The Kreizler Institute | The Alienist + Mphfpc [Complete]

Chapter Nine | The Fallen

Jade's POV:

"What's that stench?" I asked curiously as we entered my uncle's house. I looked around and the entire place was trashed; it looked like a robbery gone very wrong. And then I saw it. Puddles of black goop that smelled like a thousand dead corpses. "I don't smell anything." Caleb said with furrowed brows. "Can't you see those black puddles everywhere? They smell like rotting animals but worse." I managed to say before I stifled a gag by covering my nose and mouth with my arm.

"It must be hollowgasts blood or something. That would explain why only you can see and smell it." He replied. As we walked around I made sure to guide him through the rooms so he didn't step in the inky black muck. When we entered the kitchen my heart dropped into my stomach and I froze where I was. Alfius was laying on the kitchen floor with his limbs sprawled in all different directions. "It took his eyes... didn't it?" I asked. I didn't dare get close. I didn't want to see it. "Let's go upstairs.... collect your things. Then I'll call the police." Caleb said.

I was all for collecting my belongings, but I didn't see what good calling the police would do. The safest thing to do in my mind was to go back into the loop. If wights were following me then I couldn't evade them. I can avoid the hollow though. Hollows can't enter loops unless they're surgically modified. It would need a peculiar's soul injected into it like some kind of serum. And that procedure is very complicated. But I knew I should do what Caleb said. He knew the peculiar world a great deal more than I do.

Plus... I didn't need to become a suspect in the murder of my own uncle. After packing my clothes and whatnot, I joined Caleb on the porch steps as he called the cops. We sat there in silence for what felt like forever. Thick clouds covered the stars and moon, making everything darker than it would have been. "You can stay with me while we get everything sorted out." He said, breaking the silence. I didn't reply. I didn't want to talk at all. Deep down I wanted to pretend everything that happened after we left the loop was a dream.

'This isn't a dream, Jade. You're uncle is dead.' My subconscious said to me. Sirens pierced the air followed by flashing red and blue lights. Police officers combed the area and taped off the scene, but I knew they wouldn't find anything. It would just be like all of those other murders of eyeless children. The two of us were taken to the station for questioning and I complied. Around two in the morning we were able to leave. Caleb and I entered his home and I collapsed on his couch. My life has changed so much that I never expected that my uncle would be killed on top of everything.

"If we just came back earlier, maybe we could have saved him." I mumbled. "Jade, don't blame yourself for this," Caleb said as he sat down next to me. "His death isn't your fault. There's no way you could have known this was going to happen.... come here." He opened his arms to me, and I accepted the gesture. I rested my head on his shoulder as we hugged each other. We were quiet for what felt like forever, before I broke the silence. "Was he peculiar? My uncle? Did he have peculiar abilities?" I asked curiously as the two of us broke the hug. A deep sigh escaped his lips before he ran a hand through his hair and a worried expression took over his features.

"No. I think the hollow was looking for you, which means it is being controlled by wights." He replied, and I suddenly realized that it was probably best that we stayed in the loop longer than usual. Otherwise who knows where I'd be right now. Eventually we said goodnight to each other, but I doubted that either of us were going to get much rest. So I took a hot shower before putting my pajamas on and climbing into bed. 'Tomorrow I'll have to call my parents and tell them that my uncle had passed away.' I thought as I looked up at the ceiling above me. I knew my mom would take it very hard since Alfius is her older brother.

The thought of having to arrange a funeral emerged into my mind and tears started to fill my eyes. This time I let them fall. I didn't hold in the pain and grief that I was feeling. Honestly, I wished I could have been snuggled into Dr. Kreizler's chest just to breath in his comforting scent. As I cried I thought of the doctor and slowly fell into a restless sleep. When I woke up the sun was already shinning through the curtains. I was a little confused when I opened my eyes, because I was in a strange room, but what had happened last night suddenly rushed back to me. The horrific images of my uncle's dead body brought sadness and fear.