Mel didn’t take too kindly to Evan overriding what he tried to express. He felt even more agitated by how Evan unilaterally involved the others in their exchange. The psychiatrist sighed and composed himself, as to not cause further chaos in their setting.


    “Evan, you don’t really have an idea what you’re talking about, do you? You reach for one clue to another clue and jump from one conclusion to the next in a matter of minutes. Control your emotions and maybe, just maybe, you’ll find yourself to be a little more helpful than you currently are. I’m talking to you as a young man and I’m not trying to be too abrasive. We don’t have to hold hands, but you’re not going to keep painting me as a fucking psychopath. You’ve done it since day one and I think it’s been long enough for your to fuck off with that talk.”


    Janet stood up, staring at the men in the kitchen, “I don’t think right now is the time for more infighting. I think Anne needs some time and that’s more than understandable. We do have some questioning that needs to get done, though. You can probably imagine why, Mel.”


    Mel’s nostrils flared inherently as his biological reactions continued to fuel his growing anger. Before he could respond, Evan piped up once more, “Why don’t we get Dr. Lecter here to talk to Anne, huh? He’s the expert. If he’s half as good as he tells himself he is, this shouldn’t be much more than another day in the office.”


    Janet put her thumb to her lips, gnawing on the nail. Evan’s intent was to continue antagonizing Mel, but there was some genuine wisdom within his words. No one in the house would be more prepared to handle this kind of situation. The officer looked to Evan and then, after a few seconds, to Mel.


    “Ok then,” Janet stepped away from the coffee table she had occupied, “you’re up to bat, big guy.”


    Mel looked a bit dumbfounded, “I’m not sure that’s the right tactic here.”


    Janet looked at him scrupulously, “Why might that be? Is it a matter of skill or are you afraid of her talking?”


    Mel’s teeth were clamped together so tightly he was unsure if they would crack from the pressure. This anger of his was always an issue. His superiority complex was too deeply attached to his character. There had been innumerable times in the past where Mel craved a release from this trait. He knew his demeanor was off-putting and difficult to deal with. These aspects of him, in fairness, propelled him to be as successful in his field as he had been up to that point. He had long accepted his properties; there was no reason to change now.


    Mel produced a prominent, albeit performative, smile. “Of course, officer. Your attempts to goad me into frustration are misguided. I have nothing to hide, however this young lady looks to have suffered some measure of trauma. Trauma that took place in a setting where I was at as well. If she has a bad reaction to speaking to me then just be prepared to clean up your own fucking mess.”


    Mel walked to the living room without urgency and plopped onto the coffee table. The wood of the table creaked as it supported his weight. He looked at the top of Anne’s head, her eyes still focused on the floor. She continued producing newer tears but their frequency had declined. Mel rhythmically tapped on his thighs as he found the words to open this interaction.


    “Well, Anne,” after these words Mel analyzed the room before continuing, “it looks like we could use your help. Understand it’s entirely up to you and that at any moment you can withdraw from this. You have autonomy in this exchange, so don’t feel like you have to speak for the sake of these other chumps.” He chuckled at his own comment, but quickly regained his professional composure.


    Anne gave no sign of response. Her body made no movements nor did it react to any of his words.


    Mel cleared his throat, “Hey, kid, I know you’re in a tough place right now. I can only assume that means that you saw something you wish you hadn’t.”


    Anne remained motionless and unresponsive. Mel was beginning to lose patience. This impatience wasn’t aimed towards Anne, however. He had dealt with individuals in this state before and he knew it very rarely bore fruit to question someone so closely after a traumatic experience.


    Mel looked to his right, where Janet stood, and spoke, “I don’t think this is a productive use of time. If I’m honest, I think we can assume the worst.”


    Janet’s face was quickly overtaken with anger as she asked, “What does that even fucking mean? You’re telling me you think she’s the only one who sur…” Her voice trailed off. If Mel was trying to imply that Anne was the only survivor of some altercation then Janet realized her words could trigger Anne.


    Mel continued, his voice was calm and even, “Yes. This young lady, along with her friends, have experienced repeated events that carry intensive strain. If severed arms, late night police investigations, and overall serial murder haven’t produced this sort of reaction yet… we can assume whatever she experienced was worse. If not worse, then at least in a proximity closer than what she’s been exposed to before. Pushing this sort of thing is possibly damaging for her. On a lesser note, it’s a pain in the neck for me to-”


    “Don’t… please don’t say that…”


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    Every eye in that house shot to Anne. Her voice was weak. The softness of her voice disguised something deeper within her words. She still faced the ground, unmoving. Her voice was so meak, but none of the others could pinpoint what this meekness was covering. Anne lifted her gaze and met Mel’s eyes.


    From the kitchen, Evan saw Mel’s expression. It was a face of surprise. However, Mel’s surprise hid something under the surface as well; something that Evan noticed ever so slightly. Mel looked at Anne with genuine shock and genuine heartache. Evan squinted in an attempt to better scrutinize Mel’s emotions. The heartache in Mel’s eyes was coupled with something else, though. To Evan, it appeared to be coupled with disappointed detachment.


    Evan had no other way to phrase what he caught a glimpse of other than disappointed detachment. He wasn’t sure what else he could call it, but he also didn’t know why Mel would produce such an expression. Evan walked to the living room with his eyes fixated on the psychiatrist. When he got within a few yards he turned to Anne. Evan stopped moving.


    Anne’s cheeks were soaking wet. A small strand of blood had reached her chin; originating from a tooth shaped indentation in her bottom lip. What made Evan freeze, however, were her eyes. They were red to a degree that it looked like she hadn’t slept in days. The veins in her eyes were more prominent than her pupils. Beyond the shallow, physical way that Anne’s features appeared was a darkness that exuded from her eyes. There was an anger in Anne’s expression Evan had never seen. A darkness in her heart that ripped through her flesh and was clawing out of her sockets. They were almost the eyes of a monster.


    Mel finally felt Evan’s closer presence and quickly turned to him before darting his head back to Anne. Her expression was unwavering. He turned to Janet, “I don’t…”


    “Where were you? Where did you go?”


    The flatness of Anne’s voice as she asked these questions made Mel anxious. He swallowed the phlegm in his throat in addition to the coldness he felt from this young lady.


    “Anne,” Mel spoke with a softness that no one in the house had heard from him before, “I’m sorry I let you down. I’m sorry I let the fear I felt overpower the concern I should have felt for you and the others. It was a moment of weakness.”


    Anne shook her head, her body trembling, “Your excuses mean nothing. You might as well have run the knife over Tony yourself.”


    The entire room froze in time. Most of the young adults could only hear their hearts as the beats rapidly quickened. Janet’s breath was choppy and shallow. Her mind was racing, but she had to narrow the scope of her anxieties.


    Janet stepped to where Mel sat and asked, “Anne, I’m so so sorry, but Carl-”


    Anne, her eyes still fixated on Mel, replied before Janet could finish her sentence, “He’s gone. I don’t know how, but the detective and him never made it outside before that demon ki… took Tony away from me.”


    Janet’s stress ramped up to a level of fear she hadn’t felt in a very long time. The officer could barely get her words out without them being accompanied by bile, “Davie was there? And now he’s… he’s gone too?”


    Anne’s eyes dropped back to the floor. The tears were beginning to come out more than when she arrived. She didn’t allow this to silence her, though, “He was a hero. He didn’t second guess going in to help Carl or Tony for a moment.” Every few words were accompanied with a stifled gasp for air as Anne tried her hardest to speak and not be overtaken by her thoughts.


    Anne continued, “I didn’t see their bodies. I don’t think they made it, though. Tony ran out to get away with me. I was already in the detective’s car. I don’t think Carl or Davie would have let Tony get away from them. I don’t think they would have let that beast leave the hotel and do what he did if they were alive. Have you heard from either of them in the past hours?”


    Janet shook her head in response. Anne nodded solemnly. Her sadness was physically painful to experience. However, her immediate thought after hearing that Janet hadn’t spoken to either of the men was, “Good.”


    This mental response sickened Anne to produce. However, she fully meant it. If she didn’t have Tony, why should she be the only one experiencing loss. If the other two were alive and had let that animal end Tony’s life, then they should die. Anne felt those words deeply in her soul. She hated that she was feeling such dark, angry emotions; regardless she wouldn’t deny her genuine feelings.


    Despite this anger Anne felt towards everything and everyone, she had to pause. She had to allow herself some semblance of compassion. She was afraid of how deeply her emotions were shifting, but there were no kind words to offset her feelings. The only offsetting thought she could conjure was, “Where does that leave you, Anne? You think those men deserved to die if they couldn’t save Tony. What did you do though? You watched.”


    Anne tightened her eyes in frustration, but then heard the click of a loaded gun. She raised her head only to see Janet aiming the barrel of the gun at Mel. Anne looked at the officer. Janet’s eyes were weld up with tears and her lips wavered in uncontrollable rage.


    “Mel,” Janet uttered through gritted teeth, “You’re not leaving this house you piece of shit. I don’t know how, but you did this!”


    The three young friends who had been with Janet this entire time were completely still. Mel, however, seemed to retain his calmer demeanor.


    Mel spoke softly, but a softness that masked his anger, “You don’t believe that Janet. I get that I’m not anyone’s favorite person here, but pinning this shit on me isn’t right.”


    Janet produced a mildly deranged grin, “You’ve been lying since you got here. You talked about Carl bragging about his military background when that man can’t crush a fucking cockroach without getting spooked. You got here long before Anne did and you look nothing like how she does. You talk about all this fear you feel and yet you show no signs of legitimate anxiety. I don’t give singular shit about your credentials and your background, you’re not fucking normal! So you either explain yourself here and now, or the only mess I’m cleaning is going to be picking up all the shattered pieces of your skull from off the ground.”