Chapter 12

A Mother and Wife's Despair, Part 2

"So far, Mineral Town had been torn in two by a terrible killer that has, so far, taken 2 lives. No one has any clues as to who the killer is, other than eighteen-year-old Popuri, who used to live in the local Poultry Farm before her mother killed her in a violent rage. Popuri was accused of killed her brother, whose name we will not mention for the family's privacy, and because of this, her mother caused both a homicide and a suicide, killing herself shortly after her daughter. This little community is praying for their safety, and that the killer will eventually be caught..."

Jeff switched off the small TV on the counter and sighed. The reporter, who had been in Rose Square in the middle of the storm raging outside, had basically told the public all the information that the Mayor had given the town a few days ago on the recent homicides.

Karen won't take well to her husband's death... he thought, as his wife Sasha passed by with a basket of fresh bread for the display.

"Any more news on the killer?" she asked, packing the loaves into stacks on the table.

"Nothing more than we know already," he replied, crossing to her and picking off a piece of sourdough.

"Damn..." she said sadly, wiping her hand on her dress and, out of nowhere, squeezing her husband into a hug, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Why did..." she stuttered, "Why did they h-have to t-take Rick! Now K-karen is going t-to be s-so s-sad!"

As she said this, the front door burst open, and in walked their daughter, drenched to the bone, still in her pajamas. She was so wet, you couldn't even tell that she was crying.

"Honey, are you okay?" Jeff said, releasing his wife and running to his daughter.

Karen didn't respond. Her lips twitched a bit, but no sound came out.

"Karen, baby, is something wrong?"

"I saw..." she whispered.

"Saw what?"

"Saw Lillia murder Popuri..."

Her parents gasped.

"Why didn't you tell us before?" Jeff said disapprovingly. Then he saw it.

"Karen, why do you have a GUN!" he shouted, reaching for it, but Karen pulled her arm back in time, so that Jeff fell to the floor on his face. She loaded it and pointed it at her dad's back. Her eyes gleamed with tears, as her mother dropped to her knees with her hands raised high, as though she were a fugitive on Cops.

"Goodbye, Daddy!"

BANG!

SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

BANG!

BANG!

Whumph...

Mommy... I'm... sorry...

END