Chapter 27 Smoke and Trouble by. Society of Villains & Sam Tinnesz #2
“This is the emblem of the Cult of Creatio.” I began gesturing to the different sections of the drawing.
“We have seen this in every stage of the case thus far. This man you met with, I think he was talking about the Cult’s mission of bringing the end of times.
Four Advocates would match up with the four stages of the cult’s plan to bring the end of times. ”
“So, it really all is connected?” Oliver asked as he leaned back in his chair.
“I think so, at least in some way,” I said as I continued to study the drawings in front of me.
I had spent hours studying this emblem. We had seen it everywhere, and in every instance it was identical.
This made me think that if this emblem could be found at every other stage of this case, would we find it somewhere in regards to Jackie’s disappearance?
“We need to go back to her apartment.” I jumped at the sudden intrusion and turned to see Sarah standing in Oliver’s office.
I was so caught up in my thoughts I hadn’t heard her enter.
“If what you’re saying is correct, and what I have heard about the case, the emblem or drawing or whatever should be found there as well, right? ”
“I was thinking the same thing,” I said as I walked towards my friend. “I’ll drive.”
“Nothing in the kitchen!” Sarah yelled across the apartment.
We were being careful to not disturb too much, and place everything back where we found it.
Fai wasn’t happy we were coming back here, but I knew that if Jackie’s disappearance was involved with the cult, that emblem would be here… somewhere.
“Same in the bathroom,” Oliver responded as he walked into the bedroom where I had been looking. We were sure there had to be an emblem somewhere in her apartment. However, we were assuming that this is where Jackie had been when she went missing.
“God, I feel like I’ve checked everywhere,” I nearly whispered as I took in my girlfriend’s bedroom.
She was very clean, but also very cluttered.
There were empty glasses on her nightstand, and singular socks on the ground where Jedi probably had put them.
The poor cat was still cowering in Jackie’s office back at Fibonacci Files.
“Jedi was under the bed when I found him.”
I layed down trying to see if I could find anything under her bed frame, but once again nothing.
“What are you doing?” Sarah asked as she entered the room and saw me on the floor.
“Jedi was hiding under here, I thought maybe there was something else under here.” I sighed as I stood. “There wasn’t.”
“What about under the rug?” Sarah asked me.
“What?”
“Is there anything under the rug?”
Oliver began to lift the edge of the rug when I heard “Holy shit!” The rug immediately dropped. “Help me move this stuff.” He instructed.
“What did you see?” I stated as I practically threw Jackie’s nightstand off her rug and began to help Oliver move the bed frame into the hall.
“I don’t think this is what Fai meant by don’t touch anything!” Sarah exclaimed with wide eyes as she watched us move the furniture.
Oliver, Sarah and I began to roll up the rug and with each push we unearthed what you would only see in a nightmare.
“How is this even possible?” I stood there, frozen, staring at the emblem scratched into the floorboards under where Jackie’s bed sat.
The emblem of the Cult of Creatio. It has to be seven feet in diameter.
The emblem was scraped nearly half an inch into the wood, and almost looked to have been scratched on by fingernails.
“Fuck.”
“What are you guys doing?” I turned to see Kai and Theo standing in the doorway.
“When did you get here?” I asked Kai as I slowly stood.
“Now,” he responded. “Please explain what the hell is going on and where the fuck my sister is?”
Missing for Two Days
“They stated he was under some sort of detention due to erratic behavior and they couldn’t permit any phone calls at this point.
The hospital did say I could see him in person if I wanted to,” I said to Oliver and Kai after I hung up with Amherst Insane Asylum.
“I already booked flights and will get there this afternoon.”
Oliver gaped at me.
Was flying across the country on such late notice absurd? Yes, but Griffin may be the only person who held any answers as to where Jackie could be. I would do anything to find her and this was my only lead.
“You are going to fly to New York, today?” Oliver asked.
I nodded and turned to Kai. He was the one who told me my access and money could keep Jackie safe. Hopefully it could help me find her. After we had caught him up on everything, he immediately jumped into help. It was helpful to have an Army Ranger on our team. “You coming?”
He nodded.
“Our flight leaves in about four hours, I’ll be there for three. That gives me enough time to get to the asylum, talk to Griffin and get back to the airport for my returning flight. I’ll be back in less than twenty-four hours,” I explained, hoping Oliver wouldn’t give me too much grief.
“You’re flying to New York?” I turned to see Fai standing in the doorway of Oliver’s office.
“Yeah. I know you don’t believe in this shit, Fai, but this is my only lead on where she could be. You saw that emblem. Maybe the supernatural stuff isn’t real, but the cult has to be. This is my only other lead I have on the cult. I need to find her. I’ll do anything to find her.”
I could see Fai contemplating my words. He was the most skeptical about the cult, but it was our only chance. “Book me a ticket, I’m coming with you.”
“What!” Oliver and I stated in unison.
Kai just smirked. He wasn’t the fun-loving older brother I had met just a short time ago. Today, now that his sister was missing, he was in full-on army mode.
“I still am skeptical about the Cult of Creatio, but it’s obvious the research you and Jackie have been working on has something to do with her disappearance.” Fai paused as he looked at me… guiltily? “Maybe if I listened to her and you and took this more seriously she would still be here.”
“Fai, this isn’t your fault,” Oliver exclaimed as he walked to comfort his boss and friend.
“You don’t know that. It doesn’t even matter right now. Right now, I just need to find Jackie.” He turned to me slowly. “We need to find Jackie.”
“I’ll book you a ticket too.”
“Do we know why the cult may be targeting Jackie?” Oliver asked.
I began to shake my head when Kai interrupted, “I have a theory.”
I inclined my head, urging him to continue.
Kai took a breath before he continued, “I think it is mostly due to her research, but I know that emblem or sigil or whatever you want to call it that was scratched into her floor.” He paused for a moment, hesitating to continue. “My mother has a necklace with it, but it could be a coincidence.”
I stared at Kai for a moment. This was a huge piece of information, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it. It just further confirmed my belief that Jackie’s disappearance was linked to the Cult of Creatio.
Kai peppered me with countless questions about the case, about Jackie, about Griffin.
I think he learned more about the case than I knew just on the plane ride alone.
I was worried he would blame me for her being gone.
It felt like it was my fucking fault. I was supposed to protect her, keep her safe. And I failed.
I would find her. I refused to fail at that.
We were driving to the asylum in the Bly Town Car. Bec had sent it when she heard I was coming and why. She wasn’t in town or else I knew she would be here.
I couldn’t stop shaking my leg. I had so much pent up energy and anger about the entire situation. I could feel myself cracking. I could feel the darkness that Jackie scared away come back with the force of a hurricane.
We pulled in front of the asylum and I was out the door before the car had even stopped with Fai and Kai hot on my heels.
I slammed the doors open. I was a man on a mission. The receptionist looked terrified of me. I must have been glaring. I was also flanked by two very tall, strong, and determined men. We were probably a sight to witness.
As I approached the front desk I saw the receptionist scoot backward. “I’m here to see Griffin Whitley. Now.”
“Y-yes of course,” she stammered. “And your names?”
“Faizal Acharya,” Fai responded behind me .
“First Sergeant Malachi James.”
I watched as the receptionist nervously wrote down their names and turned to me. “And your name, sir?”
“Dr. William Bly.” I watched as her eyes widened.
My name had power. I had power and she knew it.
She gestured towards the door where two orderlies waited, also seeming scared. Whether they were scared for me or of me I wasn’t sure yet. We followed behind them as they led us through the maze and towards the same room I had visited before.
“Try not to agitate him. He just left our high security level,” one of the orderlies stated.
“No promises,” I heard Kai mumble under his breath.
No shit. My whole plan was to agitate him.
Slowly they opened the door and there he was. Griffin Whitley sat at his desk chair, staring at us with an unhinged smile adorning his face.
I heard Fai begin to speak to me, but I didn’t have the time or energy to do this the right way. I stormed into the room and immediately picked him up by his collar and threw him against the wall. I saw the shock and fear ripple through his features before he tried to school his emotions.
“What the fuck did you do to her?” I hissed out while maintaining a punishing grip.
“You’ll find out.” He bared his teeth in a sickly smile.
I dropped him to his feet and waited for him to get his footing before I gave him a solid and punishing punch to his jaw. I watched as the pathetic excuse for a man collapsed beneath me. I squatted down to look at him. “Tell me, Griffin. How much do you value breathing?”
“You can’t threaten me!” he responded with a gasp.