The Anatomy of Killer

Chapter 12 - The Falling Tower

     "Shit, shit, SHIT!" I exclaimed. I had no idea where Noah had gone, and in turn, Lily. This case was in her hands now. I'd have to just wait on Lily's text...if it ever came. 

     I checked my gun's location and ammo and ran into Cheif Redfern's office. "It's Lily! She's the killer and she has N-Marx!"

     My phone dinged, signaling a text from Lily. I found him. We're at the old Glenwood/Yonkers Power Plant. Come get him.

     My heart leaped to my throat and I tore out of the room as fast as I could. The last thing that I heard from Cheif Redfern was: "Where are you going? You need back-up!"

     I sprinted down the New York streets, shoving past pedestrians and tourists in order to get to that power plant. Once I got there, I stood outside for a moment, chest heaving, trying to figure out where I could get in. I ran my hands over the main doors and found that the chains and padlock had been cut with what looked like a bolt cutter. I yanked the chains away from the door and threw it open, leading with my gun in first to see if anyone was in there. When I determined that it was all clear, I entered the building.

     The air was thick with dust and the nearly suffocating smell of mildew. The floor creaked under each step, threatening to collapse under my weight. The only sound that I could hear was my breathing, erratic and panicky. I took a deep, shaking breath, trying to calm myself down. I heard a clatter off to my left somewhere. I turned sharply, finding a door that looked like it had been recently opened due to the lack of dust around it. 

     I pulled open the door, not expecting to see a masked man there. He hit me over the head with something heavy, causing the world to go dark. 

***

     I jolted awake. "Ah, look who's joined the world of the living!" said a voice in front of me somewhere. It was Lily, it had to be. Her voice sounded different, more commanding and angry.

     Strong hands grabbed my arms, pulling me to my feet. I turned to see yet another masked man holding me there. My eyes darted over the scene in front of me. 

     "No! NO!" I screamed as I watched the woman that I'd called my friend lower her scalpel toward Noah's chest. He was unconscious on a dodgy-looking operating table and one of her masked supporters had me by both of my arms, keeping me from moving. "Lily, please, you don't have to do this! Please don't - don't kill him!"

     "You're right, Evelyn, I don't. I don't have to do this. However, I really, really want to. Have you ever killed someone, E? It's one of the best feelings in the world, holding someone's life in your hands."

     "We don't get to decide who lives and who dies. It's not our call to make! Please - " I began to plead again, but she cut me off.

     "What should I remove first, hm?" she mused. "Usually I slit the throat first, but I want him to suffer. I also want you to suffer, to watch him bleed out. What do you think, Evelyn? I know you've killed before. I see it in your eyes. You've killed before, and you enjoyed it."

     "What the hell are you talking about?" My throat closed up in panic. "I'm a detective! Of course, I've killed before, but only when absolutely necessary. I've never enjoy- "

     "Oh, shut up, you bitch. Don't lie to me. Fine, I don't need to know anyway, you'll be dead soon enough, as well as your little boyfriend here." She looked down at Noah's unconscious form on the table.

     I studied him too. He had a nasty-looking gash on his forehead and a black eye beginning to make an appearance. In short, he looked terrible. Silent tears rolled down my face against my will. "Why are you doing this?" I whispered desperately.

     "Good question." She placed the scalpel down on the table beside Noah. I let out a breath of relief. I knew serial killers. I knew that they liked to talk. "I'm doing it to punish you, Anita."

     "That's not - how did you know?"

     Her eyes flashed black. "I'm from Downstairs. This - " she gestured to herself. " - was supposed to be you. But you got a second chance. You shouldn't have gotten a second chance. You should have been condemned to Downstairs just like everyone else, but that stupid seraph fell in love with you, so he made an exception."

     My chest felt like it was going to explode. I was on the verge of a massive panic attack. "That - that's not true. Gabriel gave me a second chance at life because he saw the good in me, and he was right! I do have good in me!"

     Lily scoffed. "No, you don't. None of us serial killers have good in us. You're a psychopath, just like me."

     "I'm nothing like you," I spat. "Given a second chance, you would have gone back to exactly what you were before: a killer. I'm trying to be good - hell, I am good."

     "You don't know just how wrong you are. Deep down, you're just as rotten as me. Deep down, you'd love to see the man who betrayed you die." Lily stalked back over towards Noah. She was a lioness ready to dig into her prey.

     "He may have betrayed me, but I don't want him dead. Please stop this!" I struggled against Lily's masked crony.

     "You'd need a miracle to save him now, Anita." Lily ripped open Noah's shirt, revealing his bare chest, decorated with bruises from the struggle that got him here.

     A miracle, I thought. My panic-clouded mind came to the conclusion that I needed. Gabriel, if you're listening, please help us. No answer.

     Lily's scalpel moved over Noah's body, trying to find a place to bury itself. She decided on a place. "I won't take out anything just yet. I've been told that I'm quite the tease." The scalpel dug into Noah's stomach. He jerked into consciousness in pain.

     I sobbed, my knees buckling. "No, no, please. Let him go...please."

     "Evelyn..." Noah asked. "What...?" He was barely conscious and delirious.

     "It's gonna be okay," I said, my voice shaking. "You're gonna be okay."

     "Should I tell him? Should I burst his little happy bubble? He deserves to know if you two are screwing."

     "We're not - please, just leave him be. He doesn't have anything to do with this, your beef is with me, not with him!" My voice echoed throughout the room, thick with tears. Noah had fallen unconscious from the pain again.

     Her scalpel hovered over Noah's naked chest. "What should I take out first? A kidney? The liver?"

     Gabriel now would be a great time to show! Still nothing from Upstairs. I thought you loved me! I thought you cared!

     "I'm thinking...kidney." The scalpel bit into Noah's flesh once more.

     "Stop! Please!" I was a mess, my arms were sure to bruise from the grip that the man had on me and the tears streaming down my face were not pretty tears.

     "SHUT UP!" Lily screamed, tossing her scalpel down onto the table. "You're distracting me! How am I supposed to perform a surgery with you blubbering over here like a little baby? Hm? Any thoughts?" She stalked toward me until our faces were inches apart and punched me in the mouth.

     I worked up a wad of spit and blood and spat it into her face. Her eyes flashed black again as she grabbed her scalpel again and, wiping off Noah's blood, slashed it across my stomach. The pain caused black spots to dance in front of my vision. I saw my blood drip onto the floor and I fell to my knees, so deadweight that the man holding me let go. Gabriel... Was my last plea before I lost consciousness. The last thing I saw was a white light envelop Lily. The last thing I heard was a gentle voice saying, "I'm here, Anita, you're safe now."

Oh. My. God. That was so unbelievably fun to write. I got butterflies and everything. I'm also so proud of myself for updating twice this week. I hope you all enjoyed it!

xCelia