Cold Hands ✔️

twenty

chapter 20; from hell

"You're wrong, Frankenstein didn't create the female companion for the monster because it was Mary Shelley's way of saying that women are an after thought, and that Victor associated women with suffering, evil and sex. It can be further argued that his subconscious no longer sees the need for woman since he created man." My voice rose. 

"That is making the book more complicated than it is. Victor didn't make the female because he could see that a reproduction and continuation of the monster would create chaos on Earth. He didn't create her because he came to his senses and knew that the monster shouldn't be alive in the first place." Reid argued back, his hands balled at the side.

"Kids, stop fighting, kiss and make up, we've got a case." Rossi said from the landing. I turned to glare at Reid.

"Just admit that you have internalized misogynistic views that you are projecting and don't want to confront." I hissed and stormed off towards the conference room, giving him no time to respond.

"As if! If anything you can't admit that some books are made just for pleasure and only have surface level themes." He shouted from behind me. When I got to the landing I stuck out my tongue at him before going into the room. Yes it may seem childlike, but I always want to have the last word and that was close enough.

"Sorry crime fighters, but we've got another victim from the Raven. Catherine Edison was found murdered last night outside of a club, her throat cut and stomach open. There was a...oh my..." Garcia breathed deeply. "Her kidney was delivered to her boyfriend at his home this morning."

"Reid, Ripper, Morgan and Rossi will fly over to investigate. If it's anything like the last few cases, then there isn't a need for all of us to be there. We can consult on other cases from here." Hotch told us. "Wheels up in 30 for you."

~~~

"It's kind of strange how you can do this everyday." Harper said, looking down at the body in front of us. I looked over at my partners, and when I was sure they couldn't hear me I answered.

"How so?"

"What do you mean "how so?" This woman is brutally murdered. I mean, we see it on TV but that's all effects. You actively choose to wake up each day and confront death." Harper sighed. Her hands were behind her back as she leaned over, a grimace on her face.

"I can compartmentalize well. It makes it easier to process the macabre." 

"I guess so. You are really good at your job. And that's coming from yourself." Harper laughed a little and I rolled my eyes, kneeling next to the body.

I looked at the scene from this new angle, going back to examining the corpse in front of us. She was badly injured, her neck wound probably being her C.O.D. The woman was posed behind a dumpster in the alley, killed last night and not found until the morning. Her clothes were stained with blood which ran into the ground, meaning she was killed here and not moved. There was no card next to the victim, but since it was found with the kidney at the boyfriends house it makes sense that that was the only one.

"It wasn't done in the same place or even month as our last victim. Jack The Ripper killed two women in the span of an hour. This one is different, I think the unsub is morphing the kills into his own." Reid spoke up, coming to stand next to me.

"I don't agree. It still follows all the Jack The Ripper autopsy results, same first name and kidney taken. I think he got what he wanted last time and just continued on his path. It's still on the 20th." I looked at him, waiting for him to respond.

"Do you always have to fight back? We've seen this before, our unsub is devolving." Reid turned towards me, his tone was quiet yet firm, which I did not appreciate at all.

"Are you seriously going to do this here?" I sighed, keeping my composure calm as I turned to look at him. If you ever want someone to feel guilty or embarrassed, don't acknowledge their anger.

~~~

Reid didn't want to like Adeline, so he made his dislike more apparent. He fought against Adeline as much as he could. If I fight against her more, he thought, then my affection will dissolve. It was a fluke, a one time thing.

Adeline felt the same. If she fought against him, then she wouldn't have to confront her feelings. Harper was making that hard for her, but she tried her hardest. If he wanted a fight, physically or mentally, her fists were already up. 

The two glared at each other, testing to see who would break first. Which was a ridiculous thing, since they were currently standing over a dead body. Neither moved, staring at the other with all the hate they could muster. Adeline had to be the first to break away, her phone buzzed. She peaked at the screen to see if it was as important as her stare off, where she had just lost the upper hand.

ATTN: FROM HELL

"Son of a biscuit." She muttered under her breath, causing Reid to stand next to her in a heartbeat, gazing at the screen.

FROM HELL

So happy to see you healing well, despite you being useless. If you just played along, my dear, then you wouldn't have been hurt. Although I do love how I've left my mark on you. Nevertheless, your loyalty is rather attractive. Next time you won't make it out alive if you don't cooperate.

I like watching you squirm. It's not often that I can get you on your toes. Maybe if you just loosen up we can all have some fun. Just the three of us. But alas, you are proving to make things difficult. Think harder my pretty, are you not as smart as you think you are?

Signed Catch me when you Can

Mishter Ripper

"Maybe if you just loosen up, we can all have some fun." Adeline whispered, looking out towards the road. She's heard that somewhere, but she doesn't know where. Maybe at a party? It sounds like something a teenage boy would say.

"Uh.. Ripper?" Harper had asked her, a worried look in her eyes. Reid looked at Ripper, not knowing what to do. Suddenly Ripper turned towards Reid with wide eyes.

"I know who the Raven is."

~~~

Y'all,,, next chapter we find out who the Raven is! Any guesses?

Also, please follow me for updates about the book! (and of course like the chapters plz and thank you:) )