[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/QXbc87m.png[/img][/center] Eric Garland was a man that deeply disturbed Phoenix simply for the mere fact that he faced everything with an unwavering sense of indifference. Dexhi and Daraeya were both trying to coach Phoenix on what to say to him, on how to question him about this mysterious Tul person. Their voices mingled with one another, and though he was thankful for their efforts to help him with this, something in him just knew that he was going to have to face this by himself, without the help of the two Gods. “Okay, so what do you wanna know?” Eric spoke between a cigarette, a new one that he had decided to light up. The office where they both sat in to discuss the murder of Darius Winters was small, not at all as impressive as what one would see on television and movies. Phoenix sat in a plain foldable office chair, not an impressive arm chair with ornate carvings. The desk was nothing but a mere table, no drawers to hold any important papers and files. “[i]Perhaps he is on hard times. This place is a dump compared to the rest of the house.”[/i] Daraeya said. [color=maroon]“Do you know a man named Darius Winters?”[/color] Phoenix asked, ignoring Daraeya. Eric cocked his head to the side, and then shook his head. “Nope, never heard of him. Why? Did Charlton fuck him too?” He asked, bitterly. Phoenix didn’t quite understand the word “fuck”, but he felt it probably wasn’t good. [color=maroon]“I don’t know, but Darius Winters is dead, and we have to find...the…”[/color] He forgot the word for a second. “The murderer. Or simply put, the Killer, Fexi.” Dexhi reminded him helpfully. [color=maroon]“We’re looking for his killer.[/color] [color=maroon]We think you knew them.”[/color] He said. Eric took a long drag on his cigarette, before letting out long trails of smoke. “I might know someone.” Eric said. Phoenix had to refrain from coughing at the powerful stench. [color=maroon]“Well can you-”[/color] “What are you even doing with him?” He suddenly asked, staring hard at Phoenix. Phoenix blinked, confused as to how the questioning had been turned over on him. [color=maroon]“I don’t unders-”[/color] “How old are you, huh? Has Charlton stooped so low he’s going after high schoolers now?” Eric chuckled bitterly. [i]“He thinks you are involved with Charlton romantically somehow, the idiot. His jealousy is getting in the way of the investigation!”[/i] Daraeya spat. [i]“We don’t have time to be dealing with a lover’s quarrel, we have to find Tul!” [/i] [color=maroon]“Stop wasting time.[/color] [color=maroon]I know you’re upset, but you said you would answer my questions.”[/color] Phoenix spoke, forcefully. He could feel Daraeya’s emotions rubbing off on him. The room grew hot with Phoenix’s irritation growing by the second, but Eric didn’t seem to notice at all. He just glared at Phoenix more, stubbing his cigarette out on the table. [color=maroon]“Who is this person that you know?”[/color] Phoenix asked. “His name is...Adolow. Jerome Adolow. The last time I talked with him, he was going on about how a ‘Dr.Winters’ was going to save his little girl. I don’t know anything other than that.” [color=maroon]“Do you know what was wrong with this girl of his?”[/color] He asked. Eric shrugged. “Something to do with her arm. She’s missing one. But, that was years ago. The kids probably around your age now.” Eric said. A slither of suspicion found its way in Phoenix. Something about this story wasn’t right. [color=maroon]“It was years ago, and you can still remember this conversation?”[/color] he said. Eric scoffed. “Yeah, I can. I got a good memory. I never forget anything.” He laid back in his chair. “What’s up now, huh? You think I killed this Darius guy?” “His jealousy is surfacing again, I can feel it.” Dexhi warned. [color=maroon]“No, I don’t.[/color] [color=maroon]But I do think you know who did it.[/color] [color=maroon]And I have a feeling this office has something to do with it.”[/color] Phoenix spoke. Nothing in this office seemed like it belonged here. Everything was out of place, from what he could tell. There were papers scattered all along the floor, the table had deep scratches in them, and Phoenix just then noticed that the very chair he sat in had shackles on the legs. [color=maroon]“This is not an office.”[/color] Eric leaned forward, now anxious. Phoenix could feel his anxiety and worry in the room as easily as the air flowing from the vents. “What the hell are you talking about?” He demanded. Phoenix’s eyes darted around the room, and now that he was looking at everything closer he could tell that this was no office indeed. The paper on the floors didn’t look like paperwork for a business or bills, the scratches on the table came in fives, like someone had made them with their nails. [i]Is this some kind of twisted torture room? [/i] [color=maroon]“Who did you bring in here last?”[/color] Phoenix asked, and Eric balked. “I don’t know what you mean. This is my office, people come in here all the time.” Eric answered. [i]“He’s not entirely lying. People do come here often, but they aren’t the kind you would expect.”[/i] Daraeya said. [i]“They’re coming for something else, not business.”[/i] [i]Was Eric Garland torturing people in his free time?[/i] “This looks more like a torture chamber. Like a place to hurt people, Eric.” He said. Eric stared at him with wide eyes. “How...how [i]dare[/i] you?” Eric stood up, his hands braced against the table. “You come into my home, and accuse me of something so indecent?” Phoenix could hear Dexhi and Daraeya telling him to move away from the table, but before he could even act Eric had jumped him. Phoenix found himself on the floor, his head painfully hitting the floor. Eric was on top of him, yelling at him about how he had no right to come in here and accuse people of such things. “I’ll show you torture.” He spat, the man before him completely changed from before. Phoenix could feel him trying to unclasp his poncho, a clammy hand slipped underneath his shirt touching his skin, and a wave of anger entirely his own washed over him. He grabbed Eric’s hand and shoved him off, practically sending the man flying into the table. Eric hung onto it, trying not to fall over. The door to the office flung open, and Eris stood in the doorway, their walkman in hand blaring some song Phoenix didn’t recognize. [color=mediumspringgreen]“What the hell happened in here?”[/color] They demanded to know. Phoenix picked himself up from the floor, and straightened his clothing so it didn’t hang quite so loosely. [color=mediumspringgreen]“Are you okay?”[/color] They asked him. [color=maroon]“Yes, I am fine.[/color] [color=maroon]I just hit my head is all.”[/color] Phoenix said. Roland then stormed into the room, followed by a very timid looking Charlton. Roland glared at Eric who still seemed to be staring at Phoenix. “You’ve got some nerve trying to pull that shit while we were right outside.” He growled. He grabbed Eric by the arm, and dragged him outside. “Eric Garland, you are under arrest on charges of assault, and tampering with evidence at a crime scene.” Eric gawked at him. “What? I Didn’t-” “Jump someone in your own little torture room?” Roland spat. Eric was quiet then. Eris walked up to Phoenix. [color=mediumspringgreen]“Are you sure you’re okay?”[/color] They asked, again. Phoenix nodded. [color=maroon]“I am fine, thank you for worrying.[/color] [color=maroon]Ah...I don’t think I said that right.”[/color] He tried to think of what he was actually supposed to say, but the attack still had him feeling a bit confused. Eris ushered him out of the room, and Charlton followed close behind. Phoenix could feel guilt coming from him, his head was hung low and he wouldn’t meet anyone’s eyes. Phoenix turned to him. [color=maroon]“None of this is your fault, Charlton.”[/color] He said. “But...I knew Eric was a dangerous person, that he would hurt someone who made him angry like he just did right now. And I didn’t say a thing about it.” He said quietly. [color=maroon]“I know, but it’s fine. [/color]I[color=maroon] have faced worse things before this, trust me.[/color] [color=maroon]What I need to know now is...what is that room?[/color] [color=maroon]Roland says it’s a torture room.”[/color] Charlton shuffled his feet uncomfortable. “It’s...we can discuss what it is somewhere else. Just not here.” He said. [color=mediumspringgreen]“Charlton’s right, this place gives me the creeps.”[/color] Eris said, turning off their walkman. Charlton laughed, though it was small. “My only question is why did you choose Whitney Houston of all people to defend him? Wouldn’t something...I don’t know, more aggressive, work better?” Phoenix lagged behind while the two of them talked over musical battle tactics. [i]“Well at least now we know who to look for.”[/i] Daraeya said. [i]“We need to hunt for this Jerome Adolow man.” [/i] [i]“His daughter too, she may hold the key to solving this murder.”[/i] Dexhi added. Phoenix breathed in deeply, trying to regain some of his composure. The hunt for the killer was still on, but now they knew who they were looking for. ............................ [color=thistle]Boy can't wait to write for Bobi.[/color] [hider=Tonight's Atmosphere][url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOwH8BPvFnI[/url][/hider]