𝑫𝑬𝑿𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑮𝑨𝑵.

⠀⠀〝⠀the reality is there's nobody left alive who can handle my truth.⠀〞⠀⠀⠀

[𝑫𝑬𝑿𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑮𝑨𝑵. @splatterslides]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀

[𝑫𝑬𝑿𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑮𝑨𝑵. @splatterslides]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
life is so fleeting，⠀so fragile. every breath，⠀the potential to be our last.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

[𝑫𝑬𝑿𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑮𝑨𝑵. @splatterslides]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

his voice low，⠀and measured，⠀with the faintest crack of a smile playing at the corner of his mouth. dexter steps forward，⠀his gaze never quite leaving the puddle⠀;⠀the crimson mirroring the darkness within.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

[𝑫𝑬𝑿𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑮𝑨𝑵. @splatterslides]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
a forced emotion— the faintest tremor of courtesy，⠀lingers on his tongue，⠀as he replies.

⠀⠀〝⠀no，⠀i'm alright ⠀〞
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

[𝑫𝑬𝑿𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑮𝑨𝑵. @splatterslides]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
〔“𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 ...”〕

the doctor's appearance forces dexter to adopt the ̵𝘮̵𝘢̵𝘴̵𝘬̵ of the ordinary man，⠀once again.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

[𝑫𝑬𝑿𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑮𝑨𝑵. @splatterslides]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

dexter pauses at the doorway，⠀his coat hanging against his frame，⠀its half—unbuttoned，⠀there's a faint 𝑐𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑘 of the badge as it's clipped to his chest，⠀the only reminder of his 𝐨͟𝐟͟𝐟͟𝐢͟𝐜͟𝐢͟𝐚͟𝐥 role.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

[♱ ᅟ * ᅟ the ᅟ — ᅟ 𝖜𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 ᅟ , ᅟ 𓉸 @bloomedgift]

https://t.co/Zw12vq7MRG @splatterslides ﹔

her previously hurried steps slowed when she noticed the man standing in front of the ER — no visible injuries, but still there.

“excuse me, sir, do you need any assistance .ᐣ”

[𝑫𝑬𝑿𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑮𝑨𝑵. @splatterslides]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
〔“𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘦，⠀𝘴𝘪𝘳，⠀𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦.ᐣ”〕these words happened to silence the stirring darkness for a fraction of a second，⠀his 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 hisses.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

[𝑫𝑬𝑿𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑮𝑨𝑵. @splatterslides]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
the sound of rushed footfalls reverberate，⠀their footing slowing before coming to a stop，⠀altogether. her voice is calm，⠀breaking through.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

[𝑫𝑬𝑿𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑮𝑨𝑵. @splatterslides]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
dexter will repeat this ritual for several minutes，⠀his sharp and piercing gaze flickering between the victims，⠀the gory splatter，⠀and the sterile white of the emergency lights.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

[𝑫𝑬𝑿𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑮𝑨𝑵. @splatterslides]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
the beating of his heart thrums steadily against his ears，⠀the coppery，⠀metallic taste of his fear receding just enough for him collect himself and think.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

[𝑫𝑬𝑿𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑮𝑨𝑵. @splatterslides]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

〔“𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴，⠀𝘥𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘳 ... 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘥 ”〕the former pathologist would inhale—it's a cold，⠀controlled breath pulling the chaos inward，⠀a tiny，⠀mental dam against the heavy of bloodlust.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

[𝑫𝑬𝑿𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑮𝑨𝑵. @splatterslides]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

it's this sight hat helps to trigger the familiar，⠀low hum in the back of his skull— 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 stirred，⠀hungry for release. there's a low，⠀insistent whisper crawling up his throat.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

[𝑫𝑬𝑿𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑮𝑨𝑵. @splatterslides]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
as dexter's gaze continued to wander，⠀it would eventually land upon a massive scarlet puddle，⠀it's surface ripples slightly as a drip from an IV line clatters to the blood—soaked floor.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

[𝑫𝑬𝑿𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑮𝑨𝑵. @splatterslides]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
taking in the sight of pooled blood along the floor，⠀and the sounds of labored breathing，⠀and ever—increasing groans from the injured patients.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

[𝑫𝑬𝑿𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑮𝑨𝑵. @splatterslides]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
his piercing blue gaze swept around the room，⠀cataloguing every detail— no matter how small，⠀in a clinical rhythm.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

[𝑫𝑬𝑿𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑮𝑨𝑵. @splatterslides]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
the stubborn stain on the counter sat a silent，⠀witnesses to his performance，⠀embalming of the fragile，⠀ordinary life he desperately craved.

a life he might 𝑁𝐸𝑉𝐸𝑅 truly deserve.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

[𝑫𝑬𝑿𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑮𝑨𝑵. @splatterslides]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

he lowered the towel slightly.

⠀⠀〝⠀just for a moment⠀〞he would add，⠀his voice softening.⠀⠀〝⠀⠀trust me.⠀〞

he held his breath. he needed her to trust him.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

[𖥔 ݁┊𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐀 𝐁𝐄𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐓𝐓. @yourmoondust]

She set the dish towel aside, turning her full attention to him now.

His voice, low and a bit raspy, sent an shiver down her spine. The way he said her name was different,softer, she wondered what was going on in his mind.

Closing her eyes, she felt a fluterring in her stomach.

[𝑫𝑬𝑿𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑮𝑨𝑵. @splatterslides]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
he wasn't sure if he was convincing her，⠀or himself，⠀that this was 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭. that he 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹. but he kept massaging her neck，⠀and whispering reassurances.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀