—Former Sheriff Morgan passed away half a year ago, now the new Sheriff is Lucas Hood.Ethan took off the badge on his chest and threw it at him:—You can check, my license plate number, my name is Ethan Morgan.The bearded sergeant took Ethan's police badge and examined it before returning it to him.—Not necessary, I was just checking you know. —he said, while keeping his gun in the holster —. Can you tell me what happened here?Ethan nodded, took the badge back, and put it in his pants pocket.—If I can summarize it quickly, my friend Blake was caught by a psychopathic killer, we were able to trace her to this place, when we questioned the owner, he shot us to burn clothes, so I tried to capture him. He had also kidnapped a little boy who murdered in a fit of madness. —answered seriously. — After a fight I had no choice but to kill him. The Sheriff's expression changed when he heard those words. — Are you sure what you're talking about? A serial killer in this town, I can't believe it.—You can let your officers check the place, they will find more than they want. —Ethan said, taking a new cigarette out of his pocket. — It's a damn butcher shop in there.I doubt for a moment, but he looked back solemnly. Two policemen, a man and a woman, nodded and hurried to the scene with their flashlights on. It was not long before swift steps were heard out of the factory, the officers as soon as they saw the light could not help but vomit from the disgust of what they had found on the spot. The Sheriff, irritated, advanced shouting: — Bastards, what a shame! What the hell did they see in there. At that moment, Jonathan arrived with Blake. Without saying anything, he approached Ethan and hugged him tightly, patting him several times on the back. —Thank you, I don't know how we could thank you. —You don't have to say it, Blake is someone very important to me, I couldn't let that damn hurt him —Ethan replied. Jonathan released Ethan, looking into the dark and terrifying basement with growing fear. After a while, the Sheriff returned with a pale face and addressed Jonathan and Blake: — Can we speak alone? — said referring to Ethan Jonathan nodded and took Blake aside. As the two walked away, the visibly upset Sheriff asked anxiously: — What about the boy inside, the man hanging on the hook, the gutted woman and the limbs in the freezer? The sweat dried from his forehead as he spoke, increasingly nervous. —And the ashes in the incinerator —added Ethan coldly. The Sheriff tried to reach out to grab Ethan by the clothes, but his icy gaze stopped him. He lowered his hand and exclaimed: — Damn, what the hell happened here! Ethan understood the Sheriff's panic. In his position, any such incident was devastating, especially if the victims were local girls. If he did not handle it well, when everything came to light, citizens would ask for his head in a matter of minutes. Ethan exhaled a puff of smoke before answering: —The man you saw hanging is called Gram. As police chief, you must know his story.—Yes, he was the son of the former factory owner. He worked there until they closed. —The boy's name is Martin. He was kidnapped by Gram two years ago so I saw in one of the newspapers —Ethan continued, shaking the ash from the cigarette —. From what I saw, Martin was influenced by the environment and by Gram, they both did what you just witnessed. The Sheriff remained silent as Ethan spoke, with a dark expression like ice. —I was trying to rescue Jonathan's niece, Blake, when I found Martin here. I wanted to help him, but he attacked me —he said pointing to his bloodstained pants — Martin died in the fight between Gram and me, since the wretch used him as a shield. Blake and I killed the damn in the end too. The bearded Sheriff kept listening in silence, his face increasingly gloomy. — Do you have any proof of what you say? —finally asked. Ethan, without losing his cool, replied: —I guess the bunch of victims in the building, and the testimonies of the girl they kidnapped to murder her might suffice. The increasingly uneasy Sheriff looked at him suspiciously. Ethan smiled, threw the butt on the ground looking challenging.—We are on the same team, I understand your difficulties. Maybe we can do something to make this not look so scary. The Sheriff watched him, expectant. —I don't want prominence —Ethan — continued. We don't want a problem, Blake just wants to go home, while you can take care of this mess, you can have the credit of killing the damn. The Sheriff's eyes sparkled. — How much will it cost me and my boys? "He asked anxiously: Ethan smiled, satisfied. —I am hurt, I will need to cover medical expenses. Also, my friend was shocked, he will have to see a psychiatrist ... — Just stop talking! —shouted the Sheriff under his breath, attracting the attention of Blake, who tried to get closer, but Jonathan stopped her. Just as Ethan was going to respond, the Sheriff raised his hands, crossing his two index fingers. —One hundred thousand —said the Sheriff with resignation —. My men and I will raise $ 100,000,000 for you. For you and your friends to shut up. What happens next is none of your business. —Deal done —Ethan said, clapping him. When they left the basement, everyone looked at the destroyed house in front of them. A crow jumped from a nearby branch, emitting shrill screeches. Ethan threw the car keys at Blake. She would be the one to drive now. — Why did you make a deal with that Sheriff? —Blake asked as they drove the Dodge Challenger. Ethan checked his wound. —These kinds of things are very problematic. If this reaches the media, we would be in the headlines. You want that? Blake shook his head. —Also —Ethan — continued we killed Gram and Martin died in the crossfire. Be that as it may, the trial would be long and could lead to many legal problems, and I don't know about you but I like to be out of prison. — Why did the Sheriff pay so much? —Blake asked confused. —The Sheriff is smart. In this case of a serial killer, being will become very famous for at least a time, it would also look very bad if they were dying young under their noses and that he had not realized it, now he can invent whatever it takes to save his skin .—Let's leave this behind. Ethan I already come to those poor girls. After what happened to you dear, we'd better stay away from all of this. No one said anything else. The sun was shining on them as Ethan squinted, feeling relieved, his regenerative power gradually relieved his wound, with a couple of sutures and a few more days he would be fit again.Under sheriff's arrangements, Jonathan was hospitalized for treatment. Ethan, after treating his injuries, insisted on being discharged from the hospital, despite the doctor's insistence.Blake no longer wanted to stay there after what happened, so he asked Jonathan to let her go to Banshee with Ethan. Jonathan, still wounded, had no choice but to accept Blake following Ethan back, after saying goodbye to Jonathan's family, the two set out on the way back. Only half a day passed, and when they got home, the sun had not yet set. As soon as he entered the room, Blake went straight to the display case, took a bottle of whiskey, took a sip, and then pushed Ethan onto the sofa. —Hey, you're bullying a wounded man. —Shut up —Blake replied firmly. Blake was in front of him, with a mixture of nerves and desire in his eyes. They didn't need to say anything; they both knew they were alone, far from everything.Ethan slowly approached, his fingers brushing against Blake's face, stroking his cheek as if it were the first time. His eyes met and, for a moment, the outside world disappeared. Blake closed his eyes, letting himself be carried away by the proximity, while his heartbeat echoed in his ears.—I've missed you —Blake muttered, his voice just a whisper.Ethan smiled, bending over to kiss her gently. The rubbing of his lips was slow, almost shy, but full of an intensity that could not be contained. Blake reciprocated, wrapping his arms around her neck, drawing him toward her. Their bodies were found in a hug that said more than words could express.The heat between them grew as the caresses grew deeper, more urgent. Ethan guided her to the rustic wooden bed, her hands exploring the bare skin on her back. The cabin was filled with the sound of his broken breaths, his whispers laden with desire.Blake dropped onto the sheets, looking at Ethan with a mixture of longing and vulnerability. He leaned over her, his lips brushing over hers once more before kissing her with more passion. The rhythm of their hearts seemed to be accompanied while the outside world was left behind, and only the two of them existed, in that eternal moment.The hours passed without being noticed, and when the moonlight slipped through the curtains, they both lay together, wrapped in the quiet silence of the cabin, with Blake's body huddled against Ethan's. The peace of the night enveloped their exhausted bodies, but their hearts kept beating at the same beat. After a few movements, his body relaxed, showing its proud curves.
Although Blake kept a smile during the return, Ethan knew that the fear was still latent in his heart. Being kidnapped by a perverted serial killer and being in a freezer full of human parts was not an easy thing to forget.
Ethan got up, turned on the lights in the room, and covered her with a blanket. As he pulled out his cell phone and headed for the door, Blake stopped him. —Don't go, stay here. —Okay, I won't go —Ethan answered quietly — I'm just going to make a call. Blake, with his eyes closed, released his hand as he walked into the kitchen and dialed the phone. —Sheriff, I'm back now, but I'll have to ask you for a couple of days off. Hood's voice came from the other side: — How is your friend? —Okay now, but I have to take care of her for a couple of days and she is also somewhat injured. — Is it serious? —Hood's tone tensed. Ethan touched the bandage on his thigh, no blood was coming out. —It is not serious, in a few days I will be fine. —Rest then, I'll take care of your work. After hanging up, Ethan left the phone on the table, opened the refrigerator, took out a bottle of water, and after half drinking it, returned to the sofa. Blake hugged him and settled on his chest, finally relaxing his eyebrows, and they both fell asleep.Night.Ethan moved his eyelashes and opened his eyes slowly.— Are you awake? —Blake asked, fiddling with the muscles in his abdomen.—Yes —Ethan replied in a dull tone.— What time is it?Blake, getting closer to him, heard his heartbeat and murmured:—It is nine o'clock at night. I'm hungry.Ethan took his pack and lit a cigarette.—I don't want to go out, see if there's anything in the fridge. Blake kissed him and went to the kitchen. Ethan watched her as she walked, her eyes following her round buttocks until she opened the refrigerator door. He slowly exhaled a puff of smoke and got up. — What are you doing? I'm hungry —Blake bit his lip while leaning toward the refrigerator. The next moment, the kitchen counter began to shake hard. After several days off, Ethan's quiet recovery was interrupted by an unexpected guest. Ethan opened the automatic door, and after a while a truck stopped in front of the house. —Nice house —Jonathan said on the way down. —Thank you —Ethan replied with a smile, walking slowly towards him. Even though his leg had almost healed, Ethan had yet to pretend to those who knew his situation. Jonathan was also bandaged, but he hugged Blake before pulling out some newspaper-wrapped packages.—This is what the Sheriff asked me to bring.Ethan nodded and they returned home.After settling in, Jonathan left the packages on the table.—You don't know how nervous I was bringing this up here. — said sighing.Blake handed Jonathan a bottle of water.— What is this? — I ask blake curiously. —Just open it and you will see it —Jonathan replied with a smile. — Is it the money the Sheriff promised? —Blake guessed immediately. Ethan bluntly broke the wrappers and exposed bundles of bills totaling a hundred thousand dollars. Jonathan and Blake's breathing accelerated. Jonathan, a small farmer, could not have raised such a sum of money so easily. Blake, he's still in college, let alone. Ethan, used to these kinds of scenes, was not impressed. He divided the money into three parts and pushed two towards them. —Wait, wait I don't want ... —said Jonathan getting up quickly, just like Blake. —Listen —Ethan — said this is the money they gave us for keeping silent. Each one must take a part, I would not feel comfortable if only I would benefit from this, and we all risk our lives in that place. Under his persuasion, Jonathan accepted ten thousand and Blake the rest, although he gave it to Jonathan for safekeeping, since he did not want to fly on a plane with so much cash, but actually wanted to give it to him. Jonathan commented that the situation in the city was tense, with reporters everywhere and a police chief who seemed to enjoy the chaos and attention offered by the media. Finally, everything was calming down, and so they sped up the investigation to close the case without too many questions.Blake's vacation ended quickly. Before leaving, she dyed her hair, and when she left the room, Ethan couldn't help but smile when he saw her in a completely different style. The dark tone now contrasted with his skin and highlighted his features in a new way.— What do you think? —she asked, giving him a quick turn in front of the mirror.—You look good, different, but well —Ethan replied with a smile, shrugging carefree.Blake gave a little laugh and nodded, happy with the compliment. Outside, the Uber was already waiting for her.—Well, it's time to go —she said, raising a hand with a mixture of nostalgia and resignation.—Take care —Ethan replied, giving him a quick hug —. If you need something, you already know where to find me.—I know —Blake said, giving him one last look before opening the Uber door.Ethan watched as he walked away down the gravel road without much ceremony. The car disappeared on the horizon, and he sighed, returning to the cabin with his hands in his pockets. Once inside, he removed the bandages from his thighs and examined the scar left by the last confrontation.He kept the money in the drawer, quickly changed, and took the keys to the Dodge Challenger. Without further thought, he headed for the Davis Bar.