Chapter 28

~RYLEE~

As I stepped into the now hated bedroom, the cryptic message painted on the wall immediately caught my attention; the words were directed at me.

Agent Cody, it's time you remember who you are. Time to remember yourself as Analise. Time to remember you have lived time and again... Time to remember our game.

I stared at the message, confused. What the ever-loving actual fuck? I couldn't help thinking. What did he mean, remember myself as Analise? And that I had lived time and again? As well, game? What game were they supposed to have played? 

From beside me, Brice snarled, "That is one sick mother fucker!"

His words had barely even been uttered before Ashley stepped up behind us, then, peering over our shoulders at the cryptic message, she questioned,  "What the hell is that nutcase talking about?"

"Honestly? I have no freaking idea," I replied, shaking my head as a coldness shivered through my bones.

Suddenly, Ethan and Jordan stepped into the room, and coming over to  join us, Ethan, a frown marring his forehead, asked, "Is he talking about reincarnation?"

I just shrugged. I had no idea. I knew what it sounded like, but that was ridiculous. Wasn't it? I'd always believed that this was my first life, my only life. But now, as I stared at the wall, I couldn't help but question. Perhaps I had lived before, as Analise.

The name was so familiar to me, as if I had heard it forever. The more I thought about it, the more possible it seemed.

With a shake of my head, I tried shoving the thoughts away, telling myself it was ridiculous. But the possibility lingered, refusing to be silenced.

ASHLEY

As I stared at the message, I knew we couldn't let this psycho get away. Not after everything we had been through to track him down. But as I read the message over and over again, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being played. That there was something more to this than met the eye.

I tried to push the thoughts away, but my mind kept wandering back to the events of the past few months. The first message had come as a surprise, words that had set everything in motion. 'YOU STAYED WITH ME AGENT CODY, SO I DIDN’T HAVE TO DOUBLE MY KILLING BECAUSE OF YOU! It’s time to be wary, Agent Cody, because I’m coming for you!' This one was different, though. His messages had always been cryptic and strange, but this one was way out there in left field. I’d always thought we were gaining ground on this Kookoo bird, but now? I felt we were farther away than ever.

My mind raced with possibilities as I surveyed the room. I knew that serial killers often returned to familiar locations, seeking comfort or satisfaction in their chosen hunting grounds. But this killer seemed to have broken his own pattern by coming all the way to another State, into uncharted territory. It almost looked like he had been drawn here for some reason, perhaps by a personal connection or a hidden trigger.

"What is it?" Brice asked, noticing my sudden tension as Brice, Rylee, Ethan, myself and Jordan stepped out of the room and into the hallway.

I shook my head. “Nothing really. Just thinking.”

Minutes later, as we stepped back into the kitchen, I glanced around at the forensic team, who were all busy examining various parts of the room. They too seemed to be feeling the same unease, their earlier stoic expressions replaced by frowns and furrowed brows.

"What is it?" I asked one of them quietly.

The man shrugged. “Just... Well, the place doesn’t feel right, ya know?”

I nodded, completely understanding what he meant. The air felt heavy, like a storm brewing on the horizon, and I could feel my heart racing in my chest as I glanced nervously over at Brice, but he seemed to be lost in thought. Glancing back towards the connecting dining room, I caught sight of movement out of the corner of my eye; a shadow darting across the room.

Beside me, Ethan hissed, "Did you see that?"

I nodded silently, and as we watched, the shadow reappeared and seemed to be moving closer, before suddenly, it vanished altogether, leaving us both staring at the empty space where it had been.

"That was weird," Ethan muttered.

But even as he spoke, another shadow appeared, this one larger and more menacing than the last. It loomed just at the entrance between the kitchen and dining room, blocking out most of the sunlight streaming in through the windows, before it too vanished. Then, without warning, the front door slammed shut with such force the whole house shook as a hair raising shriek filled the air.

Everyone within the kitchen let out a terrified scream, and one of the forensic team members shouted, “Sweet Mother of God! What the hell is going on around here? And who or what the fuck was that?”

Suddenly, the lights flickered and went out. Then, they heard the voice. Low and menacing, it seemed to come from all around them. "You will never leave this place alive."

“I don’t know what the hell is going on around here,” Brice muttered, “but I got the feeling we are in way over our heads, people.”