CREEPY MADDIE

With Tim gone, Ellie had to drive Maddie to school. Maddie wanted to ride the bus, but Ellie insisted on driving her. It would only be another year before she could drive on her own and it could not come any sooner. Maddie hated being in the car with her. Ellie drove much slower than Tim did which made the drive much more of an ordeal. She felt like jumping out and running into the desert. She wanted to run towards Black Mesa. Maybe Tim would be there. She missed Black Mesa. She missed Tim.

"I remember driving Timothy to school," Ellie said, "Such a long time ago. I actually enjoy doing this for you Madeline."

Maddie did not want to speak with her. She would come and go from the house and Ellie would not even realize it.

"So, Madeline, how are your grades?" Ellie asked.

"They're good," she muttered.

Maddie wanted to turn on the radio and blast music, but Ellie disliked the radio and preferred to drive in silence. At least when Tim drove, they listen to political talk. She hated it but it was better than listening to her.

"Timothy always got good grades," Ellie continued, "That's why he went to a good college and became successful. Do you want to be a scientist?"

"Yeah," Maddie replied apathetically.

After arriving at school, Maddie was glad to be away from Ellie, but felt miserable in the halls of the school. After she opened her locker, she looked behind her and saw Jessica, a popular cheerleader with long blonde hair, a pretty face, and a slim frame. She was walking alongside Cody, an athletic kid with short black hair and a square face. Jessica saw her and smirked at her. Maddie returned an evil smile.

"It's Creepy Maddie," Jessica said.

"Yeah, the little freak," Cody stated, "Creepy Maddie."

Once again, Maddie had made another enemy. She closed her locker and watched Jessica and Cody walk down the hall. Then, Lana and Eva walked by. Lana bumped into Maddie, causing her to drop her books.

"Oops!" Lana sarcastically said.

"What a loser," Eva added.

The rage built up inside her. The need to kill grew strong. As she kneeled to pick up her books, someone stepped on them. It was Brock.

"I love it when girls are on their knees," Brock said. "But you're not pretty enough for me."

Maddie stood up and stared him right in the eyes.

"What's the matter?" He asked. "Gonna cry? Go ahead. I'm going fishing with my dad. What are you gonna do with yours, stare at his gravestone?"

Maddie had an evil smile.

"Actually, he's been looking for a neighbor," she said, "Maybe I should bury you next to him. I'll keep your head in my room."

Brock started to feel uneasy. He grabbed her shoulders and placed her against the locker.

"You think you can scare me?" He said. "I'll break your damn bones."

"Go for it big boy," she replied.

Brock smacked the locker, in an attempt to scare her. Maddie was unfazed and smiled at him.

"What's the matter? Can't do it?" Maddie said.

Maddie laughed and Brock let go of her. He walked away from her and she smiled. After the last bell rang, Maddie stood outside, waiting for her ride. She saw Jessica and Cody smiling and laughing as they got into a car. She looked around for Ellie's car. Tim was never late picking her up. She was not looking forward to going home with Ellie, she just wanted to leave school and return to her bunker. Then, she saw what appeared to be Tim's car. As she ran towards it, she saw him in the car. He was waving at her. For the first time in many weeks, she had a smile of happiness and felt like she was little girl again. Then, reality sunk in. It was Ellie in her car. As Maddie felt disappointed, she got inside the car and they drive home.

When they got home, Maddie left Ellie's house and was in the bunker. She sharpened and cleaned her knives. She was amazed by the sharpness and anticipated cutting a bad person's flesh with them. Later, she began working the heavy bag. She threw each punch and kick with Lana and Eva in her mind. When she began her katana training, she thought of slicing Brock in half.

Maddie went out to the football field was running. She kept a moderate pace as she ran back and forth across the field. After a few runs, she took a break and walked around the end zone. She looked at the city skyline in the distance. Then, she saw someone at the other end of the field leaning on the goal post. She couldn't see who it was. The person waved to her. She walked towards the person and realized it was Tim. He continued to wave to her as Maddie ran towards him. Then, she stopped and realized it was only her imagination.

Rusty was now driving past Ellie's house, looking for any suspicious activity. With him retiring soon, he had to be sure Maddie was the one who committed the murders. He stopped his car next to a house with a "FOR SALE" sign in the yard. He stared at Ellie's house and wondered what Maddie was doing. He didn't want to admit he was obsessed with her. He just wanted to bring the ones responsible to justice. Rusty was going to solve this case even if it killed him. He was about to drive away when he saw a familiar face. It was Clara walking towards him. She was walking in front of his car. Her long brown hair was partially covering her face. He smiled and got out of the car.

"Clara," he said.

She smiled at him. Then, he realized it wasn't her. Maddie was staring at him with evil eyes. He was startled at the sight of her at first, but quickly became calm.

"I thought you were someone else," he said.

"Why do you keep following me?" Maddie asked. "You were at my daddy's funeral. I saw you. I know you suspect me of something."

"I don't have a reason to suspect you."

Maddie giggled.

"Why are you out here?" Rusty asked.

"Just out for a run."

"Sorry about your dad. I know what he did, but still, I do feel bad for you."

"I just saw him…in my head…he's all around me…he'll never go away. Now I have to go inside, dinner's almost ready."

Maddie walked to the house and went inside. Rusty got back in the car, realizing he was seeing images of people as well and they had something in common.

During the night, as Rusty laid in bed, he thought about Maddie. Since seeing her earlier, he could not stop thinking about her. He would not admit to himself that he was obsessed. He laid awake thinking about the case against Maddie. He tried to think of a piece of evidence that could convict her. He then thought about the resemblance Maddie had with Clara. The many thoughts that ran through his head caused his insomnia. Then, he looked out the window and saw a silhouette of someone. It appeared to be a woman. Rusty grabbed his gun. The silhouette jumped into Rusty's room. It was Maddie. Rusty fired his gun but all he heard was clicks. Maddie laughed. Rusty tried to swing a lamp at her but she grabbed it and pinned him on the bed while laughing. Rusty could not bring himself to say anything as Maddie sat on top of him. She ran her finger under his chin.

"I know you're after me," Maddie said, "I can't let you convict me. I killed them all. They needed to die."

"Don't do this," Rusty said.

"Shhh."

Maddie took out a knife. With an ear piercing scream, she swung the knife at him. Then, Rusty woke up from the nightmare. He grabbed his gun and pointed it at the window. He laid back in bed with a sigh of relief. Maddie was now inside his head.

As Rusty drove to work the next morning, he saw a large anti-police protest. He tried not to look at it due to the fact that it would only cause him anger. He couldn't turn on the radio because nearly every station was talking about the protest. Rusty then came to a stop light. The protest was in an area to the side of him. He decided to look at it and saw people parading around with anger. The irony was that there were some officers there that had to protect the anti-police protest. This made him glad he was no longer a patrol officer.

Rusty sat at his desk looking through the case files of the murders that Maddie was suspected of. He could not shake the thought of her. She creeped into his mind. All he saw in her was Clara. Then, Det. Elliot walked up to his desk.

"Hey Briggs, we got a murdered woman on Davison Avenue," he said.

He stood up and then the two walked through the station.

"Davison? That's a rotten shithole," Rusty replied.

"Yeah, gang territory," Det. Elliot said.

"I wonder if it was the Night Slasher."

"Nah, it wasn't."

"What makes you so sure?"

"Her body parts are still attached to her."

An uneasy feeling came over Rusty of the thought of a dead woman. He immediately suspected a drug overdose.

Det. Briggs and Det. Elliot made it to the crime scene. The dead body was a young woman with a bruise across her forehead and black eye. Det. Briggs had flashes as he looked at the dead body. Det. Elliot inspected the body as Det. Briggs attempted to shake away the bad memories.

"Possible blunt force trauma," Det. Elliot said.

Det. Briggs stood near the body.

"How do you know it wasn't asphyxiation?" Det. Briggs asked. "Look at the markings around her neck."

Det. Elliot noticed a rope like red mark along her throat.

"Maybe your right," Det. Elliot said.

"My theory is she was beaten and then strangled to death."

"That makes sense."

Det. Elliot rarely questioned Det. Briggs when it came to the cause of death. Det. Elliot was more concerned with capturing the suspect. Det. Briggs stared at the body. Soon this would all be over for him and the end could not come quick enough.

As Maddie walked through the halls, she saw Brock bullying Brandon, a scrawny kid with black hair and glasses, who was in the same science class as her. Brock pushed him and laughed. Lana and Eva were there, laughing as well. Maddie's impulse kicked in and she stormed over there. Maddie grabbed Brock by the hair and pulled him back.

"Try picking on me asshole," Maddie said.

"Hey, let him go!" Lana yelled.

Maddie pulled on his hair, causing Brock pain. She pulled him back until he could see her face. Maddie had an evil gaze on her.

"How would you like to die right now?" Maddie asked. "I can break your spine or snap your neck. Which sounds more painful to you?"

"Maddie you loser," Eva said.

Eva walked towards her but Maddie held out her hand as if she was holding a knife. She made slashing motion at Eva's throat. Eva froze in fear.

"Oh my god, she's insane," Eva said.

Maddie smiled at her and then grabbed Brock by the throat and pressed him against the locker.

"Say you're sorry," Maddie said to him.

"S-s-sorry," Brock said.

Maddie let go of him and he crawled away. He held his throat.

"I'll kill you for that you dumb bitch," Brock said.

Lana and Eva help him up. As they walked away, Lana smirked at her. Brandon was still on the ground cowering in fear. Maddie held her hand out and helped him up. He looked at her with delight.

"Um, thank you," he said.

"Why do you let them do that to you?" She asked.

"You've seen him, he's bigger…"

"Brandon, I've dealt with bigger people than me. I took care of it."

Maddie stared deep into his eyes. Brandon felt nervous. Maddie realized that Brock needed to die.

"Can you keep a secret?" She asked.

"Um, okay."

"Brock and his friends are going to that dance tonight. I say we teach them a lesson."

Brandon nodded and Maddie smiled.

"What do you have in mind?" Brandon asked.

"Let's go somewhere more private," Maddie said.