Polar Opposites ~ Aaron Hotchner

Chapter 26

Abigail POV

We all hop out of the cars before rushing to enter the hotel. "Reid, Morgan, take the roof," Hotch instructs, the two men doing exactly what he says. 

"We've got Adam's room," Rossi yells over his shoulder as he and JJ run for the stairwell.

"Agent Hotchner! In the back!" Emily, Hotch and I run to the back, hands on our holstered guns, just in case. We all tell people to back up and move out of our way.

"We've got a woman down at the back of the hotel. Send medics as soon as possible," Hotch instructs through comms. My stomach churns at the sight of Julie, blood covering her face and teeth as she chokes to speak.

"Julie, can you hear me?" Emily questions.

"It's Adam,"

"Help is on the way. I need you not to move,"

"It wasn't him," She chokes out. "It was strange,"

"Julie, did he say where he was going?" Hotch inquires, trying to figure out where Adam could be headed.

"He called himself Amanda," She gurgles, gasping for air.

"The alter personality," Spencer and I state in perfect sync.

"Reid, you were right. Where would he go?" Derek asks quickly, knowing we're on the clock before another body hits the ground.

"Not he, she. Amanda. She panicked. She knew that we'd connect this to her,"

"Okay, so she's feeling the pressure. She obviously knows she's running out of time, where would she go?"

We all watch as Spencer thinks before turning back to us. "She's gonna go after the men these victims represent,"

"Garcia, please tell me you know the whereabouts of Mark Harrison?" Derek says as he gets Garcia on the phone. Derek closes his phone, having the address.

"Go," Emily instructs. I look to Hotch before running after Derek and Spencer. We race down to Mark Harrison's house, sirens blazing and guns ready. We pull up in front of the house and quickly rush inside, our guns outstretched in front of us.

The house seems empty but we quickly open the doors to find Amanda with a bag over Mark's head and a knife to his throat.

"Amanda," Reid is the first to speak, getting her attention.

"Stay back," Amanda warns as her eyes jump from person to person.

"Put the knife down," Derek orders.

"Stand back or I'll kill him,"

"You do not want to do that," I say calmly, trying to convince her that she doesn't have to kill him.

"Well, you don't know what he did!"

Reid holsters his gun before he speaks. "When Adam's mother died, his stepfather needed a new outlet for his aggression didn't he?"

"He put Adam in dresses. He beat him. He touched him!" Amanda yells, tightening her grip on the bag.

"Adam was too weak to go through all of that alone right? He was just a little boy. He needed you to protect him," Reid continues, sympathizing with her.

"I could take it. I was stronger than he was. He deserves to die!"

"Amanda. Amanda. That's not for you to decide. I swear to God. If you put him down and you come with me, I will get you and Adam the help that you guys need,"

"Adam will be sentenced for what I've done. You know, I can't let that happen," She takes the knife away from Mark's neck and places it against her.

"Amanda, if you kill yourself, you kill Adam," Reid quickly tries to talk her down once more. "I don't see how that's protecting him and you know what I know? I know that all you want to do in this world is protect Adam,"