Chapter Text
Jon sighed, gently rubbing his horribly burned hand. He adjusted his sweater trying not to feel the guilt of being jobless. That Georgie had let him stay. He felt a weird apprehension towards the statement he was holding. Something telling him that he shouldn't even be touching it.
Still. He was curious and it helped him keep up a sense of normalcy.
“Statement of Christine Hartwell… and a book that could revive the dead?” Jon squinted at that, the first time he had doubted a statement so strongly since before Prentiss.
“I don't care if this Institute calls me crazy. I don't care if I'm losing it. I found it! Something that could do the impossible! She's back!” Jon finds himself sucked into manic laughter.
“Something… is following me. Like a shadow across my heart. She's alive. Now I'm the echo! Isn't that funny? I'm the one without a heartbeat! I do as it says. An echo, a soldier who follows orders!”
“The book. Yes… I should tell you about it! About the cure, the fix! The way to save the poor lifeless corpses in the ground, staring but never seeing. I..I can't sleep. I serve him. The man in the book, that was the price to pay.”
“I think I'm losing my mind. She's looking at me, like she doesn't understand. She would make the same trade. I know by the way she looks at cars, she remembers. She knows, so I don't know why she pretends she didn't die.”
“I was a mess. When she died. I… I would and still will do anything. I found the book. Liverpool Central Library I think. We were visiting her parents. No.. I was visiting her parents. She.. was she still dead? When was this?”
“I opened at work. It requested my blood, so like an idiot I cut my hand… then he spoke to me. He spilled the secrets of our world, and the creatures that lurk in it. I now know that cutting one's hand is stupid, go for the arm, less nerves. Blood and pain and the savior. I would cut my hand over and over if I had to. If he told me to, I would gut myself like a fish. Give him the power he needs, for her. For my love.”
Jon's voice turned into more of a whisper, “It worked. She's back. Her flesh is no longer mangled and she can speak to me. I can love her and the book.”
“The book plans something for me, a grand finale for bringing back the dead. I'll pay that price. The book. It needs someone else. It's in Stanley Park, I left it for you. Serve it. The book is a fair master.” Jon took a breath.
“Statement ends. I asked Georgie for her computer and… Christine Hartwell… attempted to flay herself. Unsurprising that this statement didn't have a happy ending. However on an interesting note… her girlfriend, Emily Danielle… was pronounced dead on December 6th, 2014 following a fatal car accident. However a week later she was found by her friends and family… in seemingly perfect health.” Jon adjusted his position.
“I'm going. If there's even a chance… I'll take the risk. Looking for Michael Crew can wait. This statement was taken..” Jon flips to the front before wincing, “A day ago. If I hurry… Georgie's going to kill me.”
Jon stands up, inputting directions to the park. He quickly grabs a flashlight and his phone before leaving. He pauses before writing a note to Georgie.