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Evan was fine. This was… okay, yeah, no this was not fine.
HABIT was taking more and more control by the day. He had woken up in the middle of the forest, covered in blood at least 4 times this month, and he had no clue what happened the whole of last week.
Today Evan had woken up in his bed for a change. However, any excitement about HABIT possibly not taking his body out to kill someone, was snuffed out when he saw what day it was. Saturday, meaning he hadn’t been in control of his body for 5 days. Which was just great. He didn’t have any injuries or blood on him for a change, though. Maybe, HABIT hadn’t done anything too heinous?
Evan didn’t really have a way to find out.
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.
.
If Dexter was a regular person with feelings, he would probably be freaking out right now.
He had gotten to work, when he had gotten box delivered to him. Which was already weird, but that was nothing compared to what was inside the box.
Inside it were 5 pictures of him and his apartment. There was a photo of him sleeping, of him walking down the street, there was even just of his apartment.
If he had been at home while opening this - and there wasn’t anyone who saw these photos - he would have hidden them. Because no matter how much he pretended to be a normal person to everyone around him - he wasn’t.
Dexter was actually intrigued and a little excited in a way by this new stalker, but it seemed the stalker wanted people to know about them.
More than just Dexter, they had sent the pictures to his work after all, and they clearly knew where he lived.
The people around him were having a more appropriate reaction though - they were freaking out.
Deb was probably freaking out the worst; she had been right behind him when he opened the box. When she saw what they were, she had snatched some of them from his hands and was flicking through them, while cursing in disbelief.
“Well, it looks like you have a stalker. That’s probably a wet dream for you. Send that box over to check for fingerprints.” Was all Doaks said to him, while looking at him suspiciously.
Which was probably earned, because Dexter was most definitely not showing the right emotion right now.
He was too outwardly calm, but it was hard to show any concern when he was so giddy inside.
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The 5 photos and the box had no fingerprints other than his own. But they are interesting to examine none the less.
Even if Dexter wished he were alone for this, instead of having Doaks breathing down his back.
Photo 1:
It was a simple photo, really. It was just the front of his apartment building, however that wasn’t what Dexter was focusing on.
On the back of said photo was writing, there seemed to be something on the back of all the photos.
This one said, “MANKINDS BAD HABIT” in purple writing, which all the writing seemed to be in.
Simple, but there was a meaning. However, right now all he could do was speculate.
Did this mysterious stalker know about Dexters little hobby? Or was the stalker referring to themselves as having the same hobby? No way to know yet.
Photo 2:
The next photo was of Dexter walking out of his apartment, while on the phone.
He remembered that day. He had been on the phone with Rita, when this photo had been taken, he was on the way over to her house.
This five days ago, which raised the question of when he had started getting watched.
On the back of the photo was: “;)”
At least the stalker looked to be having fun.
Photo 3:
This one was featuring Dexter again.
It was of him sleeping, with a hand in view making a finger gun pointed at him.
This gave them some information to go on, maybe you would think the stalker was being stupid with this photo. However, all of this felt very intentional.
The hand in the photo was white and looked to be male, they had painted nails - purple.
Was this a threat or was the stalker just showing how easily it would have been to kill him.
On the back was a sticker of a gun.
Photo 4:
The photo this time was of Dexter walking down the street, this was only just yesterday.
He had been on his way to a crime scene.
On the back was written: “Run Rabbits Run”
Was the Rabbits in question the police or was there another reason rabbits were plural on a photo of just him.
Photo 5:
The last one was of inside Dexters apartment. To be more specific, the vent grate where he hid the blood of all his "victims" (could killers really be considered victims?).
Thankfully, it was too dark inside to see anything. Weirdly, there wasn’t anything written on it.
He was about to put them down when on the front of the picture, something caught his eye.
Because of the black background it was hard to see, but there it was.
A drop of blood.
.
.
.
They had checked the blood in their system but came up empty.
Interesting.
Either the suspect doesn’t have a record or that blood wasn’t his.
Dexter wondered if the blood was intentional. The vent where he hid blood, was where he had found the blood on the photo.
If it was, then he most likely knew about his little hobby.
Dexter had just gotten home from work, wondering if he was being watched right this second.
If he was any normal person, he wouldn’t want to come home at all. He might even be looking over his shoulder paranoid all the time, after seeing those photos.
But Dexter almost wanted to be watched, the watcher seemed interesting. And they hadn’t shown they were a heinous criminal, just a stalker.
If Dexter was the only one, he was stalking, it would barely count as a crime anyway.
Walking in his apartment, he saw nothing out of place. Everything looked as it usually did.
That was until he opened the vent.
All the blood looked untouched, but on top of it was a piece of paper with words written in dried blood.
It said: “COME AND FIND ME - HABIT” This was getting increasingly more fun.
The stalker - Habit apparently - wanted to be found. But by Dexter specifically, however it seemed but they weren’t afraid to do something publicly to get attention.
Did Habit find out he was a killer, because he was interested in him? Or was he interested in him, because he was a killer?
Maybe, he should test the blood on the paper with the one on the photo.
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.
It had only been a day, and HABIT was already back to bothering him.
Come on, move to Miami. It’ll be fun.
“Your idea of fun is killing innocent people.” Evan grumbled. “And I don’t want to move to Miami.”
When have I ever cared about what you want? I’ll just have you wake up there one day without your stuff, if you won’t go there yourself.
HABITs loud static laughter filled Evans head, making him cover his ears with his hands.
Which of course did nothing.
“Fine! Fine! I’ll move to fucking Miami!” Evan yelled angrily. Could he afford this? Probably not. He didn’t have a job anymore, and there’s no way he could keep a job with all his problems.
Why Miami of all places? More victims? A specific victim?
Who knows. Right now, he didn’t especially care.
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.
.
He had rented an apartment, HABITs idea.
Actually, not only its idea, but it also wanted this specific apartment. Which was concerning, but what could Evan do about that.
Nothing.
His life was being fully controlled, all the time. Maybe he should go for a run, clear his head.
Walking out of his apartment, he bumped into a guy. His neighbour it seemed.
“Sorry.” Evan mumbled, stopping up.
“No problem.” The guy said, smiling.
Evan eyed him warily, the smile seemed forced. Not in a way that indicated he was angry, just in a practiced way. Like it was automatic.
He was probably just reading too much into it. He didn’t even know the guy’s name, and he was already making assumptions.
Evan walked away after attempting a half-hearted smile, which probably looked more like a grimace.
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.
After getting bumped into by some random guy, he went to work.
As Dexter looked at the blood from an unfortunate victim - nothing too interesting, looks like something done in anger that the perpetrator immediately regretted - he was barely thinking about them.
He was thinking of his stalker - Habit - he was just so… entertaining.
He was a mystery that needed to be solved.
Dexter wasn’t sure if said stalker deserved to be one of his victims.
But Dexter really wanted to meet this Habit, see how they work, why they chose him, and why they were doing this at all.
There hadn’t been any new pictures or notes or anything since yesterday.
The two blood samples had been a match, but that didn’t help much if he didn’t know who they belonged to.
However, that did mean it was more likely that it came from Habit. Habit seems to be toying with Dexter; he sees this as a game of sorts. He seems to be like Dexter- that’s it.
Maybe, Habit had been in a mental hospital, like Brian.
Habit was of course not his real name, but Dexter could send in the blood sample he had gotten from Habit. Then he would know who he is, and he would figure it out before anyone else.
Hopefully it would be a match to a former patient, and he hoped he got word back soon.
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There was a match. Dexter was e-mailed back, that there was a match to one of their former patients. He was smiling brightly as he opened the file and was just happy, he was finally home for this.
FAIRMOUNT CHILDREN’S HOME
OHIO, USA
Date of Exam: 12/20/2005
Time of Exam: 12:03:44
Patient Name: Myers, Evan
Patients Number: 6660010659260
Presenting Problem: Unknown
The following information was received from:
Evan
Orphanage Workers & Inhabitants
The symptoms described and reported could indicate multiple different disorders, however it is difficult to know which at this time. Evans behaviour is described as bizarre. Inappropriate laughter is reported. His mood seems to switch randomly, with no outsides sources to cause them. Multiple instances of self-harming in public have been reported. It is described sometimes Evan insists on being called HABIT and being an “It” while other times Evan describes HABIT as a demon in his head telling him to do bad things. Dead rabbits set up in a ritualistic fashion have been found in the backyard of the orphanage - Evan has confessed to being the cause.
Immediate Risk Factors:
Reliability of Information: The Orphanage Workers & Inhabitants presents as reliable.
Suicidality: Evan admits wanting to die occasionally.
Self-Injurious Behaviour: Evan describes that his harming of himself was because of HABIT telling him to.
Problems in Relationships: Evans mental state has been reported to affect his ability to form relationships.
Symptom Review:
Behaviour Changes:
Bizarre or inappropriate behaviours are described.
Evan describes often mood swings.
Impulsive or unpredictable behaviour is reported.
Evan reports memory problems.
Often personality shifts have been reported.
Orphanage Workers report escalating killing of small animals.
Evan has described feeling tired often.
Sleep Changes:
Evan complains of tiredness, no matter when or how long he has slept.
All that was interesting sure, but what caught Dexters attention most was the picture of the patient. That was the guy that bumped into him earlier - a younger version of him sure - he was sure it was him.
The guy - Evan? HABIT? - had been coming out of the apartment next to his, meaning they were neighbours.
Today was the first time Dexter has seen him before, meaning he probably moved there not long ago.
Had Evan moved there because of Dexter? Or had he stalked Dexter because he would be living so close to him?
He was so very curious of his new neighbour.
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Evan practically jumped out of bed, looking around warily when he heard the loud noise.
Only to realise it was knocking on his door. It was probably fine, hopefully. He had sweats on, but he quickly put on a black T-shirt with a skull on it, before answering the door. Probably the last person he expected to be at his door, was the guy he bumped into earlier. This is who we’re here for. Be nice. HABIT chuckled in his head,
like he had said the funniest thing in the world. This wasn’t going to end well. “
Hi, you must be my new neighbour. My name is Dexter Morgan.” The guy - Dexter - said, holding out his hand.
“I’m Evan.” He said, shaking Dexters hand, suddenly feeling very concious of the scars on his arms. Dexter was also acting weird.
Not at first glance. He looked outwardly normal. This time, his smile was real, but he looked a little too happy for just an introduction.
Evan just wanted to be left alone, but now he was curious. He sighed internally, looked around warily, and saw no one of course. It was almost the middle of the night.
“Want to come in?” He said, maybe sounding a bit too anxious.
“Sure!” Dexter said, he sounded like he was trying to tune down his excitement. He was failing miserably.
Evan stepped aside.
Lock the door.
What? Evan walked away from the door, that remained unlocked.
“Nice place.” Said Dexter, sitting down on the couch.
“Thanks.” Evan mumbled, staring suspiciously at him.
“Can I ask you something?” Dexter asked, looking him in the eyes, like he knew everything about him.
It sent a chill down his spine.
“Sure.” He said, anyway.
Dexter grinned like Christmas had just come early, as he said that.
“Why are you stalking me? Or sorry. Why is HABIT stalking me?” As he said this, he threw some polaroid photos down on the coffee table, that Evan hadn't even noticed he had.
This made Evans eyes widen. He opened his mouth to respond, when he was suddenly struck with a headache, making him take his hands to his head.
Then he was gone.
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When Evan put his hands to his head, face contorted in pain, Dexter wasn’t sure what to do.
But then his posture changed and a loud laugh came from him.
He took his hands away from his face and put them on his hips.
“Well, that didn’t take long!” Evan - no, wait, this must be HABIT - said in a deep gruff voice, so unlike Evans.
Dexter remembered HABIT liked being called an “It” and seemed to be an alternate personality, but what would Dexter know about that. He wasn’t a psychiatrist.
It was smiling brightly at him, a little too wide, looking at him with glee.
“Well, you did leave some of your blood for me. Twice.” Dexter said, slightly amused at the situation.
“Yeah, you know, had to make it interesting somehow.” HABIT chuckled, hands moving wildly as he talked.
“So, why did you choose to stalk me?” Dexter asked, standing up.
“Oh, well, you’re the Bay Harbour Butcher! You’re a very intriguing person.” HABIT said, laughing a little. It seemed to do that a lot.
It then stepped closer to him, so close that Dexter could feel its breath on him. So, it did know about his killing, that wasn’t exactly ideal, but HABIT didn’t seem the type to tell anyone. Right now, at least.
“I never liked that name.” Dexter replied, voice a bit unenthusiastic, making HABIT chuckle.
“You know you really are interesting.” HABIT said, smiling widely and looking at him like he was prey. “Wish I could stay and chat, but old Stick-In-The-Mud is being a real bitch, you know?” It sighed, stepping away.
“Stick in the mud?” Dexter asked, confused and amused.
“Oh yeah, tall, slender, white as paper, a suit, faceless, a real asshole.” HABITs annoyance at “Stick in the mud” was evident. “Welp, it was nice meeting you. We will meet again.” It said, before leaving Dexters apartment.
What a weird situation. He smiled; this was a very interesting turn of events.