Prologue
July 25th, 2013 -12:00 A.M. - TC3, Dryden N.Y.
The residents of Dryden and Cortland N.Y. slept away as they always did, per routine, whilst the police forces of each town were very much awake. Had it not been for the caffeine in their systems, the excitement of the investigation's end would have pushed them through the last stretch. Yellow tape marked off the entrance into Tompkins Cortland Community College, as to not disturb the groups of officers awaiting to infiltrate the building. The night was frigid; the high winds of a storm that had been brewing hours prior to this engagement only increased the discomfort. The flashing of red and blue lights bounced at a rhythm across the exterior walls. More than a few squad cars lay parked at precise angles as to provide any needed coverage, if the need be in the proceeding mission. There was a mass of black vests, and puffs of cold air from the group waiting along the pathway to the school's gymnasium.
Standing point in the front, were two higher up officers; Head Detective Norma O' Sheridan, a fiery red headed woman with an attitude that only complimented the heat of her hair. The sharpness of her jaw and nose fit well with her high cheekbones and stern stare. Beside her was the Chief of Police for the Dryden Department, Vincent Alans. Had the man's eyes not been open, he could have blended finely with the shadows across the lawn. His bear tone voice, huge head, wide jaw line and massive hands, along with the man's giant like stature, assisted many a times with scaring suspects into confessions.
Every single light outside, other than the parking lot, had been cut off to assist in somewhat shrouding these men and women, which only created more worry in Norma's already frantic mind. "Sir, there could be a life threatening altercation going on in that gymnasium. Why the hell are we not going in?!" A wave of panic had nearly masked itself in the Irish undertone of her voice. Had it not been for the blanket of darkness, Vincent would have seen the glassy emerald eyes of his most trusted partner. "We must hold point until further instruction. Special Agent Tope, along with his F.B.I. unit, will penetrate the building first." The man went to continue when seconds later, the federal agents scooted by, all antsy; all very on edge, moving close knit like a war hardened platoon.
This distraction cut both of the head officer's voices completely off. Special Agent Tope had walked behind them, signaling for his group to halt. That man with his scary prominence and those cold, dark eyes, took just a moment to glance over the officers before him. The flashlights beaming on him just made his appearance all the more eerie. There was something about the man's stern face; a flow of electrical adrenaline coursed, not only Norma's veins, but the rest of the officers as well. Whether it was from the cold, the stress of this investigation or Tope's soul shattering gaze, a sense of unease rode shotgun to their paranoia.
When the man spoke his voice was stern, yet invigorating. His wrist lay a couple of inches from his widened, thin lipped mouth; "Move in; be aware. We want Samantha alive. Repeat, bring the subject in alive! And do NOT startle her! The girl is scared and will flee if she has to." As if shadows slithered across the floor, the small group entered the college. Tope's stare would not unlock itself from Norma's; this sort of attention could crumble the most mightiest of veterans. "Sir?" A man with a Boston accent came through the intercom. "Yes Agent Vossel?" Tope finally broke the staring contest, giving full attention to the task at hand. "The fuck was that about?" Norma couldn't shake that man from her thoughts, it made her shudder. Alans was unable to answer; not even a single gutter able sound would escape those, normally strong willed, cuss covered lips.
"Jesus…A-Are you sure?" Both head officers immediately locked eyes onto the seasoned agent. "What's wrong?" Alans tried his hardest to not sound like a coward. If that agent could smite a person with his eyes, the Chief would be nothing but red mush by now. "Come with me." It was all he said before taking off towards the doorways. He was already inside the school, and jogging towards the left. Alans took off, but a force yanked him back. "Remove your hand detective." Ice seemed to fill the woman's veins, freezing her feet in place.
Their faces were inches apart; he finally saw the horror behind her eyes. "I know, Norma, you're scared and that's okay. We've been on this investigation for almost a year now. Samantha is in this building, I just know she is and we'll help catch her and give her a place so she can get help and be protected. But first, you must loosen your grip." These words heated her up; the icy feeling evaporated almost as fast as the petrifying sensation irking her so.
A nod was all that had been exchanged before they slid across the pavement; their silent footsteps coasting silently. Tope had already been instructing his group inside, when Alans' battering ram-like foot kicked the door in. What happened next seemed like a blur. If Tope had the power, he would've killed the chief with the fury stricken on his face. His hand waved; the squad burst into the gymnasium; he grabbed Alans by his vest, dragging him in behind the rest of his group. "Do you see what you just did?!" With an unimaginable amount of force, Alans was thrown onto the floor; his nose nearly bounced off the wood. The wind had been knocked clean out of his lungs as an image of a solid figure blurred in front of him.
A feint smell of metal had entered his nostrils and unmistakably he knew what it was. He'd smelled blood before, many a times throughout his career as a homicide detective. The rest of the Dryden Police had entered behind them all, as two agents reentered from the opposite exit. Lightning began to flash, casting random bursts of light into the gym, only magnifying the tragedy that lay before them all.
"Any news?" Tope's voice was shaky as he awaited a hopeful reply. The head shaking coming from a tall, bald, pale white man set the head agent off. With every single punch he threw at the wall came a disgusting smack. The fury behind his eyes, had frightened everyone. Many tried to stop him but they were all thrown off, as he punched one last time. A bloodstain rested along the wall; dripping after him as he slid to the floor. "I want Miss Hive found… NOW! FIND HER GOD DAMN IT! I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE TIRED, JUST FUCKING FIND SAMANTHA! Just… F-Find her."
The frustration ebbed away, piece by piece as time kept playing its role in life. He wanted to retain his frustration, to help fuel himself for the inevitable search ahead. Alas, it was a failed attempt. "Who was she?" Tope accepted Alans' assistance, and was pulled to his feet. "Fuck… She was; oh damn it…" It took all the strength the head agent could muster, to not hit the wall again. He kept gazing at the girl before him; how the multiple lacerations covered her side and legs, he knew it represented anger. He knew Samantha Hive was a very distraught girl, and that her mind had snapped way before she got to this victim. "She was L-…Lizzie Grace. We had a horrible feeling that Samantha was going to come after her." the once tough stoic man, with his will broken, went silent.
The two head officers stole a glance down towards the victim. She was a young woman, with blonde hair; her eyes lay wide open, displaying the fear of death. Her throat was slashed, and it looked as if the wounds along her right side were freshly made, as they had still been slightly dripping. The fact that Lizzie's complexion was somewhat lifelike, indicated she had just died moments prior to their infiltration. "I fucking knew we should've come in sooner. God… damn it," Norma muttered.
At least five or more flashlights were pointed up at the wall nearby the entrance, catching her attention. Not a single person spoke, but every one of them had paralyzed faces, contorted with fear. Curiosity had kicked in, as she saw their dismay. She pulled her light out, locking her eyes onto the wall surrounding the entrance. She too, mimicked the faces of those around her. "Jesus! Chief, you gotta see this." Tope had already exited the building, after having to nearly force his agents out with him.
It took all of Alans' strength to look away from that girl, and turned his attention to his partner's findings. "Christ almighty…" Sniffing took place after his voice trailed off; his eyes glistened from the flashing lightning; his sorrow had been exposed. The man never showed weakness, not even in front of the Head Detective; not in their history of working together. Another lightning bolt struck moments later; Norma jumped, as she was still on edge, but never kept her own gaze off that message. Never Quit Again had been dried onto the wall, over the doorway. It was written with blood. Lizzie's blood.