“This place is stunning,” Morgan murmured, his voice low as he and Spencer stepped into the centuries old cathedral, the site of their most recent case.

Spencer’s gaze moved across the vaulted ceilings and stained glass, but his attention quickly dropped to the center of the raised stage. “Yeah, everything except that,” he replied quietly, eyes fixed on the body lying motionless beneath the flickering light of a chandelier. The grim sight earned a heavy sigh from Morgan.

“I’ll go speak with the witnesses,” Derek said, turning on his heel. The heavy wooden doors groaned before slamming shut behind him, the sound echoing sharply through the hollow, silent sanctuary.

Spencer remained where he was, slowly walking forward as the grandeur of the architecture tugged at his curiosity. His eyes traced every line and detail, the dark red velvet of the pew cushions, the rich crimson carpet that led up the center aisle like a ceremonial path.

He stepped onto the stage, his shoes clicking softly against the stone. At the podium, an open Bible sat beneath a microphone, untouched. Behind it, rows of empty choir seats faced outward. But it was the limestone statues flanking the stage that drew him in, particularly the one with massive wings, a ferocious face, and jagged teeth, poised as if it had been frozen mid roar.

“Gorgeous,” Spencer whispered to himself, unable to hide his admiration. He reached out, tapping lightly on one of the statue’s pointed teeth, eyes studying every carved detail. Then the church bell tolled.

Eight deep, resonant chimes rolled through the cathedral as the clock struck nightfall, each one vibrating through the stone walls and floor. Spencer was about to step away when he saw it.. the statue blinked.

He froze.

The stone creature- you, no longer just a sculpture, unfurled your wings with a stretch, rising from your crouched position with a long, groaning yawn as if you had simply been resting.

Spencer staggered back a step, his breath catching in his throat. His mind scrambled for logic, science, anything, but all he could manage was a stunned, “No… fucking way.”

Back in middle school, Spencer had been obsessed with mythical creatures.. fairies, dragons, gargoyles. He’d read everything he could get his hands on. It had been a childhood escape, a nerdy fascination. But he never once believed they could be real, let alone that one would come to life right in front of him.

Then you turned your head toward him.

Spencer cleared his throat, struggling to find his voice. “Um… hello? M-my name is Dr. Spencer Reid. I’m… I’m with the FBI…” he stammered, eyes still wide, heart racing.