A lost chapter

[thebestseller]

[At first, the static on the television screens seems to fade into blank nothingness- then, slowly, as the camera moves around, one can see that it's actually dark streets, surrounded by tall buildings, skyscrapers reaching up for what seems like forever. The sky itself is lost in a sea of blackness- there is no moon, no stars, though it is clearly nighttime. There's only the occassional dull street lamp visible, but none of the buildings are lit up, although even now, in the middle of the night, some of them should be. Big cities never truly go to sleep, after all.

Some may recognize these as the streets of New York City, but the Big Apple is, for once, silent. No traffic, whether by vehicle, on foot, or by bicycle moves along the streets and avenues. There is no sound of chatter, no hustle and bustle. No people. No signs of life at all. It's as though every living being has vanished all at once. Steam comes out from underneath manhole covers, giving the whole place a very eerie, empty, ghostly sort of quality. One almost expects there to be some sort of monster or spirit prowling.

Then, suddenly, the moon appears, bathing the streets in its pale light, and a familiar voice begins to speak without emotion.]

Meddlesome. Sticking your nose in places it doesn't belong, and look where it's gotten you.

[It's Castle- or someone who looks remarkably like him, anyway. When the camera rounds a corner, he's visible, looking upon the body of a dead woman. The woman's face is turned away, and she's a black and white image, though there are still stab wounds visible on her body. Castle's face is impassive as he gazes upon her, shaking his head. He's dressed in a long black coat and black hat, his eyes sunken and with dark circles underneath them, his face gray with unshaven stubble, looking for all the world like your stereotypical film noir detective.]

Curiosity killed the cat, after all. And gullibility killed the innocents. Following the evidence is supposed to mean the criminal gets captured. It's supposed to mean that justice has been served, and at the end of the day you can rest a little easier, keeping the scum off the streets. But one got away. Another of them had to be killed to protect your own life.

[Another person passes nearby in the shadows, one of the streetlights glinting off the blade of a knife he holds in his hand.]

People who wanted to see justice done in the world. People who got too close to the truth. People who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. All ending up in the same place for their troubles. Dead, buried, and mourned. Mothers, sisters, fathers, brothers, best friends, family.

[Castle's Shadow begins to walk, and the camera follows him. More bodies, both men and women, are visible on the ground as he passes by them, heedless- some have been stabbed, some have been shot, some are laid out peacefully with their arms crossed over their chests, ligature marks still plainly visible around their necks. However, none of them have visible features- their heads are all turned away, as though they are nameless victims of no importance.]

You opened up that Pandora's box, even though you were warned how dangerous it was. When you were told that it was an old wound that she'd healed and never wanted to open up again. When you were told the evidence didn't lead anywhere. You could have just left well enough alone...

[He turns a corner, and there sits a writing desk, though the top of it has begun to rot away. A file folder sits on top of it, filled to bursting with pieces of paper.]

Could have just enjoyed your fame and your cushy life. Could have stayed safe. You didn't even try and foresee the consequences, and look where you both ended up. Weren't strong enough to protect them. To protect her. You let that killer get away, to take more lives another day. You've lived with that ever since he escaped.

[Castle's Shadow passes by dark alleyways, where two men peer out- one whispering the name "Nikki" over and over, like some sort of madness mantra. The other has a knotted rope in his hands and is turning it over, looking thoughtful. However, none of them pay Castle any heed, and he doesn't pay any attention to them, continuing to walk until the landscape suddenly changes- to a graveyard. There are mourners, veils and shadows obscuring their features, and a podium with a fresh blood spatter over it.]

It's your fault. Your fault. You don't deserve her forgiveness for all of the mistakes you've made. You couldn't control yourself and did it for your own selfish reasons, no matter what you told her afterwards. It would be better for everyone else if you just faded away.

[There's the crack of a sniper's rifle, and one of the featureless figures in the crowd drops. The camera pans around to show the Shadow's front, and he opens his coat, revealing an awful, bleeding wound on his chest.]

The world will remember you for this one last bullet.

Comments

[themuse]

[Kate is just watching, in horrified silence. It's a whole spectrum of emotion - foreboding when she sees the familiar streets, despair when he speaks and she knows, somehow, that the silhouetted body he stands over must be her mother. The despair weighs down on her as Castle's shadow speaks, and she's confused, and scared, and a little angry at what he is saying. She doesn't understand.

And then the crack of the sniper rifle jars her from her shock, and she hits the floor, crying out, and it takes too long to regain her senses before she's up again, sobbing, grabbing the device and watching Castle bleed on the feed. Somehow, she manages to scream at the device.]

Castle! Oh my God, Castle!

[thebestseller]

[The Shadow simply looks at her with the same blank expression.]

I'm just speaking the truth. The truth I try so hard to ignore.

[themuse]

[She knows something is wrong but she doesn't know what, and she just wants to reach out to him, but she can't. So instead, she just keeps sobbing.]

No, it's not... Castle, just tell me where you are. You're hurt. You need help.

[Semi-accidental Video]

[coimiceoir]

[The clip mostly consists of a flash of wide, frightened green eyes and a wildly skewing backdrop that might be construed as forest as someone drops her phone with an inadvertent squeak. Not her most dignified moment ever.]

[Semi-accidental Video]

[thebestseller]

The truth is scary, isn't it?

[Video]

[coimiceoir]

[Aisling peers wide-eyed into the screen, angling her head as though she's trying to get a look at his face.]

Yes... It always is. It's worst for you, though.

[perseverant]

Look, we're coming to get you, okay?

Hang on.

[thebestseller]

There's no point.

[perseverant]

Yeah, there is.

[reanimated]

Oh Christ, not you too.

[thebestseller]

Are you really surprised, knowing what you know now?

[notvictorious]

What, because he went in this thing too? Who hasn't??

You've seen a ton of people go through this already, the real Castle knows this isn't how things actually are.

[allons_y_alonso]

Well. That's not good.

[thebestseller]

Truth hurts. Especially him.

[allons_y_alonso]

Hurts you as well, then.

[trytryagain]

Whenever you despair, someone will always come for you.

[thebestseller]

That may be so, but it doesn't mean it's worth it. Or that it will work.

[squidissension]

oh fuck this
get outta there
i agree youre a fuckin disgrace on the best a days but i dont get wwhy that qualifies you to havve a tvv showw

[thebestseller]

Well, someone finally gets it.

He's not leaving, though.

[oftpartitioned]

ewwwwww ugly coat but dude ewwww get that checked up

[thebestseller]

It's a fitting punishment.

[chronosexual]

Richard? Richard Castle? This is Jack Harkness. These things... they're not your fault. Everyone makes mistakes.

[thebestseller]

Yes, but not everyone makes the kind that get people killed and screw someone they care about over.

[ihateyouetc]

I DON'T EVEN REALLY KNOW YOU SO I CAN'T SAY I GET WHAT YOU'RE BLAMING YOURSELF OVER.
THESE THINGS ARE A FUCKING HASSLE TO PAY ATTENTION TO AND PARSE CORRECTLY SINCE EVERYONE'S ALL MESSED UP AND NONE OF YOU LISTEN TO THIS SHIT ANYWAY, BUT I GET IT.
LIKE, THE BLAMING YOURSELF.
THE FACT PEOPLE STILL WANT TO HELP YOU MEANS NO ONE CARES IF YOU FUCKED UP.
OR IF THEY CARE YOU FUCKED UP, THEY STILL CARE ABOUT YOU MORE THAN YOUR INDIVIDUAL FUCK-UPS.
THAT'S KIND OF WHAT CARING ABOUT SOMEBODY IS.

[thebestseller]

[The Shadow is quiet for a moment- because what is this people are trying to be logical for him.]

You're not the only one who thinks this is worth it. Maybe there's a point somewhere in there. All I'm saying is, go ahead and try. I can't make any guarantees that there will be anybody left TO rescue.