The words scrawled across the page in that familiar, jagged handwriting sent a chill down her spine. It was New Year's Day again, the day she dreaded more than any other. A letter from her sister's abductor, a reminder of the shadow that loomed over her life.
She sat at her kitchen table, the moonlight cutting through the blinds, casting long stripes across the envelope, mocking her with its benign appearance. (It wasn't benign, though. Nothing ever was with him—)
"Maybe this time it'll be different." She whispered it to herself, a fragile hope she cradled as tightly as she could. (But she knew better.) Ten years of cryptic clues had turned that hope into a brittle shell, and every January 1st, he shattered it with a flick of his wrist.
(She should have told someone. The police, anyone—)
But they wouldn't understand. Not like he did. The Doberman was always there, lurking in the recesses of her mind, his presence like a cold draft that seeped through the cracks of her sanity. He spoke to her in riddles, wrapped in the fabric of her sister's fate. Each letter was a thread, pulling her deeper into a web she could neither escape nor comprehend.
His rules dictated her every move. When she didn't respond, he pulled tighter, tightening the noose of her obligation. "You are the only one who can find her," he had once whispered in the silence between their encounters.
(But was it really her sister she cared about? Or was it him?)
She loves her sister, of course she does. She had chosen to believe that every cryptic line in his letters was a key. Each year, she poured over the clues, searching for meaning. The last one had hinted at a park bench beneath the old oak, where time had stopped in her memory, but she found nothing. Only an empty space where hope used to grow.
"Just one more year," she murmured again, but it felt like a hollow mantra, echoing through a chamber of regrets.
Today, the letter trembled in her hands, and she had to fight the urge to tear it apart. (It's just paper, just words—what could he do with words? Except—)
She opened it, and the faint scent of burnt paper wafted up, as if he had scorched the edges just to keep her on edge.
"Your sister lies where the shadows meet the light."
Melanie blinked, the words spinning in her head. What did that mean? Where?
(It's a trap. He's leading you on.)
But isn't that what she wanted? To be led, to follow the only trail she had left?
"Just one more year," she breathed, the promise both a vow and a curse. She had to unravel it, had to find the truth—if only she could silence his insistent whispers.
But could she trust herself anymore?
(She is not to be trusted. Not with this—)
"Just one more year."
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JESSICA ALBA ── MELANIE LAMONT
THIRTY–ONE. STOICISM. SUPERVISORY SPECIAL AGENT. AM I MAKING YOU FEEL SICK?
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────featuring
. . . ── THE DOBERMAN EIZA GONZÁLEZ──LOUISE BEAUMONT TOM HOLLAND ──JESSE CAMPBELL
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or you can find the playlist on my spotify linked in my bio!
DISCLAIMER 🕯️ the rights to criminal minds go to the creators of the show. i do not own the canon characters, dialogue, or plot lines. however, i do own my own characters and my unique additions to the narrative. 🕯️ please be original and don't attempt to copy my work. being inspired is one thing, but plagiarism is another. 🕯️ i have changed melanie's face claim three separate times. the actresses are lily collins, chloe bennet and jessica alba. so, if you saw any of my edits on tiktok (villainarc.wp) with a different face claim other than jessica, you're still at the right place.
WARNING 🕯️ this story includes mentions of gore, abuse, murder, sex, violence, death, and the whole lot of disturbing topics included in the criminal minds series. as much as we know and love the show and its characters, please be advised of these topics and prioritize your well being! 🕯️ this story is rated mature. yes, there are smut scenes but the priority of this fic is the plot i have created. and no, unfortunately for us all, spencer's wiener is not the plot.
AUTHOR'S NOTE 🕯️ melanie is my baby and i'll protect her with my life. listen to a match into water by pierce the veil from 2:31—2:38 and you'll get my gist. 🕯️ please leave comments as you read, i'd love to know your thoughts!
