Based on the movies Shocker by Wes Craven and The Fallen by Gregoy Hoblit
Idea: jmurdoch
Text: jmurdoch
Images: Chat GPT Sora
Videos : KlingAI
In a small, fairly quiet suburban town, lives a couple known by many of their neighbors for having heard multiple arguments. The house where the couple lives, although modern, did not seem to have very thick walls. If it is not the sound of incessant arguments, screams or tears, it is the noise of a football match that emerges today.
Marc had already been slumped for almost an hour on his comfortable sofa. Armed with a beer in one hand, and the remote control in the other. He liked to increase the sound both to be more in the atmosphere, but he also liked to make his neighbors complain, who had already complained about the noise. His wife Marie was busy, as usual, cleaning the room, which tended to annoy Marc. Cleaning up on such an important game day. Marie did everything to avoid watching TV, but being a stickler for cleanliness, she found it annoying to see these crisp crumbs or empty cans.
While she had not gone near the TV, and one of the players from Marc's favorite team was about to score a goal, the TV made a strange little noise, then stopped completely. Marc flew into a rage, got up and immediately accused Mary. Although Marie began to defend herself, she was frightened by Marc's sudden gestures. Remembering that when Marc was unhappy, he could become very violent.
Marie took the directory and searched the yellow pages for the numbers of the different repairers. She notices a more discreet announcement from a professional. She found that it was rare among women to find people in this profession. Hortense Pinker was the name of this TV repairwoman who claimed to know how to measure emergencies. The little pictogram showing a soccer ball made Marie think that Hortense would be the woman for the job. And then Marie wanted to have a repairwoman, rather than a repairman. All that would be missing is for the repairman to be a pretty boy, so that Marc would replay a scene of jealousy.
Marie dialed Hortense's number, who picked up immediately. Marie explained the problem to him, and Hortense promised within 20 minutes max.
Marie no longer wanted to be in the same room as Marc and seeing that the weather was nice, decided to wait for the repairwoman outside. As announced, Hortense arrived 19 minutes after hanging up. When Marie saw Hortense get out of the van, she was a little surprised by her look and her appearance. Hortense did not seem to have been very spoiled by nature. His face was dirty and very damaged. A small scar on his cheek intrigued him. Even if Marie found herself ordinary, she considered herself more attractive than poor Hortense. What does it matter! After all, she is the woman who was going to save the situation, and in a sense, there is no risk Marc is trying to seduce her. Marie and Hortense exchanged pleasantries before Marie invited her into the house.
Marc, still angry, barely says hello to Hortense. The repairwoman quickly understood the situation. She saw that Marc was an impulsive, violent, very temperamental man. Mary seemed to be a poor slave.
- “Will it take long?” Marc asked in a dry tone.
- “My husband was watching an important match,” adds Marie with a softer tone.
- "Don't worry. You're dealing with a qualified repairer, I'm happy with anything electronic or electrical.", replied Hortense
Hortense began analyzing the problem, while observing the couple with one eye. She saw them arguing again. Marc complaining about not knowing the results of the match yet. The more the argument worsened, the more Hortense felt sympathy for Marie, but hatred for Marc.
When the repair was finished, Marc took his place on the sofa again, and immediately started the replay of the match, where the TV had completely failed him. Marie heaved a huge sigh and asked Hortense to follow her into another room to pay the bill. As she was going to pay Hortense in cash, Marie broke down and started crying in front of Hortense. She immediately apologized:
- "I... I'm sorry, ma'am. I'm tired, I... I take care of everything in this house. And he... he doesn't care about anything during his days.", explained Marie
- "Don't apologize... I know this type of man... this type of individual... It's a harmful species, which should be eradicated.", Hortense continued
Marie was a little shocked by Hortense's tone and words. Certainly her husband was violent and lazy, but she still loved him. Only God knows why. Marie was then disconcerted by the smile Hortense gave her. As if she had an idea in her head. Marie greets her, and Hortense leaves in her van. Marc, in this lack of courtesy and politeness, did not thank her or say goodbye. On the other hand, Marie thanked her wholeheartedly for the speed and quality of her services.
A few minutes after Hortense left, Marie decided to go for a little jogging. She needed to release this anger drowned in a certain sadness. The soccer game went into overtime, so she had time to go for a quick jog around the block. She changed into a lighter, more appropriate outfit and left the house. Marc didn't notice it. She ran up the avenue, listening to her favorite music. But she did not notice the presence of a van which would have seemed familiar to her having seen it recently in her front yard. The small TV repair van started up and drove off down a nearby side street while Marie did a few stretches.
Hortense had parked not too far from the house and remained for a moment watching the entrance, hoping to see Marie come out. Ideally alone. Which ultimately happened very shortly after his intervention. Seeing her walking away into the house in sportswear, she deduced that Marc was now alone at home. Hortense took a few seconds and admired Marie, whom she found kind and attractive. A fairly discreet beauty. Hortense envied Marie's figure and appearance a little. She knew she wasn't very beautiful, far from the expected stereotypes. Hortense only had her intelligence going for her and couldn't afford a little cosmetic surgery. TV repair did not offer him enough resources. Hortense discreetly forced the lock and entered the house.
Marc was still absorbed in the match and after Marie's departure had greatly increased the volume. He did not hear Hortense approaching. Hortense had spotted a magnificent kitchen knife. Marc didn't have time to react when he felt the blade of the knife penetrate his back. When he turned around, he saw Hortense's face, but did not have time to say a word, Hortense repeated her gesture several times. Marc staggered into the room, touched his wounds and placed his bloody hand on the wall before collapsing. Hortense remained close to him, smiling, proud to have freed and helped Marie.
Eliza Bennett had been working on this series of murders for months. She had long ago proven that all the murders were the work of one person. The victims were all men, aged between 30 and 55. The only commonality she had managed to establish between all these victims was that they were suspected of being violent or impulsive husbands, and that they were probably cheating on their partners. Based on her intuition, Eliza thought the murderer would be a woman. This murderer was methodical. She killed with a knife. The beatings were often very violent. There was incredible violence in his actions. While she was lost in thought, an inspector entered her office.
- "Lizie! We have a new homicide! A man has been murdered. His wife has just notified the emergency services. Coming home from her jogging, she discovered the body of her husband who had been brutally stabbed. I thought of you... About your ongoing investigation.."
Eliza had not hidden her stubbornness in wanting to identify this murderer. This investigation turned into an obsession. She took the file that the inspector handed her then left the police station.
At the crime scene, she unfortunately cannot question the victim's wife, named Marie. Marie was in shock after having the body of her husband Marc. She was taken to the hospital following an anxiety attack.
Eliza saw that Marc had been stabbed in the back and chest. She observed traces of blood on the chair at the top of the seat. Which led us to believe that the murderer would have entered discreetly, and would have started to stab him from behind, then surprised, he would have turned around and then she would have continued her work, stabbing him from the front. Even though Marc seemed in good health, the wounds were deep and he must have bled to death very quickly.
The forensics found no foreign fingerprints. The door had been slightly broken. No murder weapon on scene. But Eliza noticed that a kitchen knife was missing. This was further proof that it was indeed the same murderess as his case. For every murder he had never found the murder weapon, Eliza was convinced that the murderer used a kitchen knife right at the crime scene. She wondered if this murderer had already scouted the scene, that she knew she would always find a knife at her disposal.
Eliza inspected the premises. In the kitchen, she found nothing unusual. A pile of bills, the most recent of which seemed to be an invoice for a television repair. But the invoice had no date, just details of the repair and the amount. Strangely, the invoice had no contact details, no address, no telephone number, not even a contact email. A homemade invoice. The invoice just had the name "TV REPAIR", a very ordinary name.
Eliza came out of the house, and looked around her. Not far from there, she saw an old lady who was taking in her trash. She walked towards her.
- "Hello, I'm Detective Eliza Bennett. I'm investigating the murder of your neighbor..."
- “Marc? Marc was murdered?”, replied the neighbor.
- “Yes, you knew him well.”
- "Good is a big word. He spent a lot of time arguing with his wife, and just as much time watching TV... You think his wife would..."
- “The investigation has just begun. Marie is currently in the hospital in shock.”
- "Yes, she seemed very in love with her husband. Despite everything he could put her through. Marie is an adorable character. In the neighborhood, we didn't understand why she stayed with such a character."
- “You haven’t noticed anything in particular during the morning?”
- “Let me think. I heard them arguing again. Then I saw a white van park in their yard, in front of their house. Marie brought in a lady, a TV repairwoman.”
- “A white van... A repair girl... Are you sure?”
- “Yes, I may be old, but I still have a good memory!”
- “Was there anything written on the van?”
- “Yes TV REPAIR with a telephone number.”
- “Do you remember the number?”
Eliza was still surprised by the memory of this very cooperative neighbor. She gave him the number. Eliza then went back to her car, and used the small laptop connected to the central police station. She was able to do a search for the words TV REPAIR, and try to find an address associated with that phone number. BINGO. The computer gave him an address in a rather unsanitary neighborhood. For Eliza, this repairwoman was the only lead she had. She might witness something. Or... Eliza wondered if the victims in her case didn't also have a nice TV.
Eliza didn't feel comfortable when she arrived in the neighborhood mentioned by her computer. Each house seemed abandoned, dilapidated, yet he saw people living inside. The address of this TV REPAIR was in a former industrial area, made up of numerous hangars or warehouses. She quickly found the exact address. Not reassured, she checked if her weapon was properly loaded. After all, Eliza had immense suspicions about this repairwoman, and given the violence of the murders, it was better to be very careful.
The building appeared unoccupied at first. But Eliza moved cautiously, the more there seemed to be traces of life. Cigarette butts, empty beer bottles. The place was dirty, but someone lived there. She saw a small door on her right, which led to a lightly lit room. Indeed, the room is lightly illuminated by small candles scattered throughout. Eliza saw curious objects, like occult ones. An old grimoire, cabalistic drawings, a pentagram, even a skull were the essential decoration of the place.
Eliza approached a wall where a series of photos hung. She immediately recognized the recently murdered husbands, right down to the last husband, Marc. She no longer had any doubt, she was with the murderer. Suddenly, Eliza heard footsteps behind her.
Eliza turned around and saw a woman with a very damaged face, who seemed surprised to see her. Eliza immediately aimed her gun at her, which surprised Hortense. Hortense never imagined that the police would eventually find her. Hortense was stunned.
- “Police! I am investigator Eliza Bennett! You are under arrest!” Eliza shouted.
- “What are you doing here? You have nothing to do here!”
- "Shut up! I've seen the photos of your victims. I think you'll have a hard time coming up with a good explanation."
Eliza heard a noise behind her. Hortense took advantage of Eliza's seconds of inattention to run away.
Hortense ran out of the building, followed closely by Eliza. Hortense hoped to reach a certain street that she knew well because several hideouts would have been possible. Eliza almost caught Hortense, who slipped through her hands. It was then, the inspector heard the police siren, she stopped running. She realized that she would probably be intercepted shortly.
Eliza was right. A few meters further, Hortense was surprised to come across a police officer who immediately arrested her. Given the size of the agent, Hortense had no choice but to allow herself to be arrested.
Two police officers came to join Eliza, who had had the presence of mind to call for reinforcements the moment she had identified the murdered husbands with the photos she had found at the scene. Hortense struggled, declaring her innocence. Eliza was more than convinced of her guilt. She expected to find other evidence in this warehouse, such as the different knives that had been used in the different murders. Eliza remained intrigued, however. Hortense seemed intelligent, so why so much evidence incriminating her in one place? It seems like she thought she would never get caught. Will there be a form of complicity? Would anyone have given her assurance that she could still commit these murders, that she would be protected, helped? Was she acting on behalf of someone? ...or something, thinking back to occult objects.
A few hours later, Hortense found herself behind prison bars. Eliza was joined by her colleague and friend Lena. Lena was also an investigator. They had been friends since childhood and saw each other regularly. They both had the same professional path. Eliza considered Lena her little sister.
- “I congratulate you, Lizie for this beautiful catch! You finally caught it! You were right, it was definitely a woman!”
- "Thank you Lena. Yes, the neighbor's testimony was of great help! I was lucky that she had an excellent memory."
- “Are we going to have a drink to celebrate?”
- “Not immediately, I understood that the trial would not drag on, given the number and violence of these murders. I have reports to conclude. She risks going to the chair.”
- “That’s all she deserves!”
Lena and Eliza did not notice the withering look of Hortense who had not lost a beat of their exchanges. Despite everything, Hortense remained relatively calm, despite her desperate situation. No one knew that she had committed her murders in someone's name and would soon have to be summoned.
Hortense Pinker's trial arrived very quickly. The evidence was more than overwhelming. The search of the warehouse where Hortense lived had provided proof that she was indeed the serial killer wanted for a while by agent Eliza Bennett. She was also proven to be responsible for numerous other murders of unfaithful or violent husbands. The strangest thing is that Hortense never denied the facts, but remained evasive as to why. She justified herself by the following reason: she witnessed numerous acts of violence from husbands towards their wives during her various repairs. On this subject, Eliza regretted not having seen this common point between each homicide. Eliza remained convinced that the motive for these murders was of a completely different order. In the clues she had recovered, she found many objects/artifacts related to Satanism. Non-practicing, Eliza did not believe in God, and even less in the Devil. She believed that evil can lurk in each of us. Again, to channel, to prevent our dark side from taking over. Eliza was present at every stage of Miss Pinker's trial. Furthermore, we found no family ties, no relationships. She was unmarried, had no children, and appeared to have no friends. Eliza was also intrigued by Hortense's passive behavior during the various accusations. She seemed proud of her murders, feeling like she had served well.
The verdict came without surprise. Hortense Pinker was sentenced to death for the murder of nearly 20 people. And once again, the verdict did not make Hortense flinch, who seemed accepted. Eliza felt relieved by the announcement, but remained unsettled by this casual attitude. Hortense was taken back to the cell. The execution date was set in weeks.
The day of execution was set for October 2 at 6:45 a.m. Hortense was asked to choose her last meal. She replied that it was stupid. Instead, she asked for a simple favor. A chalk. Explaining that she loved to draw, she wanted the freedom to draw on the floor of her cell. One last innocent pleasure without consequences, the guards would be free to clean up afterwards. Seeing no danger there, this favor was accepted. On the morning of his execution, he was given a piece of chalk. A small piece, which even if swallowed, would be safe. IN case, Hortense tries to "commit suicide" using this chalk. Just like this chalk could not be used as a weapon.
Pinker gave a disturbing grin when the chalk was brought to him. She remained alone in a cell which was intended as the last place before being sentenced to the electric chair. She knelt on the ground and began to draw a pentagram, then different symbols with clear precision. She apparently knew what to draw.
Then Pinker waited a few minutes and made sure they were alone. She knelt in the center of the pentagram and began to shout sentences in an old foreign language. The incantation caused the appearance of a face of some kind of demon, drowned in a gray cloud.
- “Who dares to disturb Azazel in his works?” said the demon.
- “I, Hortense Pinker, your humble servant.”, replied Hortense
- “Yes, Hortense. I know you. You have served me well over the last few years.”
- “And I ardently desire to serve you again and forever, my lord.”
- “And what do you want from me?”
- “The way to continue to serve you, by still providing you with souls.”
A silence settled. Hortense lowered her head, wondering how help could provide her. She hoped the door to her cell would open, and she would be teleported to another location. But the demon said nothing, and suddenly a blue lightning flashed and electrocuted Hortense. She thought the demon was going to kill her, but strangely did not feel any sharp pain. It hurt her, but didn't kill her. After a few seconds, the demon disappeared. Pinker remained crouched disoriented on the ground.
The guards came for Hortense an hour before the scheduled execution time. In order to stay on time, we always preferred to leave enough time to prepare the journey between the cell and the infamous chair. Very often, the condemned gives some resistance. We then often put the 2 strongest guards to escort the prisoner. Hortense, after having refused the choice of a good meal in exchange for a piece of chalk, had also refused the presence of a priest, for a possible confession.
Hortense maintained a disturbing calm throughout the journey. She passed Eliza on her way, and gave her a smile, which disturbed Eliza. Eliza showed a smile, satisfied to get rid of this criminal. She had been investigating these murders for months, and was still shocked by the violence of the murders. But Eliza wondered. Why wasn't Hortense scared, why did she seem resigned. Eliza had defined a particular profile: Hortense compensated for her lack of sex appeal with great intelligence. After all, it was difficult to stop him.
The guards placed Hortense on the chair, tied her hands first, then her feet. Then they passed a small sponge through a bucket and placed it on his head, before then placing the small headset which was connected by a long cable to the heavy electrical cabinet in the next room.
The prison director began to read his sentence aloud, recalling the list of victims, and their dates of death. Then a young blonde woman in a doctor's coat entered the room. Vanessa Peters had the task of listening to the heart of the condemned woman before and after the execution. She had the heavy task of being the first to testify to the death of the condemned woman. Sometimes it could happen that you wouldn't die on the first trigger. Sometimes the person resisted the first electrocution. But in the case of a woman, it was quite rare. Vanessa didn't like this task, but being a doctor, she was asked by the state, and couldn't really refuse.
When Vanessa approached Hortense, Vanessa felt uneasy. The way Hortense looked at her made her very uncomfortable. Especially that smile. This form of confidence that everything was going to be okay. Vanessa nodded her head, looking at the director, then at the employee in charge of lowering the fateful lever. Vanessa took a few steps away from Hortense. Then the director asked Hortense if she had one last thing to say. Hortense started to laugh before saying no. The director signaled to the executioner, the latter lowered the lever.
Hortense wondered if her "god", Azazel, had abandoned her when she began to feel the first pains caused by the electric current. The pain came crescendo. Growing stronger and stronger, she had never felt pain so sharp, so penetrating, so painful. Despite the pain, she continued to have faith in Azazel. She didn't know what he had done to her or what he had transmitted to her from his cell. He hadn't said anything, hadn't reassured him. She had felt a strange sensation in this discharge, which she could not explain.
Little by little, Pinker felt herself leaving, she gradually closed her eyes. Then nothingness.
The director made a sign to Vanessa to go check and note the death of Hortense Pinker. She did so, and slowly approached the body, which gave off a slight, nauseating smell of burning. Which made Vanessa uncomfortable. She placed her stethoscope at Pinker's heart level. On this first listen, she heard no heartbeat. To make sure, she repeated the act in several places on the deceased's chest.
When suddenly, the light in the room flickered. Vanessa did not see at first the little blue electric arcs that Hortense's body gave off. She continued the osculation, when a spark coming from Hortense touched her, and made her jump. Then another, a little louder. And yet another. There, Vanessa felt the shock, made a grimace. The next spark was so much stronger and more violent that it prevented Vanessa from screaming. Hortense's body, however, remained inert. Then the final spark struck Vanessa, who in shock fell to the ground.
Vanessa was passed out on the floor. Remaining unconscious, the director called guards to come help her and see how she was doing. At the same moment, Hortense's body began to burn slightly in the face. A common phenomenon after an execution, but strangely the effect was delayed. This effect should have been immediate after the discharge.
Two guards entered the execution room. One went to check the condition of Hortense's body, he hesitated to touch her for fear of also receiving a residue of electric shock. Despite everything, he had the courage to take Pinker's pulse. The body was already cold. Hortense Pinker was indeed dead. The second guard went to help doctor Vanessa Peters. She tried to get up, but staggering twice, he just had time to catch her:
- “Is everything okay, doctor?” asked the guard.
- “Doctor?” came out of Vanessa’s mouth.
The doctor tried to get up without help, then wanted to take a step, but almost fell again, because of the high heels she was wearing. She was going to twist her foot. But then manages to regain his balance. The doctor turned her head directly towards Pinker and seemed very surprised, and approached him. She touched the dead woman's face. Then had a natural reflex to run his hand through his hair. Hortense had just understood that she was still alive, and that she now occupied the body of this female doctor. This young body she noticed next. This attractive body when she could admire her beautiful, long legs in stockings. These thin legs which ended in high heels that Hortense was absolutely not used to wearing. What explained this imbalance
Hortense began to admire her hands, then discreetly her new curves. She could see that the guards were starting to be intrigued by his strange behavior. The second guard repeated his question:
- “Is everything okay, doctor?”
- “Yes, I’m doing wonderfully,” replied Hortense.
Which surprised the guard because the electric shock had seemed violent. He wanted to approach her, but gently pushed him away. Hortense gave him a huge smile, and quietly left the room, as if nothing had happened.
Hortense felt free, full of energy and beautiful. It was the first time she felt that she was undressed. As she walked down the hall, she passed Eliza Bennett. Eliza walked towards her, looking somber. Had she guessed the subterfuge, it's impossible.
- "How are you, doctor? The electric shock seemed harsh. I saw you faint."
- "Everything is fine, Agent Bennett." Pinker replied.
- “You... Do you know me?” asked Eliza.
Understanding that in the eyes of the world, she had the face of this doctor, Hortense immediately tried to make up for it.
- "Of course! You are the investigator who managed to stop... this monster. I read it in the file.", replied Hortense while shaking Eliza's hand.
- “Yes, that’s right. Can you confirm his death?”
- "Yes, Agent Bennett. The world seems to be rid of this Hortense Pinker."
Hortense walked away and headed towards the exit, leaving Eliza a little doubtful. The doctor's behavior seemed strange to Eliza, or rather confusing. Hortense had finally gotten used to walking in her damn high heels. She moved towards freedom.
After managing to put on a different face with the different people she met, Hortense felt more and more confident with her new appearance. Appearance which seemed to appeal a lot to men. When a question became embarrassing, Hortense played with his hair, or pretended to caress his body. The interlocutor always ended up losing the thread of the discussion. She then learned that his body had been taken to the morgue. She therefore decided to say goodbye to her old envelope.
When she entered the room, she felt an icy cold, and saw 3 bodies lying on tables, and she quickly identified hers. She approached it. It was strange for her to look at herself like that, lifeless, her face damaged by life, time and execution. She caressed his face, and felt the ravages of time through the many wrinkles and scars. She finally covered her face with the sheet. “Goodbye Hortense Pinker,” she thought. Now it was time to find out what this new body could bring him.
Not living very far from the prison, Inspector Eliza Bennett returned very quickly to her home. She was welcomed by her husband Mickael. Mickael was an engineer who worked for defense. He often worked at home quite regularly. Eliza was happy to finally be able to breathe, and thought that she would be able to dedicate more time to her husband whom she had somewhat neglected because of this manhunt. She was delighted to have finally been able to apprehend this serial killer. Having been married to Mike for 3 years, she sympathized with the misfortunes of the victims' wives. She had immense confidence in Mickael, she was convinced of his loyalty. Furthermore, he was the opposite of a violent man. But Eliza thought again of Hortense, of her appearance. Eliza knew she was lovely, Mickael never stopped complimenting her. But what would happen if he met a much more beautiful woman? She put this thought out of her head and quickly went to kiss her tender husband, who congratulated her on this matter finally closed.
Hortense found the doctor's handbag on the desk in the morgue, then she looked for the exit, towards the parking lot. She walked through the parking lot, which luckily wasn't too big, and used the beep to lock/unlock the doctor's car. She finally heard an opening beep not far from her. She approached the car. The car seemed new and high end. Hortense never had the chance to drive this type of machine. She went to sit in the driver's seat, put her bag on the neighboring seat, and was able to partially see her new face in the rearview mirror. The surface of the rearview mirror being small, she can only see that she was indeed blonde, with beautiful, slightly dark bruises, and a very full mouth. “Thank you Azazel,” she thought.
Then Hortense looked in her handbag for identity papers. What irony! She didn't know what her name was from now on. She came across her driver's license and could read her name "Vanessa Peters". She looked at herself again in the retro:
- “Hello, I’m Doctor Vanessa Peters,” Hortense looked amused.
The permit indicated the doctor's address. She knew the neighborhood. It was an upscale neighborhood where she had already done repairs. She put the license back in the purse, then found the car keys. She turned on the ignition. Heading to his new home.
Hortense arrived 1 hour later, at the address indicated on the permit, she understood that the building where Vanessa lived had access to underground parking; She parked there, then took the elevator to her apartment. She hoped not to come across any acquaintances of Vanessa. Luckily, she didn't meet anyone on the way. She found the keys to her apartment in her bag. She entered it, and began to walk around the owner. The apartment was very spacious, very bright, very tidy. She saw few photos or frames of loved ones or family on the walls. So much the better, she wouldn't be bothered by the family for the time being.
Hortense was more than impatient to discover her new body, her new appearance. She headed towards the bathroom, also very spacious. She finally saw herself more completely in front of the immense mirror. She discovered that she was indeed blonde, but rather false blonde given the roots, blue eyes, slightly tanned skin, generous curves. She thought that Vanessa would rather be a model and not a doctor. Curious life choice. Hortense caressed her face, then her breasts. She was delighted with her new look. She inwardly thanked Azazel again for this gift. She imagined resuming her activities, telling herself that this body would be of great help to her in luring these prey.
While Hortense was searching Vanessa's apartment, she came across a wad of bills, a credit card and a checkbook. She had never had access to so much money at once. Her job as a TV repairman provided her with a certain income, but helped her barely survive. She had no real luxury, no leisure. Apart from murder which was his only hobby. If murder could be considered a hobby. She went rummaging in the closet and came across a beautiful white dress. She took pleasure in taking a shower, and thus discovered the entirety of her new body. What an exquisite, even divine, pleasure to be in such an attractive envelope. After the shower, she put on the dress, took her handbag which she filled with a few bills, and the checkbook. Since she did not know the CB code, this form of payment would be impossible for her.
She left the building, and noticed that she was observed for a long time by young men on the way, which flattered her. She entered a luxury clothing and underwear store. She tried on several outfits, and tried her hand at fine lingerie. She could finally allow herself this kind of fantasy.
At the next store, she purchased several beauty and facial care products, as well as makeup. The tickets disappeared quickly. Hortense was shocked at the exorbitant price of all her purchases. But no matter it wasn't really his money after all.
Back at her apartment, she tested all of her acquisitions, then ended up in front of the bathroom mirror trying on makeup. Hortense then chooses a simple outfit, sexy but too provocative. She couldn't wait to get back into service! No more scouting during her repairs, she would be able to frequent bars in search of fickle husbands, looking for a one-night stand. She began to smile in front of the mirror and asked herself "who could resist that?"
Once she was made up and dressed up like never before, Hortense went to the most popular bar in the neighborhood. She sat down at the counter, crossed her legs, and waited while sipping a glass of whiskey. She coughed at the first sip and wondered if Vanessa was a drinker. Her old body had certainly been able to handle a fair amount of alcohol. It amused her at first. She then hesitated to try smoking a cigarette, having found nothing in Vanessa's apartment to suggest she was still a smoker.
A few moments later, before she had finished her first drink, a man approached her and spoke to her.
"I find it sad to see such a pretty woman drinking alone..."
Hortense had trouble accepting the compliment; it was indeed meant for her. She gave this stranger a broad smile before replying.
"Perhaps you have a solution to change that?"
"Of course, let me accompany you."
He sat down next to her and ordered the same thing for both of them. Hortense noticed a mark from a recently removed wedding ring on his finger. The stranger introduced himself:
"I'm forgetting my manners. My name is Paul. Do you come here often? I've never seen you before."
"No, this is my first time!"
Hortense's answer wasn't entirely accurate; she knew and frequented this bar. But Paul would never have paid any attention to her in her old appearance. Paul explained his situation: he was a trader and traveled a lot. He liked to relax in this bar. Hortense ventured a question:
"Are you married, Paul?"
"Yes, but things aren't going too well between my wife and me at the moment."
Suddenly, Hortense remembered having seen Paul at this bar before, in the company of other women. He seemed like the perfect target. She was eager to get down to business.
"Okay, shall we go to your place?"
"Uh, yes... My wife is away on business and shouldn't be back right away. Wouldn't you rather go to your place?" Paul replied.
"No, I'd rather go to your place..." Hortense answered, leaning towards him seductively.
Paul seemed very attracted to Hortense. He agreed. They left the bar. Paul lived in a small house not far from the bar.
Paul continued to feel a certain unease, even a certain fear, about bringing this pretty creature home. But he found her so desirable that he was willing to take the risk. He knew his wife was away on business. In principle, she shouldn't be back right away. Paul led her into the living room and offered her another drink, but she refused.
"No, I'm not thirsty. Tell me where the bedroom is instead?"
Excitedly, he pointed down a small hallway that ended with two doors. One of the doors was open, and Hortense saw that it was a child's room. Discreetly, she noticed wedding photos hanging on the wall. The couple seemed, despite Paul's claims, to be a close and loving couple. This strengthened Hortense's resolve to eliminate Paul. Hortense found Paul's wife truly beautiful, a beauty quite different from what Hortense herself had experienced.
Paul and Hortense entered the bedroom. She walked over and sat down on the bed, crossed her legs, and gestured for Paul to join her. Paul went to the bedside table and began to take off his wedding ring. He had absentmindedly put it back on his finger as he left the bar.
Paul didn't have time to react. Hortense had managed to conceal a small cut with a kitchen knife. She stabbed him repeatedly. Paul placed his hands on his wounds and didn't defend himself. He fell to his knees by the bed and tried to pull himself up by holding onto the edge, but Hortense continued her work. She felt immense satisfaction, immense joy at being back in service. Another offering for her master, Azazel. Today, she was even happier to serve him after the gift he had given her.
Enjoying a brief moment of pleasure after the act was over, Hortense didn't hear someone enter the room. A very beautiful young woman, whom Hortense recognized immediately, having seen her recently in photographs. Jennifer, Paul's wife, had just come home from work and wanted to surprise her husband. She had long suspected him of infidelity. But upon entering the bedroom, she was shocked by the sight. Her husband lay dead on the floor, and right next to him, a beautiful young blonde woman holding a knife.
Hortense, surprised and unsure what to do, rushed towards her. She had never killed women before. Her victims had only been unfaithful husbands. Without knowing how, perhaps instinctively, she dropped the knife and heard a voice she recognized in her head: "Take her!" Hortense touched Jennifer's body and felt the same electric current as during the execution. A blue electric arc burst from Vanessa's body, occupied by Hortense, and ejected itself onto Jennifer.
Hortense felt as if she were being torn from her body. Her vision blurred, and little by little, her perspective shifted. She saw herself touching Jennifer's body, then she saw herself in Jennifer's place, being touched by Vanessa. The flash ended, and Vanessa's body fell to the ground, unconscious. Hortense felt completely different then, and looked at her former vessel lying on the ground.
She immediately understood that she had changed bodies. Vanessa wasn't a permanent body after all. Azazel had given her the power to possess anyone's body. Too bad, she had really liked Vanessa's body, but Jennifer's didn't seem too bad either. This gift was going to be a great opportunity to have some fun. No one could stop her now.
An idea crossed her mind. Hortense picked up the phone and dialed the police.
"Hello, police! Help! Put Officer Eliza Bennett on the phone. My husband has just been murdered!"
Hortense, noticing that her dress was stained, decided to change. She grabbed a rather sexy black leather dress and went to change in the bathroom. Now all she had to do was wait for the police.
Eliza arrived at the scene very quickly, accompanied by the police. When they entered the room, Eliza was surprised to find Dr. Vanessa Peters.
"Dr. Peters? What are you doing here?" Eliza asked.
Completely disoriented, her hands covered in blood, Vanessa finally cried out when she saw the corpse beside her.
"Yes, am I? But what happened?" wondered Vanessa, who had no memory of her last few hours.
"That's what we're going to find out," replied Eliza.
A police officer began questioning her while Eliza examined the deceased husband's body. The modus operandi was remarkably similar to Hortense Pinker's. And this doctor was the last person to have seen her alive. A coincidence? Eliza began to drift off into her thoughts, but remained attentive to Vanessa's questioning.
"The victim's wife called the police. She said she witnessed the murder of her husband, Paul, by a young blonde woman who perfectly matches your description. What was your relationship with the victim?"
"But officer, I don't know this person at all. I don't remember a thing."
"Okay, we'll go to the station. Your memory will come back to you on the way," the officer replied.
"While you take her to the station, I'll go and question his wife.", Eliza added.
Eliza stepped outside the house a moment later and joined Paul's wife, Jennifer. Jennifer didn't seem sad to Eliza. This was odd, considering the brutality of the murder and the fact that it had been committed by a complete stranger. As she approached Jennifer, Eliza had the impression that she was gloating, rather than sad. This intrigued her.
Hortense savored these moments. She loved seeing the police perplexed by the murder. It was very similar to her own murders, and it had been committed by someone completely unknown to the couple. Hortense was pulled from her thoughts when Eliza approached her:
"Jennifer? May I ask you a few questions? I don't know if this is a good time..."
"No, no problem, Officer Bennett. I'm at your complete disposal," Hortense replied with a broad smile that disconcerted Eliza.
"You know my name?" "Yes, I heard the officer call you that."
"Yes, that must be it! Could you tell me what happened?"
"Well, I suspected my husband was cheating on me. And I wanted to catch him in the act! I was able to return from my business trip much earlier than expected. I went into the bedroom because I heard what sounded like a conversation, and I recognized the voice of..."
Hortense was about to laugh at the situation, which would have seemed strange to the inspector. She put her hands to her face to hide the smile, then the laughter, then pretended to cry. She looked away from Eliza.
"Yes, I understand. That must be hard," Eliza continued.
"Sorry, Inspector. I don't think I can go on."
"I'll come back to see you. I'm going to question the suspect." "Yes. Keep me informed. I'm sure we'll see each other again very soon."
At these words, Hortense moved away from Eliza, afraid of making a mistake. She waited until the police had left with Paul's body and the suspect, Vanessa. Seeing Vanessa arrested, Hortense silently thanked her for being such good bait. Hortense returned to her new home..
Before returning to the police station to question Dr. Peters, Eliza stopped at the library on the way. She knew the librarian and was familiar with her interest in the occult. When she arrived, the library was full of students, and she found Miss Addams at her desk.
"Lizie! What a pleasure to see you!" said Miss Addams.
"Mrs. Addams, it's a pleasure to see you again as well."
"How can I help you?"
"I need your expertise. I recently arrested the serial killer Hortense Pinker..."
"Yes, I read about it in the papers. Congratulations. She was executed, I believe. Is the case closed?"
"That's correct. But what we haven't shared with the press is that Hortense was a Satanist. I'll show you what we discovered at the scene."
Eliza showed her the photos taken from her cell phone of the warehouse where Hortense lived. The various strange, occult objects. The symbols on the floor, the grimoire, the photos of the victims, the candles. Miss Addams remained silent, focused. When Eliza had finished showing everything, Miss Addams invited her to follow her to one of the aisles of the large library. She picked up some old grimoires and walked to an empty table. She then opened several books, turning the pages until she came across the same symbols as in the photos.
"Your murderer seemed to worship the demon Azazel. In some Islamic stories and traditions, Azazel is considered the name of Satan before he was banished from heaven. According to Ibn Abbas, he once guarded the gates of paradise and was given dominion over the lowest realm of heaven and earth."
"I see. So she committed all these murders in his name?"
"Yes, I think so."
"But what would she have gained in return? We apprehended her and had her executed anyway. She died today."
"In principle, yes. But given the number of souls she provided him, he may have given her a special gift. If you're questioning Pinker even though she's dead, something must be bothering you today."
"Yes, indeed. I've just returned from a crime scene. The murder committed is a perfect match for Pinker's modus operandi...and..."
"What is it?"
"The suspect in this murder is the doctor who certified Pinker's death after his execution. I had a strange feeling after speaking with the doctor. I still don't know what came over her. She's a composed, intelligent, and unassuming young woman."
"That's strange. One might think that the murderous impulses had passed on to her... or something even worse."
"May I borrow this book, Miss Addams?"
"Please do. Be careful in your investigation."
Eliza took the book, thanked Miss Addams again, and returned to her car, intending to go and question Dr. Peters.
Twenty minutes later, Eliza was at the police station. She asked to bring Vanessa Peters into the interrogation room. When Vanessa sat down, she was still crying, overwhelmed by events. She was already wearing her prison uniform, a stark contrast to her usual attire. Eliza opened the file on Paul's murder and showed her the photos of the victim, the weapon, and Vanessa's clothes stained with Paul's blood.
"I'd like to understand why you brutally murdered Paul? And especially why you used the same method as Hortense Pinker. Did you want to play the role of a copycat?"
"I keep saying it!" "I don't remember anything!"
"We talked after the execution, Doctor..."
"I don't even remember that!"
"What are your last memories?"
Vanessa paused her tears for a moment and tried to concentrate before answering:
"I see myself... examining the condemned woman, then a sharp pain, then everything goes black... I remember waking up in that room, in clothes I'd never worn before. I immediately saw the body, the knife, then the blood on my hands. A young woman was looking at me and smiling. Then the police arrived, just as I was starting to fully regain my senses."
"You're saying the young woman was smiling at you?"
"Yes, and that smile frightened me too. It was almost as if she was enjoying the situation."
Eliza remained perplexed. She reread Vanessa's file. Nothing indicated any murderous tendencies. She had a clean criminal record and was respected by her colleagues. She was discreet by nature. The investigation revealed that Vanessa had indeed gone shopping earlier that day before going to the bar. A bar Vanessa never frequented. But in her recollections, Eliza had read that Hortense went there often.
It had been two days now since Hortense had inhabited Jennifer's body. Jennifer, being a married woman without children, could enjoy a certain degree of freedom and tranquility for a while. She essentially stayed indoors during this time, hoping to lay low for a while. She amused herself by searching the entire house, gathering as much information as possible to help her play Jennifer's role. She had no visitors, but received two phone calls from the police questioning her again about her husband's murder. Apparently, Dr. Vanessa Peters was indeed accused of Paul's murder. Although the police had no doubt, only Detective Inspector Eliza Bennett still harbored some doubts.
Hortense was tired of this overly peaceful life. She had to commit another murder; she had to satisfy her master, Azazel, not knowing if she would be able to maintain this power for much longer. Since the weather was nice, Hortense decided to leave the house. She picked up the newspaper delivered to her doorstep and went to a small park nearby.
When she reached the center of the park, she sat down on a bench and began reading. It reported her execution. She was amused to read all the speculation surrounding her life and her past. Engrossed in her reading, she didn't notice a handsome young man sitting down on the next bench. He was gazing at her intently.
Ryan was an accountant at a telecommunications company. He liked to take his lunch breaks in the park near his office. He was instantly captivated by the beautiful young woman sitting on the bench. Even though he was married, he felt the urge to approach her.
"Excuse me, miss. Could you tell me my horoscope?" Ryan asked.
"Your horoscope?" Hortense replied, surprised. "Yes, I'd like to know if it's predicted that I'll meet a lovely lady today."
This amused Hortense, who turned the pages, pretending to look for the horoscope.
"What's your sign?"
"Aries."
"No, sorry, I don't see anything like that for you. But perhaps we should get to know each other?"
Ryan flirted with her. He wasn't afraid of using clichés like, "I think I've met you before." Hortense had no trouble steering the conversation toward Ryan's place of residence. He explained that he lived not far from here and that he would be delighted to show her his home.
Hortense was impressed by the opulence of the place. Ryan seemed to be living a life of luxury. Even though she wasn't an expert, she recognized paintings by famous artists hanging on the walls. Many objects appeared to be adorned with gold. She also noticed that Ryan was wearing an extremely expensive Rolex. At first, Hortense thought she'd hit the jackpot. In the living room, she saw a photograph of Ryan with a beautiful woman, probably his wife, and a cute teenage brunette, likely their daughter.
"Your family?" Hortense asked Ryan.
"Yes," Ryan replied, a little embarrassed. "This is my wife, Anna, and our daughter, Jenna."
"Your wife is beautiful," Hortense added.
Ryan didn't reply. But Hortense was already imagining herself in Anna's shoes. If Ryan died, his wife would probably inherit everything. Hortense could easily picture herself living the high life. After all, perhaps she could stop her activities, at least for a while, and live the good life of a wealthy woman. The idea greatly appealed to her.
Hortense approached Ryan and began to flirt with him. Just as they were about to kiss, Ryan looked at the family photo and felt a pang of remorse. Hortense noticed:
"Wouldn't you pour us a drink?" Hortense asked.
"Good idea. What would you like?"
"The same as you. Tell me, can I wash my hands in the kitchen while you serve us?"
"Of course, it's right behind you."
Hortense had thus found the excuse to obtain the knife necessary for her future crime. She found one of a suitable size that she could easily conceal behind her back. Ryan called her over to tell her they were served. They sat down in the armchair, clinked glasses, and took a sip of their drinks. Once their glasses were down, Hortense approached Ryan. When their lips were only inches apart, Ryan felt a blade pierce his stomach. He looked down and saw the blade emerge, then Hortense smiled at him. She repeated the gesture.
"Why?" were Ryan's last words before collapsing to the floor.
Once the murder was committed, Hortense was already imagining what would happen next: meeting Ryan's wife, taking her place, and immediately accusing poor Jennifer, now a murderer against her will, just like Dr. Peters. The police, and especially Detective Bennett, would have a very hard time understanding her actions.
Hortense hadn't heard the arrival of Jenna, Ryan's daughter. Hortense was admiring the photo of Ryan's wife, which she found beautiful.
"But who are you? ... And... Oh my God, Dad... What happened to my father?"
Hortense rushed to Jenna to stop her from screaming. As with the two previous times, a kind of electric shock emanated from Hortense's body and intensified upon Jenna. Again, Hortense felt as if her life, her spirit, left Jennifer's body and entered Jenna's. Jenna fell to the ground, the force of the impact causing her to fall. Then Jennifer fell to the ground. Hortense had just taken possession of Jenna's body. This was not the plan. But once she got into it, she enjoyed regaining a certain youthfulness. Being in a teenager's body seemed very pleasant. It would open up many possibilities.
Hortense stood up and looked at Jennifer unconscious on the floor. Just like Vanessa, she would probably be unconscious for a few hours. Hortense looked at her hands, caressed her young face. Jenna couldn't have been more than 19; she even wondered if Jenna was still a virgin, which made Hortense chuckle to herself. She looked for Jenna's room, which was a little difficult to find given the size of the house. She went to the closet and changed into something more innocent. By moving a dress, she turned a shelf into a book. A diary. Perfect for assuming the role of Jenna and learning more about her life.
Hortense realized it was indeed Jenna's diary. She started with the last page, dated today. She then understood why Jenna was dressed so elegantly. She was coming home from her best friend Caroline's birthday party. She memorized the names of the people mentioned in the diary, trying to identify the type of relationships Jenna had with them. Jenna was still in high school. In her diary, Jenna mentioned feeling unwell, having difficulty fitting in; she didn't have many friends. She also had a crush on a boy named Fred who was in her class. This reading amused Hortense, who already imagined herself going back to school under her new identity.
Having finished reading the essential passages, Hortense stood up and admired herself in the dresser mirror. She found herself more than just cute, quite attractive and desirable after all. Even if Hortense had other plans, nothing would prevent her from playing her mother, Anna, when the situation has calmed down.
Suddenly, Hortense heard a noise in the house. She recognized her previous voice, Jennifer's. It sounded like she was talking to someone. Hortense quietly approached Jennifer without drawing attention to herself. She saw Jennifer on the phone, looking devastated. She was talking to the police. Jennifer didn't see Hortense.
"Yes, officer. Come quickly, I found a body... he... he was brutally stabbed... and I... I have a feeling I killed him!"
Even better than she'd hoped! Hortense was thrilled that Jennifer had confessed. She decided she had nothing more to do in the house. She would let poor Jennifer explain herself to the police. Hortense slipped discreetly out of the house and went shopping in town, having found a credit card in her name.
Eliza Bennett was contacted by a colleague who informed her that a new crime had been committed, exhibiting the same bizarre elements as one of her cases. Naturally intrigued, she was stunned upon arriving at the crime scene to recognize Jennifer, Paul's wife. Two police officers were arresting Jennifer for the murder of a man named Ryan. As before, there was no connection between the murderer and the victim. It was Jennifer who had strangely called the police to report the murder, even though everything pointed to her as the culprit. The forensic scientist found her fingerprints on the murder weapon, once again a kitchen knife.
Between sobbing, she heard Jennifer say, "I didn't do anything, I'm innocent." This echoed Dr. Peters' statements. What could be the origin of this murderous frenzy since Pinker's execution? Could the evil be contagious? Eliza learned that no one else was present at the scene. The police found only Ryan and Jennifer. Ryan's wife was away on a business trip and their young daughter was at high school.
Hortense had been playing the role of the young student, Jenna, for several hours now. Attending classes annoyed her because, contrary to what one might think, Hortense actually did well in school; she had graduated without difficulty. But her memories of high school were difficult; she was mocked by her classmates, she had almost no friends or boyfriends. She was a loner and mostly took refuge in her books. So, classes didn't interest her.
No, what amused her, however, was that from now on, she was attracting attention. Even though, by reading her diary, Hortense learned the essentials about Jenna's lifestyle and her life as a student, she had a little trouble at first identifying Jenna's relationships. But she did manage to identify the famous Fred.
"Hi Fred, how are you?" Hortense asked. "Uh... Hi Jenny... good."
"You know I think you're cute..."
"That's sweet... Are you alright, Jenna? You seem strange... You're usually more shy..."
"Yeah... things change... I could surprise you... Show you what a real woman is..."
These words shocked and then amused the few of Jenna's friends who witnessed this conversation. Hortense wondered what it would be like to sleep with a young boy. She understood from the entries in her journal that Jenna was still a virgin. This was quite different from the previous cases. For the moment, she had no intention of murdering anyone using Jenna's identity. She still planned to steal Anna's body soon.
At the police station, Eliza was joined by her friend and colleague, Lena Lambert. Eliza was overwhelmed by events. She could have believed she was dealing with a copycat, perhaps even a disciple of Hortense Pinker. But it didn't add up. The victims were indeed cheating husbands, but the murderer was always a woman, and a different one each time. There was no connection between them.
Dr. Vanessa Peters had killed Paul, then Paul's wife, Jennifer, had killed Ryan. It made no sense. The only hypothesis that ran through Bennett's mind was that Pinker had infected the doctor, and then Jennifer.
"Would you like some help with this case, Lizie?" Lena asked.
"I wouldn't say no! This whole thing makes no sense," Eliza replied. "I'd like to question his daughter, even though she wasn't at the crime scene. She might have noticed something. But..."
Eliza looked at the photos of the victims, seeming intrigued. Lena asked her:
"What is it?"
"I'd like to check something. You could question Ryan and Anna's daughter. We need to tell Jenna about her father's death. And I don't have the strength to do it. I'd like to follow another lead."
The warehouse where Hortense Pinker lived had become even more neglected since the execution. Upon entering, Eliza was surprised to see that the seals had been removed. Someone seemed to have been there. Perhaps a beggar, knowing the place was unoccupied. Eliza remained on high alert. Perhaps Ryan's murderer was there.
She began searching the place. Then she saw that the altar where the occult objects had been displayed had been disturbed. The candles were still lit. She even noticed that some of the candles were new. The photos of Pinker's murders had been removed as evidence by the police. And there, Eliza discovered new photos. Two new photos, those of Paul and Ryan.
After each sacrifice, Hortense had resumed her ritual, and she had returned home to prepare the ritual for Master Azazel. Each murder had to be "signed." Hortense had to recite an incantation in those places to guide the deceased's soul to Azazel.
Eliza deduced that the murders of Paul and Ryan were indeed linked to Pinker. But then she wondered: if evil was contagious, where had it ended up? There was no one else at the scene of Ryan's murder. And given Jennifer's condition, she doubted she could kill again.
When Detective Inspector Lena Lambert arrived at the high school, she went straight to the principal's office and asked to speak with Jenna privately. She explained that her father had just been murdered. Shocked, the principal was nonetheless understanding. He went to the classroom where Jenna was and interrupted the lesson.
Hortense, who hadn't been paying attention to the day's lesson, was lost in thought, already planning her next murder. Seducing with a teenage body could be an interesting experience. She knew bars less reputable than the one she'd used for Paul. Jenna could be more provocative, more alluring on another day. Despite being only 19, she seemed much more mature. Her conversation with Fred earlier that day was proof of that. She had sensed Fred's attraction to Jenna.
The principal invited Jenna to follow him, then introduced her to Detective Inspector Lena Lambert. He then led them to a spare classroom next door, so they could be alone. Lena and Jenna were then left alone.
"Jenna, I'm Detective Inspector Lena Lambert. I've come to tell you some sad news."
"My God, what's going on?"
"Your father, Ryan... was murdered this afternoon."
"Oh my God!"
Hortense pretended to be saddened, but struggled to fake tears, and immediately asked:
"But who? Who murdered him?"
"We've just started the investigation. My colleague, Eliza Bennett, seems to be following a promising lead."
"A promising lead? Tell me everything..."
"It's too soon to discuss that..."
"But I want to know..."
Jenna's change of attitude, embodied by Hortense, stunned Inspector Lambert. She had suddenly ceased to be sad. Jenna's gaze became colder, harder, which unsettled Lena. It was then that Jenna suddenly stood up and approached Lena.
"I think I have an idea to find out more about the progress of the investigation..."
Hortense then touched Lena's shoulder, triggering the electric shock that transferred from Jenna's body to Lena's. Jenna fainted once the transfer was complete. Hortense had just passed into Inspector Lena Lambert's body. It took her a few minutes to adjust to her new form, and she left Jenna unconscious in the classroom. It was time for her to see how her favorite inspector's investigation was progressing.
Hortense felt uneasy entering the police station. It took her a moment to adjust to being a police officer. She nodded to the various officers she passed. She desperately searched for Bennett's office. She recognized the investigator standing in an office in the distance. Hortense noticed some officers undressing her with their eyes. Having not had much time to admire her new appearance, she would surely enjoy it later.
She entered Eliza's office, who immediately questioned her:
"So, how did Jenna's interrogation go?"
"Uh... nothing! She was very upset about her father's death..."
"I can imagine. And she didn't give you any other information?"
"No, she wasn't there, as we knew..."
"And you? Did you have a... solid lead?" "Yes... I went back to Pinker's. And you won't believe what I found..."
"Well, go on! Tell me!"
"Someone went back to the place and seems to be continuing Pinker's work! I found new photos of Paul and Ryan above the altar!"
"That's impossible! So she has a disciple?"
"No, I don't think so! You'll think I'm crazy! But I have the feeling Pinker is still alive!"
Hortense had to hide her amusement and was about to reply when the phone rang. Eliza answered it.
"Yes, darling... Yes... I still have work to do... I won't be home right away..."
While Eliza went off to continue her private conversation with her husband, Hortense looked around the room and came across the photo of Eliza with a man. Then she saw a handbag on the desk. Discreetly, Hortense opened the bag and looked at the address on Eliza's ID card. She immediately put the card back in the bag and closed it. Eliza hung up at that moment.
"Was that your boyfriend?" Hortense asked.
"Yes, Mickael has been very worried about me since the beginning of the Pinker case. I admit I've been neglecting him a bit lately."
"Is he home alone?"
"Yes, he's working from home."
Hortense smiled slightly as Eliza decided to reread the files of the various victims, hoping she had missed something important.
"I just remembered I had a quick errand to run. I'll be right back," Hortense said.
Eliza nodded, and Hortense left the office.
Hortense went to the address she had memorized from Eliza's ID card. Eliza lived with her husband in a modest apartment in a rather elegant building. She rang the doorbell, and a handsome young man opened the door with a broad smile.
"Good morning, Mr. Bennett, how are you?" said Hortense.
"Mr. Bennett? Why are you being so formal?" replied Mickael, looking very amused.
Hortense hadn't grasped the nature of the relationship between Agent Bennett and Agent Lambert. They seemed much closer than they appeared. It was true that while talking with Eliza, Hortense had sensed a certain familiarity when she spoke to Lena. They must have been good friends, so Lena knew her husband, Mickael, well.
"It was a joke, Mickael. How are you?"
"Fine, and you? ... Please, come in!"
"Wonderfully well, thank you."
Hortense entered the apartment and followed Mickael to the living room. He went to the kitchenette and asked:
"Can I get you a drink? I was just about to have one. What brings you here? Is everything alright with Liz?"
"Yes. It's just about her..."
Hortense's first instinct when she joined Mickael in the kitchen was to find a knife. As in any well-equipped kitchen, a set of knives of varying lengths was within easy reach. She discreetly took a medium-sized one while Mickael searched for ice cubes in the refrigerator. His back was to her. When he turned around, he saw his friend Léna standing in front of him, brandishing a knife.
"But why? Léna, what's wrong with you?"
Hortense gave him a huge smile before replying:
"I'm not Léa. I'm Hortense Pinker!"
Shocked by this revelation, Mickael took a deep breath, remembering the horror of the crimes Hortense had committed. Eliza had detailed the progress of her investigation to him. He was always stunned by the brutality of the murders. Realizing he was the next victim was his last thought before succumbing to the numerous stab wounds. Mickael collapsed to the floor. He wished he could have fought back more, but Hortense knew exactly where to strike to ensure a swift demise. He wished he could at least have warned his wife that Pinker was still active.
Eliza Bennett had become a widow, but she didn't know it yet. Hortense cleaned the blade of her knife, but didn't touch the handle, so as not to leave fingerprints. Detective Lena Lambert was going to be accused of the murder of Eliza Bennett's husband, Mickael. Hortense wondered then if Eliza was capable of killing her friend out of revenge.
She walked down a corridor and saw Eliza's photo; apparently, Eliza practiced a martial art. In a fit of anger, Hortense struck the photo with the frame. Then she took out her phone and looked up Eliza's number in her contacts.
"Eliza! This is awful! I'm at your house... You have to come!" Hortense cried out in feigned despair.
"But... what happened? What was I doing at my house?"
"You need to come quickly..."
Hortense hung up without giving any further details, then went to hide in an adjoining room. She wanted to witness the scene where Eliza would discover her late husband's body, then surprise and kill her. Hortense thought Eliza was too curious, too close to uncovering the truth. Another, less involved detective would take longer to piece together the puzzle. After dealing with Eliza, she could then go see Anna, Ryan's wife.
When Eliza entered the apartment, she immediately called for Lena, then her husband. But she received only a silent reply. She felt an overwhelming sense of unease; something was wrong. She went to the kitchen and saw her husband lying on the floor, covered in blood.
"Michael! No! Not this!" Eliza cried.
She knelt beside his body and checked his pulse. It was too late. Michael was dead. Images of their first meeting, their first night together, their weddings, their discussions about their future together, flooded back to her mind. Eliza burst into tears.
Completely devastated, Eliza didn't hear Hortense approaching. Eliza was grabbed from behind, and Hortense immediately tried to strangle her. When Eliza saw Lena's face, she was stunned.
"Lena? But why? What's wrong with you?" Eliza wondered.
"I'm not Lena!" Hortense gloated.
"What are you saying?"
That's when Eliza saw a small blue flash in Lena's eyes. The same flash she had seen after Pinker's execution. That flash had alerted Dr. Peters.
"Pinker?" Eliza asked, still fighting.
“You guessed it, my dear friend! I’m going to eliminate you, and I’ll pin the double murder of you and your husband on your friend Lena! The investigation will start from scratch! And I can take the place of a wealthy heiress and continue serving Azazel!”
Eliza was still reeling. She measured her blows as she defended herself. She was facing her friend, her best friend forever. They had known each other forever. But now, she didn’t recognize her. Her gaze was more than cold; it was icy, filled with hatred.
As Eliza managed to grab her by the throat, while Hortense explained her actions, she realized she couldn't use any weapons against her. She thought of her late husband, and with all her rage and anger, she found the strength to deliver a devastating blow to Pinker. Hortense had forgotten that Eliza knew how to fight. Yes, Eliza was indeed a karate champion. The blow was so powerful that Hortense fell to the ground, knocked unconscious.
Hortense was stunned, and Eliza's first priority was to regain her composure and think. It took her a while to process all the information. She had to act quickly. It was clear that Hortense Pinker had possessed her friend Lena's body. What could she do? She had lost her husband. Childless, without family, she had lost something of her reason for living. Could she save her friend?
Eliza pieced together the puzzle in her mind. After the execution, she understood that Hortense had taken possession of Dr. Peters' body. Through that electric shock. It seemed to work by contact. The doctor must have killed Paul, then possessed Jennifer's body, who in turn must have killed Ryan.
She tried to understand how Lena had become possessed as well. Then Eliza remembered that Lena was supposed to question Jenna, Ryan's daughter. Hortense must have taken control of Jenna in the meantime.
Suddenly, a plan took shape in Eliza's mind. She wanted to get rid of Pinker, but she did everything she could to save her friend. Sadly, she had to leave her husband's body in the kitchen. She dragged Lena's body to the car, put her in the passenger seat, and drove off.
When Hortense woke up, she was still groggy from the blow Eliza had given her. She found herself securely tied to a chair with a rope, but she didn't recognize the place. She seemed to be in a cabin. She could see a forest through the window opposite her. The cabin seemed isolated. Hortense began to flaile about, trying to loosen the ropes. But Eliza seemed to have tied her up tightly.
"Ah, there you are! You're awake!" said a voice behind her.
Eliza cautiously approached Hortense. She was holding a syringe!
"What are you going to do?" asked Hortense.
"Well, Pinker! It's quite simple! I'm going to get rid of you once and for all!"
"You won't hurt me! I'm in your friend's body!"
"You killed my husband! You destroyed lives! You deserve to die!" Eliza said, tears streaming down her face.
"Untie me, you filthy bitch!"
"It's over, Pinker! This syringe contains poison that will end your life! We're alone together. I'll let the poison work while I'm in the next room; there's no way for you to escape. I know you switch bodies through contact."
"You wouldn't do that to your friend Lena!"
"Yes, she was my friend! And she wouldn't have been able to bear being accused of my husband's crime! She would have put her duty above everything else, her duty to eliminate individuals like you!"
Eliza administered the injection while Hortense continued to struggle. Hortense saw determination in Eliza's eyes. Yes, she had pushed Eliza to her limit. Hortense was currently restrained by contact and securely tied down. Her situation was desperate; Eliza had planned her move well.
It was then that Eliza instinctively touched Hortense's knee for support. A clear flash erupted from Hortense's body and sliced through Eliza. Eliza's body fell to the floor, and then Lena, freed from Hortense, fainted. The empty syringe fell to the floor.
A few seconds later, Eliza's eyes opened. Hortense could see Lena's unconscious body, still tied to the chair. Hortense imagined Lena was slowly dying from poisoning. She stood up and gazed at her new body, that of Eliza Bennett.
"Oh, my dear, you shouldn't have touched me! One touch was enough," said Hortense.
She leaned over Lena's body and stroked her face.
"Thank you, my dear friend," Hortense said sarcastically. "It's time to go close the Pinker case."
Hortense left the cabin. She saw that the cabin was well insulated. Eliza's plan was truly ingenious. If she hadn't touched Lena's body, she could have died of poisoning! She wandered around the entrance and saw Eliza's car in the distance. The place seemed eerie, like something out of a horror movie. Even the crow came and settled near Eliza. It must have sensed death in the cabin.
"This is fantastic! Now I'm Eliza Bennett. Let's go have some fun with my new body," Hortense said aloud.
As Hortense walked calmly toward the car, she thought back to Eliza's last act: the sacrifice of her friend Lena. Was Eliza so determined to eliminate her, even at the cost of her friend's life? It troubled her, and Hortense felt uneasy. Physically uneasy. As she walked, she felt a certain discomfort, difficulty breathing. She experienced strange sensations with her new body: first, bruises from blows, probably from the fight in the apartment, then the feeling of having been pricked on the arm, as if by a mosquito or a syringe. Her body gradually went numb. She put her hands to her throat as if to help her breathe. Then, she could no longer breathe normally. Hortense felt dizzy, then collapsed to the floor. Her heart stopped.
An hour later, cries of "Help!" could be heard coming from the cabin. A police car arrived on the scene and rushed into the cabin. They found Officer Lena Lambert tied to a chair. They helped her untie herself.
"Officer Lambert? Are you all right? We received a call from Officer Eliza Bennett, who instructed us to come to this cabin at a certain time!"
"Where am I? And where is Officer Bennett?" Lena asked.
The two officers looked at each other before replying:
"We found her dead, not far from here."
"Oh my God, no! Lizie..."
"We're so sorry."
"But why? I don't understand."
"She left you this."
One of the officers handed Lena a letter. She immediately recognized her handwriting. She rubbed the marks made by the ropes on her hands, and left the cabin, and began to read.
"I am Eliza Bennett, a detective with the police for the past 12 years. This is my confession. Although this story seems unbelievable, I still find it hard to believe. I hope this letter will clear my name if I am accused of multiple crimes, and I hope it will exonerate Detective Lena Lambert...."
As Lena read the letter, she finally understood the whole situation. It turned out that Eliza had indeed figured out that Pinker had found a way to possess women, thanks to Azazel's power. Eliza had tricked Hortense into thinking she was going to kill her friend Lena to get rid of her. But in reality, the syringe was an anesthetic, which slowed Lena's heart rate, but it was harmless. Eliza, on the other hand, had actually injected herself with poison. She was counting on Hortense being further into the forest, isolated from everyone. Eliza had sacrificed herself to kill Hortense Pinker.
Despite these irrational explanations, Lena had to admit that everything fit. She could hardly believe it and was heartbroken to have lost her friend. The investigation couldn't be closed. Eliza had taken care to clean the weapon that had killed Michael and disposed of it anyway. Therefore, nothing could implicate Lena. Lena would have to close the case. Only Lena would know the truth and that Hortense Pinker's career had indeed ended thanks to her friend's sacrifice.
The police took Eliza's body away while Lena finished reading the letter. Lena couldn't wait to leave this gloomy place. The crow flew abruptly and grazed Lena's face.
Detective Inspector Eliza Bennett's funeral took place a week later. The ceremony was beautiful. Eliza had an excellent service record and had successfully solved numerous cases. Her colleagues were saddened to learn of her death, especially under such bizarre circumstances. Eliza had died of poisoning. They discovered the poison in the cabin, bearing her fingerprints, as well as on the syringe. They concluded it was suicide. They attributed this suicide to the grief of having likely found her husband murdered in her home. The case of Michael's murder, moreover, was never solved. The murder was very similar to those of a certain Paul and a certain Ryan. Some even theorized that it was the work of a copycat of Hortense Pinker. But the culprits, Vanessa and Jennifer, were both imprisoned. Since then, the murders have stopped. Everything had returned to normal.
With one exception: the strange behavior of Inspector Léna Lambert, who seemed colder, more distant. After her friend's death, she had taken only one day off and returned to duty. She was among the last to pay her respects at Eliza's grave. But why wasn't she shedding any tears?
THE END
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