INT. CITYHALL - MORNING, NOVEMBER 3, 2025, 4:15 A.M.
Gabriel let out a small yawn as he parked his car next to multiple other police vehicles in the parking lot. Gabriel got a call at around three thirty in the morning, early even for him to want to wake up. The killer, or at least one similar to one they have been chasing, has struck again. This time the killer left a body outside of the city hall. The detectives on the case, Blake and Gabriel, were called. Of course, Gabriel forced Nadia to come along with him because if he had to wake up early, then she would too.
Gabriel looked at his passenger seat, seeing Nadia leaned back, small snores coming from her, drool running down her face. Eventually, he'll have to get her to go home one of these days, since she's been spending every day at his house for the past week. Though he had to admit secretly enjoyed having her around. Not that he would ever admit that to her, she already has such a big ego about things.
He was forced into a whole new world when the case started. It really has brightened up his days, actually befriending Nadia. Hell, even spending time with Blake again has its charm, almost like an uncle or something. It's a weird feeling for him, actually wanting to be around others. Again, another problem for him to worry about on a later date.
Gabriel reached over and shook Nadia by her shoulder. "Ugh, just a few more minutes.", She mumbled to herself. As she shifted in her sleep, her snoring grew a little louder.
Gabriel had a huge sweatdrop form at the back of his head. He once again shook her again. "Come on, we're at the crime scene. Let's get moving, they're waiting for us."
"Just a few more minutes", Nadia mumbled once again.
Gabriel, not wanting to deal with this, opened up the door, letting the cold air of the wind blow through the car. Nadia quickly shot up, looking around at the car, before glaring at Gabriel. "Seriously, Gabs, it's freaking cold!", she whined.
Gabriel just shrugged in response. "Come on we have to get a move on, we are already late for us to be at the crime scene."
"Next time they need to call us at a decent time.", She growled, crossing her arms in anger.
"I'll get right on letting the killer know to leave dead bodies in the daytime only.", Gabriel replied.
Nadia threw her arms up in the air, hitting the ceiling of the car. "Come on, you know what I mean."
Gabriel didn't answer as he stepped out of the car, shutting the door behind himself. The sound of the passenger door opening and closing as Nadia adjusted her jacket. "Did you get any info about the crime scene when they called?", She asked as stepped up next to Gabriel.
Gabriel shook his head to her question. "Nah, the only thing they told me was they found a corpse similar to the same M.O we have been chasing."
"Any idea who called it in?"
"Yeah apparently out on patrol one of the cops saw a figure covered in blood running from the building. He tried to give chase but eventually lost him down an alley. When he went back he found the corpse, and called it in.", Gabriel explained.
"And here we come to take over the crime scene.", Nadia whined, slipping her hands in her jacket pockets as she did her best to stay warm.
"In your defense, they only called for Blake and I, but if I was getting up so early in the cold, you were coming with me."
Nadia glared up at Gabriel, her lips turning downwards into a heavy frown. "Gee thanks I feel so special being able to join you for this."
"Aww, you're welcome, Nadia", Gabriel joked back. Ignoring the slight growling noise coming from her throat as they walked forward to the city hall.
The closer they got, the more you were able to see a small crowd of people surrounding a few cops. The sound of the crowd as multiple cameras and newspeople were trying to talk to the cops. "Did you want to comment on the report of multiple dead bodies found at city hall early this morning?", A woman asked, holding her microphone in front of one of the cops' faces.
The cops continued to ignore the woman speaking as they stood there with a stoic look. Gabriel quickly pushed through the few reports, ignoring the questions they were asking, with Nadia following behind him. Approaching the other officers, Gabriel and Nadia both flashed their badges. The officers examined them before allowing the duo to go through. Gabriel ducked under the police tape with a nod of his head, Nadia following quickly behind him.
Ignoring the calls for questions behind him, Gabriel kept walking forward, already exhausted before they even got to the crime scene. "Hey Rook!"Blake called out, waving at them from a distance. The duo quickly approached Blake, who quickly handed them a pair of rubber gloves. "Before we walk forward, I just want to warn you guys before you see the crime scene."
Gabriel raised his eyebrow, interested in where this was going. Nadia let out a big yawn. "Blah, blah, can we get this over I'm ready to get back to sleep.", She complained while putting on the latex gloves.
"Don't say I didn't warn you, it is not a pretty sight.", Blake shrugged before leading them forward. Gabriel didn't say anything as he followed behind, with Nadia trailing lazily next to him. As they got closer to the scene, the more the smell of blood potent in the air. "Now, if you feel the need to throw up, make sure to do it away from the crime scene.", Blake called out over his shoulder.
"Gotcha", Gabriel replied. As he glanced at the coroner taking pictures of the crime scene. The crime scene itself was a grisly mess, of organs everywhere. "Yeah, I get what you mean now", he muttered to himself.
"I think I'm going to be sick", Nadia gagged as she ran towards a trash can in the distance.
Blake just shrugged in response. "I told you guys it wasn't going to be pretty."
"You weren't lying", Gabriel muttered as he got closer. Compared to the crime scenes from the pictures, this one is different. First off, there were more bodies, before there were usually one. This time there were at least ten bodies cut up. Another difference from before was the amount of blood, as the blood was usually drained from the bodies, except for the message written. This time there was no message written.
Gabriel was in deep thought as the one of the coroners handed him little plastic boots to put over his shoes so it wouldn't cause any issues. Blake did the same as they slowly made their way over to look at the bodies. "I think, no I know the same guy we've been chasing did this.", Blake spoke up.
"You think so?"Gabriel inquired.
"Yeah, I'll have to look at some of the bodies when we get closer, but I'm pretty sure these are some remains of his gang."
"Ahh, that makes sense.", Gabriel nodded in agreement. "I remember them saying they wanted to go after you anyway if I recall correctly."
"Yeah, which would explain why they didn't care to drain the blood this time.", Blake finished.
Walking over the small amount of ground was kind of difficult, but not really too hard for Gabriel to deal with. With extra lights brought in by the police force, the area was a lot easier to see than it otherwise would be. Crouched in front of them was a man dressed in all white overalls, picking up a discarded limb. "What are we looking at?"Gabriel asked the man as he approached.
The man jumped in at the voice, dropping what looked like a leg to the ground. "S..s.ss orry, I didn't hear you guys approaching.", The man sputtered, his voice high pitched like he got caught doing something illegal.
"Calm down Tony, it's all good.", Blake said calmly, doing his best to defuse the situation.
"Sorry, Blake sir, it has just been a stressful night. ", Tony admitted as he rubbed his hands together awkwardly. "Since the coroner's office got here, I've been feeling like we are being watched."
Gabriel raised his eyebrow at the sound of that. "With the amount of bodies laying around, I can't blame you for feeling like something is watching you."
"Right, Tony, is there anything you can see from the bodies found?"Blake asked, steering the conversation back to the topic at hand.
Tony quickly nodded his head. "Yeah, there were barely any marks on the limbs, which makes me believe that whoever did the cuts had some kind of training."
"Hmm, I see", Blake muttered out loud. Gabriel opted to remain quiet as he took in the information.
"I'll also recommend to check any cameras in the area because the cuts and the blood are fresh on the ground.", Tony added,
Gabriel's head cocked to the side at the information. "Were the victims alive before someone cut them apart?""
"The time of death had to have been within the last couple hours, but any more test will have to be run back at the lab.", Tony replied.
Blake and Gabriel shared a look before Blake turned back to Tony. "Get the rest of your crew then get everything of importance bagged and tagged."
"Yes, Sir", Tony said before running off to talk to the other coroners.
Gabriel took a look around the scene and felt a flash as if something familiar, like he's seen it before. He saw a small bench and quickly ran towards it, ignoring Blake's questions and moved away. He quickly stood on top of the bench and could see a small shape. The limbs forming a symbol that he has seen before in the crime scene pictures.
"Rook, what the hell are you doing?"Blake questioned, his voice annoyed as he approached the bench.
"I think it'll be better for you to get up here and see for yourself."
"Fine", Blake mumbled as he got up on the bench next to Gabriel. His annoyance turned to shock as he saw the same symbol now too. "Makes me wonder if this is warning, or a message to me that"
Gabriel didn't reply as he felt himself taken away, quickly flying through, his arms stuck in the grip, what feels like nails digging into his skin. When he glanced up, he saw what looked like a giant bird. The bird itself had giant wings, and the feathers pure black. The bird itself resembles a crow, though Gabriel doesn't know much about birds.
"I gotcha rook", He heard Blake scream, A loud crack coming from the birds right wing as it began to circle down to the ground.
The grip loosened enough for Gabriel to break free, landing on his feet a little distance from the crime scene. Yet far enough away from the news vans and the police officers. In front of Gabriel, a woman with short black hair and grey skin, decorated with multiple black tattoos, landed.
The woman ignored Gabriel as she walked over to the bird on the ground, stroking its head lovingly. "You know I wasn't expecting you to even be caught by the bird I thought you would've been on the lookout for anything.", The woman spoke up.
"What can I say, I'd like to believe that people aren't stupid enough to attack a police officer around others.", Gabriel shot back, mentally commanding Echo to appear behind him.
"I see, you still haven't learned how to harden your heart.", The woman said outloud, standing up, turning to face Gabriel. "I guess in some cases it must be nice to be so weak." Lifting up her leg she stomped on the bird's neck, breaking it. The movement slowed down before it stopped moving, turning into a black blob on the ground. The black blob then slithered up the woman's leg, before disappearing into her skin..
Gabriel looked at the scene awkwardly, not wanting to deal with her any longer. "Right, while I had a pleasant conversation with you, I got a crime scene to take care of. So I'm just going to walk away now.", Gabriel said, turning towards the crime scene.
The woman's body turned into a flock of crows before reforming in front of him. She quickly threw a punch that Gabriel dodged. Echo retaliated with a kick to her face, one which she ducked under. With her bent over, Gabriel kneed her in the face hard, the sound of a loud cracking echoing through the air. "Hey, I don't know what the fuck you want, but stand down.", he ordered