Hey there, everyone! It's time for yet another chapter of LOM. This will pick up with the killer again, how he managed to do in Tommy's parents and we see his next unfortunate victim. It has just not been a good week for North Philly, has it? Let's see what happens here.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter 4: Fire in the Hole
The figure smirked to himself as he watched the police show up at the Camden residence, prepared to investigate the murders he had committed. Honestly, he was surprised he managed to pull it off at all. It was one thing to even confront them, especially considering that their son was inside the house, waiting...
It was actually rather simple, as he thought back to what happened thirty minutes ago.
Mr. and Mrs. Camden were on their way back from work late. They had called Tommy earlier to let him know and to be home when they arrived. Of course, he obliged and waited patiently.
By the time they had pulled out, both of them were ready to get out, when a certain someone walked up to the drivers' side. Confused, Mr. Camden rolled down the window, "Can I help you?" he asked.
The figure smirked and held up a gun, "Stick 'em up! This is a robbery!" He demanded in a dark tone.
Mrs. Camden gasped in horror as she clung to her husband, who glared at the figure, "I don't know who you're playing, son. But you best leave. We need to tend to our son. If you want money, I-"
"Oh... I don't want money. It's not money I'm trying to rob..." The figure chuckled.
"Oh no?"
"No... it's your lives!"
Suddenly, the figured reached in to grab Mr. Camden by the neck. Putting the gun away, he now pulled out a knife, and in a single swipe, cut open the man's throat as blood gushed out. Mrs. Camden screamed out in horror and was about to run out of the car in fear, and also to get to Tommy, before the window on her side smashed open, and another figure grabbed her.
The leader laughed as he rounded the car to the woman's side and pointed the bloody knife at her, "So sad... you and your husband are honestly too strict. Making your son stay home all the time, making him follow so many rules, and never let him have any fun..."
"That's not t-true..." She whimpered tearfully, "We make rules for his safety... and we do let him play outside... because we trust him! Please... please don't hurt my baby..."
"Don't worry. I won't lay a finger on him... but I will leave him a message if you'd like..."
Mrs. Camden choked on a sob, realizing that there was no way out of this, "Tell him... that we love him... and to... a-always be careful in the world..."
"Good..."
With that, her throat was cut open, more blood gushing out. The leader looked at his knife, before grabbing a sheet of paper to write a message for little Tommy... but not the message that his mother wanted him to hear...
"Let's bounce... I think the kid will eventually notice..." he told his partner.
"Poor, poor Tommy... no parents... no rules..." The figure chuckled to himself as he licked off some of the blood on his knife, "That takes care of them... now to plan the next victim... and I think this one will be quite... fiery..."
The next afternoon.
"A double murder has been committed last night. Peter and Carol Camden were found dead in their car by their only son, Thomas. Police are currently investigating this matter as well as the previous murders this week. Much like before, a note was found, this time picked up by Thomas upon his discovery."
This was the news report that the boys were watching after school today. They honestly couldn't believe that Tommy had lost both of his parents in one night. There's no telling what'll happen now.
"Poor Tommy..." Harold shook his head.
"I can't imagine what he's going through..." Bill added.
Albert frowned, "I do... he came to me and my folks after he found his parents. Poor dude was terrified and scared. He's currently at my house right now. The police wanted to come by and pick him up, but my folks offered to look after him for the time being."
"Tommy's an orphan..." Rudy said, mostly to himself, "That's tough..."
"Does this mean he'll have to go to an orphanage?" Russell asked.
"Not if he has other family members he can move in with," Bill answered, "Considering he hasn't lived in North Philly that long, he probably has family in another town or state."
"He did mention an aunt that lives in Pittsburg." Albert mentioned, "He might have to go live with her, but he doesn't want to leave North Philly..."
"Why wouldn't he?" Rudy asked, "With all the killing happening, who wouldn't want to ditch town by this point? Besides, it's not like this is the first time Tommy has moved..."
Albert sighed, "Yeah, but he's really made friends here. And it's important that we be there for him and support him right now. He's going through a lot, and needs someone."
The rich boy nodded, "Right... sorry if I sounded like an ass then."
"It's okay. You sound like that all the time. We're used to it." Russell teased.
"Shut it, shrimp..."
Albert then got up, "I better head home to check up on Tommy, and see how he's doing."
"Yeah, go do that, man." Bill smiled, "He probably misses you."
"Heh, yeah..."
With that, the fat boy left, and it wasn't long before the other dudes started to leave as well. They agreed to actually meet up at Rudy's place later for a sleepover. Just a little something to take their minds off the recent events. Once Albert had returned home, he could see that Tommy had calmed down since the night before. Officer Monroe had come by to check on him.
Even with that, the poor boy was still traumatized and heartbroken over what he witnessed. While calm, he was very quiet and seemed to isolate himself now. Even as Albert's mother offered him food and comfort, he still kept to himself. Albert felt awful for his friends. The Camden's, while somewhat strict, loved and cared for Tommy. Why would anybody want to kill them? And who?
The answer was somewhat simple to Albert. The same person who killed Bobby and Elaine. The same person who left a note at the scene of every crime they committed.
And it was only a matter of time before another murder was committed...
Hopefully, it wouldn't...
Hopefully, the murderer was caught before that happened...
Hopefully...
Later on that night...
"It's time. Let's roll, dudes..."
The criminals were on the move again as they made their way through the dark alleys of the city. It was that time again, to commit another heinous act that would result in the death of another innocent citizen of North Philly.
The leader stood outside a house just on the other side of town and grinned upon seeing the lights inside. That meant that their next victim was hopefully home... and alone...
With that, he walked up to the door and knocked on it, before getting out of sight. From behind, the figures watched as the door opened, revealing Devery, "Hello? Anybody there...?" He called.
One of the figured jumped through an open window on the side of the house, carrying a few things.
After a few seconds, Devery shrugged and closed the door, "Must be some ding dong ditching dudes. Oh well. Better get back to my reading. Good thing I've got the house to myself."
As the teen walked back upstairs to his room, the figured were in the kitchen. One of them pouring gasoline all over the floors, leading from the kitchen to the living room and dining room, while another turned on the oven all the way and opened it. The leader smirked to himself as he planted a couple of sticks of dynamite on the windows and chairs. That and other forms of explosives were connected to one another.
And could be set off with a push of a button.
"I think that's another, dudes... let's bounce..."
One of the followers lit a couple of matches and dropped them in the gasoline. With that, the group left out the window...
As for Devery, he was currently looking at comics for the minutes that followed, unaware of what was going on downstairs. But it wouldn't be long before he did, as after twenty minutes had passed... the boy started to smell smoke.
"Huh...?"
Getting up, he went to investigate the issue, just as he heard the smoke detector. Walking downstairs, Devery gasped in horror to see the living room up in flames. The house was on fire!
"Oh no! How did this happen?!"
His first instinct was to get to a phone and call 911. Thankfully, the house phone was close enough for him to get to without having to overcome the fire. He picked it up and quickly dialed. After a few seconds, an operator answered.
"911. What's your emergency?"
"Hey! My house is on fire! Get the firetrucks! Please!" He responded frantically.
"Can we get a name and location?"
"My name is Devery Suter. I live in North Philadelphia! On 115 Oakwood Street! Please, you gotta send help! I don't think I can even get outta my house!"
"I'm sending a rescue squad and firefighters, Devery. Help is on the way!"
Devery sighed in relief before he started to cough. The smoke was getting thicker and was started to overwhelm him. He had to get out... somehow. The front door was burning, and the fire was started to spread towards the stairs. The most he could do was get low to the ground, just as his parents taught him and his sister.
But as he did, he couldn't help but look up to the window closest to him, to see a piece of paper taped to it... with words...
Payback's a bitch. See you in Hell
What did that mean?
Poor Devery didn't have a chance to comprehend as the smoke finally caused him to pass out...
From outside the burning house, far away, the figure chuckled to himself as he heard sirens in the distance. But try as they might... they wouldn't be able to make it in time to save Devery Suter from his fiery doom.
Holding up the remote for the explosives... he pressed the button... and watched as the house exploded into a fireball, just as the fire trucks and ambulances arrived, "Evil and murder has never felt so good... time to leave a message..."
He picked up a folded sheet of paper that already had the message written. He unfolded it, before letting it blow towards the house. The message here was just as chilling as the message Devery had seen before his death...
'Don't you wish you would've gone home when your sister told you that Halloween night, Devery? Too bad home was where you met your end...'
Wow. We see how the murderer took out Tommy's parents, and now we've lost Devery (from the Halloween Special). I gave him the surname of Suter (The surname of his and Rudy's voice actor, Eric Suter. Some sources say that he's was actually voiced by Gerald Edwards, who voiced Harold. But he sounds closer to Eric).
Next chapter will, of course, be mostly reactions to this latest murder. And we'll see the guys soft sides as they comfort someone really affected by this most recent tragedy. Until then, I'll see you guys later. And as always, don't forget to review, please. Thank you!
