ชิ้นChîn: Chapter 7. Give Of Thyself
Added 2025-03-30 00:41:48 +0000 UTCNight
Conner's car drives up to a farmhouse. It stands beside a barn. A truck is parked in the front, and behind it is a field. Conner, Basit, and Charlie step out of the car and walk up to the door. Charlie's demeanor is meek and tired.
Basit steps up to the door and looks at Conner.
Basit: "Doorbell?"
Conner nods, and she rings it. They stand waiting for a while, Conner leaning back and looking around the house.
Charlie: "Maybe they're not home?"
Conner: "That is the optimistic possibility."
Conner looks at Basit.
Conner: "Keep trying, I'll check the back."
He walks around the house. Basit turns back to the door and bangs on it, hard with an impatient frown. Charlie steps away to follow Conner.
Conner walks around the house, finding the back door slightly ajar.
He steps back into view of the side of the house, seeing Charlie walking in his direction.
Conner: "Get Basit."
Charlie looks up, confusion turning to concern, and he turns and rushes to the front of the house.
-
Basit slowly opens the back door leading into the kitchen, and Conner and Charlie follow behind her. Beside the back door are a few crates, two stacks of three, and one stack of two.
Conner whispers: "Basit, you check upstairs, Charlie, stay here and make sure no one leaves."
Charlie's voice cracks: "A-alright…"
-
Conner looks around the foyer, seeing graduation pictures in front of a flower vase, the celebration adorned with flowers and decorations, the room is homely, ranch-style, and clean. Basit checks the bedrooms upstairs. Charlie stands in the dark kitchen, nervous.
He hears the floor creak, a figure behind him, he jumps with a sharp gasp and turns. Conner steps back into the kitchen.
Conner: "See something?"
Charlie: "Uh, No… I need some air."
He steps out of the house and takes a deep breath, rubbing his face.
He takes out his phone and checks Kate's texts.
-Kate-
Several hours ago
[Kate] Don't worry about it, I enjoyed it too. When are you free next? I'll let you choose where we go this time.
Charlie gives a happy grin and starts typing on his phone. A noise from the barn makes him jump. He looks over to see a cat daring out of the barn. He turns to and peers into the kitchen.
Charlie, nervous: "Conner?"
Conner, in the living room, turns to Charlie. He steps out of the house and up to him, mildly agitated.
Conner: "What?"
Charlie nervously points to the barn. Conner peers at him disapprovingly and steps over to it. He pushes open the door, looking inside, his face turning to a grim scowl.
Basit upstairs, sighs: "There's nothing up here."
She walks downstairs.
Basit: "Conner?"
She sees Conner and Charlie from the living room window. Conner steps into the barn, Charlie keeping his distance.
Conner steps over to the body lying in the center of the barn, looking over it. He spots the note and finger piece, placed carefully over the chest. He picks it up, reading the scrap of paper:
9#
Art thou ready, Blessed of Man? To will thy body for the feast of the Vassal of our Lord?
Remember thy oath; dost thou forsake thy Lord's will and cling unto the Hallowed flesh?
Blessed of the Hallowed Man, thou shalt be made unto one of the Scion.
Be ready for the first feast of the Vassal—give of thyself thy body,
that the Vassal may know the will of our Lord and be made one with His Desire.
This is the oath thou hast willed.
-
Conner's brows furrow into anger, and he grips the paper. He steps out of the barn, tossing the finger at Charlie's chest. Surprised, he instinctively catches it, the finger piece snapping back on, and the grim realization hits him.
Conner angry: "What is this?!"
He holds up the page, briskly stomping towards Charlie.
Charlie: "I don't—"
Conner grabs him by his collar and holds him against the barn wall.
Conner shouts: "What is going on?! What is your part in this?!"
Basit runs up to them.
Basit: "Conner?!"
Conner: "You have to know something!"
Charlie doesn't speak, only whimpers in fear, shaking.
Basit: "Conner!"
Conner gets louder and more aggressive.
Conner: "Did you will this, Blessed of Man?"
Charlie cowering: "I don't know—"
Conner: "Stop lying!"
Basit shouts: "Stop!"
She wedges herself between them, forcefully pushing Conner off of Charlie.
Basit: "What are you doing?"
Conner: "Look at it! The scriptures, the bodies, his marks! A human who becomes an Abnormal!"
Basit: "What are you talking about?"
Conner: "This is all some sick ritual that he is a part of!"
Basit: "Because of those fucking nonsense notes?"
Conner: "All of it!"
He turns to Charlie, stepping forward, Basit stepping in his way to stop him.
Conner: "Are you the killer? Or are you simply an accomplice? Do you ever care that Abnormals are being murdered?!"
Charlie was still on the ground against the barn, sobbing.
Basit: "Conner, stop."
Both stare each other down. He steps away, hands on his waists as he looks down, brows furrowed in frustrated thought.
Basit: "Charlie. Go to the car."
Charlie wipes his face with his hoodie, unsteady and shaking, he stands up and goes to leave, passing by the barn door, his eyes catch a view of the body in full. He turns away from it, looking sick, and continues walking.
Basit watches him leave, then looks to Conner, her agitation returning.
Basit: "Talk to me."
Frustration returns to Conner's face.
Conner: "He can't just be an innocent bystander."
He turns to her: "There has to be something more to this!"
Basit: "No shit, but accusing him of being the murderer?"
Conner: "Murderer, accomplice, whatever, the scriptures—"
Basit: "You're doing it again."
Conner: "Doing what?"
Basit: "That thing you do. When you get so focused on one path that you can't look past it, and you convince yourself it's the only one."
Conner's face softens slightly, from anger to frustration.
Conner sighs and looks down and away.
Conner: "I have to solve this case, Basit."
Basit: "I know. I want it solved, too, so does Nora, and so does Charlie. We are all on the same page about that. We are a team, remember that."
Basit smirks: "I know that concept isn't your strong suit."
Conner glances at her, knowingly.
Conner sighs: "There's a string here. All the murders, the scriptures. I just—I can't find it. Everything's tangled and fractured!"
Basit amused: "I thought those were your favorite."
Conner: "Not this one!... Not like this. What the killer's doing–"
He pauses, his frustration turning to fear.
Basit: "Is there anything connecting the victims so far?"
Conner: "There must be. But I can't see it."
Basit: "No relative or friend that overlaps?"
Conner: "No."
Basit: "Do they all live alone then?"
Conner: "No. Some of them are surrounded by family and friends, but still, they're caught alone. The attacks have been planned out, the murderer has to have known when each one would be vulnerable."
Basit: "Then we find the other targets, quickly, we close in on this murderer before he gets there, and we end this."
Conner sighs, calmer: "I—yeah, that's what I'll do."
Basit: "That's what we will do."
Basit puts a hand on his shoulder.
Basit: "I'm with you, Tangles."
Conner flinches with a sharp mix of pain and grief, dropping his eyes.
He pulls away from her and walks towards the car. Basit watches him for a moment before following him.
The two get into the car, Charlie curled up in a ball in the back seat.
Conner starts the car, Basit still eyeing him for a moment.
-
Conner's car drives up outside Charlie's apartment.
Charlie and Basit get out and walk over to the sidewalk.
Conner: "I'll let you know when I have more on our lead."
Basit: "Get some rest."
He drives off.
Basit turns, spotting Charlie walking away from his apartment building.
Basit: "Where are you going?"
Charlie: "Getting a drink."
Basit catches up to him.
Basit: "I'll join you."
-
They sit in a dive bar, Charlie ordering a cheap liquor and then lighting a cigarette.
Basit: "This place is a shit hole."
Charlie picks up the drink the bartender sets in front of him.
Charlie: "Yeah. But they're cheap."
Basit: "Just buy it from a store, if that's what you're worried about."
Charlie: "Too late, they're all closed."
He takes the shot and sets it down, motioning for two more.
-
Basit: "Maybe you should slow down…"
6 empty shot glasses in front of Charlie, who is now blatantly drunk.
Charlie slurring: "Only b'cause em out of moonie."
Basit half-smile: "Work skimping you?"
Charlie lights another cigarette.
Charlie: "dun work."
Basit: "How do you cover bills?"
Charlie lowers his head in shame.
Charlie: "Nora."
Basit: "Ah."
Charlie: "She m—picked it 'en I was home—less."
Basit: "If you need work, she could find you something."
Charlie: "Nn—tried."
Basit: "Didn't work out?"
Charlie stands: "Nope."
Charlie unsteadily pulls himself up from the chair and turns to leave.
Charlie: "Because Ima f—uck up."
Basit's brows furrow, and she stands to follow him.
-
The two walk down the street, Charlie walks unsteadily while trying to light a smoke.
Charlie: "dosyou work?"
Basit: "Not really. But I don't live in an apartment or eat human food much."
Charlie: "Where'ou live?"
Basit: "Wherever. Abandoned buildings, mostly the big ones, when I need to stretch my skin."
Charlie: " 'erid."
Basit: "I do bodyguard gigs for Nora to pay for a phone and laundry once in a while. But I don't really care to blend with humans for my own private life."
Charlie: "Mus'nbe hat."
Basit: "What?"
Charlie: "M—"
He keels over, putting a hand on the building wall beside him and puking.
Basit: "Told you to slow down."
Charlie hurls again and coughs.
Charlie: "Din' you not drink?"
Basit: "No. I don't get drunk, just sick. Different physiology, I guess."
Charlie mutters: "Fisi—" He hurls again.
Charlie: "I 'ink I drank to m—much."
Basit: "Yeah? You've been drinking all day without food, then downed half a dozen in less than an hour—what did you expect?"
Charlie slides down to his knees.
Charlie: "T'nop 'uning."
Basit: "What?"
Basit kneels beside him.
Charlie takes a heavy breath, bile still on his lips.
Charlie: "To—stop—running."
Basit listens, patient and empathetic, as he talks between breaths.
Charlie: "It 'elps—"
Basit: "Helps what?"
He gives a dry urk.
Charlie speaks between nauseous breaths.
Charlie: " 'ying—Dying… always feel—'oing to kill—me."
He hunches over to the side and hurls again.
Basit: "Think you can stand up?"
Charlie: "Urk—no."
Basit stands and pulls out her phone.
-
Nora sits at her document-filled dining table.
On Top of the typical pile is an open manila folder with documents, pictures of Charlie, news articles, a police report, and an old ID. She looks over the pictures, there is very few: one print copied from a news article with a younger him, unmarked, and in a graduation outfit; Another copied from the police report, marked, dirty, and scared; another of him unmarked at an outdoor event, possibly a church or town event in the background and two other older people, one Asian man and a blond freckled woman; And one recent but his hair slightly shorter, him working on a car, holding his hand up as if asking for the photo to not be taken.
She stares at them wistfully, her attention broken by her cell phone ringing for a call from Basit.
Nora picks up the phone.
Nora: "Hello? Is everything alright?"
-
Charlie sits on the ground, back against the building, with Basit standing beside him.
Basit: "You know—There are support groups."
Charlie has sobered up some, but still slurs his words.
Charlie: "Oh yeah, tried those groups. If I wanted monotheism shoved down my throat, I'd join a church."
Basit: "Some aren't like that."
Charlie: "Do you believe in a god?"
Basit: "Yup."
Basit: "And I fucking hate him."
Nora's car pulls up beside them. She gets out and rushes up to them.
Nora: "Is he alright?"
Basit calmly: "Yeah, he just drank too much and needs a ride home."
Nora steps over and kneels in front of him, going to reach a hand for his shoulder, but stops.
Nora: "Charlie? Are you alright?"
Charlie: "I'm fine. Just feel sick."
Nora: "Let's get you home."
She looks to Basit, who reaches down to help him up. Nora stands and walks over to the car to open the door for him.
Charlie gets in, leaning his head back against the seat. Basit looks at Nora.
Basit: "It's been a long day."
Nora: "I'll get Conner to brief me."
She shuts Charlie's door and goes to walk to the driver's side while Basit walks away.
-
10:40 p.m.
Nora opens the door to Charlie's apartment, guiding him to his bed. He sits on the edge, uneasy.
Nora: "Take care of yourself and get some rest, alright?"
Charlie doesn't respond, dazed. She kneels in front of him.
Nora: "Hey, there—"
Charlie glances up at her.
The room is lighter, static, a police office, Nora in a different outfit, from a different time.
Nora: "You going to be Alright?"
Charlie: "I'm fine."
Nora stands: "Call me if you need."
Charlie nods and pulls himself fully onto the bed, lying diagonally across it.
-
12:50 a.m.
Charlie, still awake, sits up and rubs his eyes. He stands, wobbly, and walks to the bathroom to rinse his face off and swish some water before drinking some.
He steps out of the bathroom and into a dark tunnel. Charlie, in his apartment, rubs his face and walks towards his kitchen.
Charlie: No, no. I'm not there. I'm… where am I?
He takes a step forward, his foot reaching from the boards of his apartment floor towards the forest grass.
He trips, falling down a steep hill in the woods, rolling until he lands on a road leading into a long underground tunnel. He looks up the hill above, seeing a figure moving in the shadows. He gets up in a panic and jogs into the tunnel a ways, wheezing. He slows down and starts walking steadily, his right arm following the tunnel wall, staring down at his bare, dirty feet walking in front of him in the darkness. He walks. All but his undershorts gone, his body coated in blood and dirt. He walks. He's younger, his hair shorter, his left arm missing, and his expression of dazed shock. He walks.
"Hey."
He looks up at a vague silhouette of a park ranger with a green truck behind him.
"Sir? Are you alright?"
Present- The florist priest, Anwir, stands in front of him with a concerned expression, his hands on Charlie's shoulders.
Charlie looks up, scared and confused, both standing in the street parallel to the florist shop.
Anwir: "Come inside, you'll catch your death out here this late at night."
Anwir guides him to the closed shop and lets him inside. Charlie is still dazed and startled, unsure where he is.
-
Charlie sits at the counter on a chair pulled up to it, tea in front of him, seemingly calmer.
Charlie looks up: "Where am I?"
Anwir: "You're in my shop. I found you in the street, you seemed out of sorts."
Charlie looks down at his tea, his brow furrows.
Anwir chuckles: "It's just chamomile, calms the nerves."
Charlie eyes it for a moment before taking a sip.
Charlie: "Who are you?"
Anwir: "Anwir, Anwir Avdel."
Charlie: "I'm… Charlie."
Anwir, pleasant smile: "It's good to meet you, Charlie."
Charlie sips the tea again and glances at Anwir's clerical collar.
Charlie: "You're a priest?"
Anwir chuckles and puts a hand to it.
Anwir: "Not so much anymore. But I guess I can't let go of my past."
He chuckles to himself, "Or, maybe my past won't let go of me."
Charlie looks back down at the tea.
Charlie: "I should go home."
Anwir: "Let me walk you, make sure you get where you need to go."
He smiles and holds out a hand. Charlie looks at it and stands on his own. Anwir and Charlie exit the shop, Anwir locking it behind them.
The two walk down the street towards Charlie's apartment, neither speaking. Charlie keeps his head low, eyes tired. Anwir's head held high, content and calm, walking slightly ahead of Charlie.
-
They reach the apartment building, and Anwir follows him inside.
He reaches his room and opens the door. He stops and looks at Anwir.
Charlie: "Uh, thanks for walking me home, I guess…"
Anwir smiles: "I'm glad to help. Oh—"
He reaches into his pocket and takes out a business card for his florist shop, handing it to Charlie.
'Avdel Flowers 113 st 091-416-1914'
Anwir: "I know my ties may be intimidating to some, but I assure you I hold no judgment for any of God's children. Please, if you need help, I'm just a call away."
Charlie, uncomfortable: "Right… thanks."
He says dismissively and enters his room, shutting the door behind himself. He tosses the card towards the trash and misses before dropping back onto the bed.
-
Late night 2:03 a.m.
Charlie lies in bed, wide awake. He rolls over and picks up his phone. He stares at Kate's contacts for a long while.
Charlie: 'I shouldn't bother them.'
He places the phone back down.
His thoughts loop around him, getting smaller and smaller
'I want to talk to them. I need their company right now. I don't want to be alone…. I'm scared.'
His thoughts continue as he picks up the phone again. He stares at the messages. He switches to a browser, scrolling through images.
Kate is half awake, lying on the couch with Ayden, who's snoring. The TV is on, lighting them.
Kate's phone buzzes. They pick it up
-Charlie-
[Charlie] :Nonbinarymeme.png:
[Charlie] Sorry I thought you'd find it funny. Also my way of showing support and saying hi :wave: at the same time :sweatlaugh:
Kate snorts.
[Kate] Most people steer clear of the subject, only to make a stupid comment or show support by harping on it, or both.
[Charlie] Stupid is my native language but I promise not to harp on it :sweatsmile: so what are you up to :smile:?
[Kate] I was binge watching a show with ayden. I sont think I'm going to make it to the end before passingout though
[Charlie] Sorry to interrupt
[Kate] You're not. everythin alright?
Charlie stares at the phone for a while before responding.
[Charlie] I had another episode and can't sleep now
Kate, almost asleep, wakes up to the notification again.
[Kate] If theyr getting that bad maybe yu can try meds?
[Charlie] I have before, I ended up worse. Besides I can't afford them.
[Kate] everyones different and theres aton of different treatments. Consider trying again?
Charlie frowns, staring at his phone and not responding for a while.
[Kate] I just know thie kinda shit dosnt get better on its own. Let me know if I can help
[Charlie] You already are :heart:
Charlie smiles, closes his eyes, and falls asleep
-
Charlie, younger, finds himself walking in the tunnel. He sees a bit of light at the end. He steps out, the morning light shining on his face. A green truck driving towards him stops, and a park ranger exits.
Ranger: "Hey, are you alright?"
The scene fades to Charlie sitting in a police station. He's still out of it, but cleaned up and wrapped in a mute lilac wool blanket and wearing oversized gray sweatpants and a sweatshirt with the local police office logo on it. Outside of the room, voices can be heard.
Nora: "This is a long way from home, you know."
Police: "You said to call you if we ever found strange, unidentifiable people."
The door opens, and Nora steps in. She looks at him, sympathetic, and steps up, kneeling in front of him.
Nora: "Hey, there—"
Charlie looks at her, still dazed.
Nora: "You're going to be alright."
Nora: "I'm Nora, what's your name?"
Charlie: "...I don't remember…"
