Chapter 12: Rat Bites and Teenage Rage
The smell was the first thing. A sickly sweet, metallic tang, overlaid with something distinctly… rodent-like. Adama wrinkled his nose, pulling his jacket collar higher. "Ugh. Smells like a particularly bad day at the cheese factory, followed by a very aggressive pest control problem."
[CASE ALERT: Music teacher deceased, rat bites. Primary Wesen: Maurits (Rat-like). Motive: Revenge due to bullying. Objective: Apprehend Maurits, address root cause.]
"Rat bites? Seriously?" Adam scoffed, watching Nick and Hank enter the crime scene – a high school music room, now a gruesome tableau of overturned instruments and a body covered in… well, exactly what the System said. "So, we've got a 'Pied Piper' situation, but instead of leading children to safety, he's leading rats to… well, to this. Someone clearly had a bad day at band practice."
Wanda, however, looked disturbed. Her hands clenched, and a faint tremor ran through her. "I feel… intense anger. And fear. So much fear. From the boy."
"The Maurits, yeah," Adam confirmed, his tone softening slightly. "System, give me everything on Maurits. Their social dynamics, their rat-controlling abilities, and any historical instances of them snapping. I have a feeling this isn't just about a bad grade in music class."
The Library's data flowed into his mind: Maurits, a timid, often bullied Wesen species, frequently preyed upon by larger, more aggressive Wesen. Their ability to control rats was primarily a defense mechanism, a last resort for the desperate. The history was filled with accounts of Maurits, pushed too far, unleashing their swarms in acts of brutal, desperate revenge.
"So, basically, he's the bullied kid who finally snapped and unleashed his furry, disease-ridden army," Adam summarized, a hint of empathy in his voice despite his usual flippancy. "It's like a really dark, messed-up version of Revenge of the Nerds, but with more rodents and less toga parties."
They observed the scene, and later, the school. It wasn't hard to spot the bullies – hulking, aggressive kids who seemed to take perverse pleasure in tormenting the smaller, quieter Maurits teenager. The boy himself was a picture of suppressed rage and terror, his eyes darting, his hands clenching, a subtle, almost imperceptible hum of agitation emanating from him that only Wanda seemed to pick up on.
Monroe, meanwhile, was explaining the nuances of Wesen social hierarchy to a bewildered Nick. "It's a pecking order, Nick. Some Wesen, like Blutbaden, are at the top. Others, like Maurits, are… well, they're often at the bottom. And sometimes, when they get pushed too far, they lash out. It's not always about being evil, Nick. Sometimes it's about survival."
Adam nodded, a rare moment of agreement with the universe. "See? Even monsters have social issues. Who knew? It's like high school, but with more fangs and less awkward prom photos."
He watched the Maurits teenager, a knot forming in his stomach. This wasn't just a criminal; this was a victim. And while the crime was horrific, the motivation was tragically understandable. He knew what he had to do. This wasn't about simply apprehending a killer; it was about addressing the underlying cause.
"Alright, Wanda," Adam murmured. "This isn't just a case for Nick. This is a case for empathy. We need to find a way to stop this kid without, you know, turning him into a statistic. And maybe, just maybe, teach these bullies a lesson they won't forget. Without, you know, summoning a plague of rats. Unless absolutely necessary. Which, let's be honest, is always an option." He gave a wry grin. "Time to play 'Wesen Social Worker,' with a side of supernatural intervention."
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