Shadow Of Hearts (Emily Prentiss X OC)

Chapter 37: The Breakthrough

The sun was just beginning to rise as Emily and Echo walked into the BAU headquarters the next morning, coffee in hand and determination in their step. Despite the late night, they both felt a renewed sense of purpose. The pieces of the puzzle were starting to fit together, and today, they were determined to crack the case wide open.

As they entered the bullpen, the rest of the team was already gathered, deep in discussion. Reid was at the whiteboard, circling key points and connecting dots, while JJ and Morgan poured over case files. Rossi, as usual, stood at the side, his sharp eyes taking in everything.

"Morning," Hotch greeted as Emily and Echo joined them. "We've got a lot of ground to cover. Let's get started."

Reid wasted no time diving into the latest developments. "After reviewing the events Echo found from fifteen years ago, I noticed a pattern that aligns with the ritualistic elements of our unsub's crimes. Each of those deaths or disappearances involved some kind of symbolic act-whether it was the positioning of the bodies, the presence of certain objects, or even the timing of the incidents."

"And the feather?" JJ asked, glancing at the notes on the board.

Reid nodded. "That's the key. The feather is a symbol used in ancient rituals-specifically, those connected to the mythology of the afterlife and judgment. It represents the weighing of the heart against the feather of truth in Egyptian mythology. If the heart was lighter, the soul was deemed pure and allowed into the afterlife."

Emily's brow furrowed as she processed this information. "So our unsub is performing these murders as a twisted form of judgment? They believe they're deciding whether their victims are worthy?"

"It seems that way," Reid confirmed. "But it's not just about judgment. There's an element of purification here. The unsub might believe they're cleansing these souls, preparing them for whatever comes next."

Morgan leaned back in his chair, a look of disgust on his face. "So this psycho thinks they're doing these people a favor? That's messed up."

Hotch crossed his arms, his expression grave. "If that's the case, then our unsub likely sees themselves as some kind of savior-a protector of the innocent, but only in their twisted sense of morality."

Echo, who had been quietly listening, spoke up. "If they believe they're performing a necessary ritual, then they won't stop. In fact, they might escalate, especially if they feel like they're running out of time."

Rossi nodded in agreement. "Which means we need to act fast. We've got a suspect in custody, but they're not talking. We need to find a way to break through to them."

Emily, her mind racing with possibilities, turned to Garcia, who was standing by, ready to assist. "Garcia, can you dig deeper into those events from fifteen years ago? There might be a specific incident that triggered all of this, something that pushed our suspect over the edge."

Garcia gave a determined nod. "On it, boss lady. I'll find every scrap of information there is."

As Garcia set to work, Hotch addressed the team. "We need to keep the pressure on our suspect. Rossi, Prentiss, I want you back in the interrogation room. Use what we've learned to try and get them to talk. The rest of you, follow up on any leads Garcia uncovers. We're running out of time."

With their assignments clear, the team sprang into action. Emily and Rossi headed back to the interrogation room, their minds focused on breaking through the suspect's delusions. They knew it wouldn't be easy, but they also knew that lives were on the line.

Inside the interrogation room, the suspect sat in the same position as before, their eyes staring blankly ahead. Emily could see the tension in their posture, the way their hands trembled slightly as they rested on the table. This person was on the brink of something-whether it was a breakdown or a confession remained to be seen.