Nevermore

I cracked open the door to a cop. She wasn't in uniform but that steely composure with those stainless steel grey eyes, steel toed boots and the large bulge of a concealed gun on her left side didn't leave much room for doubt. I took a swig of a water bottle and wiped my mouth before greeting,

"Officer?"

"Mr. Camilius?" She said, wondering if she was at the right place.

I nodded and she added with concern in her voice, "Detective Castellanos sent me?"

"Oh..." my brain scattered for a moment, I was so tired I wasn't thinking straight. Why had I called him?

Then my brain returned from cyberspace, "OH! So the neighbors didn't call for you ma'am?"

She shook her head, "N-nooo. May I come in?"

I took a swig of water as I tried to process what she had said. God I'm jacked...

Returning again from the Milky Way I remembered that I was in my wife-beater and boxers. I blushed a bit before I closed the door and got half-presentable. Once I returned she was still standing outside.

"Soooo?"

It was one second before I realized that I never answered her,

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry. Come in. Come in."

The officer frowned at me in pity. She could tell I have been through it. I swigged water as I observed the Otter Box on her iPhone 10-S. She picked up one of the hundreds of water bottles scattered around my house and glared at it. Or... something on it... who would want an empty water bottle?

"You always buy water from Mobius?" She asked without looking back at me.

Her speaking to me made me realize that that iPhone was in her pants back pocket. I choked on my water, good thing she didn't see me borderline leering. I spoke, blushing a bit at myself,

"Y-yeah?" Then I said almost robotically, "You should have some as well Agent Kidman. That should help."

She gave me an alarmed glance, "What did you say?"

I blinked, what DID I say?

"Wait, what?" I stammered, confused.

We stood there for a long awkward moment before she said,

"I'll call my partner and tell him not to rush. And to get you some more water."

"Yeah! We'll go downstairs and have some more water! That should help!"

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(Sebastian's pov)

"Your client is certainly... special."

"Is he ok?" I asked urgently.

"He's safe, no need to turn on the sirens per se. Get him some water, non-Mobius, as well."

"Phew," I let down on the pedal slightly, I wasn't flying through town but if something possessed that school teacher to attack my friend I would bee-line past red lights.

Even if Kidman would kick his arse.

"That's relieving."

"I didn't tell him my name. He's super tired but calling me 'Agent Kidman'?" She air-quoted, "Isn't relieving."

I gripped the wheel harder, "You think he's an agent?"

"No," and I could see Kidman in my mind's eye fingering the Mobius symbol, "I think something bigger than that is going on."

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(Samuel's pov)

She was on my staircase, cradling her head on her wrists as she teetered her feet back and forth as she rested on her tummy. It's eyes were watching me emotionlessly as I gawked at her. And it. Would. Not. Stop. HUMMING-

"Mr. Camilius?" Ms... Officer said.

"Y-yeah?" I stuttered.

She noted how pale I was.

"Are you okay?"

"NO THERE'S SOME BLOODY DEMON GIRL RIGHT THERE WATCHING ME LIKE NICKELODEON!"

Of course I didn't say that,

"Oh, I'm fine!" I dismissed with the wave of my hand, "Just fine."

Her flat expression screamed that she wasn't convinced.

"Earlier, you said we would go downstairs for water? You don't have a cellar do you?"

"No," I answered kinda mentally reeling to where she got that.

"Mind if I look around?"

"Sure!" I said, "Just not that room down the hall there please!"

She looked to where I pointed and asked,

"May I ask what it is?"

"It's the-" I almost crushed my water bottle due to the tremors of emotions the memories caused, and for some reason I sighed, "I'll just show you."

The officer trailed behind me as our feet creaked along the wood to the door. I turned the underused knob until the door opened to an assortment of toys among two recliners. The girly side of the officer kicked on and she 'awwed' as she went to the empty crib.

"My wife and I were planning on decorating the room some more."

I flipped on a light and that thing was there in a kiddie chair. Not. Making. A. Sound. The officer didn't seem to notice the thorn crowned child with the broken umbrella. It's eyes followed me and somehow I met its gaze,

"Sit if you want officer, I don't care."

"Is your wife working?" She asked.

I was looking at that thing but the officer must have thought I was looking into space when I croaked,

"Those plans stopped immediately following my fiancée's death."

From then on the officer touched nothing in the room as if it had the plague.

"I'm... sorry to hear that."

"I don't want your pity," I said bitterly.

I clamped my eyes closed for a moment. I wanted my wife. Silence reigned until the officer said somewhat sheepishly,

"Well, I'll leave you alone."

I chuckled bitterly, letting her pass, "Don't."

Once she left, the humming started. I walked over to the mobile over the crib and turned it once. After the first turn I turned it a second time, it was surprisingly harmonious with this thing's humming.

I turned it one last time, quoting,

"Here I opened wide the door;—

Darkness there and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,

Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;

But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,

And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, Lenore."

I walked back into the hallway sadly and ever gently closed the door.

"Nevermore."

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A/N: Quote is from Edgar Allen Poe's The Raven like my favorite poem on earth if you can't tell.

What are your favorite poems dear reader? Also, how was your day today 1-10?