SPLATTER (draft)

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All the man could do was stand, his focus lost in the horizon as he watched the Ambulance drive Easter away.

His body felt numb.

Fucking damn it, how the fuck did the killer manage to make their way into the Precinct without being seen somehow!?

How did no one realise that they looked suspicious or had realised it wasn't one of their own personnel?

Ben's fingers bundled up into a ball, as he clenched his jaw together and squeezed his fist in anger. He was infuriated; the worst part was that he should've been there to protect her. This was all his fault; if he hadn't of left Easter alone in the lab whilst he was out getting coffee for the two of them, he may have been able to prevent the attack from happening. Perhaps he could've even caught the culprit behind these murders once and for all. Benjamin wasn't going to let this go - he had to find vengeance somehow and catch this sick fucker; for Easter's sake and for every other damn victim this monster had taken.

Why Easter though? Did she know something? Did she know too much? Was she getting too close to figuring out who he was? He had so many questions, and Ben was beyond determined to find answers.

Hearing a familiar voice, Benjamin snapped out of his thoughts, his gaze turning to Noctis. He was Easter's colleague and they worked together in the lab. Benjamin was also aware that the Captain had adopted him when he was much younger, and now worked as the Precincts Entomologist. Unbundling his fists Ben listened as Noctis spoke; he had no reason to blame himself, it wasn't his fault and it didn't matter right now - what mattered was finding the sick fuck and getting justice for Easter, praying that she'd make it. She better make it; they couldn't lose anyone else. No one in the Precinct needed to lose another person they all loved and cared about; especially Easter. She was too damn important - to the investigation and to everyone individually. Noctis was blaming himself; so was he - although evidently it was neither of their fault, as they didn't do this. That killer did and Ben was going to make sure they'd pay.

He turned his full attention to Noctis, his eyes blank - before he uttered out a response the man gave Noctis a small pat on his shoulder, hoping that he'd take that as a form of encouragement or support. Noctis was around his age, although he was rather certain that he was about a year or so older than Noctis as he'd be turning 24 soon. Another year and then he'd be at 25; geez he felt like he was getting old, and it seemed as though his life was flying by - especially the years with Lauren. He figured that she was the one, and he had the full intention of spending the rest of his life with her, however of course due to the investigation and uproar that Cedar was going through, now would not be the perfect time to take his girlfriend out to a fancy dinner, proposing to her as he had planned to months ago. He just wanted it to be the right time; which it clearly had not been the last month.

Benjamin finally spoke. "Noctis... It's not your fault... No one knew, that bastard is sneaky and he somehow managed to get into the Precinct without alerting anyone. You cannot blame yourself, otherwise I'm equally just at fault for leaving Easter alone. You can't beat yourself up over it; you need to hold yourself together for Easter; for this investigation. I'm certain what the killer wants is for all of us to break down, losing ourselves and our focus - we cannot let that happen. This lunatic is going to pay for what they did either way - I'm going to make damn sure of it!" He said, attempting a soft smile at Noctis who genuinely looked as though he was the one at fault. The man gazed into the distance again, momentarily losing his focus until he heard Noctis speak again, as he mentioned what he found at the scene. "I'd go inform Detective Quinn or Detective Black about what you found at the scene as I'm certain they'd be much more help to you about the MO than I can be, however that information may help me as I do some digging of my own. Noctis, nothing about the damn investigation adds up - we just need to hang in there. Easter is a fighter, and she's going to be fine, we may be down a Forensic for now but she'll be back." He stated, noticing that Noctis was nervously tapping his foot - God he needed reassurance that she was going to be okay. Ben knew Easter was a warrior, but who could tell especially with that wound that the killer had left on her; she'd lost a lot of blood...