Deb crouched low, her fingers carefully tying the transparent thread between two trees. The tripwire was nearly invisible in the dense underbrush of the woods, she smiled to herself as she slipped back into the woods.

Elsewhere all eyes were on the rustling bushes until a small squirrel wandered out of them. "Well that tracks," Jessica sighed lowering her gun and relaxing her stance. "Kristian could be anywhere in the city, the chances of him being here are slim to none." She reached into her bag and removed a pair of infrared goggles.

Zack watched her slip the goggles on, he could hear the hum of them activating. "So we have two options, use auras to lure him here or let go so we can track him."

"Both aren't exactly foolproof," John muttered, adjusting his jacket and slightly annoyed.

Ethel stood apart, her eyes flashing a vibrant emerald that pierced the darkness. "Don't forget we can see in the dark too," she said, looking over to John and Zack.

"Remember, he may be feral, but Kristian's still sharp underneath," Jessica warned, her brown eyes intense behind the lenses. "He can smell your fear, track your aura, evade traps. He's no mere animal—he's the top of the food chain."

As they set out in formation, Jessica sidled up next to Ethel. "The woods may be a little too open to hold Kristian. We need to lure him somewhere that can hold him until the poison runs its course."

"We don't have many options out there," Ethel replied, looking out into the darkness as if an answer would appear. "The university isn't too far but the morning classes will start in an hour."

"Then we don't have much time, do we?" Jessica said, concern furrowing her brow.

"Our best bet is the Dana Porter Library basement," Ethel looked up at the stars as she thought. "The archive doors should be thick enough to hold him and there is less risk of getting caught."

Jessica turned her attention to Zack, who seemed to shrink slightly under her gaze. "And what about you? Think you can handle luring Kristian to campus?"

"Most days, I'm just trying to keep the world from overwhelming me," Zack confessed, looking her dead in the eye. "There are so many auras, it can be a lot, so many different feelings."

"Use that," Jessica advised, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Lock on to Kristian's. Find out where he is and I will take care of the rest."

"The rest?" Zack was confused.

"The three of you are too powerful, your combined auras are repellent to any vessel lower than you," Jessica said making her way back to her car and popping the trunk. Inside were several small devices that looked like garden lights. "These mimic the aura of a wounded vessel, Kristian won't be able to resist it."

"let's get going," Ethel said heading back to her car with John trailing behind her. "We all know the plan," She nodded over to Jessica who gave a small nod back, Jessica removed the devices from her trunk.

Jessica’s fingers fumbled with the cold metal of the aura projector as she planted them along the forest leading to the campus. The small devices hummed to life, casting an invisible net designed to snare Kristian. She smiled at her handy work—the exorcist part of her was excited to see her trap play out.

"I hate these stupid things, they make my head feel like it is going to explode," John muttered, setting his own projector down with a click that echoed in the empty night.

"We don't really have much of a choice here," Jessica said, as she watched from the library entrance. "We know Kristian has fallen for this trap before, it caught him caught by the Deb. Let's hope he falls for it again,"

They worked silently, forming a spectral corridor toward the library archive. Deep in the woods, Deb's tripwire in the woods snapped under the pressure of a foot a net dropping from the trees and ensnaring Kristian. He struggled against it until he was able to claw his way through it. As he slipped from it, a new sensation caught his attention.

"Where are you going?" Deb whispered from her perch in the trees, she watched Kristian's jerky movements as he suddenly changed course.

They spotted the small aura emitter as Kristian ripped in from the ground, crushing it with his strength before moving on. Deb realized an exorcist was onto Kristian, so she decided to follow him to make sure he wasn't killed.

---

Unbeknownst to John and Jessica, two professors, Jake and Boddy, were deep in conversation within the very room they had chosen for their trap.

"Wait here," Boddy said to Jake, adjusting his glasses. "I have a first edition in my office that I think you will find very interesting." His footsteps receded, leaving Jake alone among the stacks. He scanned over the books with his deep brown eyes, unaware of the rabid vessel heading his way.

"Perfect timing," Jessica whispered, as Zack and Jessica arrived at the entrance to the library.

Then, Zack froze in place—he could an uncontrolled aura approaching fast. "Kristian," he whispered, drawing the attention of the rest of the group. They all turned ready to face off with their former ally.

---

Meanwhile, across town, Ahmed ushered Rob into his sparse room, making sure to check to see if any of his family was trying to listen to the conversation. He gestured toward his bed and as Rob sat, he noticed the weird sketch of a symbol Ahmed had drawn on his dresser.

"It was Nemo who brought me to the body, well a vision of him anyway," Ahmed confided, his voice a mixture of fear and bewilderment. "This feels so different from when Gluttony got into my head."

"What do you mean?" Rob murmured, trying to understand what Ahmed was trying to say.

"When Gluttony was in control, my visions scared me. They felt comfortable and wrong," He sat on the bed next to Rob. "These visions are still scary but they feel natural, like breathing."

Their conversation was cut short by Kenzie's urgent call. Her words were clinical, as Rob put the call on speaker. "Another one, same as the guy from the club—completely drained. They look like.."

"Like mummies..." Ahmed interjected, his eyes wide with the realization.

"Exactly," Kenzie affirmed over the phone. "But here is where it gets really weird, police identified the man as Cliff Preston. there is footage of him in the bar less than two hours before Ahmed found him."

"That's impossible, you can't mummify a person that quickly," Rob whispered. "Our killer isn't human."

"That's why I called you, I think you and Zack need to get on this and fast. I get the feeling whatever this is has just started." Kenzie said.

"I'll be right there," Rob said before hanging up, hen turned to Ahmed, "Are you going to be ok?"

"I'll be fine, you go save the city," He offered a small smile. Rob gave him a small hug before heading out to the hospital.

---

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Back at the university, the trap was set. The team lay in wait, their breaths shallow as they suppressed their aura. Kristian, guided by the small emitters, sprinted toward the library. He destroyed each one as he found it.

"Get ready," Jessica instructed, while they hid out of the sight. "We still need to get him into the archive."

The chilly autumn air of the University of Waterloo campus whipped around them as Kyle approached Ethel, his hands tucked into the pockets of his leather jacket. His stride was casual as he moved closer to John and Ethel.

"So you still haven't caught him?" Kyle asked, leaning against the wall next to her, a smile on his face. "I thought for sure this would be done by now. Oh and by the way are you aware of the girl sleeping on the couch in your loft?"

Ethel's gaze remained fixed on the library building ahead, her lips pressed into a thin line. She didn't need to look at Kyle to know he was enjoying this.

"I'm aware," she said curtly, her voice steady despite the fact Kristian was now in view.

"Ah so she is your newest member," Kyle surmised, pushing away from the wall. "You know your vessels have a nasty habit of dying. She was probably better off the way you found her,"

"You don't know anything," Ethel replied, her tone unwavering.

"Oh, you felt responsible for this one? Did Kristian's tantrum have anything to do with it?" Kyle's glance flickered to the side where John stood, a confused look on his face.

Ethel remained silent, not wanting to give Kyle the satisfaction of seeing her break.

Inside the Library, Jessica checked her watch, anxiety etching lines across her face. "We're running out of time," she stated, addressing Zack. "He is taking too long to get here."

"Right," Zack agreed, his jaw set. He waited at the stairwell, ready to seal the exit once Kristian was inside. He could feel Kristian getting closer but the emitters had become more of a distraction for Kristian than a guide.

"At this rate, students will be on campus and see him," Jessica noted, peering through the infrared glasses in the dark library. "We need to get him moving faster."

"What do we do?" John asked, already moving to intercept.

---

In the dingy cold morgue, Kenzie's hands shook slightly as she revealed the remains on the gurney. "This is the second body they found near a river bank tonight," she whispered, before removing the sheet.

Rob's breath hitched, tears pooling in his eyes as he recognized the jean jacket, now on a dead husk of the man. The room seemed to close in around him, as he tried to breathe.

"God, Nemo..." Rob choked out, gripping the table for support. "Why?"

"Rob, I'm so sorry," Kenzie said, embracing him. She held him tightly as he struggled to stay standing, "I had no idea you knew him. I'm so sorry."

"Why chose these two people," Rob swallowed hard, "What happened at that party."

"Rob, you don't have to do this," Kenzie whispered, her green eyes filled with worry. "You just realized you knew one of the victims, give yourself time."

"Someone's hunting people in Waterloo," Rob muttered, a cold realization settling over him. "We don't have time to waste grieving when someone else is about to lose someone they love."

"Someone might already have, a young woman named Shannon vanished from her campsite earlier tonight," Kenzie said, "Her friend Madison is upstairs being treated. She said a man lured Shannon away from the site."

"Whoever he is we will find him," Rob said, wiping away the tears, his sorrow fueling a newfound determination. "For Nemo..."

---

The silence of the campus was broken by the roar of Kristian as he crushed another emitter. Deb, with a swift underhand motion, sent a knife spinning through the air. It shattered another emitter; Kristian, his eyes wild and movements erratic recoiled from the threat and barreled into the library. She could see John on the move.

"Quick, John!" Deb's voice was sharp as she gestured toward Kristian.

John lunged forward, his claws digging into Kristian as he forced the man into the stairwell. With Zack's help, they forced Kristian down the stairs. Ethel, her stern face betraying no fear, helped force Kristian into the archive.

"Zack, now!" she commanded, and Zack stepped back, his hands outstretched as he focused on the door. With a low groan, the metal hinges twisted and the door frame contorted, the very essence of the barrier warping at his will until it was sealed shut.

"Done," Zack exhaled, as John collapsed on the ground breathing hard. But Zack's gaze fell back to the door that Kristian was sealed behind, he could feel the enraged aura of the trapped vessel but there was something else too, a faint aura filled with fear.

"Someone else is in there," Zack murmured, his voice laced with dread.

"Who?" Deb asked, joining them in the basement.

"I don't know," John added, "But Zack is right, there is someone else in the archive with Kristian and Ethel."

Inside, Jake placed a book back on the shelf his quiet thought was abruptly cut by an ominous thud. He straightened up, his heart hammering against his chest as he scanned the room for the source.

"Ethel, someone else is in there," John shouted, hoping she could hear him through the door.

"I know," Ethel acknowledged, steeling herself. "I go in after them. And Kristian." She turned to focus her aura, reaching out to find exactly where the mystery person was.

"Be careful," Deb shouted through the door. "Try not to be seen,"

"Right not getting seen is my top priority here," Ethel shook her head, hearing Kristian crash through a stack of books nearby.

"Right," John nodded, stepping back from the warped door. "She is going to need our help. he reached into his pocket and pulled out a pen, popping the cap off, he charged in with kinetic energy until it was glowing. Flinging it toward the metal door, shards of metal scattered across the floor. Zack used his barrier to ensure no one was hurt in the blast

"Showtime," Zack muttered as his barrier faded from existence.

The scene inside was pure chaos and destruction. Kristian, more beast than man, was facing off with Ethel, his snarl filling the space. Her movements were calculated and price as she dodged his swipes. As he lunged, she caught him, her arms a brace against his assault. His claws raked across her skin, causing her to bleed.

"That's right focus on me," she growled, drawing his fury away from the cowering figure of Jake.

"Ethel!" Zack called out, his voice tinged with panic as he watched her being torn apart.

"Stay back!" she commanded between grunts of pain.

As Kristian's teeth sunk mercilessly into her shoulder, she howled in pain. Kristian stopped his assault at the sound of her cry; his features softened, the blue tinge to his skin fading, his eyes returning to their normal colour.

"Get him out of here," Ethel gasped, her body sagging with the effort of holding him. "Now!"

Without hesitation, Zack and John sprang into action, lifting the dazed Kristian between them and dragging him away from the scene.

"Are you ok?" Ethel whispered, turning towards the frightened man huddled behind a tipped-over shelf. Her hand extended, as she offered to help him up. He looked up, meeting her gaze with fear in his eyes.

"Come on," she urged, her voice soft but commanding. "Let's get you out of this nightmare."

He reached out, their fingers touching, as Ethel hoisted him from the wreckage. He continued to shake as Ethel guided him from the room, unsure how she was going to make sure he didn't tell anyone about what happened that night.

---

Rob entered the small hospital room, his gaze fixed on Madison. She sat on her stiff hospital bed, her fingers laced together in her lap, Her eyes staring off into space.

"Are you Madison?" Rob's voice was gentle but insistent. "Would you be able to answer a few questions?"

Madison nodded, her eyes never leaving the wall in front of her. "I can answer your questions. You sound a little young to be investigating," she whispered.

"I'm part of a special unit, can you tell me what you were doing out in the woods?" Rob asked, watching her reaction closely.

"She needed to get out of her house," Madison breathed out, her voice barely audible. A profound sadness filled her eyes, and she looked down at her intertwined hands. "She felt like she was going to drink, she worked so hard to stop. She just wanted out for a little while and to not be alone,"

"Wait, so your friend, Shannon, she had recently quit drinking?" Rob asked, as his brain went into overdrive. He gave her shoulder an empathetic squeeze as he processed this information.

When he was being questioned about Nemo's disappearance, he learned that the leading theory was that Nemo had relapsed. Once he was cleared he tracked down Samantha, she said Nemo was in rehab over the summer.

"What are the chances," Rob muttered, thinking about how Shannon also struggled with alcohol. "Thank you Madison, you've helped us more than you know." He stood up from the bed and headed to the door, glancing back one more time at Madison as he left.

Kenzie met him in the hall. "So what did you learn."

"Two of our victims were struggling with alcohol," Rob replied, his eyes narrowing in thought. "They were chosen because of their addictions. I'm sure the John Doe will be someone who struggled too."

"I can check hospital records, see if anyone fits our John Doe's description." Kenzie suggested, "Also they still haven't found Shannon, she may not be a victim yet." Kenzie tried to reassure Rob as they made their way to the nurse's station.

---

A police vehicle pulled into Waterloo Park, his radio crackled to life. "Officer Lindsey here. I can confirm the reports a true. There is a mummified body in the park."

"Where?" Officer Mike's hand clenched around the device, his knuckles going white.

"That's the weird part, it's on home plate on the baseball field" Lindsey's voice was grave, strained. "They didn't even attempt to hide it like the others. And that's not all that is different.."

"What else is different?" Mike muttered as other officers began to arrive on the scene.

Lindsey stared down at the body in front of her. "This one is a woman," she concluded. "She's wearing the clothes Shannon was last seen wearing."

"That's impossible," Mike froze in place, his expression grim.

"I wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it myself," Lindsey explained, urgency in his tone. "We have another serial killer on our hands here,"

The police closed off the scene, and crowds began to gather as the sound of sirens filled the air. It was only a matter of time before the news broke, another stranger then a fiction serial killer was calling Waterloo home.