Part 1 HERE * Part 2 HERE * Part 3 HERE * Part 4 HERE * Part 5 HERE * Part 6 HERE * Part 7 HERE * Part 8 HERE * Part 9 HERE * Part 10 HERE * Part 11 HERE

Two weeks after the Grand Anomaly Hotel incident, Detective Jack Ross sat at his desk, flipping through a pile of case files that seemed far less exciting than they once did. Each folder lacked the intrigue and supernatural elements that had dominated his life recently, rendering these mundane crimes almost banal. Just as he was about to resign himself to a tedious afternoon, the office door swung open and Zhara walked in, a steely determination glinting in her eyes.

“Clear your desk,” she announced. “We’re partners. It’s official.”

Ross raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?”

She tossed a newly minted badge onto his desk. “Welcome to SUSI: Special Unit for Supernatural Investigations.”

“Never heard of it.”

“We’re the inaugural members.”

“Just the two of us?” Ross grinned, picking up the badge. “Don’t we need a supernatural expert or something?”

As if on cue, the door opened again, and in walked Dr. Emily Reid, an assortment of esoteric tomes and mystical trinkets in her arms. “Room for one more?” she beamed.

“A regular dream team,” Ross quipped. “So what’s our first assignment?”

“Poltergeist activity at the state capitol,” Zhara divulged. “But it’s more complex than that—there are signs of demonic influence.”

Ross stood up, already feeling the thrill of a new challenge. “Well, let’s not keep the demons waiting.”

As they gathered their gear and headed for the door, Ross paused and turned to Zhara. “Before we embark on this new journey, I have to know—are we good? After everything that’s happened, I mean.”

Zhara looked at him, her dark eyes searching his. “We’ve both had our share of losses, of failures. But if the Grand Anomaly taught me anything, it’s that the past doesn’t have to define us. We can write our own future, and it can be as extraordinary as we want it to be.”

Ross felt a warmth flood his chest. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.”

In that moment, standing on the precipice of countless new cases, of dangers and adventures neither could yet imagine, they shared an understanding. An understanding that they were leaving their solitary battles behind, choosing instead a path of collaboration and mutual trust.

Ross gestured toward the door, a playful glint in his eyes. “Shall we?”

Zhara returned his grin, her own eyes sparkling with anticipation and a dash of mischief. “After you, partner.”

As they stepped out of the office, each felt an exhilarating sense of possibility, the likes of which neither had felt for years. Together with Dr. Reid, they were a new kind of force—one that could handle anything, from the dangers of the earthly realm to the mysteries of the supernatural. And as they headed toward their unmarked car, the sunlight glinting off their new badges, it was clear that this was just the beginning.

The End

Author’s Note: To be clear, this is an abridged version of a story idea, a sort of treatment. If I decide to turn this into a real story, a novella, or a full novel, there would be more character development and backstories and more in-depth scenes, etc. As a reminder, these posts are just stream of thought scribblings before I get down to more serious writing. So, have fun with them, if at all possible, and for Pete’s sake, stop being so serious! Thanks for reading!

Also: Zhara kinda looks like Emily Blunt, doesn’t she? If I were casting, Blunty would definitely make the list, and her hubby could play Ross (I’d beef up the role for him, no problem, get some of the Jack Ryan action in there!)