The air in the precinct hung thick with unspoken dread. Elizabeth scanned the room, a desperate plea for familiarity in her eyes, but found only the cold, professional faces of law enforcement. The Deputy, a man etched with the grim realities of his profession, hurried past, his words—meant for the officer at his side—drifting like a chilling breeze: "Two more cases of the disease yesterday."
Then, Officer Alicia approached. The officer, Elizabeth couldn't help but notice, who seemed to share a camaraderie with Aaron that went beyond professional courtesy. "Aaron went out to inspect two murders," she said, a smile playing on her lips, though it seemed more a practiced gesture than genuine warmth. "Should I tell him you're here?"
"I'll wait in his office, don't worry," Elizabeth replied, dismissing the offer.
Alicia's gaze lingered, a strange mixture of curiosity and something else Elizabeth couldn't quite decipher. "Do you know the way to his office? Or should I show you?"
The question confirmed Elizabeth's suspicions. Aaron had gossiped. The realization solidified her unease and the nagging feeling that their relationship was more than platonic.
"I know the way," Elizabeth said, nodding curtly, reading the name tag: Officer Alicia. She turned and walked toward Aaron's office, Alicia trailing close behind. They stopped before a heavy, imposing door. Alicia pushed it open, revealing a space that mirrored the enigmatic aura of Sir Tansi—dark, mysterious, and subtly menacing.
Alicia turned to Elizabeth, not bothering to conceal the door. "If you want anything, just let me know." With that, she retreated, the door clicking shut behind her, leaving Elizabeth alone in the oppressive silence.
The moment she was alone, Elizabeth began her desperate search, driven by the need to find any clue, any indication of what had become of her body.
Aaron's desk was littered with files, each containing gruesome photographs of murder victims. Elizabeth steeled herself and began to sift through them, her heart pounding in her chest, searching for any sign of herself.
But there was nothing. Absolutely nothing.
The clock ticked mercilessly in her mind, a constant reminder of her dwindling time. Three minutes.
She bolted from the office, offering a hasty goodbye to Alicia as she rushed out of the station. Pulling her hair back to conceal her identity, she retraced her steps, running until she reached Aunt Beatrice's shop.
Inside, Martha stood engaged in an animated conversation with Aunt Beatrice, her hands gesturing dramatically as she spoke.
Elizabeth approached, no longer bothering to hide her presence. It was obvious where she'd been.
"You done?" Martha asked, her tone suggesting she knew exactly where Elizabeth had been and what she had been doing.
Elizabeth nodded, her mind already racing.
Damon waited outside, his composure fraying at the edges after the long wait.
The drive back to the mansion was silent, the weight of the images Elizabeth had seen pressing down on her. The faces of the dead, the brutality of their demise—she could become one of them.
The car pulled into the circular drive of the mansion. As Elizabeth started to get out, another car pulled up behind them. Sir Tansi emerged from the back seat, his fingers stained crimson. His eyes, however, remained eerily calm, a stark contrast to the blood on his hands.
He glided past them, not even a flicker of acknowledgment in his gaze.