Jennifer sat on her bed cradling the baby. She glanced at the clock. It was four in the morning. She sighed and realized that it was Christmas. She shook her head at the irony. She was an orphan again. She would be eighteen soon, but until then, what would happen to her? Would she go back to an orphanage?
Nolan. He was in jail. Even after she turned eighteen she would have to wait for him. She was all alone. She didn't have anybody. And this wasn't like when she was fourteen. She had a baby now. She had to protect it from Scissorman.
Why did this have to happen to her? She just wanted to be adopted by a nice man. Even staying at the Granite Orphanage was tolerable. But Scissorman took all that away from her. Then she got to stay with Helen. It had been the best three years of her life. Now even Helen was gone. And it was her fault. If Jennifer had said something the night before they would have gotten out of the house. But instead she shrugged off the sound and decided it was just her imagination.
Her baby was being fussy. It was obviously upset about the whole taped up mouth thing. But Jennifer had no choice. They would both be dead if she hadn't done it.
"Teach," Gotts said to himself. Like Jennifer, he was awake at his home. Helen was gone. The two had formed a deep friendship after the clock tower murders. Then when Scissorman returned they had worked together to try to stop him.
Now Scissorman was back. He was responsible for Jennifer's safety and deep down he knew that he was powerless. Scissorman was apparently more powerful than the last time. He managed to jam the doors to prevent Jennifer's rescue.
His apartment was eerily quiet. He never married and lived alone. And while he never mentioned it, he had really cared for Helen. But she had been taken away from him.
It was six in the morning and Professor Barton arrived home from his sister's house. He had been visiting his relatives for the holidays and hadn't been home to hear about the murders. He glanced at his answering machine. He pushed the play button.
Gotts's voice started to speak, "Professor Barton, I hate to tell you this over the answering machine but Helen has been murdered. Call me as soon as possible."
"Oh my god," Professor Barton said in disbelief. Then a second message from Gotts started to play.
"Professor Barton, I have more bad news. This time Beth has been murdered. And it was Scissorman that committed both crimes. Call me." Barton dialed Gott's number.
"Hello," Gotts said glumly.
"Yeah, this is Professor Barton."
"Oh, Professor. I guess you got my message," Gotts said. He filled in Barton about the events. After their conversation ended Barton sat on his sofa and started to think. He lost two more of his employees.
Ever since the last murders Gotts had often wandered if they were his fault. He had always known that something was a little off about Harris. Perhaps if he had done or said something he wouldn't have bargained with Scissorman. Instead he was so consumed with his research that he never bothered to do anything.
Now his research staff was virtually gone. "What am I going to do?"
Nolan was watching tv in the jail. The morning news was on. The anchorwoman started to speak. "Two women were murder yesterday in a style similar to that of the clock tower murders. Both women were survivors of the other killings attributed to Scissorman that occurred in 1998."
"Jennifer," Nolan said in shock. She couldn't be dead. She just couldn't be. The tv showed the pictures of the victims. Nolan realized that it was the other two women. Helen and Beth. He suddenly felt happy, sad, scared and relieved at the same time. He was sad that Helen and Beth were dead. But he was happy that they died instead of Jennifer. He was relieved but still worried about what was going to happen to her.
Jennifer was in danger and he was stuck in the jail. He couldn't do anything at all to help her.
