YESTERDAY...
(CARSON'S POV)
I stop at the door, thoughts running through my head.
What do I even say to them?!
Hi, my name is Carson Angelo, I brought myself back from the dead, and I want to know where the people who killed me are now.
They're going to send me to a psychiatric ward.
"Excuse me? Miss? You're blocking the way."
I turn around, and a pretty blue haired woman stares back at me.
I jump to the side, frowning.
"Sorry."
"It's okay!"
She cocks her head to the side.
"Are you feeling okay?"
I shrug.
"Been better."
"Why are you standing outside the FBI headquarters dearest? Do you need help?"
"I thought I needed to ask someone something but I changed my mind."
Fuck me for being awkward as hell.
"I'm like that too sometimes. My name's Rose Hollows."
She hands me a business card, smiling.
"If you ever need anything, help or what not, I'm here, okay? You seem tired, go get some rest."
I look down at it, then back at her, returning the smile.
"Carson Angelo. Thank you, Rose."
"Anytime."
She walks past me into the building, and I tuck the business card into my jacket's pocket.
I messed that up for myself.
I'll come back tomorrow.
It's whatever.
I walk back down the stairs, frowning.
Now...how to get home.
*********
PRESENT.
(RAVEN'S POV)
Casey looks at me wide eyed and I cock my head to the side.
"Are you gonna let me in or leave me standing here, darling?"
She takes a step back, opening the door wider.
I slide through, looking around.
"This place hasn't changed a bit since I was last here, Case. What have you been up to? Are you still working at Brenda's?"
She continues to stare at me, and I give her an annoyed look.
"What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Raven..."
"Yes?"
Casey takes a deep breath.
"Are we ignoring how you just left me at that prison when I was trying to talk to you? How you left for four years and never bothered to tell me where you were? About how you killed innocent people?!"
My expression drops and I stare at her.
"I couldn't talk to you."
"Why not?!"
I don't answer, only thin my lips.
"Did you want to know I was in prison for murder, Casey? That your sweet little Raven killed someone?"
When she only frowns I laugh humorlessly.
"You're an idiot if you think the people I killed were innocent. No one's completely innocent."
"That doesn't change the fact that you killed them! When they still had time to live their lives?!"
I roll my eyes.
"You and your big squishy heart, Casey. The only thing they had to live for was jail time. Be happy I gave them fast deaths. Not slow ones."
She becomes angry.
"You can't try to justify the fact that you're a cold hearted killer, Raven! You killed that girl! She was only sixteen! It just doesn't work like that! Why are you back here?! Are you gonna kill me too?!"
I smile, and her eyes seem to widen in shock as I begin laughing.
"You're making me laugh! I didn't kill that 16 year old girl and if you don't want to end up with my hands burning through your neck I'd suggest you shut your trap, Casey! I actually came to apologize for what happened earlier but obviously your stubborn ass sees me nothing more than a convicted murderer. A monster."
"No...Raven you've got it twisted. I don't think you're a monster, I really don't—"
"Then what do you think I am?!"
Casey's brows knit together when she looks at me.
"I don't know."
"Whatever. Thank you for the very lovely...five minute visit."
I give her an insincere smile, beginning to walk past her when she takes my arm, spinning me around to face her before pressing her lips against mine.
I pull away, a shocked look across my face.
"Case..."
"I'm sorry—I didn't—"
I smirk at her.
"I expected that the day would come when you made out with me. Don't think I haven't noticed."
She looks dumbfounded, but then smiles awkwardly.
"So you aren't...mad at me?"
"For kissing me? Of course not! I wouldn't be able to resist myself either. But for whatever happened earlier? Slightly."
"I'm sorry, Raven, I really am. I just got upset."
I cock my head to the side, before patting her shoulder.
"I forgive you. Heated argument that was. I'll visit you another time, okay?"
She makes a face.
"You aren't staying?"
"Afraid not. I have to get back to Rosie."
"Who?"
I sigh.
"The blueberry."
She still looks at me funny.
"The detective who got me out of prison. She was calling me about how worried she was because I never showed up. Told her I was visiting someone and would be back. Might as well surprise her early. I'll come later."
"Promise?"
I pull her face closer to me by her cheek, planting a kiss on her other before whispering into her ear.
"Promise."
I turn around, exiting her apartment door.
I teleport outside to avoid the people at the front desk, walking down the sidewalk to find my way back to wherever the hell that FBI building is.
*******
After a little while of me wandering around I make it to the building, ascending the steps to the large doors.
I rest my hand on the handle, only for it not to open.
Of course it didn't.
I teleport inside, looking around.
It's pretty dark.
Probably cause it's 12 at night.
I walk up the stairs into Rose's office, sitting on her chair.
Wonder where she is.
I slap my forehead.
Aren't I stupid...she's probably at her house.
Whatever. I'll sit here and wait.
*********
SIX HOURS LATER...
6:23 AM.
The door to the office opens and I hear a small screech, my eyes snapping on a mortified Rose.
"Raven?! What in the world are you doing here?! Have you slept?! Where in the hell did you come from?"
"I thought you'd be a little more excited to see me, Rosie. I decided to come early just for you. And I haven't slept, for your information I don't sleep. I don't need sleep. I teleported here, the doors were locked."
"I shouldn't have expected any less from you."
Rose drops her bag next to me, and I stare up at her from the chair.
"Can I help you, sweetie pie?"
"You can help me by getting your ass out of my seat, Asher."
I roll my eyes.
"Rude. I was hoping for a little more of 'you can help me by putting those soft lips against mine, Ravey.'"
She stares at me blankly.
"I'm not into you like everyone else you encounter, Raven. I like men."
"I can make you like women, princess. I'm a life changer."
Rose sighs.
"Please move."
"Since you asked nicely."
I sit in the other chair, staring at her while twirling my hair between my fingers.
"What're you doing now, Raven?"
"Knotting my hair."
She looks at me strangely but doesn't say anything else, writing something down in a notebook.
"Where did you go last night?"
"Oh so now that I'm working with you you need to know every single detail about my life? Very nice."
"I wasn't even—whatever. But seriously. Where were you?"
I grin.
"Okay, mom. I'm sorry for being out past curfew...but I can't really tell you..."
She frowns.
"Why?"
"It's a secret. And I have a feeling you can't keep secrets, Rosie."
Rose gives me a look, but sighs.
"At least you're here, Raven. We were worried. I was worried."
"What a sweetheart you are, I won't leave you that fast. Don't be depressed."
I stare at her, yawning.
"I'm bored. Are we going to do something soon?!"
"Soon."
She looks up from her desk when someone comes through the door, holding some papers.
"Ma'am. The papers you wanted."
"Thank you, Warren."
He nods, disappearing out the door again.
My eyes track the papers as she looks through them, catching my face and name on quite a few.
"What are those?"
"These? Reports. About you and your family. We need more information."
I make a face.
"I don't have any family."
"You do. You have a father, a mother, and two younger brothers, Raven. They're just...dead."
I look into her deep blue eyes, blinking.
"Those rats aren't considered my family."
Rose pushes a strand of her hair that fell out of her braid behind her ear, eyebrows furrowed as she looks between me, a sketch, and crime scene photos.
Her eyes expand.
"Asher, did you kill them?! Did you burn your family alive?!"
She faces a police sketch towards me, and I smile.
It's a sketch of me.
"Perhaps. Perhaps not."
Rose takes the drawing back, seemingly nauseated.
"They—they were stabbed, tortured, then burnt alive in their own house? I—you did that, Raven?!"
Her lips dip down in a frown.
"How could you live with yourself after that?"
I tilt my head to the side, beaming.
"I just stick it in a different part of my brain. Besides, I can't feel bad for people I despise. Did one of your family members die, Rose?"
"My younger brother."
"How sad."
I lean backwards in the chair, and she gazes at me.
"You're one of them."
"What was that?"
"Oh my god, you're one of them."
She stands up, walking towards the door.
"I'll be back. Don't go anywhere, okay?"
I shrug.
"I won't."
*********
(ROSE'S POV)
My heart thumps in my chest as I leave the room, finally realizing why she's so strong.
Why she's so...evil.
I knock on the director's door, hearing his deep voice.
"Hollows? Is that you?"
"Yes, sir."
"Come in."
I open the door, shutting it behind me before hurrying over to his desk.
I sit down in front of him, eyes wide.
"Is everything alright?"
"I finally found out. Raven."
"What about her, Rose?"
I take a deep breath.
"Raven's the fifth Hybrid."
*********
TWENTY MINUTES LATER...
(RAVEN'S POV)
Wonder where she went.
I snatch the papers from in front of me, looking at their faces.
Such disgusting faces.
Theodore Asher.
September Asher.
River and Rowan Asher.
I'm glad I killed them.
I drop the photos back onto the desk, standing up.
I'm bored.
When do I have to meet Wilder again?
He never even told me a time.
Just tonight.
At the City Bank.
Alone.
***********
FIFTEEN HOURS LATER...
9:57 PM.
Rose left the office an hour and a half ago, and has been...how do I describe it? Distant.
She knows something I don't.
Which I don't like.
I'll figure it out.
Might as well go to the bank now.
I stand up from the chair, sliding out the office door and into the hallway.
I teleport outside, pulling a jacket Rose gave me over my black tank top.
I walk down the road, humming while my footsteps echo through my ears.
You'd be surprised how quiet it gets here at night.
I look up, seeing a large red building with the words "City Bank" in yellow letters.
What a happy looking bank.
I look around for the sight of his unnaturally bright eyes, hearing a voice.
"Raven!"
I look up, making a face.
"What the fuck?! Is that you, Wilder?!"
"No, Ravey baby, I'm your dead father."
I glare at him and he holds out his hand.
"Take my hand, lovely. It can be like in the romance films."
"You're all the way on the roof. How do you expect me to reach your hand?"
I call back, and he rolls his eyes.
"What-fucking-ever."
He drops down and I jump back, watching as he lands perfectly on his feet, grinning.
"We're robbing a bank. This is to prove your loyalty to me, princess."
"Where're the other dimwits?"
"Not here at the moment. They'll come if I need them. Remember when I said alone, Raven? I meant you and me."
I smile at him.
"If you wanted to make out you should've just said something. But don't stab me with your needles again."
Wilder grins.
"Later, babes. Now. Take my hand."
I stare at him, before hopping onto his back.
"Carry me."
"Not what I had in mind—but okay, Asher."
He teleports onto the roof again, and I hop onto the ground.
"You could've done that yourself."
"I know. But I didn't."
I look down at an open vent, thinning my lips.
"You want me to go in there and unlock the front door for you, right?"
"Very right. Oh, and Raven?"
I sigh.
"What is it now?!"
"No using your powers. I want to see what you are really capable of."