***MATURE CONTENT***
Jason Villarosa is a bright rookie detective studying the methods of a serial killer who no one can seem to catch.
Ken Kim is a handsome, eloquent enigma who seems oddly drawn to Jason.
In no time at all Jason finds himself fall...
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Hours later, Jason remembered the breathlessness he felt when Ken clamped his hand over his mouth. "What the hell?" he'd gasped after Ken released him. And Ken had laughed.
Ken had laughed, and it gave Jason chills.
At the same time, it intrigued Jason. Ken didn't seem like a violent person. He looked fastidiously put together, perhaps even uptight. His first interaction with Jason had been one of relief and then friendliness. Why had the next day been different - what had triggered Ken's boyishly aggressive outburst? Was it because they'd been alone on the train car together?
Ken knew Jason was a detective. Perhaps he didn't care.
What kind of person wouldn't care? Jason wondered. Then it hit him: a very powerful kind of person.
Or someone not in his right mind.
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As he walked around the financial district of the city thinking about Ken, he remembered the series of text messages Peter had been sending him on the train. His reckless little brother who, along with his other buddies, was engaged in playing that messed up "Doom Challenge." Jason couldn't imagine how that social media challenge - athletic boys tying and gagging each other - took off. He checked his phone, bracing himself for the photographs Peter probably sent him.
Instead, Peter had texted him: "Someone sent you mail saying to open it immediately. I opened it, figured you wouldn't mind. What the hell is this?"
It was a picture of a box. A simple box made of cardboard with bubble wrap, probably big enough to hold a small dog. Inside of it were two ball gags, two red bandanas, and several rolls of duct tape. A note, which Peter had photographed separately, read: "FOR JASON AND PETER VILLAROSA. I GIFT YOU YOUR FUTURE: TO BE BOUND AND GAGGED CONSTANTLY." Jason got chills reading the note and looking at the box's contents. After the images, Peter had sent another text, which read: "Maybe it's a prank? All my friends know it's just us that live together." It was a dark moment, but Jason wanted to laugh. His 18-year-old brother could be naive sometimes. At 26, Jason liked to think of himself as a bit more realistic.
"Could be a real threat. Be careful, Peter," he texted back.
Almost immediately, Peter texted, "I will. Thanks big bro."
"Anytime little bro."
"If we do get bound and gagged together... at least we'll be together?"
"Sure. I'll be there to protect you, little bro."
"Even while tied up with a ball-gag in your mouth?"
"Of course." And he meant it. He'd do what it took to make sure Peter was okay. He put his phone away and continued to walk down the sidewalks filled with tall corporate buildings. It was a beautiful day in the city. He looked at a stack of local newspapers and saw that the serial killer had written a note to the public. More men had gone missing.
