Just a quick warning for all before you read this chapter:
As I'm proof reading this, I can't help but notice this is a tad darker then some of my other chapters. It may get a tad disturbing within the first couple of paragraphs.
Be prepared.
"You're so pretty when you scream."
Am I…..crying? Yes I am although I'm not surprised. I haven't stopped crying since this whole affair began. I try hard not to cry in front of him, try hard to keep my tears unseen but still he whispers in my ear about how pathetic and worthless I really am.
I think, in the grand scheme of things, he may be right.
I watched him talk to them. I watched him buy them drink after drink until they were plastered. Then he brought them home, said it would be better if they slept it off at his house instead of driving home. I pray each night he would leave them in the spare bedroom till morning so I could see to them. Maybe then the last thing they would see is someone caring not a monster.
Instead he takes them to the basement, locks them in and prepares for his orgy of blood and pain.
And still I am powerless to stop him.
He thanks for me for padding the basement out so no-one can hear the screams. It's not like it would matter. We live miles away from anyone. He doesn't leave me to my thoughts. He drags me down to the basement, tells me to watch. And even though I know I should run and call the police, I stay on the stairs and cry.
"You should try it. You don't know what you're missing."
I watch as he craves at their chest…
"I'm sorry."
…Bites into their flesh…
"I wish I could save you."
…and lap at their blood.
The next morning, in a haze of pain-killers and vodka, I wake to find he has gone. He leaves the mess for me to clean. Only after numerous cups of coffee am I in any state to venture into the basement.
This time I can't help but throw up at the bottom of the stairs. This…boy…it shouldn't have happened him. He wasn't even his type. Pale green hair stood out against his white skin and blue tinted lips.
How could he do this?
I haven't been down to the basement for the rest of the day. I have work to do, a job to go to, bills to pay. But, always, in the back of mind is the dead guy in my basement. The floor was stained a lighter shade of crimson over the years.
10 years worth of bleach couldn't clean that mess.
When I get home I stood in front of the mirror only it's not me I see. He's staring back at me, reminding me he's still there. He looks like me and sounds like me but we are completely different. He grins at me and I feel the urge to throw up again.
"Why are you doing this?"
He merely grins and moves to sort out his hair. There were flecks of dried blood at his hands but he'll wash it off before he goes out again.
"Because it's fun."
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Kai struggled to open his eyes as he groped around for his phone. He was glad that someone was calling. His dreams were taking a disturbing turn and the Russian found he was unable to wake up. Finally he grabbed the phone. "Hello, Kai Hiwatari." He murmured sleepily.
"Oh! I'm sorry if I woke you. Should I call back another time?"
Kai shook the sleep away and swallowed thickly. "No, No. I was just dozing. How may I help you?" The Russian inquired. A wet whizzing cough was heard on the other end. That and the fact that the woman on the other end was sorry for waking him told Kai it was not Jemma. The english never seemed sorry for waking Kai up.
"I do apologize. I was wondering if you were free tomorrow lunch time. There is going to be a gathering at the Willow's peak cemetery." The old woman began. Kai grabbed his notebook, flicking to a clean page and began to scribble down the details.
"Any reason for the gathering?" The Russian questioned.
"My husband was a member of a local group and they want to elect a bench and tree in his honour. I hear you're the best in the photography business." The old woman paused to cough again. "Can you make it?"
Kai lay his pen down on the coffee table. "Of course. What time?" Kai listened carefully, grabbing the pen once and scribbling down a time. "Okay then. Good bye." Kai exhaled loudly as he cut the connection. Willow's peak cemetery was also the final resting place of his mother. Then something caught his eye.
On the edge of the coffee table was yellow tinted piece of paper. When Kai took hold of it, he found half of it had been burnt. "Employee list for The Sn…" Kai paused and frowned. He quickly read down the list but only found initials.
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Jemma frowned to herself as she propped open the back door of the club. The local kids had been hanging around the alley since the murderers began and although they weren't doing anything, they seemed to be making a lot of noise.
"Hit it again!"
Jemma stepped outside watching the kids throw a stone at something. Glancing up at the top of the dumpster, Jemma watched a large crow dodge the stone. "Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing?" Jemma yelled, running towards the kids.
"What's it look like?" One of the boys sneered as his friend threw another stone. The crow gave a loud squawk as the stone hit its chest and fell to the floor. Rage boiled in Jemma's veins and she grabbed the stone thrower's wrist. "Hey! Let go of my mate you bitch!"
"If I catch you round here again, I'm calling the police. You got it? Now clear out of here before I have to turn nasty." Jemma growled. The kids fled, chanting insults at Jemma as she turned back to the crow. The crow hopped around on the floor, slightly winded. "You okay now?" Jemma smiled, crouching in front of the bird.
"Jemma? Why are you talking to a crow?" Nathan asked as he lent against the dumpster. The crow hopped closer towards Jemma before flying away.
"The kids were picking on him. Thought I'd step in." Jemma smiled as the crow disappeared before standing up and turning to Nathan. "So what's up Nathan-kun?" she asked.
"Do you know anyone by the name of Masefield?" Nathan inquired. Jemma cocked her head to one side before walking past Nathan and into the club. "Maybe a last name?" The male added, following his friend into the club. Jemma shook her head.
"Nope. Not on the employee list, not a family member and not a friend." Jemma turned to Nathan, her hands clasped behind her. "Why?" Nathan closed the back door and pulled a small yellow tinted scrap of paper from his pocket. Jemma gingerly took it off him.
"Found with the employee folder. From the state of it, it looks pretty old. Just thought it was one of ours and we'd knocked coffee over it." Nathan explained with a small shrug of his shoulders. Jemma turned the paper over in her hands and shook her head.
"Looks burnt too. Unless we knocked coffee over it then set it on fire, I doubt its ours." Jemma's hand hovered over the bin that was next to them before slipping the piece of paper in her pocket. "For some reason I have a feeling it might be important all the same."
Thank you to SchoolBoredom for her review.