Deadly Discern - Book Three ✔️

Chapter Nine - Resurfacing

Song above plays in with how Danica is feeling in this chapter, grrrreeeaaaatttt song! Give it a listen. Can't wait to hear what you think!

You can't fight fate.

This is something I've always known and at this moment, right this second, I'm struggling with myself and the clear call for justice to be served.

The pull is strong, immeasurably so and with the pull comes the blood thirsty demon that resides beneath my skin and also, firmly in my mind.
Fear strikes me, fear and the need to kill.

Peter speaks to me, clearly under the impression that I'm hearing the words he is outlaying about the current case we have just been handed, but I don't hear anything, silence surrounds me as though I'm confined in a soundproof room and absolutely no noise is breaking through the impenetrable barriers. I watch as his mouth moves, yet nothing reaches me.

I'm on the edge, teetering dangerously. Nearing my breaking point. This guy is bad news, really fucking bad news and I want him on my blood stained pedestal to cut him down, limb by fucking limb, where he so proudly stands. The fury churns deep down inside me, threatening to escape my shaky hold.

Though this person isn't someone we are working a case with or on, no, this person has been plastered all over the news for several days now. A criminal, on the hunt for pure and innocent blood. He makes me sick to my stomach. I swallow back the bile that rises in my throat and push away thoughts of the killer on the loose, knowing I need to focus on what Peter is saying to me.

Little does he know that I've been distracted the entire time. I'd been wise enough to continue staring at him and nod or mumble a reply on the odd occasion, this seemed convincing as he hadn't pulled me up at all.

"- I'd like to get your take on it, if you could use the rest of this afternoon to read through the file, that'd be greatly appreciated."

Clearing my throat, I stretch my arm out and grasp the file, "Of course. I'll get right on it."

I settle back into my seat for a moment, opening the front cover, quickly skimming the details as I do.

"Make sure you do." Peter gives me a look, telling me that I hadn't been as good as I'd thought at keeping my failed attempt at listening a secret, I mouth the word 'sorry' as I head out of his office. He simply shakes his head, as I close the door behind me.

I'm finding every day to be more of a challenge than the one prior to it, my mind is an utter mess and each day it's harder to get a grasp on my unruly thoughts, I only hope that I can eventually get myself back on track.

I make a trip to the bathroom before returning to my desk, as I'm washing my hands, I look up at myself. A ghost of myself stares dully back at me, dark circles beneath my eyes, speaking of, the usual vivid green has faded to an almost murky green, my cheeks have hollowed out and the color that I usually have in my cheeks is all but gone. Dipping down toward the sink, I fill my palms with water and splash my face, waking myself up a little more.

Sleep. I need sleep.
I sigh loudly to myself. I wish I could say that I have been sleeping, but I haven't. Most nights, as I lie myself down to sleep, the iron grip I originally had on the sandman evades me, filtering easily through the cracks and throwing all of my misery back at me. So, for the most part, I'm just laying down and staring at the walls, the roof and whatever else captures my waning attention. It's ultimately exhausting me.

Sucking in a breath, I turn my back to the mirror and leave the bathroom, returning to my cluttered and unorganised desk. I drop into my seat, slumping over the file that Peter had handed to me.