_{x.     BASIC ANGST STARTERS.}

_{❛   if we’re talking  FULL - ON  nights’ rest…   ❜          eyelids resolutely forced  OPEN;  he’s been keeping himself awake to  AVOID  THE  DRENCHING  TERROR,  the sentiment of fear in its most  BASIC,  in its  PUREST  FORM.     why dream when the nightmares  VISIT  HIM  during the day?  plague his every thought,  TEAR  HIS  MIND  APART?          ❛   –––––––––––i’ve   l o s t   count.   ❜}

_{x.     BASIC ANGST STARTERS.}

_{❛   errr––––––––––   ❜          NO.  as resolute as it is  FRIGHTENING,  the truth hovers above their heads with  MALICIOUS  TENACITY:  for they both know.  a fragile sanity  SHAKEN  by exterior forces;  &  he’s losing  GRASP  on his own humanity to help save others’.  a  SACRIFICE  he’ll blindingly commit with little regard for  SELF - PRESERVATION,  his desire to unveil the truth far  TOO  STRONG  to ignore.  no matter the cost.          ❛   i remember…   being in my house.  my  DOGS  BARKING.  it must have been…  nine or ten in the evening.     &  then––––––––––     standing in a…   a forrest…  it’s the morning.  there’s  DRIED  BLOOD  ON  MY  CLOTHES,  underneath my fingernails.   ❜          a shiver  COURSES  THROUGH  his body when he takes a second to come to  TERMS  with the facts, surreal as they seem.          ❛   i must have lost time again.   ❜          ––––––––––&  someone died.}

_{❰   NIGHTMARE STARTERS.   ❱}

_{longer than he would  READILY ADMIT.  &  not even the intimacy of a room he has  GROWN  strangely accustomed to –––––––––– of a routine he has come to  VALUE –––––––––– not even an amiable hand held out in hopeful attempt to  APPEASE  a restless mind;  oh, not even the  VEILED CONCERN  of a friend benevolently reaching out will see him blatantly  ACKNOWLEDGE  the hard truth.     the frown on his forehead a physical  SIGN  of his inner struggle.           ❛   i’m –––––––––– not exactly sure.     i’m having  DIFFICULTY  remembering a life before jack entered my classroom.   ❜          the low chuckle only  BETRAYS  his growing discomfort.          ❛   the nightmares have only…   gotten more  &  more  VIVID  with each new crime scene i’ve, erm, reconstructed.   ❜          but garrett jacob hobbs is in most of them.}

_{❰   NIGHTMARE STARTERS.   ❱}

_{fingers vigorously  RUB  against heavy eyelids in a desperate attempt to  WIN  a hopeless battle against the unavoidable demons plaguing  RESTLESS NIGHTS.  he dreams more than he used to –––––––––– a truth he must come to  TERMS  with;  imagination prone to thrive when days are  SMEARED  with indelible blood stains.     he’ll just have to  SLEEP LESS.          ❛   actually…  COFFEE  would be nice.   ❜}

_{❛   oh, i do.   ❜          truth be told, it’s the only thing he is  SURE  of. blur of uncertainties clouds both  MIND  &  judgment, while determination remains  SATISFYINGLY  ardent. he is in it for the  LONG RUN.  no escaping, no retreating:  he is in it for the kill.  &  the path is sure to leave him  SCARRED,  if nothing more.          ❛   i know all too well.   ❜}

_{❛   i’m aware.     that was the whole point, actually.   ❜          it’s another  FULL MINUTE  before he elaborates, gaze lost.          ❛   i’ve lost my way, nancy.     i think…   i think i  KILLED  abigail.     and doctor sutcliffe.     and all the others.     ––––––––––i think i may be the chesapeake ripper.          and you need to stay as far away from me as possible.   ❜          the tear that  THREATENED  to roll down eventually traces its path on his cheek as he blinks.  FEAR,  loss, death –––––––––– but more especially the lingering  UNCERTAINTY  regarding his own identity.          ❛   i’m sorry.   ❜}

_{❰   CONCERNED STARTERS   ||   accepting.   ❱}

_{❛   it’s only a scratch!   ❜          SKINLESS  lower half of his cheek makes itself known in the movement of his jaw when the  RECTIFICATION  escapes parted lips, his fingers brushing against the sore are to  ASSESS  the possible damage. his gaze will  RETURN  on the girl as he sits in surrender, initial objection never quite silenced.          ❛   so, you’re a nurse on top of everything else, huh? –––––––––– quite a lot of hidden talents.   ❜}

_{❰   CONCERNED STARTERS   ||   accepting.   ❱}

_{❛   it’s not that i don’t want your help, lara.   ❜          glance darts between the crackling  FIREPLACE  &  his interlocked fingers, frailty more  &  more apparent on his worn features,  FEAR  growing at the sole mention of the uncatchable enemy  &  the memories of his previous  MURDER TABLEAUX.          ❛   but you know what i do. –––––––––– the ripper murder scenes aren’t exactly a walk in the park.     this whole case, it just…   it eats you alive.   ❜}

_{❰   CONCERNED STARTERS   ||   accepting.   ❱}

_{❛   if i rest i’ll end up dreaming.   ❜          the sigh is  HEAVY  as his heart;  sore limbs shouting their discomfort at the undesired  MOVEMENTS,  a sharp frown when physical distress strikes, an arm protectively wrapping around his torso as he  FORCES  himself to stand   &  retrieve his personal manner of  ENTERTAINMENT,  taking hold of the case files resting on the nearest table ––––––––– a subtle groan as he sits back down.            ❛   i don’t wanna dream.   ❜}