I've Watched More Than Enough Criminal Minds

Entry Seventeen

FRINGE

I’ve Watched More than Enough Criminal Minds

My words caught in my throat. I ended up alone in my room. I just wanted to get drunk and fucking smoke a bowl. I couldn’t necessarily do that because school had ended and my parents liked to pretend that I was still coping with more healthy options. We pretended my friend’s ditching me was already past us. Except that the thing was, I had already left home and was supposed to be with my new friends. I had already spent more of my summer in the Old World than the New.

I searched my room for any indication that the last several weeks had actually happened. My heart started to pound as I saw my intact shoes. No torn laces or mud stains. My yellow sweatshirt was thrown over the back of my desk chair looking clean and untouched. I grabbed my laptop trying to find my journal. I nearly threw up at the last entry. ‘I had the strangest dream…” I felt sick. I gripped my stomach and leaned over the side of my chair. Quickly, I lifted my shirt up revealing my pale stomach. The only marks it contained were the ones previously there.

The barn door to my room slid open. I jumped out of my chair and burst into tears. I clenched my fists so tight all my knuckles turned white. I backed up into my desk knocking down my stacked cans of Bubbly and Monster. My hands ran down my face. This couldn’t be fucking happening. I tried to explain away every thought in my head. Emelia just stared at me. She never came down to my room. It was strange to even see her standing there. She looked like she always looked. She was dressed in her usual tomboy attire. A flannel wrapped around her waist and a dirty tank top was thrown over her broad pale shoulders. Purple eyes watched me carefully. Long, blonde hair fell down in front of them.

“What’s wrong, kid?” She rushed to my side.

“I’m- I’m fine,” I muttered. I wiped my face and pushed her off of me. She tried to touch me again but I jerked away. “I just wanna be left alone.”

“Like you left us.”

“What?” I looked at her.

“You left us!” She screamed in my face. “You’re so selfish! I raised a selfish little brat!”

“I-”

“Don’t fucking talk back to me! You left me! You left me to those bastards and got turned into a goddamn monster!”

My fingers shoved into my ears. I cried louder. I couldn’t take it. I couldn’t fucking breath. My entire body shook. My skin became fire. I curled up into a ball praying for ICerion to make it end. I was alone. I was alone in my room crying. The image of whatever had become of my mother disappeared. I continued to ball, feeling alone in my own skin. I am awful. I’m the worst human being. My heart felt like it was going to explode. I couldn’t stop shaking. White blindingly flashed in my eyes. Blood pumped in my ears making the world around me go deaf.

I jolted upward gasping for air. I tugged at the blanket, throwing it around my shivering body. Goosebumps coated my skin. Tears attempted to pour down once again. Cold sweat covered my body, drenching the seat below. Dried drool stuck to my jaw. My throat felt like rough sandpaper. I sucked in. I jerked my head to the side. Morgan sat with my phone in hand blasting Chop Suey. Her mouth dropped. Her eyes widened and her two dolls sat in her lap just as confused as me. She panicked and tapped my phone which only ended up changing it to a variety of rock and metal songs. Respect, babe. Eventually, she got pissed and tried to suffocate(?) my phone with her pillow. I couldn’t help but break out into a fit of laughter. My body still shook and the adrenaline sent me to an earlier heart attack but I continued to laugh. I wouldn’t call myself a successful twenty year old if I couldn’t laugh through my trauma.

“It won’t shut up!” I paused the music. “Oh…” She scooted closer to me. “I am sorry I woke you up, Ears. I did not think it would be so loud.”

“It’s okay!” I chuckled at her. My body continued to shake. Shivers crawled across me like fire ants. I felt little pricks all over. I mindlessly scratched portions of my body, trying to warm up my skin. My teeth chattered loudly.

“Are you cold, my love?” She asked with a layer of doubt. She cautiously wrapped her arm around me. I sunk deeply into her, earning a well-deserved, satisfied smirk. “Come here, Ears.” She stroked my face with her cold hand. It almost felt hot. “I do not know how much I can actually warm you up though.” I shrugged with a tiny smile and pulled the blanket tighter around me. Morgan reached for her heavy comforter. She laid it on top of me. The weight of her arms and the blanket made me feel safe. My body started to calm down. I shivered ever so slightly less.

“So, System of a Down?” I managed to spit out once I felt comfortable enough that my teeth would not jump out from the chattering. She continued to stroke my face, occasionally playing with my hair. She loved to braid it.

“I liked it when you played them the other day.” The Princess tucked my hair behind my ears. Her fingers fiddled with the strings in my right ear. “I like the music where they shout a lot and are extremely loud. It is much better than the songs Zahyn plays.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. I never thought I’d date a metalhead.”

“Well, what are you? You listen to that.” Her eyes narrowed as her fingers moved onto my eyebrow piercing. She spun the ring around. “I do not like songs where they sound like robots.”

“I listen to metal but I prefer rock or punk rock or alternative… But also, you are dating a Swiftie who’s in love with Demi Lovato and Renee Rap.”

“One: There is a difference? Two: I will kill them.”

“Princess,” I gasped. “I am going to teach you the ways of Sum 41, Linkin Park, and Paramore along with a variety of masterful creations! Music is the lifeblood of Earth! It is the lifeblood of me! You are dating a second chair flute! There were five others in the section mind you! You are also snuggled up against a self taught guitar player! Let me start this journey with the most mournful epic song! It all started with the Cranberries and their ballad: Zombie!”

“Somehow I feel as if you are being dramatic but I am intrigued nonetheless.” She kissed my piercing as I searched through my downloaded music.

“Dramatic! Never, Princess! I’m the serious one!”

Stacy’s Mom blared in my ears. I jumped over a large snow bank. The air felt cold in my chest. I inhaled deeply letting a wave of crisp air wash over me. Sweat dripped down my forehead as I ran faster. Morgan had passed out sometime between my rant on Breaking Benjamin and how Taylor Swift transcends every musical genre by being the absolute best. I couldn’t lay there any longer though. I slipped out and threw on a pair of shoes. I had too much pent up energy. Plus, telling cringey jokes to my sleeping partner didn’t provide any relief. Plus, Ashlyn considered waking up before ten o’clock to be clinically insane and to be honest Vincent was too scary to approach. Zahyn and Freddy were hungover and Shadow had already disappeared.

Running through the woods reminded me of back then. You know, before falling through a Portal by accident and even before my several year stint of renouncing my adventuring ways while living in a deep dark depression. Just casual things, right? I’d sprint through the woods every day after class and spend breaks adventuring. I would come back smelling like smoke, sweat, and mud. It calmed me down, it was different. Even after it all, I still ran in the woods on Earth. Exercise was a better method I used to cope. Every morning, I would run and then I would take my dog on a separate walk. It was great because I could finish it all off with a cold shower and protein shake then I would spend the rest of the day wondering what to do with the rest of my life. Of course, I dedicated two hours to listening to music and an unholy amount of time playing video games or dissecting horror movies. But whenever I needed to clear my head and body of the badness, a run was the way to do much like adventuring used to. I inhaled deeply and exhaled much more raggedly.

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I have to admit this run was different. For one, it was nearing the end of a snowstorm yet my entire body lit up like an oven. On Earth, it was so much easier to control. Before it all, I could just do whatever. I could dance around, scream, and cry then at the end of it all, I wouldn’t turn into a monster. I shook my head.

Morgan had passed out in my arms the previous night. I watched as she pushed herself too far. I scooped her up as she muttered incoherent nonsense. I managed to check us in. I didn’t change her clothes. I couldn’t do that without her permission. I tucked her in and rested herself on my chest. Then… I threw a stupid tantrum. A groan left me. I gripped a tree, leaning against it. Heat flushed over my face and blood drained from it. Fucking idiot. Just chill the fuck out. I placed a hand on my chest. I slipped my hand into my shirt, underneath my tight sports bra. A finger pressed against a heavy scar. A bite mark. White fog spilled from my mouth. I pushed myself to run again, feeling a cramp form in my lower stomach.

I nearly screamed. To be honest, I did let out a quiet string of fucks and holy shits. I stumbled backward onto my hands. They sunk deep into the powdery snow. An orange glow poked through the pine. It washed over her. Flakes floated down like glitter across her. Peacefully, her body pressed into the snow. Her eyes were closed as if she were having a simple dream. I crawled forward. Snow burned against my knees. I pressed two fingers against her neck and gulped. Her body felt colder than Morgan’s. Blue reached around her lips. My breath hitched. I looked around the poor woman’s body. Footprints walked in the opposite direction. I tore my shirt off, laying it over her. I’m sorry.

A figure darted through the trees. I bolted after him. The black silhouette pressed hard and disappeared behind the wood. I dropped my shorts and dove forward turning into something more suited for a chase. My paws pressed against the ground, kickstarting me faster and farther through the forest. I sniffed the air. Pine was the most overwhelming scent as well as the fresh sweet smell of decay. I put my snout to the ground. Smoke. I followed the smell. It was like a fire but more the smell that stuck to your clothes after camping. It almost resembled coal? Coal and smoke mixed with blood. I chased it. The footsteps disappeared as I pressed on. I slid to a stop. The smell wafted all around me. I looked up, seeing nothing in the foliage. I let out a low growl, snapping at the stillness.

I turned back. My hands gripped a branch. I pulled myself upward. My feet kicked off the bark sending me up. I grasped onto a higher limb of the tree. I crawled across the thick wood. It scraped up my skin. I scanned the surrounding area and balanced myself on the branch. The dark storm moved farther north revealing a golden glow across all I could see. The snow ended not too far away revealing a large patch of green. My jaw tightened as I gritted my teeth. Fucking grass. I guess a wave of realization hit me. I mean I didn’t know how many of those I could fucking have. This one was different. I already concluded that I was trapped in my former favorite realm and the Princess actually liked me. I guess I was just shocked the world could be green again. Grass would occasionally break through the snow but not like that I saw in the distance. I am in Tenebris. I am in Midnight. Crosspoint was just south of me. For a second, I forgot about that poor girl’s body. Oh shit. I scanned for the figure but found nothing. The smell lingered. I let out a small growl before slipping down from the tree.

The townsfolk shot me some weird looks. I shrugged it off and jogged over to the tiny store. It was one of the last shops left. I had only been to Winter-Star a couple of times and two years destroyed it. The elderly shop owner glanced up from his chair. His eyes widened. What is everyone looking at? I walked up to him passing the pitiful aisles. All the shelves were nearly empty save for a couple of near rotten apples and some toy swords. A singular book sat on one. I guess with all the snow there’s not much else to do. I picked it up from the shelf then I saw some pages burn in the fire. I raised my brow. I guess since it was too cold to cut firewood why not burn books? I sighed feeling pain for the lost words but I mean let’s be real. I couldn’t blame them.

“So, do you guys have like a sheriff or a guard around here?” I placed the book on the counter along with some Fyles.

“Well-” The older man coughed awkwardly. “They’re all gone… The innkeeper kinda tells everyone what to do.”

The town seemed so quiet now. No one made an attempt to plow the now stagnant snow. The only sound for miles was the loud hammer from the blacksmith’s. I turned my head. The strong man swung his hammer down hitting a sword. Sparks flew all around him. A dark glow came from behind him clearly from his force. His eyes looked up at mine. A smile formed. I shivered and tripped back. I hugged myself then ran toward the inn.

I threw open the front door. A gust of wind exploded with me. The owner sent a glance over my way. She wiped glass mugs with a splotchy, white-ish cloth. Her curly brown hair had been pulled back into a loose, messy braid. She scowled at the pile of dishes we had created in our short time here. Should I offer my help? No, no, I gotta do something. The inn was mostly empty except for a couple of women and their children who were too scared to stay in their homes. This isn’t it. Most of the round tables had their chairs placed on top of them signaling for no one to sit. In fact, only three tables were kept clean enough to eat at. The wooden floor hadn’t been swept in at least a week. Salt, sludge, and pieces of food scattered across it aimlessly. The windows were covered in greasy sticky handprints.

Nervously, I approached the bar she stood behind. Kegs lined the wall behind her with tiny labels burned into each one. However, most of them had an additional sign saying that they were out of stock. The fireplace roared angrily. It swore at the cold winds I brought. A couple of eggs popped in the pan above it, sending some of white remnants to the ground to join the other filth. I placed my hands down only to immediately pull them away and stick out my tongue. How should I approach this? I thought for a minute before opening my mouth. Once I did, nothing came out. I stood there thinking again. Luckily, the woman appeared better at English than me.

“Where is your shirt?”

“Oh fuck! Damn it! That’s why- Ugh!” I groaned, looking down at my torso. I had formed a rather bad habit of stripping and leaving my clothes. I always ended up finding them thankfully. Ashlyn chewed me out more than once. “Not important! Someone else needed it more than me.”

“Where are your pants?”

“Shit!” I looked down again. I wore nothing but a pair of loose boxers and a matching red sports bra. “Umm, again, long story and important but it involves drama, crime, and some climbing. So, Lacie, right?”

“Lacie Woods,” She corrected.

“Yes… Lacie… Woods.” I flexed my hands adding emphasis to her last name. “So, let’s say there’s some limited series small town crime shit going on and I think I kinda found something. Just like a little thing that is actually definitely a big thing and definitely a big deal we should talk about. I am talking possibly Mare of Eastown or Sharp Objects vibes. Maybe some Criminal Minds or SVU shit.”

“I don’t know what those are, Fringe.”

“But let’s say there’s a kill-”

“There is a killer. You find another body?” Her eyes rolled. “That’ll be the third.” She sighed and acted as if nothing was wrong. I guess hundreds of men die at war every day…

“So a serial killer!”

“Look, I’m stressed out! What the fuck do you want?” I gulped and looked down.

“Umm, so do you need help with the dishes?”

I found myself elbow deep in the sink washing away gunk. I hummed Haunted by the Taylor Swift while I worked. While at school, I worked in the dining hall. I washed the dishes and put them away. Who doesn’t love a monotonous job they can daydream in? I also very easily succumbed to the pressure of letting me help you despite not actually wanting to. Even though I did want to help people a lot of the time. And I’m not doing this because Lacie scared me. Like a champ, I shook in my boots.

“Ugh, he can never express himself.” She groaned. “It’s like I’m pouring my heart into these letters but he can only write a couple lines… No one gets it either.”

“No?” I scrubbed away at a plate. “That must be really hard.”

“He’s out there working his ass off and killing those horrid Elves- No offense. No one knows what I’m going through. He could die and I’m stuck here. I moved to this shit town to live with him and then he gets shipped out to Blood Pool!” She slammed a clean mug on the bar. I worked quicker. “Worst of all! There’s some killer on the loose attacking women! I’m a woman!”

“You know it’s probably one of the few dudes here.”

“Really?”

“Umm, yeah… Years of watching crime shows and listening to podcasts have shown me that it is always most likely a man but I could be super wrong.”

The innkeeper stared at me. She gave a quiet nod. She went back to cleaning the inn. I returned it with a shrug and nodded to the song in my head. Steps from above sent my eyes up. I followed all the way to the stairs. Ashlyn jogged down them with an annoyed look on her face. She stopped in her tracks. We both stared at each other. I raised my hands in defense then sent her a finger gun.

“Criminal Minds!”

“The tv show?”

“Serial killer!”

“Do you think we could solve it?”

“I’m not gonna say no.”

“At the very least we need to get you dressed.” I gave her a wink and a kiss. “Ope, girl!”

The two of us hiked the trail I had run just a couple of hours earlier. The sun beat down causing the top layer of snow to form an icy crust. We crunched with each step. My boots got stuck in the sticky snow more often than not. As stupid as it sounds, the powdery snow was easier to run through and I was just in my tennis shoes. Slowly but surely we made it to the site but there was a teeny tiny little problem. The only thing left was a blood stain on the already melted snow. I- fuck.