ONE LAST TIME

A New Case (pt 1)

In the previous chapter, 
"History- it's repeating itself"...

"No! it can't be, after all these years why now?" exclaimed Hannah whilst expressing her disbelief. If only I had an explanation. Vivid memories of my traumatic past began resurfacing, overwhelming me once more. Flashes of witnessing the demise of my beloved at the hands of that heartless monster started tormenting my mind until all faded into an abyss of darkness.  In the midst of this torment, Hannah's voice became a distant echo, her words indiscernible as my mind was consumed by the anguish of the past. My vision blurred as my eyes closed involuntarily, succumbing to the overwhelming flood of emotions threatening to consume me entirely. I could feel myself losing consciousness, the weight of the past pushing me further and further into an endless void.

"Emma, listen to me. He won't stop, you have to run."
"No- no I cannot leave you like this, I can't-"
"I love you, Emma"
"No don't do this to me"
"Look at these two, so adorable"
"Emma you have to run!" 
"No, I can't"
"Emma run!!!!!!"

and I ran, tears cascading down my cheeks. As I sprinted away, I couldn't help but steal a glance back. His eyes, filled with unwavering love pierced through me. It was a fleeting moment, etched into my memory forever. I saw him being taken by that abomination, consumed by darkness. It felt like a knife twisting in my gut, a deep despair threatening to swallow me whole. I ran not just for myself, but for him - his sacrifice was a painful reminder of the love we shared, a love that now fueled my determination to survive. With every step, I felt the weight of his words urging me forward. I would run until my legs gave out, until I had no breath left in my lungs. I would run, not just to save myself, but to honor his love, his courage, and his sacrifice. 

Suddenly, a piercing scream tore through the air, breaking through the silence that had enveloped my mind. It was my own voice, raw with agony and sorrow, releasing all the pent-up pain and anguish within me. And as I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was Hannah, her gaze filled with tears, locked with mine. In that moment, it was as if her eyes were a lifeline, grounding me to reality amidst the chaos of my thoughts.Unable to hold back any longer, tears streamed down my face as I relived the terrible incident once again, the memories playing out like a haunting nightmare that refused to let me go.

The words escaped my lips in broken fragments, barely audible through my sobs."He took him!" I cried out, my voice trembling with a mixture of fear and grief. "He took him from me!"The words echoed in the room, the weight of the truth behind them pressing heavily against my heart. I repeated them over and over again as if by speaking them aloud, I could make it all unreal. But deep down, I knew that my beloved was gone; his life was forever stolen by that heartless monster.In that moment of raw vulnerability, the pain washed over me, threatening to drown me once again. But in the midst of it all, I found solace in Hannah's presence. She held me tightly, her tears mingling with mine, as I mourned the loss that had shattered my life. "How many hours did I black out?" I asked her. "Two" she replied and as realization struck me I urged her to call Camille and ask her to bring Atlas to the hospital, I could sense a hesitation in Hannah's voice as she started to protest. Ignoring her resistance, I firmly commanded her to do so. 

As time ticked by, my anticipation grew, wondering when Atlas and Camille would arrive. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they walked through the door. Atlas, with his youthful appearance and lack of experience, almost seemed out of place in this situation. However, he seemed eager to prove himself as he extended his hand for a handshake, introducing himself as Atlas Jonas. Maintaining a composed demeanor, I declined his gesture politely but firmly, emphasizing that introductions could be postponed for now. There were more pressing matters at hand. Turning my attention to Atlas, I explained the urgency of the situation. "Initiate a search for another body," I instructed, "preferably in close proximity to the area where the previous one had been discovered. To be exact, where I found it."

Atlas seemed confused by my request. "What are you suggesting exactly?" he asked.
I paused for a moment, trying to find the right words. "Mr. Atlas, there were no major cuts found on the body yet..." I started, hesitating slightly."It was surrounded by a pool of blood," he finished, a look of realization crossing his face. At that moment, he understood what I meant. Without wasting another second, Atlas took off and  I could only hope that his inexperience wouldn't hinder our progress.