Too late for the other side
Caught in a chase
Twenty five to life
Too late for the other side
Caught in a chase
Twenty five to life
Yeah
Too late
I can't keep chasing 'em
I'm taking my life back
Caught in a change
Twenty five to life
~Liz Rodrigues and Eminem ( 25 to life)

1
Malibu beach, California.

Ryan struggled to walk, every step made him feel like drunkard, ' I was never like this?' he thought, ' Yes... Yes you were, you were always like this, this is what you will be forever and ever' said the evil voice again, a shiver ran down Ryan's spine, he began looking around. The night had worn it glimmering suits, filled with stars, the surrounding were silent, not even a bird chirped nor did any rat scuttled on the empty street to find it's food, the constant sounds of wave crashing against the shore, the sand which looked like it was wearing a yellow dress, the sky and the earth were having a date night. Ryan giggled foolishly, it had all been beautiful, ' All of this has been perfect, but can I be?... Can I be perfect?',

' You! you never are perfect in this, your perfection lies in killing, murdering people,

( NO!)

Yes! Ryan you have read all about them, You know how to do a crime, you just have get a taste'

( NO! I will not!)

Why not?, after all do people really think you are good?, Do you think Amy came to you because she attracted to you?. You are wrong Ryan, believe me

( Why should I!)

Because, I can help you!, I can make you see the world as it is, do you think the world is just as you think?, let me show you... the real world.'

Ryan turned his head again, this time he saw that the street was completely deserted, ( May be something sinister lurks in there, somebody could be killing there), the night looked like an evil dome, hiding the bright light of the stars and the sun, ( The darkness is your force Ryan, obey it's will and you shall feel the greatness that lies in the deeds of darkness, under the darkness you do not have to fear for fear becomes your friend). The beach, the waves came crashing down at the shore, ( They are like people Ryan, they are always out there to get you, to tear you apart, to thrust a knife inside your belly, you gorge you with there instruments of death, so you shall do the same Ryan, obey the darkness).

Ryan's head was almost bursting, ' Who are you?' he thought and the answer came almost immediately.

' I am you' said the evil voice.

' But I am not like you, I don't kill people' said Ryan.

' Come on Ryan, I am you, you are me, don't you get it?, I am your part which obeys the darkness' said the voice.

' But I don't want to obey the darkness--' began Ryan, but was interrupted by the voice.

' You are foolish!!, I will show you the power of darkness' said the voice angrily.

Ryan began to walk again, his body ached and an anger was rising in him, he began thinking, ' Can I be myself?, can I be normal'

' Yes!, you can be normal, I will help you be normal!' said the voice,

' How?' asked Ryan eagerly,

' I can make you feel satisfied, I can make you feel normal but you will have to obey me...' said the voice.

Ryan hesitated, all of this happening to him, can this be all over? ( Yes!), Will he be the same charming Ryan, the most intelligent of all? ( Yes!), Will he be able to smile and charm other young ladies with his profound sense of knowledge ( Yes, yes, yes!!). This was more than enough for Ryan, everything will be back to normal!. Then he thought, all his hope was this voice, taking a sharp breathe he thought,

' I will obey you'

An instant satisfaction went into him, he aroused, feeling good and strong, feeling himself back, all that cold body now turned warm and the blood began flowing to every inch of his body as if jumping happily inside, he began to step forward, no hesitation, all his confidence was back.

" Yes" he said smiling, feeling happy, the voice also spoke in a happy tone.

' Remember what you heard? The answer lies in the white house!', Ryan looked up and forward, anger surged inside, " They will pay for this, I'll make them pay for their deeds, but this time, I have the power of darkness with me, they will feel my wrath!" he said.

Ryan had never been like that, he still hesitated a little but, his inner self was almost accepting anything which he thought, Smiling with victory he began walking forward.

2

Karen Fowler was having perfectly normal night, he went inside the grocery store and got some vegetables and some meat after all his fiancé was coming over, he wanted this night to be perfect. He paid for the groceries and some bacon, the cashier was looking weirdly at him, but this was normal for Karen, ' Let people think what they want to' was his motto, after getting out of the store, he went to medical store to buy some pads, this was the most awkward moment for Karen, everyone looked at him with outmost anger or shame, some would also try to avoid him, all of this had once been too much for him, people always hated him because of who he was, although being a lead scientist in his field of genetics, that too he had too fake his own birth certificate by changing the gender to male, he had most of the time avoided the public bathrooms in the facilities or if it was too urgent then he used to hold it until everybody left the bathroom. His life had been a misery until he had met his fiancé, that man had been everything to him. After buying his needs he left the hop very quickly without looking back.

He drove down to San Francisco, the place of all needs, it was a long drive but manageable. He felt a little sleepy but that was okay, he shook his head and turned on the radio, " . bringing to you the news of what the public is calling, ' The irritated Psychopath', Original name as Ryan Holster is again accused for murder of Katherine Reily, evidence supports that, the during the car-truck wreck the car was not of Katherine Reily but after examinations was found to belong to Ryan Holster who was previously held suspect for the murder of Morgan Fischer, The F.B.I have also reported of an incident..", Karen alerted and increased the volume, "... while interrogating the suspect, Ryan got angry and escaped out of the building, the killer is still on the run, F.B.I has alerted authorities to stay alert and report on any sightings or news, they will also be very indebted to the public to give them the location of him as soon as any of us sees him. The Special agents report that this man is a psychopath and has ability to kill and therefore also warns the public to stay alert, moving on to next story about the gun laws...", Karen was shaking, 'if he had run, the first thing is he will come to him! and do....', NO! he thought, his breath laboured, his eyes began be notice every man passing by. He began driving fast. To got home and be safe.

After 2 hours of constant vigilance drive he reached his home, panic and fear were overloading themselves inside Karen, he grabbed his things and shut the door of the car and went inside the building, sweat was pouring out as tears from the head and as the door of the elevator opened up he quickly made in, running for his life he got out of the lift and opened the door to his home.

As soon as he opened the door and slammed in shut behind him and voice came,

" You are home early" said a hoarse voice, it was man in his early 50's with brown hairs growing white, he had a straight moustache and a beautiful smile, almost charming.

" Sorry love, I got some bad news" said Karen, he began explaining the events but as soon as he finished the man just smiled, " What?, I am saying that we both are in danger and you are laughing?"

The man got up and went near the window, " You got in wrong Karen" he said and looked back at him, he paced towards him saying, " You are in danger" and laughed.

Karen got confused, but now this man was coming towards him, he expected a warm hug but he had rope in his hand, " What are you doing?, Franco leave me" he said fearfully, Franco continued towards him, " Come here!!" he said, " NO!" replied Karen, " I SAID COME HERE !!" said Franco loudly, Karen ran towards the door but slipped on his newly bought carpet and fell, that carpet was his mothers last gift to him before her eternal departure, Franco made his move he quickly climbed upon Karen, " You are a very slippery little..", " Leave me!! leave me alone, I did what you asked I got him and a gave him that injection" said Karen crying, Franco got hold of her wrestling hands and tied them together, " You gave him only a part of it!! I said full!!!" he said, " I loved you, what happened to that" shrieked Karen, " I never did you queer!!" he said and laughed, he got up and removed a slice of Sellotape and put in on his mouth, " You die in here you understand" he said and laughed, but his voice was very angry, angry as a bull, he went inside and brought a pipe, " Bad thing to keep a centralised gas in an apartment isn't it" he said and opened the pipe, the gas began spreading all over the place with a small hiss. He then tied Karen's feet and then Karen to the foot of a table, Karen struggled and struggled but nothing gave away. And then he left saying, " Next one, I have to reward that cop".

Karen struggled and wriggled like a worm, tears coming out of his eyes, he began looking around the house, memories floated by, His first house, his parents house, where he had lived for years and years, how sweetly his father had brought him a doll and he had played with it while the others giggled and laughed ( The gas was spreading and everything became foggy), everyone had been bad to her in this world, angry ( Gas spread faster ), Guilty ( Faster ), Betrayed ( Faster ). Karen looked blankly at ceiling admiring the curves and the lines ( Faster everything was almost invisible).

His body demanded for oxygen but he inhaled more and more gas, 'Kill me!! I am no one to live on this planet, kill me, Who wants to live on the planets where humans are not treated as equals but the a differed by the growth below abdomen, just kill me!!' he thought, soon the gad clouded the room and Karen dropped his head down and sat motionless.

3

" I am really sorry sir" said Rachel, " The hell with your sorry Larson! you were supposed to interrogate the suspect not let him free" said a tall man, Bald with some hair sticking out of the sides and the back,

" How's the case developing?" he asked, Rachel who was trying to maintain her outmost respect for her Superior said,

" It's going good, sir"

" How good? Do we have other suspects?" he said,

" No sir, not currently" she said with a timid look,

" Well then what development have you formed!, You had one suspect and that too walked out of the F.B.I, Do you know Media is out there with all sorts of questions!" he thundered, Rachel looked at him, they had quit the search in the afternoon, she sat motionless, staring at her boss, who was now frowning and worrying, Rachel knew that she was on the edge of the cliff or she had a sword dangling over her head prepared to drop any second.

" What about the informant?" he asked,

" We went in the house before she reported to Agent Andrew" she replied as if she were a small child obeying her teacher,

" Amanda Cooper, am I correct?" he asked

" Yes sir, She is saying that she heard Ryan on a phone call, calling out for help, we assumed that it was sent to mislead the police, she also stated that Ryan was a harmless person in the university, no known aggressive behaviour" she replied with a nod,

" I saw the interrogation tape, you probed him" he said,

" A little sir, we do that to get the true intention of the suspect or they try to hide it" she explained,

" I know that very well Agent Larson, The point is You were getting angry over him, you may have probed him very much" he said, Rachel knew now, the sword which hung over her head was becoming loose. second-by-second.

" Maybe sir, but I didn't pressurise him sir, I knew where to put hold on" she said in her defence

( Loosening)

" Then why did the suspect get angry so much as to attack you?" asked the director

" I am afraid, I don't know that, sir" she replied,

( Loosening)

" Rachel" said the director looking into her eyes, Rachel took a gasp of breath, she knew what came next ,' You are pulled out of the case' but,

"... I trust you and you are by far the best Agent in the Bureau..." he said with grave voice almost commanding, " Take your team down to Austin, Texas and handle this case, I have made the arrangements, you are to be transferred with your team permanently, I believe you will close this case, won't you?" he said, the shiny desk and a small card holder saying, 'William Nicholson' was now suddenly a respectable position and a very highly spoken of person to Rachel.

She smiled at him, " Yes sir" she said and went out of the door, outside the door three members of her unit were standing impatiently, Andrew Klint, Victor Bachman and Grace Kirby, they looked at her and she smiled,

" We got saved this time, look I know we screwed this one a little but Nick has allowed us another chance, we have to go to Austin today itself" she said and all of the others were happy but they moaned,

" I know Austin Department has stricter rules but I have no option for making amends, Go and pack up we meet at the Sacramento Airport at 12 okay and don't pack too much" she said.

Inside she was very satisfied, ' This time you won't escape Ryan Holster' she thought, she went to her car and drove back to Sacramento Headquarter which were almost like second home to her, she parked her car and went inside, she needed to take much of her files on the case with her, trust issues.

She got out of the elevator and opened the door to her office and suddenly some one called for her.

" Agent Larson!! Agent!" said a voice, Rachel looked around the small Strong but petite looking Charlotte Adler was running towards her,

" Evening Charlotte, I thought you left" said Rachel, Charlotte smiled and went inside Rachel's office

" I have been waiting for you" she said, Rachel looked at her sadly,

" I am so sorry Charlotte all of this case got botched up and..." she began, Charlotte said

" I know it's okay, I have something on the Holster case", Rachel looked surprised, " What?" she said

" Well I checked Ryan's pulse after he fell asleep as you told me to do those drug tests and you know generally people who have drugs have an elevated pulse or very low pulse but he was normal, look I have the record" she said and showed her those records, Rachel looked at them, things began turned in her head.

" And I also saw the footage of interrogation and..." she began showing her computer screen to Rachel who looked at it interestingly, " Normally in Psychological Behaviour, the person is over confident or Silent and doesn't show hand or eye motion, but.." she played the video, Rachel could see Ryan fidgeting with his hands, his head was moving like it something was not right inside and his face had a frown and angry look, not at all a Psychopathic behaviour,

" Yeah, that's odd" she said half-not believing the fact, Charlotte was looking outside the window she was troubled by some fact, " Charlotte..." said Rachel rather loudly, and instantly Charlotte rebuked and turned her head towards Rachel, " Y- Yes"

" I said, that's odd" said Rachel,

" I know and along with the test which I think was foolproof, concludes that Ryan isn't at all a psychopath" said Charlotte with an emphasis on Psychopath.

" We can't assume that--" started Rachel but was interrupted by Charlotte

" I am not telling you to assume it, I am telling you to consider it, we are wrongly accusing a man and brandishing his name with being a Psychopath" she said, This began to worry Rachel in two ways, First maybe charlotte is right, second, Why is Charlotte so concerned and worried about Him?, she decided to ask the first,

" Maybe you are right, But I can't let it go, I mean why did he commit all those crime, it's not crime of passion nor was it revenge nor was there any motive to it" she said, Charlotte seemed to be prepared with the answer,

" There can also be a possibility of him being wrongly accused of crime" said charlotte,

" But we found his blood on the floor and his car on the street it conclusive proof" said Rachel. Charlotte felt silent she looked at Rachel with no glare but sadness and sorrow, she stood there for a minute, Rachel began picking up the files and suddenly Charlotte spoke,

" All I know is that Ryan Holster is a good man and he will not cause any harm to anybody", Rachel turned towards her but Charlotte was already moving out of the office, although Rachel could see her face but she was sure Charlotte was crying, Rachel frowned her brows, she began worrying over and thought,' I should have asked the second question first'. She moved out of her office in hurry, she took the elevator downwards and left off towards the parking lot, still worrying about the facts which were fresh on her mind, she looked over, heavy clouds, pregnant with water were forming, dark clouds, dark thoughts. Wind rustled her hair and she shuffled inside the car, she started the engine putting aside the files, the questions were now pestering her, she almost put gas into the car, a thought occurred to her, she removed her phone and called Charlotte. Two minutes, no ring, another call, no ring, then finally she texted her, ' Look I might need a Psychologist for Interrogation, I am going to Austin HQ, I might need your help, come down and give me a call before.' and after sending the message, she began driving off to her home, solving the most interesting case in months.

4

Amy was driving all over the place, no where felt safe at all, her feelings were mixed, she was angry because nobody listened to her, sad because she felt unable to help Ryan and angry, yes, this new emotions grew into her only 2 hours ago, as she arrived at her house to find police everywhere and a crime scene banner decorated on her door, she moved inside and everything was being stripped to ropes, she was shocked and demanded the answer of, " Who gave you all the permission of entering her home", but the same agent which almost collided with her at the F.B.I spoke,

" Ma'am this is a investigation, please stay out", Amy got even more frustrated,

' Out! You bag of muscles this is my home, you got out!' she thought but said nothing, Soon Special agent Rachel Larson had arrived, she seemed to have understood her feelings and took her down. Amy began asking all sorts of questions,

" Ma'am.." began Rachel,

" My name is Amanda" said Amy hotly.

" Amanda, I understand your concerns but we have been informed that Ryan Holster was inside that house, so you see we cannot wait for your permission and nor for a warrant" she explained, Amy nodded her head still not convinced also one question now began to pester her.

She now stopped outside a hotel and began moving towards the phone booth, ' He'll pick up the unknown number' She thought and began dialing Ryan. With only on question to ask him, which she also asked Rachel while they stood at the exact position of Beth's Mazda RX8.

" What was he doing in my house?, He didn't even know the address" she said to Rachel.

5

' He didn't know her address!! ' thought Rachel as she crossed the California Automobile Museum, she stopped at a petrol station, she had packed her suitcase, Victor was already at the airport, she had to take the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and then take the West high way, 2 hour drive.

But now she had stopped at the petrol station in west Sacramento thinking, ' He didn't know her address, how did he get there?', ' Coincidence?' said her inner conscious but she dismissed the thought, ' He had help' she thought ' Who's help?' she thought, ' If everyone was at the club... the leaves one person... did anybody see Inspector?...' And then she realised, he pupils dilated, she quickly moved away, pulling her phone in a rush,

" Grace, yes it's me I am coming in 2 hours, you already reached?, okay, just I want you to do some digging on the inspector named..." she said, but ' what was the name of her?', she squeezed her hand around, " Yes, inspector Elisabeth Newman, yes, do that and I'll come okay".

She hanged up and for a moment she felt silent, ' Did she help? She got there from a distress call? but if nobody saw Ryan who would have called her' she thought, then again her head ringed with Charlottes words, ' Ryan Holster is a good man and won't hurt anyone',

' So was this Newman framing Holster?' she thought and yet again Amanda the informant had told Andrew that he was a harmless fellow, but the image of that horrible and nasty smile had fixed inside Rachel's mind,

' No, whatever it is, Holster is responsible for something' she thought and paid the man and began driving towards the airport, Cautiously.

6

" I need to go to Washington D.C" thought Ryan as he walked across the route 1, from the signposts he could gather information that he was near The Getty Villa and if he walked straight forward he would reach Santa Monica, his eyes were bright and shiny, he looked around everywhere and was easily able to recognise any men or women's profession while they drove their cars past him, this was a new gift for him, maybe a reward from the darkness.

He walked for almost 3 hours continuously without even feeling thirsty or without tiring himself, he was too happy to stop and something ( Probably the Darkness) had made him think that the police is onto him and so when he reached the outskirts of Santa Monica, he got himself a cap and some clothes, he roamed the city keeping his head down and finally stopped at a park, he stopped because something was irritating his mind, ' How To Go To Washington?'. He rather not ask anybody or he shall have to run. And probably that person has to die.

He was sitting at bench, his head was itching and sweating, it was hot down in Santa Monica, he looked around, a couple of Kids and their parents, mostly mothers were present, he moved farther away and removed his cap and let the cool breeze go in his long hairs, suddenly a ball hit him on the chest, it was softball, no anger, a small girl of about 8 years old had come to receive it back, small blond haired girl, hair tied in pigtails.

" Can I have it back?" she asked, Ryan looked at her, she had no notion of who he was now,'

" At one question, Where is the nearest airport?" he asked with a smile, he glared at the girl constantly without blinking, the girl moved towards her and said,

" My father goes to one airport, he takes airplanes once a month to Hong Kong" she said,

' Luck Bugger' thought Ryan, " And which airport does your daddy go?" he asked moving his face close to her,

"That one, it's there, my Mommy cries every time he goes" she said pointing towards a large road,

' Kill her' said the voice, it was almost Ryan's own voice now inside his head,

' I say kill her, strangle her with your hands and leave, if she tells about you, you are done' he thought, Ryan closed his eyes and took a deep breath, ' Calm down she won't tell'

' How do you know?, Move your hand and kill her, obey the darkness' said the voice, and his hand began moving to her, he placed his hand on her shoulder and suddenly, RIIIINNNGGGG.

His phone rang, he removed his hand and gave her the ball and she went away smiling happily, He picked his phone, Number:- Unknown.

He decided to pick it up, " Hello" he said,

" Hello Ryan, it's Amy" said a voice, he got confused, but it was definitely her voice so he responded,

" Yes Amy" he said, " Where are you?" she asked, he looked around, ' Is she with police, will track me down?' he thought, " Why?" he asked, There was a moments silence and then,

" Ryan you are in danger, F.B.I are behind you, they have informed all over the state and issued and arrest warrant..." she said, Ryan knew this already, " I know" he said

" Tell me is it true? Did you do those murders?" she asked, 'lie to her' said the voice, Ryan obeyed

" No." he said, " I knew it, I heard you on the phone, you sounded so terrible but no one believes me..." she said, her voice was like a new hope to Ryan, ' at least some thinks I am innocent' he thought,

' Take her help, she can get you too Washington' said the voice, " Amy I need your help, I need your help to prove my innocence" he said, " Ofcourse Ryan you need me, Where are you?" she asked, Ryan gave smile,

" Santa Monica." he said, " Okay and also what were you doing in my house?" she asked, this Ryan couldn't remember, nothing at all, " I was never at your house" he said,

" Knew it, those cops made up some crap reason to break in and enter my house, I'll help you Ryan, I am coming down there, you just wait for me" she said with some angry tone.

" I will" said Ryan, smiling with joy and happiness, ' There's murder on the way my friend' he thought and fell on the ground laughing crazily, tears and snot coming out of his mouth and nose, respectively.

The table have turned, What Will happen next?, Want to know more?, Vote on the story and comment on your favourite part, More Chapters and thrilling story on the way, Follow me for regular updates of the Story, Take care and Bye!.