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((Last post for tonight, sorry.))
"Is there anyone else who could testify on your defense?" Jack asked, catching the pack and lighter, stowing them away accordingly. "Any witnesses aside from the victims and suspects? Do you remember any of their faces?" He now glanced over to the mirror. The vague figure was back. Better not try that shadow stunt of his again, or else he may be-
(Killed.)
-locked away for a lot longer than he anticipated. All because of the power that chose the human. Not vice-versa. He could-
(Drag the rivers. Find this man there, next.)
-probably get him a decent lawyer that could get him out on a defense plea.
(Did she beg for her life, you bastards? Did you freaking touch-)
Something touched Jack's arm, making him nearly swallow the pen cap he still held between his teeth. It was Droopy. How the hell did he get in without him noticing? Same way he got into my office, I imagine.
Instead of asphixiating on the pen cap like he thought he would do, Jack regained his composure and looked at his Deputy, his mirrored glasses sliding down to the tip of his nose, making him look like a disgruntalled librarian for a second or two. "What is it, Ronald?"
"We... we've confirmed at least three bodies from the crime scene."
"I want a copy of any and all identification they had on them on my desk by the morning." The sheriff said, pulling the pen cap from his mouth.
"Sir." Droopy said, then left without another word.
"Looks like we're about done here, then, Mr. McHale. We have to put you in the holding cell until the jail papers are signed, okay? Got anyone you'd like to call before turning in?" He asked, folding up the memo and sticking it in his breast pocket beside the Pall Mall's and the ball point pen. He was going to have to fill in paperwork for the rest of the night for this. But what the hell? He waited for the door to be sealed completely, he then turned to Luke, saying: "This whole user business doesn't leave the room. As far as I know, your shadow sticks to the ground and walls like its supposed to." He gave a curt nod and ushered the 'cruity in the room, leaving shortly after he entered. Jack walked down the hall and into the reception center. No calls. No visits. He notified Droopy to come with him. For the next five hours, they were checking out the scene of the crime, filling out paperwork, and drinking cold coffee with the grounds mixed in it.

Allen Drates stood in the Stay'th'Night hotel room, looking out over the town from the second story. He had no smile on his face, but he was laughing like a loony on the inside. In every state, there would be a mass disappearance of users tomorrow. Each town having a different insignia bearing a local gang marked across where the victim disappeared.

Moses "Reg" Kennedy filled in the smile that Allen didn't have. "You want I should call them now?" Reg asked, looking rather hopefully at the walkie talkie on his night-stand.
Allen mused for a second, perhaps in thought, before giving a slight nod. Reg nearly let out the giggle of a schoolgirl that had just learned a dirty secret.
"This is Sadnman reporting to close down all dreams." Reg said curtly, releasing the button. A brief snapple of static wavered before four seperate Copy that's entered the room.

On the four main highways that lead in and out of Oakridge, four City of Commence roadcrew trucks turned on their flashers. Every truck, almost simultaneously, brought out a "Road Closed" sign, with multiple baracades. One man from every team had a caution sign that warned anyone of the danger, and each man would take it up the highway for about ten miles, to ensure privacy for their activity in the morning.

Allen stretched out his arms, like a man surrendering. He let them drop after he heard the satisfying pop of his elbows. There would be no sleep tonight for him. Because dreams were a way out of reality. And the Sandman had just blocked that path.

Jack, who had just downed his seventh cup of coffee, sprayed it back into his cup, looking at the girl... Kooh. Yeah, that sounds about right. She hung out with my daughter, once upon a time. Jack thought to himself. Thankfully the deputy and all other officials were in the alleyway. Jack had merely gone back for another Crime Catcher, another funny name for a serious gadget that Nadine had thought up. Now the camera almost slipped from his hands.
He looked down at the kid and was actually tempted to slap some sense into her, if not to shut her up. She knows you are a user! Shut her up! a voice whispered in the back of his mind. The voice felt as cold as ice water in his brain. Instead of slapping her, he merely placed a hand over her mouth. He made the "shh" gesture, placing his other index finger over his hushing lips. The thought that she was already whispering never came across his mind. Jack gave a small smile, though he was as pale as he had been when he had seen the Mchale kid use his ability. "Don't say crazy stuff like that, kid." He said, in the softest voice he could muster. "Now, tell me what has happened." Jack slowly removed his hand from her mouth, looking around to make sure no CSI agent came to pester him about the camera.

Kooh explained her story to the man. "What should I do my mom is dead and my dad is after me." She whispered frantically. "I don't know what to do other than hide and I don't know where to hide, Please will you help me."

Zach finished wiping the tables in Marty's Diner and closed up for the night. He headed for home 'where ever that is' he thought. It was a typical Tuesday night. No one out of their houses and the streets completely empty. So he decided that he would go to see the sheriff. Sheriff Mills had become his father-figure after his parents were murdered and was the only man alive who knew his brother's secret. He would often give Zach users to protect because Zach had a place that no one knew about. That was where his brother would be waiting for him to come back. He noticed bright yellow tape marking a crime scene and decided to go investigate.



"Sheriff? Are you here? It's Zach!" he called.

Fortunately for both Kevyn and Keerah, Sheriff Mills had not heard either over the sound of Zach's voice. He spun around in the opposite direction of the twins and gazed out towards the rising sun. The sillouette of Zach. Jack sighed with relief. Someone who could be trusted, to say the least. Guess I've become these kids' go to guy. Jack thought with a little bit of humor.
Yeah, funny how you can care for all the kids except your own, you hypocrite. the cold voice cooed. The ghost of a smile was wiped from Jack's face. It felt as if ice water had trickled into his mind again.
"Zach! What are you doing out so late?" He called, turning back to the girl named Kooh and giving her a reassuring nod. "He may be able to help you more than I can. His brother is a user, so he may be able to find you a place to hide.
"Sherrif?" Droopy's voice.
Jack got off his knee and looked out toward the alleyway. He saw Ronald about ten feet away from the edge of the tape. He made his way over and whispered in the deputy's ear. "I've got two out past the curfew. I'm going to notify their parent's and take them home. We've filled out all of the paperwork, right?" Droopy gave a nod. "Good. Now I'll have to take the squad car, if that's alright." The deputy gave another nod, and just like that, Jack left, motioning for the other kids to get into the squad car.

The twins ran, not sure where they were going. Eventually they stopped in a place neither one recognized.
"Where are we?" asked Kevyn, taking off his glasses to clean them. Keerah knew this to be a nervous habit of her brother's, meaning he was very unerved. She didn't blame him.
"I don't know....," she said, her voice trailing off. Suddenly she was grabbed from behind and before she could scream a hand clamped over her mouth.
"Don't scream," said the voice, "don't panic. That's a good girl." Keerah glanced a Kevyn who was free, trying to get his attention.
Who is it? she spoke in his mind.
I don't know.... Kevyn's voice was paniced. She realized why. This person had a gun to her head.
"Tell the boy to follow me. You don't know me, but I know you're users...." Keerah didn't need to hear the rest of his sentence to figure out what was going on. She glanced at Kevyn and mentally screamed, RUN!.
Kevyn didn't need to be told twice. He took off running.