Shadow Of Hearts (Emily Prentiss X OC)

Chapter 36: Unveiling the Shadows

The drive back to the station was silent, the weight of the captured suspect hanging heavy in the air. The team, seasoned and familiar with the grim reality of their work, knew that the real battle was just beginning. Getting the suspect into custody was one thing; getting them to talk was another.

Hotch was the first to speak as they pulled into the parking lot. "Rossi, Prentiss, I want you two in the interrogation room. See what you can get out of them."

Emily nodded, her mind already switching gears. They had no idea what kind of mental state this person was in-whether they were driven by delusion, fanaticism, or something else entirely. Echo shot her a quick look, one that said without words that she trusted Emily to handle this. It was a small moment, but it filled Emily with a surge of determination.

The station was bustling with activity as they walked the suspect inside. Officers and agents moved with purpose, and the fluorescent lights cast a harsh glare on everything. The suspect, now shackled and flanked by agents, looked less like a monster and more like a broken shell of a person. Their eyes were unfocused, lips muttering something inaudible.

Inside the interrogation room, Emily and Rossi prepared for the questioning. The room was sterile, a table and two chairs the only furniture. A mirror on the wall offered a one-way view for the rest of the team watching outside. As the suspect was brought in and seated, Emily took a deep breath, her mind carefully crafting the strategy.

The suspect's hands trembled slightly as they rested on the table. Emily noticed the deep bags under their eyes, the frantic energy that still clung to them despite their subdued state.

"What's your name?" Rossi asked calmly, easing into the interrogation with a gentle approach.

The suspect's eyes flickered up, a brief moment of clarity before they started shaking their head. "Names don't matter. None of it matters."

Emily leaned forward, her voice calm but firm. "It matters to us. You've been through a lot, and we're here to help you, but we need to understand what's happening. Who are you? Why did you go to that church?"

The suspect's eyes darted around the room, as if searching for something, some way out of the labyrinth of their own mind. "The light... the light is fading. It's all going to end soon."

Emily exchanged a quick glance with Rossi, both recognizing the signs of a deep psychological break. They'd seen this kind of thing before-someone so consumed by their beliefs or delusions that they could no longer distinguish between reality and fantasy.

Rossi decided to take a different angle. "You're scared. We can see that. Whatever's happening, whatever you think is coming, it's not too late to stop it. But we need you to help us. Tell us what you've been doing. Who are the people you've hurt?"

The suspect's breathing quickened, their hands clenching into fists. "They're all going to burn... the darkness is coming, and it's too late to save them. Too late to save anyone."

Emily felt a chill run down her spine. There was something deeply unsettling about the way the suspect spoke, as if they truly believed the world was on the brink of some catastrophic event. But she knew she had to push through the fear and find the truth buried beneath the madness.

"We want to stop that darkness," Emily said softly, leaning closer. "But we need you to help us. You can stop it, if you tell us what's happening."

The suspect looked at her, their eyes glassy and distant. For a moment, Emily thought they might break, might finally spill whatever twisted logic was driving their actions. But then they shook their head violently, as if trying to dislodge the thoughts clawing at their mind.