Mysterious Ends

Castle Rock is overtaken with murder. First it was Burt Jenkins, then Mary Guthrie, and now Jane Houston. Though there have been a few suspects already, none are found guilty and no one can seem to figure out...

Who done it?

Hello my friends! So yesterday I went to a school play, a murder mystery, and instantly became inspired to write my own. I hope you enjoy and I always really appreciate any suggestions you guys have for me. Thanks!

Ch. 1 - Strange Happenings

With the steady ring of murders happening in Castle Rock, Gordie was unable to focus. He sat in his room staring at the blank page in front of him, his pen lying nicely on top of it. Every time he tried shaking the horrifying thoughts out of his mind, they crept back in and kept him from writing. It didn't help that Chris was chewing loudly on jelly beans on Gordie's bed. But besides the crinkling of the jelly bean bag, the room was awkwardly silent, with only the boys and their thoughts occupying it.

Starting on June 30th of 1964, the death toll of Castle Rock began a steady increase. It commenced with the murder of an innocent seven year old boy named Burt Jenkins. He was well known in the town, playing little league football at his grade school, dreaming of being in the big leagues. His idol was none other than Denny Lachance, the passed on older brother of Gordie Lachance.
Burt Jenkins was shot on his lawn in the afternoon of the 30th. He was found sprawled near a bush, clutching his most prized possession (a football), with a hole in his stomach.

The next day, the town's residents were hopping with fear and uncertainty. On the street, people passed each other with caution. Some whispered to others.

"Oh my, the poor boy. He was so young."

"It brings back memories of that poor boy five years ago who was killed by that train, Ray Brower."

"Castle Rock has never faced such a tragedy. It's just so sad. Who would do this to an innocent little seven year old?"

Questions circled the town. Curiosity and fear lurked around every corner.
People stayed in their homes, occasionally peeking through their curtains, hiding from the world.
Castle Rock had never seemed so abandoned and lonely, but the question of who was eating at people like moths.

For a week, police were the only ones on the streets. The people at home stuck to their radios and television sets, anticipating the latest news on the murderer.

"What does he look like?"

"I bet you it's that up-to-no-good Ace and his tag along friends."

"How did no one witness it?"

Accusations swirled from house to house. Some stopped trusting their friends. Some accused the obvious troublemakers. Some suspected the most introverted of the town's people.
But for a week, nothing was certain. The police picked around the subject, trying to find a proper suspect. Naturally, Ace was the first to be confronted, but at least ten people reassured the fuzz that he had been playing pool at noon on June 30th.

The search continued.
After a tense seven days of searching and wondering, another murder made the evening news. This time it was an 87 year old woman by the name of Mary Guthrie who had lived a quiet life up on the view. She lived in a beautiful but humble home, with only her two cats to keep her company. They two were found dead on the evening of July 7th, 1964, closely held in the arms of their owner.

A much stronger panic eclipsed the small town of Castle Rock. The previous population of 1200 dropped to 1183 over night, and continued to decrease thereafter. Within two weeks of the second murder, only 1100 were left.

People flipped coins to see who would have to leave the house to get groceries when they ran out. Many students were pulled out of school, so that only a few brave souls were left in the classrooms. Even the teachers fled like rats.

The prospect of death overtook everyone's life. Daily doings had ceased to exist. Diners and stores and laundromats went out of business. Often the only sound that could be heard from the outside world was the passing of funeral cars or the dreaded police siren.

For two more weeks, the murderer went unfound. A couple of suspects had been tried, giving the town a sprinkle of relief, but neither were found guilty.

The town fell back into a spiral. After the trials, a third person, by the name of Jane Houston, was found dead under a bridge. She was only thirteen. Castle Rock's residents were now in sheer survival mode. The population dropped another 100 overnight.

It was now August 1st as Gordie sat, not quite stilly, in his room with Chris.
Both were utterly silent.
Both were thinking the same thing.
"Who the hell could it be?"

Thanks for reading. So who do you think it is? And again, I always appreciate suggestions. If you're interested in this even having a bit of supernatural or fantasy-like happenings in it, tell me. Thanks again!