Dealings With The Devil

Chapter Seven: Threats Are Made

The next morning was a blur. I woke up, placed on a white button down shirt, a black leather jacket, jeans, white tennis shoes, and grabbed a donut for breakfast. Lucas was an ass to get up in the morning. He wasn't a morning person. It took me ten tries and three threats of stabbing him again until he only turned over to face me.

When he was finally out of bed and ready, I drove us to the station, his mood getting no better. He was crabby and short, making it a fun trip for me. I was at my desk looking through the evidence on the murders when he slammed his hand down on it. The sudden sound made me jump and I instantly grabbed a pen to stab him in the hand with.

His mouth was jutted into a scowl, his eyes cold. "I'm tired and I want to go home. Take me back right now." I narrowed my eyes. "Poor baby. I'm stuck between idc, idk, and idgaf." His nose scrunched up. "You're a bitch." I rolled my eyes. "And you're a jackass. Looks like we're even."

I looked back down at my papers. He hadn't moved. I could tell he was just staring at me like a creep. Which is what he was. "What the hell do you want, Lucas? If you're not going to help me find another lead, I might as well shoot you." A growl came from low in his throat. "I want to leave. I'm not a Feds person, and that's what you are."

I looked up at him, my eyes challenging. "Try me, asshole."

I saw a few people watching us from the corner of my eye, but I didn't care. He got closer to me, his face leaning down to mine. I shot up, my legs now at full length. "I'll say this once. Walk.Away." His eyes turned black. "You want to challenge me?" I snarled. "Absolutely. I don't know what the hell you are, or what you do. But I ain't afraid of you."

Silence loomed over us.

"You're going to regret talking back to me."

I smiled a deadly smile. "And you'll regret crossing me."

Suddenly, a knife was stuck in the wood of my desk. I noticed it was in the shape of my knife pen. How he had gotten it and pulled it open during this stare down, I haven't a clue. But it didn't matter. The thing that did matter, was that I didn't flinch.

"Watch your back, Ashlyn. I can't wait for that pretty ass smile to be wiped off your face."

He turned and walked off to the lounge, his white bracelet still on his wrist. I looked down at the knife, standing straight up. Looking around, I noticed lots of people staring. "Nothing to see, folks. I suggest you stop staring before I make you." I barked.

They all turned away, gossiping.

I sat calmly back in my chair, picking back up my papers. I looked up, Lucas looking at me from the lounge. I pulled the knife out of my desk, held the handle, and threw it. The blade flipped over and over, until it pasted right by his head and landed in the target behind him. I licked my upper lip, took my papers, and walked off to the conference room to work.

~~~~~

"What do we know so far?"

I looked at the people in front of me. "So far, all the murders are related to ISIS, The Mafia, Cartel, gangs, and drug dealers. Whoever is doing this also likes gutting his victims." I clicked a button on the remote in my hand, a slideshow of photos showing all the killings—that we know of.

"As you can see, each of these victims were either cut, clawed, or strangled to death before getting cut or clawed. The most famous ones were tied up in this milky white substance. We've also noticed that all the dead have lost their liver. Other organs such as kidneys, intestines, stomachs, or even some brains have been pulled out. The pieces we've found have had a part of them missing, in the shape of a bite. This leads us to believe it could either be some type of cannibal, or a monster created by an illegal experiment by the government or foreign governments who unleashed the monster on the city as a way to punish the US.

"The problem that bugs me, however, is that all of the killings are bad guys, or 'sinners' as the killer has clearly written on the wall in the victim's own blood." I pressed another button, scraggly leaders spelling out SINNER in blood. "So if this 'killer' was trying to punish the US, why not kill judges? CIA Agents? FBI Agents? Marines? Army? Navy SEALS? Why would it choose these people? People that the good guys are after?"

I pressed the next button to find more pictures of one victim who was part of ISIS, Mafia, Cartel, drug deals, and a leader of a gang. "Why them? Is it possible this 'killer' is trying to help us, yet punish us at the same time? Maybe these are only decoys. Distractions to lead us away from the real crimes. Or maybe, this is part of a bigger plan. That's why I need every—and I mean everyone—working on this case. I chose you, the military, to help me. I need people I can trust. And you all fall under that category. I need everyone working to find something on this case. I don't know about you but I'm ready for this to end. Now let's get this son of a bitch."

Applause erupted in the room, everyone smiling. "Thank you." I said, bowing. The people started to disperse. One person in particular caught my eye. I marched to the back corner of the room. "What the hell are you doing here?" I snapped. "I told you to wait outside." Lucas shrugged. "I got bored. Quiet the performance. But you won't catch them."

I narrowed my eyes. "Why not? I think I will." He smiled devilishly. "Not unless you want your brother to be next." My eyes no doubt grew. "You snake." He gave me a charming, knowing smile. "See, my boss doesn't like you asking so many questions. You're getting too close for his liking." I grabbed his hand, pulling him out of the room and into a smaller office with no one in it.

I shut the door and locked it, drawing all the shades. "You've been working for the monster this whole time." I gritted my teeth, seething. "You mother!" My hands curled into fists. "Tsk tsk. Always so quick to be angry. I will admit, you resisted longer than I thought."

He moved to me, and I noticed that little tattoos formed on his hands. Crosses, suns, symbols. His hair got darker, his eyes black. His teeth sharpened, and his smile was lethal. "I do work for the one responsible for the killings. And I plan on keeping you in your place."

I backed up, the image in front of me terrifying. "Everything you learn you tell me. I will report it back to my boss. Tell anyone, and there will be consequences." I gulped. "And if I refuse?" His smile grew wider. "You're brother pays the price." Joey. The thought of him dying because of me made me want to double over and throw up.

"Do we have a deal?"

His hand was held out, his dark eyes watching me. I didn't have much of a choice. If I did say yes, I was betraying my country, going against everything I've ever worked for, dishonoring the FBI, and pretty much commuting treason. But all of it was worth it if I could save Joey's life. I hesitated, looking at my shaking hand. Finally, I gripped his own, my hand losing all strength.

A burning sensation stung my hand. I instinctively tried to pull it away, but Lucas held it there with his iron grip. I struggled as I watched a pentagram being burned and craved into my skin. It hurt. It hurt like hell. Finally, the carving was done, and Lucas let go.

"What the hell is this?" I exclaimed.

"It's a reminder. Whenever you think of crossing me, it will burn you throughout your whole body. Like you're being burned alive. No one else will see it, but you will. So be a good girl, and don't try to do anything bad." I looked at him. "I've always hated you."

He gave me a smile. "Everyone does."

He walked out of the room, leaving me standing there. I looked down at the pentagram, worry creeping in. What have I done?