Courage's Curse

The Root of all Evil

Detective Hollander was sitting at his desk, as usual, but this time, flipping through notes. He appeared to be in distress as he ran a hand through his hair. "UGH IT'S NO USE." He blurted, throwing the papers into the air in a fit.

"Well." Another voice chimed in. It was the woman from before. "What other choice do you have? Just keep going on with this nonsense?" She shook her head. "Sooner or later this is going to fail. Miserably."

Hollander's bubbling rage did not fade, instead it grew as he got up. "WELL- I-" He let out a frustrated grunt. "Elise! How else do you suppose I get out of this stupid rut!?"

The woman, now known as Elise shrugged stiffly. "This was your fault from the beginning. Don't get me into this."

"See! Even you can't." Hollander growled as he paced in front of his desk. Elise's eyes followed him but she raised a brow. "Me?" She made a cold laugh, "Ha, so now you're bringing me into this- I can't even-"

Hollander seemed to have something else on his mind as he grabbed Elise's shoulders, shaking her. "Almost 50. 50! Do you understand !?"

He let go of her and took a step back, pressing his index finger on his forehead. "I- I don't know what to do from here..Honestly."  

Elise folded her arms stiffly. "Why not go yourself? Get what you deserve?" 

Hollander shuddered. "At the." He admitted bluntly. Elise looked a little frustrated as she furrowed her brows. "So. You're going to be the slaughterer?" 

"There is-" Hollander laughed coldly. "You're wrong. I'm / not / the slaughterer. He is." He made another gesture in the air and began pacing back and forth once more. "Even if I do go, how am I to ensure that if I don't do it, he won't harm other people?" 

"You can't." Elise replied. "What's your other choice?"

Hollander folded his arms. "Someone needs to end his misery." 

"You've hoped for that too long. It should be your turn." 

Hollander narrowed his eyes. "I'm not a wrestler, you idiot. I'm a detective, and this case is screwed." He paused for a moment, stopping his pacing, casting a glare at Elise. "-Big time." 

Elise let her hands fall to her sides, and she clenched her fists, "But it's not-" Hollander raised a hand and interrupted her. "Not. Interested." 

She opened her mouth to speak, "But-"

"Don't want to hear it" 

Elise bit her lips.

Hollander sighed. "Dismissed." He muttered before Elise nodded stiffly and left the room, closing the door behind herself, leaving the detective alone in silence.

He looked around the room, trodding defeatedly back to his chair, sitting down with a huff. A few minutes past and he stopped leaning back on the seat and focused once again on what was on the desk.

A picture... 

...On the picture was two people. Happy as can be.

...One was Hollander.

The detective sighed, pushing it aside. "Money just had to ruin it." He mumbled, swiftly getting up and walking out of the room.