Playing With Fire

     "As of today, all manufacturing, trade, distribution, and consumption of illicit drugs are outlawed, and infractions are punishable by public execution."

     They made the law when I was in middle school. It didn't come as a shock to me, as both my parents worked in the government, but to everyone else, it was a joke. No one thought the government would go to the extremes they did. There had been a war on drugs for years, but

there had never been any lasting consequences... until then.

     That was eleven years ago and the world has definitely changed.

      I've changed.

     Growing up, both my parents worked within the FBI. My mother specialized in forensics accounting while my father worked in intelligence analysis. I was raised to follow in their footsteps. To be good like them. To work for the betterment of humanity. I never wanted that life. I wasn't sure what I did want and I can't say I truly know even now, but I didn't want to live my life by being forced into something. I decided to let myself be seen as the perfect child following the path of their parents, but everything they ever taught me I was going to use against them.

     I decided to let spite pave the path for me.

     "Jones, talk to me. What's new?" I ordered an intern. God, how I hated interns. The only thing they're good for is their compulsive need to know everything to kiss up. Especially this one, always ready and attentive waiting to be needed.

     "Oh, um, well...uh..."

     "I don't have all day. Either talk or get me someone who can."

     "Yes, Miss Hansen," a blush erupting upon his face and spreading down his neck. "It seems that we have more cases that came in dealing with Ongezien. They want you to push the research on Ongezien higher onto the list and make it a priority along with finding the Shinigami."

     Because who better to help you catch me than me?

     "They've decided to increase patrol to see if they can catch the dealers and get more information on either the ring leader or at least the drug."

     Unlikely. I'm not dumb. As if I would have dealers roaming the streets waiting to be caught. I choose quite wisely.

     "And all these cases for sure have to deal with Ongezien? They're not about to send me on some singular mystery chase that all should be different cases?" I asked.

     "No, we're quite certain. All the cases have the same signs. They all deal with healthy people with no family background of medical issues yet they have suddenly been driven to insanity by unknown forces causing them to attack, torture, and kill those around them before killing themselves."

     Well, I guess nothing can be perfect one hundred percent of the time. That's not supposed to happen but I don't really care.

     "Forensics hasn't been able to find anything yet. There are no signs of drugs lingering in their tissues or blood."

     Cause that's not what it targets, dumbass. It targets the brain's neurotransmitters. They can't find proof of something that blends in with the body's natural function.

     "You better be right, Jones. I don't like having my time wasted. Dismissed."

     Entering my office I looked around. One wall covered in possible information and theories about the Shinigami and the Ongezian drug while another two are tacked full of Ongezian cases. So many cases that seemingly have no connection; just the way I liked these cases to be.