Shadow Of Hearts (Emily Prentiss X OC)

Chapter 49: Origin Without Desire

"I can't believe it's already been two years," Emily Prentiss mused, her eyes tracing the contours of the framed photo on the mantle. In it, she and Morgan were grinning ear to ear, surrounded by the rest of the BAU team at the annual FBI cook-off. The aroma of garlic and rosemary filled the room as she thought back to that night, a stark contrast to the antiseptic scent of her apartment.

"Two years since what?" Echo's voice was warm and inquisitive, as he stepped out of the kitchen with a plate of perfectly toasted bagels. He set it down on the coffee table, the clink of the ceramic plate punctuating the quiet.

"Since we started dating," she said, a soft smile playing on her lips. "And look at us now, living together, both of us still standing."

Echo chuckled, crossing the room to wrap his arms around her waist. "I'd say we're doing more than just standing."

Their laughter mingled with the sounds of their clinking coffee mugs, the comfort of their shared morning routine a gentle balm to the chaos that often waited for them outside. But today, the silence was more profound than usual, hinting at the weight of the day ahead.

Morgan had called earlier, his voice tight with tension. A new case had come in, one that had left the team reeling. A young girl, taken from her bedroom in the dead of night, no signs of forced entry, no witnesses. Just a single shoe left behind, a silent cry for help that echoed through the quiet suburban street.

Emily felt her stomach knot as she thought about the briefing they'd soon attend. She knew the look on Morgan's face, the one that told her he was seeing more than just a crime scene-he was seeing a puzzle, a nightmare made real. And she knew that look would stay with him, haunting his dreams and coloring every moment of their case.

"We've got to go," she said, setting her mug down with a gentle thud. Echo nodded, his eyes reflecting the gravity of the situation.

Together, they headed for the door, their footsteps echoing in the stillness of their home. As they stepped into the hallway, the world outside waited-a canvas of unspoken horrors and silent cries for justice, ready to be filled with their tireless pursuit of the truth. And as they closed the door behind them, Emily felt the weight of their shared purpose settle on her shoulders.

The sun had barely crested the horizon, casting a feeble light over the city as they drove to the office. The air was thick with the promise of a scorching day, the kind that made the pavement shimmer like a mirage. But in the car, the chill of the air conditioning was a stark reminder of the cold reality they faced: a monster was out there, leaving a trail of fear in its wake.

Echo's hand found hers, squeezing gently. "We've got this," he said, his voice a steady beacon in the early morning gloom.

Emily squeezed back, her eyes on the road ahead. "We always do."

The BAU team was already gathered around the conference table when they arrived, a flurry of maps and profiles spread out before them. Morgan looked up, his gaze briefly locking with Emily's before he turned to the whiteboard, his expression grim.

"Alright, everyone," he began, his voice clipped. "We've got a missing person's case in Fairfax. Aiden Reynolds, six years old, disappeared from her home last night."

The room went still, all eyes on Morgan as he outlined the details. The quiet was palpable, a testament to the gravity of their mission. They were the sentinels of the human psyche, the ones who stared into the abyss and sought to pull the lost souls back from the edge.

And today, that abyss was staring back.

As Morgan spoke, Emily's mind raced, already piecing together the puzzle. She knew the routine-the initial chaos of a missing child case, the frantic parents, the endless search for clues. But there was something about this one that felt different, a chill that didn't come from the air conditioning.