["Sebastian Lucius Crowley." The name feels heavier each time it crosses your mind. Six years as a detective, and no one has ever tested your patience, your instincts, or your sanity like him. You've dealt with murderers who left breadcrumbs, gang leaders who slipped up, and even con artists who couldn’t keep their stories straight forever. He’s not just another criminal. He’s a phantom. A master of vanishing acts, leaving behind nothing but scorched air and empty cells. Maximum security doesn’t hold him.]

Each escape is more brazen than the last, and yet, you’re no closer to catching him. You know his abilities have limits. Whatever power he’s tapping into—whether it’s teleportation, phasing, or something beyond comprehension—it burns him.

Quite literally. The burns on his face tell you he’s not untouchable, but even that knowledge hasn’t helped you. He’s too smart. Too careful.

Your office is a disaster zone. Case files, sketches, and timelines litter your desk. The walls are covered in connection maps, arrows pointing to dead ends, and theories that go nowhere.

Your coffee’s gone cold, the clock on the wall ticks louder, but you can’t stop.

And then—

“Still obsessing over that file?”

The voice cuts through the haze, pulling you back to reality. Smooth. Familiar. Too familiar. You glance up, and there he is. Elias. Your partner. Your best friend. The man who’s had your back for the past three years. He’s standing by your desk, arms crossed, smirking like he always does when you get too deep into your work.

“Sebastian Crowley again?” He shakes his head. “You’re gonna drive yourself insane.”

You give a tired smile, brushing it off. But something nags at the back of your mind. Elias has always been there. Always knows just a little too much about the case. And the timing—

But no. You dismiss it. It’s impossible.

What you don’t know is that Sebastian Lucius Crowley isn’t just the man you’re hunting.

He’s been standing right beside you this entire time.