When Friends Come to Call

Chapter 1 ~ Culprit

Aries drummed her fingers on the table, head running around all the possible outcomes and paths the case could take.

Ever since she had been appointed as police chief, she had gone through every case with relative ease, but this one stumped her.

And oh did it make her mad.

Aries felt a flare rise in her core, but she stamped it down. She kept running through scenarios in her head.

"Nothing. I have absolutely nothing!" Aries growled, her voice tense and frustrated. Her crimson eyes flared and she dug her sharp nails into her palm.

Aries' top detective walked in quietly, giving a soft sigh, "Are you alright, Aries?"

"Obviously not. This bloody c*nt has me and the rest of the department running in god d*mn circles and we still have nothing!" Aries slammed her fist on the table, barely holding back the flames that wanted to leap from her skin. Aries sighed, shaking her head in her hands.

The detective frowned, sitting down across from Aries, "Is something else bothering you? You normally aren't this distracted."

".... Yes, there is."

"What is it?" Taylor, the detective, asked.

"I..... my husband is in the hospital."

"Why is he there...?" Taylor frowned, eyes narrowed in concern. A frown appeared on the detective's face.

Aries breathed in slowly, "He got into an accident during work. There was a fire and..." She cut off, clenching her fist.

"I see...." Taylor nodded, "Are you alright now?"

"I'll be fine..." Aries sighed, pulling out a folder of papers, "I need to look through these again..."

"I'll leave you be."

"Thank you Taylor. Seriously."

"No problem, Ma'am."

Scorpio knocked on a thin metal door. There was shuffling, an exchange of greetings, and he walked into the room.

"Doctor. Good to see you." One of the nurses greeted Scorpio, dipping their head.

Scorpio gave the nurse a friendly smile, "Hello Andrew. How are the patients?"

"Doing well." Andrew sighed, "Well, not all of them. Lola had another fit today and it scared the new interns."

"Same as always. I'll go check on her." Scorpio walked down the hallway, clicking his tongue.

He came to another door, this one was locked with a keypad and a thick steel door. Scorpio punched in the code, slipping into the room as the doors closed behind him.

He breathed in slowly, the scent of blood reaching his nose. He huffed out, walking through the various twisting halls and sections of rooms. Blood stained the clean white floors, even with the meticulous cleaning of the staff there was no escaping the occasional stain or two. Eyes watched him through thin steel bars, ranging from dull and hooded to wide open and manic.

Scorpio could feel all the different emotions from all the patients and some of the doctors radiating out and at him, but he ignored them. He slipped the feelings into the back of his mind.

Just like raindrops, just like raindrops. "Just like raindrops." Scorpio spoke quietly to himself, blocking out the unnecessary emotions that bombarded him.

A scream exploded from a nearby room, followed by a manic laugh. There was a clattering of chains and a hissing chuckle. Scorpio paused, "We're here." He muttered to himself, putting in the code to unlock the door and stepping inside.

"Hello, Lola." Scorpio greeted the girl calmly, letting no emotion invade his voice.

The girl, tangled blonde hair draped over her face, pale skin gleaming in the harsh lights, slowly looked up at Scorpio with crazy hazel eyes. She smiled wide, blood red lips spreading into an open mouthed grin as a high pitched laughed echoed from her mouth.

"Hello there...." The girl greeted Scorpio, tipping her head with the same smile spread across her face.

"Is it true you scared the interns today?"

"You mean the new ones? Yes, I did. Why are you asking?" Lola giggled, hand raising to her face.

Scorpio sighed, face still void of emotion, "You know you aren't supposed to scare the new people unless you want those green people to come again."

Lola's smile dropped, "The green people?" Her voice held an edge of fear.

"Yes. They think you're a lost cause." Scorpio shook his head, "And even though they give up too easily they still have more power than us. We need to be careful."

Lola sniffled, curling up into a ball, "I don't want them to take me away..."

"Exactly, so you can't scare people."

"I was bored."

Scorpio gave a slight chuckled, "I know but-"

A scream echoed from down the hallway, which was then proceeded by a waterfall of sobs.

"Sorry, Lola. I have to go take care of Matthew." Scorpio sighed, brushing his hair back. Lola nodded wordlessly and Scorpio left the room, walking back down the hallway. Another doctor was already at the room, attempting to console a teenage boy with mousy brown hair and milky brown eyes. Bright red drops fell from his wrist and Scorpio flinched. A wave of sadness and pain washed over Scorpio and he pushed it away.

"Like a raindrop." Scorpio motioned to the other doctor, who slowly backed away, "Matthew." Scorpio crouched down to the young boy, eyes soft.

Matthew looked up at him with sad brown eyes. Scorpio felt a surge of pity for the boy, "Let me see your wrist."

Matthew shook his head, tears rolling down his cheeks, "I can't..."

"Matt, it's okay. You know you can tell me."

"I...." Matthew curled into a ball, sobbing. Scorpio put a hand on his shoulder. Matthew showed Scorpio his hand, sniffing.

Scorpio looked at the other doctor, "Send for the nurse." They nodded, running off.

"I'm sorry.... I'm so sorry...." Matthew sobbed, his shoulders shaking as blood and tears mixed on the floor.

"No, no, no. Don't be sorry." Scorpio shook his head, "Show me the blade."

"......" Matthew looked away, tears falling down his face in streams.

"Please." Scorpio spoke softly, his voice gentle.

Matthew dropped it at his feet. Scorpio wrapped his arms around the boy, soothing him.

Scorpio gently unraveled his arms from the younger boy as the other doctor came back. His phone buzzed in his pocket and he stood up and walked outside to take the call, "Yes?"

"Scorpio, something happened. It's Aquarius... he...."

Scorpio nearly dropped his phone, "What?"

"He's in the hospital. There was a fire at his work and he barely made it out. His hands are cold..."

"... I'm coming now."