to their cars, Elisa turned to Cass.

"Cass, it got to you, didn't it?"

Tears filled Cass's deep blue eyes. "How could it not? She seemed so nice, and so innocent. She was in love with the man and he turns around and kills her. It's so awful, I just want to get him now and put him where he cannot hurt another person again." Her eyes flashed.

"So do I.." Elisa said softly.

Chapter 7:

Annie sat on her bed, softly crying. She didn't know what to do, she hurt Bryan and took it out on poor Megan.. would Megan ever forgive her?

But she'd hurt Bryan. And she'd rather.. die.. than hurt Bryan.

Suddenly a rap came at her window. Annie turned in surprise, she'd chose to live in the castle area of the house because it seemed so romantic. Only a gargoyle could knock on a window up so high.

Bryan was outside her window, clutching the castle wall. His bangs kept falling into his eyes, and he kept brushing them away.

With a smile, Annie leapt from the bed and ran to the window. A gust of wind blew in as she opened it, and Bryan gratefully squeezed through (It was large enough for him to come through).

Annie closed the window and turned to him.

"It's cold out there! And windy. Brr." He shivered.

"Bryan, I'm sorry! I didn't mean-.."

"No, it's okay. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gotten so angry. I came here to apologize."

"You're forgiven!" Annie cried, smiling at him. Oh, he was so sweet!

She was about to give him a hug when he backed away. "Well, I better go. See ya 'round, kid."

And he was gone. Off in another part of the castle, not in Annie's arms. With a sigh, Annie fell unto her bed and covered her face with her hands.

**********************************************************************

"WHY?? WHAT DID I EVER DO TO YOU, COMPUTER??" Elisa screamed as the weekly case report was suddenly erased as the computer froze. She had worked two hours on that report, and now it was gone. Gone! Sob.

"I really should remember to save. Oh, Cass." Elisa said in a sing-song voice.

Cass was just walking into the room. "What?"

"Would you write the weekly case report? I know it's my turn but I've had a few, uh, difficulties."

"Let me guess. The computer froze again and you lost the report." Cass replied dryly.

"The computer hates me, Cass!"

"Maybe you should save."

"Oh, bah humbug!"

"That's right, the holidays are coming up. You know, me and Jack are getting married on Valentine's Day. It's almost here!"

"Relax, girl. Still two more months. Thank god. Ginny's driving me up the wall. She wants everything she sees."

Cass began humming the song "Material Girl" as she began shifting papers around casually on her desk.

"Um, Elisa. Maybe you should save the report for later. Because I think that today will be the day we catch Mr. Sanders!!"

"What!?"

"I finally got to use that search thing Elisa. I typed in Jacob Sanders and found this guy with black hair, a goatee, and blue eyes. It also showed three other people with the same picture on their license! His alibis, no doubt. One was James McCollins, another Alexander White!"

"And the third..?"

"Um.. Michelle Jenson."

"What!?"

"It just appeared, Elisa! A picture of a girl with long black hair and the same blue eyes as "Mr. Sanders." It doesn't make sense, but at least we got the address where he lives.. or she."

Elisa narrowed her eyes. "Let's go."

**********************************************************************

They're coming. I just know they are. Can feel it in my bones. I keep looking out the window, nervously. I should get out, and wait for them.

It's Elisa Maza that gets me. She just makes me so mad. I mean, I warned her to stay away and she and her bimbo partner just keep right on going, asking everybody in Becky's apartment about Becky, and of course they feel sorry for Becky by now. But they don't know. They wouldn't understand!

Turning away from the window, I get the keys. It's time to play a little game, Elisa.

**********************************************************************

"Stupid writer's block." Annie muttered. Setting down her pen and pushing away her blank piece of lined paper, she looked out the window glumly. It was getting dark, the sun gone. the gargoyles probably just woke up. Annie didn't hear their loud growls, she was probably too deep in thought.

"Hey, Annie, what's up?"

Annie jumped. "Hmm?" She said, hoping to sound indifferent.

It was Megan. Annie had apologized already, of course, and everything was back to normal.

"You don't sound too happy to see me." Megan sat down with a bounce on Annie's white bed.

"What..? Oh! Yes I am. Just thinking." Annie stammered.

"So what's up, absent professor?"

"Not much. Tried to write a poem, but I had writer's block.. I mean, it's like I want to write a poem about my thoughts, but my thoughts won't go into a poem."

"Okay. Sometimes you make no sense at all, you know."

"I know." Annie said, her eyes twinkling.

"Heeeeerrrreee's Puck!" Puck burst into the room with Herc in his arms. When Alex was 16, he repaid Puck for his dutiful years of service to Xanatos by giving him back his powers full time. Needless to say, Puck was overjoyed.

"Herc! Hello, little guy!" Megan cried.

Puck gently gave him over to her, and Megan affectionately held him, grinning.

"How you doing, little guy?" Megan said softly.

Herc gurgled and grabbed a fistful of Megan's dark hair.

"Meh!" He laughed. "Meh, Meh!"

Annie laughed. "He's saying Megan!"

"So how is he doing, Puck?" Megan asked, turning to him.

"I'm not sure, I don't think much has changed. He still can't walk or use his wings at all. Most hatchlings can glide by the time they are five months old, a little. Not Little Herc, though. If you ask me, he's either extremely delayed, or crippled." Puck sighed.

"Crippled!" Megan exclaimed.

"Oh no, poor Herc. Poor, poor Hercules." Annie murmured, taking Herc from Megan's arms and hugging him tightly.

"At least he's not retarded, or has a fatal disease or heat condition." Puck said with forced cheerfulness.

"Robin Goodfellow! That's not nice!" Annie said.

"But, I.."

Oh, never mind. Here, have Hercules back. Megan, what say we go to the mall awhile and check out the guys?"

Megan grinned. "I say that sounds good. Bye Puck!"

************************************************************************

Cass rapped hard on the apartment door. Elisa hesitated, then brought out her gun. Cass did, too.

"We know you're in there! This is the police! Open up!" Cass screamed.

Silence. They waited a moment, then knocked again.

"He's not stupid. He's not going to open the door, Cass."

Cass sighed and hung her head dejectedly. "I know.. he just makes me so.. mad.." Tears burned at her starry eyes, and Elisa frowned.

"What did Mr. Hawkins tell you about getting too emotionally involved with your cases, Cass? I mean, come on."

Cass looked at her. "Someone's got to care, Elisa. There are people whose lives were ruined by that man, their hopes and dreams vanishing with his knife. And the ones who survived, who were the victim's friends and family, they weren't much luckier."

"Nice speech." Elisa said dryly.

"Oh, shut up, Elisa! Did anyone care when Goliath died, huh? I mean, besides the tabloid writers and media, hmm? No, of course not. Besides the clan, there was practically no one who would give a rat's tail if Goliath died. And how did you feel then, hmm? Sure, you had your Dad and your Mom but they didn't know. And oh yeah, there's your sister and your brother whose a mutant. But you couldn't tell them how you felt. And the clan, you couldn't go to them. Too many memories and broken dreams. Oh yes, Elisa, there was no one. And how did you do then? There was only your partner, but all that left you with was three kids and a hundred bills."

Elisa stared at her, her face ashy. " This isn't the time to talk about this, Smith." She said acidly.

"Sure, Maza. What was I thinking? After all, I'm just a rookie."

Suddenly there was a crash coming from inside the apartment.

"Dammit! We forgot all about Jacob Sanders!" Elisa cried.

Without warning, Cass slammed her body into the door. Elisa stepped back, gasping.

"Are you out of your mind!? What are you.."

"Oh for God's sake, Elisa, what does it look like I'm doing? I'm trying to break down the door! Now would you help?"

Cass nodded to three then slammed into it again. The second time she counted, Elisa slammed into it with her. The door shook, and then with a loud, eerie squeak, it gave in.

Chapter 8:

Cass coughed. Tears from the clouds of dust the door had created blurred her eyes. She could hear doors opening in the halls and voices murmuring and exclaiming, but Elisa was showing them her badge.

"It's okay, we're with the police. Go back to you're work.." Elisa was saying from somewhere far away.

Cass cringed. It was just like her to do that. So professional, so know-it-all. Thought she was the best in the force just because she'd been a cop for over 20 years. And try as she might, Cass would always be the underdog, the little partner who had just joined.

A shiver of pain went up her side and leg. Ouch, she must have slammed too hard into the door.

She sighed and looked around. The man was nowhere to be seen. All the furniture was normal looking enough, not what you'd think a serial killer's home would look like. Cass wondered what a serial killer's home should look like. Shaking her head, she reminded herself to remind herself why she was here. It was simple. Revenge.

***********************************************************************

Jacob laughed silently from behind the garbage cans in the alleyway below the apartment. He had turned over a table just to get their attention, then he had climbed out of the window and went down the fire escape to the alley below.

This would be so much fun. He would finally get back Elisa for ruining his life, for making him what he was. And it would be so much fun. He had so much planned. One simple thought whirred in his mind. Revenge.

***********************************************************************

Cass saw that the table was overturned. Walking over, she examined it. It was hard wood and heavy. The floor beneath was wood too, so that would explain the crash. Turning, her eyes widened as she saw the window, and the fire escape leading to an alley full of trash.

"Oh, Elisa.." She called.

**********************************************************************

"It's getting late, Cass. Soon it will be dark, and I promised the kids I'd be home at six." Elisa grumbled as she descended down the fire escape.

"Be quiet, he might be down there." Cass whispered.

"Then he could also see us, Cass."

"Just shut up."

Reaching the alley, Elisa looked around. There was nothing but bags of trash and garbage cans. The stench was overpowering, and she began to wonder about rats. Still, it'd be a great place for a serial killer to hide..

Cass cried out suddenly and fell to the ground. Elisa ran to her, her eyes wide.

"Cass? Cass!? Cass!" She cried.

Cass groaned and sat up, rubbing side. "I'm okay. I think I hurt myself when the door gave in, and my leg just gave out."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, sure. Dandy." She stood shakily.

All of a sudden, a garbage can lid flew at Elisa's head. She had no time to cry out or move as it cut into her, causing blinking lights and a dull aching noise inside her skull as she sank slowly to the ground.

"Elisa.. Elisa.." Someone was saying from far away, the voice slurred. The world whirred around Elisa, and then there was nothing.

***********************************************************************

"Elisa!? ELISA!!" Cass screamed, shaking Elisa, who only drooped her head and shut her eyes.

Cass sprang to her feet. "No!!" She shouted. "I won't you kill her- not like you killed my cousin!"

She took out her gun and held it in front of her menacingly.

"Where are you?? Where the hell are you, Jacob Sanders?"

From somewhere in the shadows a voice spoke. "I killed your cousin?" It sounded surprised.

Cass walked quickly toward the voice, not frightened.

"Yes! You killed her, you killed Rebecca Turner, my cousin."

A young man stepped out of the shadows. He was tall and good looking, with coal black short hair and amazing light blue eyes that looked almost grey. He was clean-shaven, having shaved off his goatee.

Jacob grinned. "Amazing what shaving can do to your appearance, huh?" He winked.

"Oh, don't try your charm on me. I know what you do to the women you pretend to love. You're sick, Jacob, really sick."

Jacob raised his eyebrows. "I wasn't going to "try my charm" on you. And as for that.. well.. you don't know."

Cass glared at him in pure, utter hatred. I won't need to know anything to get behind bars for life, Jacob. We already have all the evidence we need."

"Well isn't that nice. But unfortunately, you'll be dead before the trial." Jacob shrugged. "Oh well."

And with that, he slipped back into the shadows.. somewhere hidden in all that junk.. but where?

Chapter 9:

Jacob hid behind a large dark garbage bag. He watched, quiet. He wanted to go over to Elisa Maza and kill her. Repay her for all the misery she caused him, for ruining his life.

"It's over, Elisa. Starting tonight, you'll be dead." An evil smile curved at his lips. He began to crawl between the garbage bags, low to the ground, like a solider in the trenches. Very slowly, he began to take a knife out of his large coat pocket. Suddenly, he drew back. Damn, he'd forgotten about his gloves! Wait.. he had an idea.. yes.. that would work. Perfectly. He resumed crawling, his knife poised above his head menacingly in his hand, his smile slightly more evil.

************************************************************************

Tears filled Cass's eyes. No. No, no. This was not the way it was supposed to be. She was supposed to have arrested Jacob by now. Have him in jail. But he was gone.. where? Was he going to kill Elisa now? Like he had killed Rebecca? Cass had tried to save her, tried to warn her. But Rebecca hadn't believed her, and now she was dead.

If Elisa died.. Cass shook that thought out of her head, and walked over to where Elisa lay. She stood in front of her body, guarding it.

"Just try it, Jacob!" Cass shouted.

A few moments of silence passed. Maybe he had left. No, that wasn't like him. He was more likely waiting in silence, hidden. Waiting. Waiting for the exact moment to strike, the most vulnerable moment when the prey is scared, so the predator can strike. Strike to kill.

A hand reached out and grabbed Cass's ankle.

Chapter 10:

"Come on, we were supposed to be home long ago! My Mom's gonna kill me, Annie."

"Hey, I'm doing my best here. But this traffic..! Hey! Watch it!" Annie screamed and honked her horn at a pickup trunk that pulled in front of her without warning.

Megan smiled and shook her head. "Those damn teenagers! What is the world coming too? Really. When I was a teenager, now, I drove safely. I never did anything stupid, like drink and drive, or not wear a seatbelt."

"Ha ha. You're hilarious." Annie smiled at her from the driver's seat.

"Man, can you believe how crowded that mall was? But at least I scored a cool new shirt."

"Yeah, that's a real nice shirt. Silver. Real becoming on you."

"Hey, you're just jealous. I have the right complexion for it and you don't. "

"Right." Annie rolled her eyes and turned on the radio.

"Okay. We're home!" She said.

************************************************************************

The hand curled around Cass's ankle, tightening.

Cass screamed and jerked, but instead lost her balance and fell to the ground next to Elisa. Another hand wrapped around her other ankle, and began to drag her over the ground.

"No! Stop!" Cass stammered, hysterically whapping at the hands and trying to tear them off her ankles. It was all in vain, for the owner of the hands was very strong, possessing inhuman strength, and pulling Cass along at an alarming rate over the ground.

Her eyes widened in horror and her mouth dropped open. She began to scream as she saw the owner of the hands. And the knife pointed right for her. Jacob began to laugh.

***********************************************************************

Elisa groaned. From deep within her she began to become aware of the world. And the world was spinning. Elisa tried to sit up, and flopped back down again as pain swirled inside her head. Then she remembered.

"Oh.." The world slowly stopped spinning, and Elisa tried again. There, that was better. Gingerly, she touched a sore spot on her head and winced as the sore spot stung worse. She put her hand down and stared at her fingers, covered in blood.

"Oh great." Maybe that garbage can lid had rust on it and now she was going to have to get a shot. Considering she survived this night.

Elisa stood slowly and looked around. Where was Cass?

A shrill scream echoed throughout the alley, and Elisa swiveled around, not noticing the pain. Now she noticed two forms in the far end of the alley, hidden in the shadows. Creeping towards them, she found Cass sitting helpless on the ground, and a tall, slender woman with dark hair holding a knife. Cass was moving, and the knife was aimed to hit her right in the stomach or chest if she continued to move towards it. So close..

Chapter 11:

Cass saw her life flash before her eyes in that knife. Well, not really. All she could think of was her cousin's eyes and the gleam of the knife. She wasn't sure why she couldn't get a focus on things. Everything seemed like a dream. She seemed to be moving so slowly..

All of a sudden, Jacob was falling toward the ground. And reality snapped back into focus.

Cass had stopped moving, and a noise rang through her ears, like that of a gun shooting off. Jacob hit the ground, blood spilling out of his body. Jacob was shot. Cass realized.

She turned about and found Elisa standing a few feet away, a gun in her hands. A large gash ran across her forehead, drops of blood running from it.

"Oh, Elisa. You saved me!" Cass leaped up and hugged Elisa tightly.

Elisa stood there, motionless. "Uh, you're welcome. Um now, let's see who this woman is."

"It's Jacob Sanders."

"What..? Um, Cass, are you alright? Jacob Sander is a guy."

Cass smiled. "We'll talk about it later, okay? Now let's see if he's dead."

Elisa bent over the body and felt her.. his.. pulse. "I'm afraid she.. the person is not dead."

"Oh.. oh well. It's over for Jacob Sanders anyway."

Epilogue:

"Come again?" Elisa asked, dumbfounded.

Cass sighed. "Okay. I'll go over this one more time. Remember that time when I lost my badge, and so I had to take yours when I needed to check the safety of an experiment a doctor was performing? Well.."

" Jacob Sanders was from the New York City Insane Asylum. He had killed his mother, sister, father and fiancée one night with a knife when he snapped a few years ago."

"The work was just too much for him at his job, and he a lot of stress on his mind what with his parent's recent divorce and his upcoming wedding. So he just.. snapped. He took a butcher knife and cut up and stabbed his family and fiancée several times."

The police found his fingerprints on the bodies and knife and went to his apartment where they found everything torn up and broken. The furniture was overturned, the windows broken, the paintings cracked, deep indents in the wall where he had thrown heavy objects, and papers scattered everywhere. It was horrible. They found him sitting on the ground with his back to the wall, muttering over and over how no one knew. That was the only thing he would say, except when they told him they had found his fingerprints on the bodies he said

"I should have used gloves."

I know this, I read the police files. Anyway, a doctor said he had a way to cure Jacob Sanders. He took Jacob to a lab and began performing experiments. On the day I lost my badge, I was told to go there and check things out. I was desperate, so I took your badge. Man, I wish I hadn't."

"While I was there, alone, I knocked over some liquids in some containers, and they spilled onto Jacob where he was strapped in a bed. I watched in horror as his clothes began to burn holes where the liquid hit him, and he began to change.. like, like he was mutating or something."

"I panicked. I ran out of there, and as I did, your badge fell out of my pocket. Jacob must have seen it and thought you were the one who spilled the liquids. "Well, the news said Jacob had escaped. How, they didn't know. To get out of the straps you'd have to possess inhuman strength. And now Jacob did."

" I also figured out from what you said after he began ..killing.. again.. that he could change from male into female, so that's why you saw him as a woman."

Cass finished and took a deep breath, and shut her eyes for a moment. She still hadn't told Elisa about Rebecca. She never would.

Elisa sat still for a moment. They were in their office, and it was a few days later. Elisa had a bandage wrapped around her head, but was otherwise fine.

"But.. now he's harmless."

Cass nodded. "He's in a coma. He can't hurt anyone anymore."

He will never hurt anyone again. Cass thought, as she turned away and gazed out the window. If only I could have gotten to him before he hurt Rebecca..