1

By the time Daniel, Erica, and Royce left the police station, it was five minutes past twelve. They were driving down Interstate 90 towards the motel where Daniel and Erica were booked in. It should take over forty minutes, but the way Royce was speeding up the interstate, they were going to get there in less time. Plus, there was not much traffic around there.

'You know we could have portalled there?' Erica asked as he watched the world pass her by. Fast.

'It's tradition. For the first night, always drop new partners off at their motel. Then after that, well, it is up to you. Normally we are knee deep in it, so these rides become less and less common.' Royce stated. 'Plus, I'm already in trouble. I said I would be home for dinner, but that plan got fucked once I arrived at the scene. I'm already late, so fuck it, let me be even more late.'

'Ain't avoiding the guilt trip.' Daniel commented, sitting in the back.

'Nope, Royce replied.

'I doubt it. I think she'll be too tired to do it.' Erica replied.

Royce laughed. 'You don't know my wife. She could be in a fucking coma, start an argument, and win.'

'That takes skill.' Erica remarked. 'I should take notes.'

'I think women are born with that skill. If you haven't done it yet, you ain't found anyone to argue over yet.' Royce stopped himself, and Erica stayed silent. He then noticed the silence and realised he may have gone over the line at the very moment. 'Sorry, that was rude. I didn't mean to,'

'It's alright. You're not wrong. Been too busy and the last fucking guy I was with.' Erica said as she looked out.

'The worst?' Royce asked.

'The laziest mixed in with the worst.' Erica answered. 'A real potent combination to put off any girl. He really succeeded with that.'

'Don't let it. I don't know much, but I do know there's someone out there for you. There are too many people in this big, wide world. There's fate. There's someone for everyone. Just keep certain things open and not be fearful too much.' Royce said. It happens when you least expect it.'

Erica nodded to herself but stayed silent.

Daniel did not buy any of that and shook his head.

2

They pulled up to the motel, called the Belladonna. This was a two-story, 50-room haven. The rooms did not look inviting, and they did not need to. Royce had explained that the motel was named after a famous porn star who filmed one of her famous videos here, and the guy she performed with owned this motel.

'No way that's true.' Erica yawned.

'It's true.' Royce claimed as he put his car in park and switched the engine off. 'As true as the sky is blue on a good day,

It took a certain amount of conviction to be able to pull off such a ridiculous story with such aplomb, and Daniel Bridgewater certainly believed that Royce believed it to be true and not some local fable to be passed around to newcomers in this part of the world.

They got out of the car, and Daniel noticed the neon pink sign that shone so prominently:

BELLADONNA.

This could hardly be ignored, and men of a certain age would recognise the name. They walked into the reception, where a man who was leaning forward, flicking his cellular phone, and being thoroughly engrossed was behind a desk. The man, who was pale-skinned with a red beard of around three days of growth, wore a thick pair of glasses, a white vest, and an almost gaudy Hawaiian-style shirt, looked almost annoyed as the three walked through the door.

'How can I help?' The man whose nametag read Andy said it was such little effort that a person would just walk out, just to walk in and see if a second try would get any better from him.

'Booked in two from out of town. They are here,' Royce said.

Andy looked up with some disdain on his face. 'Yeah, we've got rooms twenty-eight and twenty-nine ready unless you both are together.

Daniel and Erica both replied no at the same time. Both have a similar sort of urgency.

'Okay then.' Andy responded with his own tone of nonchalance. 'To pay.'

Erica handed him a hundred and fifty dollars. Andy looked a little shocked.

'How long are you looking to stay here?' Andy asked this as he took the two room keys from the nearby rack.

'For a while.' Daniel replied, while Erica took the keys from the desk.

'Well, enjoy your stay here at the Belladonna Motel. Breakfast can be ordered from nine if required; we do get it from a local diner, just five minutes away, and well, you could just go there if you want.' As Andy gibed, the lack of effort increased with every syllable was uttered. His eyes never left his phone.

'Thanks. Where are the rooms?' Erica asked.

'Come out that door, head right. The rooms are on the ground floor, about a three-minute walk away. You can't miss them because they'll have the door numbers on them.' Andy plainly responded and achieved a whole new level of lack of effort.

Daniel wished he could exist on the same plain as this man.

'You get people getting lost around here often?' Erica asked.

'Some people are idiots.' Andy claimed. 'Some are not.'

Daniel thought if that wasn't a mantra to live by, then a person was just not living their best true life.

'I like this guy.' Daniel smirked.

'Get in line, buddy. I have a lot of people who like me.' Andy urged for a moment as he looked at Daniel and then went back to his phone with the eagerness of a hedgehog.

'Is it true about this place? That it is named after some porn star?' Daniel asked.

'Yep. The owner got fucked here well by her. Sorry.' Andy looked at Erica as he said sorry. She just shook her head and raised her hand. 'The owner signed some legal papers, so the name can't be changed. So, it must have been one good fuck.'

'It takes a special woman to bring that out of a man.' Erica said swiftly: 'Have a good night.'

'Yeah, thanks for your help.' Royce said as he walked out with Erica. Daniel stayed.

'I could talk to you all night, Andy.' Daniel declared and placed his elbows on the desk and his head in his hands.

Andy, with his eyes still on his phone, urged again, 'Get in line, buddy.'

3

They followed Andy's detailed directions, and Daniel and Erica opened the doors to their rooms. Daniel took room twenty-nine. The room was what was expected. Beige curtains. A curious mix of reddish and brown walls; a double bed with a tope-coloured duvet and pillows. The bed had a button at the top left-hand corner for vibration mode. Daniel thought this was the land of the free. There was a table on the right side of the bed and two chairs. The bed itself had two bedside wooden tables on each side, both with two small drawers. Near the bathroom was a long and wide mirror. Daniel smiled.

That's why Bolton selected this place. To keep tabs on us.

The television in front of the bed looked like a model made in the year 2000. There was a flimsy aerial near it, and there was also a cable box near it. It was on top of a dresser cabinet made of wood and had three drawers. The only other door in the room led to a small bathroom with a small tub and a shower. The carpet was a soft brown and had swirled stitching. It was expected for eighteen bucks a night.

'God,' Royce said unimpressed, 'it looks like the devil's asshole in here.'

'You get what you pay for.' Daniel laughed as he placed his jacket on the bed.

'Then you really didn't pay for much. I got more value in my left nutsack.' Royce added as he looked around.

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'Too much information. I mean, I thought the room would have the same value as your nutsack.'

'Shit. I'm dealing with a comedian.' Royce sighed.

'I have my moments, Daniel said.

'You brought nothing else? A change of clothes and accessories?' Royce asked.

'It's coming.' Daniel said, and he tapped his ear. 'I'm here.' A portal opened above the bed, and a black leather duffle bag landed on it.

Royce couldn't believe his eyes. 'I want to know about that.'

Daniel laughed. 'I bet.'

Erica knocked on the door. Royce and Daniel both turned. 'Yep, it's the same.' She looked around. 'Looking like Lucifer had a sex party and had too much of a good time.'

4

They walked Royce to his car.

'I'll pick you up in the morning, and don't say you're going to get a portal because this is a small city and gums flap around once people see something that they can't explain.' Royce explained as slid into his car. He put the window down. 'Now I have to hope my wife is not only asleep but also has short-term amnesia, so I don't get to read the riot act for missing dinner.'

'You were on a case. plus, a chase. I'm pretty sure that you have a good enough reason to not be in trouble.' Erica argued the case for Royce.

'Ever the optimist. I've only known you for a few hours, Agent Chandler, and I already like you.' Royce said. 'Agent Bridgewater, you're just meh to me right now, but I am fascinated.'

'Least you're honest, Daniel replied.

'I try to be. Get some rest, Agents. We will have a long day tomorrow. I'll be here around eight, Royce advised.

'You too, Royce.' Both Erica and Daniel said

Royce started the car and pulled away into the night.

They both stood there as Royce's Camaro disappeared into the distance. A few awkward seconds later.

'Good night, sir.' Erica said.

'Stop calling me, sir. Call me Bridgewater or Daniel.'

'Good night, Daniel.' Erica smiled, then gave a big yawn.

'Good night, rookie.' Daniel smiled back and they walked into their rooms.

5

Flying and falling. So far, the clouds are becoming thicker and thicker. Rising to the heavens, and then the world slowed down to a halt. Then the drop The thickness of the clouds fades as the fall is just as fast. The earth that was so far away has become closer and closer until the ground meets and the darkness comes.

Erica woke up and screamed. She clutched her chest, and she already felt the sweat across her forehead. A dream—the worst kind of dream A nightmare plucked from fragments of memory mixed in with the wild recesses of one's imagination It felt too real.

She got up, walked into the bathroom, and switched on the light. She then went to the sink, turned on the cold-water tap, and splashed the water on her face. She thought this would help and that this would help her back into reality. It did, but the remnants of the dream or of the memory still lingered. She needed some air, and an open window would not cut it. She pulled some jogging bottoms on, grabbed a hanging jacket, put on her trainers, and left the room.

Erica locked the door and saw Daniel sitting on a wooden bench in a mini courtyard near the car park. She initially thought to leave him alone, and that was the thought she led with, so she turned around and was heading the other way when Daniel asked, 'Bad dream, Rookie?'

She turned around and replied. 'Yeah, how did you know?'

'I heard you scream.'

Erica looked mortified and wanted to immediately leave. 'Sorry. I'll leave you be.' Erica said as she started to walk away.

'You don't need to.' Daniel insisted, and she stopped. 'Sit if you want.'

'I'm not intruding?'

'No.' Daniel assured her, 'Only if you want to join; if you feel you need a walk, then do what you need to do.'

Erica looked at him and the bench. 'Why are you out here?'

'I don't sleep well.'

'Nightmares?'

Daniel sighed. 'Some people call them that. Mine feel like memories.'

'Memories?'

'There's detail, detail that I don't feel my mind could just conjure without actual context. They feel very, very fucking real.' Daniel opined and looked at Erica before, and he just shut down after revealing too much.

Erica nodded and walked up to him. She sat next to him. 'I dreamt about when we were up in the air and falling. I didn't think it would fuck me up, but it...

'As close to death as you've ever been?'

Erica nodded.

'Our minds are something. The shit it retains can make you or break you. What happened earlier, we know, was the beginning. This man has great power, and we have too.' He paused. 'Fear affects everyone.' Daniel said. 'You must be tough but be real. That's the only way you'll survive this.'

'Is it how you survive this?'

'Among other things,' Daniel soothed. 'This will get tough, but you won't be alone.'

Erica smiled. That meant a lot to her. Daniel knew that. It surprised him. It surprised him so much that he knew he had to change the conversation.

'Tell me about yourself, Rookie. Where are you from? Well, I know you are from Chicago, but what part?'

'I'm from Edgewater, North-east Chicago. Nice area; there's a beach; loads of nice apartments; it's kind of affluent.' Erica explained this as she took a good breath of the fresh night air but also shivered a little.

'You miss it?' Home?'

'Often, it's a place I look back fondly on.'

Daniel nodded. 'Family?'

'Small. Just me and my mom, mainly. I have grandparents that live in Andersonville, as well as aunts and uncles, but it's me and my mom against the world.'

'She rich?'

'What's with all the questions?'

Daniel raised his hands. 'Sorry, I just wanted to know; talk about the case and just the case; it's all you have; I've been there; if I'm going to have you, have my back; I need to know something.' He paused. 'If you want me to stop, then I'll stop.'

'It goes both ways, you know. You can't ask me a hundred questions and get answers, and when I ask, tell me jack shit about anything. I'll answer, but you give me something first. Family?'

'All dead.' Daniel answered coldly. 'Those that mattered to me.'

Erica's shoulders dropped. She shook her head, and guilt washed over her. 'I'm so sorry. I uh.'

'I told you. You'll find no joy in it.'

'Shit.' Erica said, unable to shake, that she shook a nerve and that Daniel's coldness only increased.

'You weren't to know, and now you know not to ask again.' Daniel added as he looked out into the night sky. He had to avoid her gaze, as if he had looked at her, the look he would have given her would have been more intense than the tone he was trying to go for.

'I shouldn't talk about... family.'

'Talk Rookie. I wouldn't ask if I didn't want to know.'

'My mom's comfortable. She is the DA for Edgewater and other areas in the district. My mom has always been a crime fighter. She's my hero.' Erica said it with beaming pride. Then she got shy, like she almost revealed too much to him. Made it too personal.

Daniel tried to hold his emotions in check. This was the wrong conversation to engage in. He thought, as Erica said, that his mother was his hero too. She was always his hero.

He took a big gulp and tried to swallow the tears, and this time he was successful. He managed to force them down. He managed to keep the pain that haunted him back in the place where he believed it should be.

Erica noticed this internal battle; she not only noticed it but felt brave enough to acknowledge it and not brush it under the carpet. That is how she would like to be treated. She said, 'I'm sorry.'

'Stop apologising, rookie. Ain't shit to do with you.' Daniel said. 'What's her name? Your mum?'

'Elise.'

For a moment, Daniel's face was a picture of confusion. He thought that he had heard that name before. That name meant something to him, but he couldn't cling to why or how. He left that for another time. 'Nice. Elisa and Erica.'

'I was named after my grandfather. He was also a soldier in Vietnam and earned all the medals. A true hero.'

'I guess it's in your blood, Rookie.'

'I guess so.' Erica nodded, and then silence hit the pair. Erica thought she did not sound as convincing as she should have, but that was how she was feeling at the time. She could only live up to them and make them proud. Not that she was going to tell Daniel that. 'This guy tried to kill us. What do you think his next move is?'

'Well, if he sees us and knows we are alive, that changes things; he may speed things up and get sloppy or try and be more focused. We're going to be a problem for him, and we need to be. I hope soon—real soon—I get another crack at him. I've just been thinking about round two for the last few hours.' Daniel paused. 'I mean, the fucker threw me into a tree. Like twice, I think. That needs a robust response.'

'He's dangerous. It won't be easy.'

'I'm dangerous, and I can't wait to see him.' Daniel asserted. 'It's a perk. The challenge of the hunt.'

'You are a hunter now?'

Daniel smiled. 'I've always been one. It's what I do.'

'What if he starts hunting you?'

Daniel stood up and stretched. 'Well, that makes it even more interesting.'

Erica looked at Daniel and just shook her head. She was tired and even more tired trying to figure out the emotional conundrum that was Daniel Bridgewater. Tiredness really took over as she yawned. 'I'm going to bed. I got my fill of air.'

'No more nightmares, Rookie. You'll be fine.'

'Are you going to attempt to sleep?' Erica asked among her yawns as she stood up.

'In a bit. I need a little more air.' Daniel said that and looked at her.

'Alright. Well, you have a good night, Bridgewater. I hope you do or try to sleep.' Erica concluded as she walked back to her room.

'Good night, rookie.' Daniel called after her with some warmth as she walked in and shut the door. He looked around at the darkness. The interstate with a few cars that drove past. His eyes took in every detail. 'You there?' He muttered to himself. 'If you are, if you can hear me out there, I'm going to get you.' He paused. 'You're going to see me coming.' He walked back to his room and yawned as he opened and shut the door.

6

Across the interstate, past the hills, stood that same man in black. He looked through night-vision glasses. He watched Erica go into her motel room. He moved over and saw that Daniel was looking straight at him. The man kept his gaze on Daniel. He watched but could not hear what Daniel had said to himself or to him. He could not figure out which was which.'

The man thought to himself, if this Bridgewater could see him, why did he not come over here and finish this? Maybe it was fear, or maybe Bridgewater is smart. He managed to make out the last few words. I'm going to get you.

The man laughed and nodded to himself. He watched as Daniel walked into his motel room. 'Alive, Fuck. You're both surprisingly alive. You're going to give me a reason to hurt you. I'm good with that. I'm very good with that. I'll see you soon, Agent Bridgewater.'

He put down the binoculars. He was tired, and this was a long day. He walked away, knowing that tomorrow would bring more to his plan.