To Catch a Killer

By: KitKat411

Author's Notes: Well, this should be only a few minutes after posting Chapter Three, but I have something new to rant about: THE DAMN "STATS" BUTTON. Okay, sorry for the swearing. But seriously, that thing really annoys me. I always click it, anticipating 10,000 reviews and a million hits, but get nothing. No new reviews and a million hits. It's very depressing for me, and I'm sure it is for you, too.

So what can we do about this problem? Well, we could just not push the button. However, this button is more addicting than crack, so that isn't a viable option. The only other option I can think of is submitting reviews. If we reviewed other's stories, then we would have fewer issues with the Stats Button from Hell. (As I so kindly refer to it.)

So now I shall post Chapter Four, and then I will go and review other stories! YAY! Take my example, ya'll; review this sucker:--D

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Over the next ten days, Hilary learned more about her new locket. She realized that when she knew someone was lying, the locket would show her proof. If, however, she wasn't completely sure, the locket would show her nothing.

Her emotions also played a big part in seeking the truth. If she was angry at the person-such as her father-then the images were fast and blurry. For the images to be clear, Hilary would have to be level-headed and not hindered by her emotions.

Some excuses were also easier to see through than others. Homework excuses, hoe example, were so easy to see through that they were practically transparent. Her classmates' excuses were so feeble and pathetic that she didn't even require the usage of her locket.

Other lies, by contrast, were more difficult to see through. Her father's lies, for example, were more difficult. And the results were more painful.

Still, life was all together not as boring as it was before. Although she rarely confronted anyone, Hilary was more than satisfied with the knowledge that all of her classmates were liars. Before, while Hilary had known they were lying, she had no proof. Now, however, with the help of the locket, she had proof.

The locket, however, did not magically change her life. Her father and mother were still selfish and constantly on "business trips," her brown hair still had green highlights, and she still did not have friends. She sill remained as aloof as always, and people still avoided her in the hallways. The only thing that had really changed, however, was Hilary's new pursuit of truth. If she wanted to, she could see through anyone, no matter how difficult.
Still, her life was not changed forever by this locket. It just made it all a little less boring, a little easier to bear. The events on and after April 17th, however, changed her life in more ways than she could have ever imagined.

April 17th

Hilary pulled open the door into her empty house. Her mother was out somewhere and her father had left for New York yesterday, two days before Mother's birthday.

Of course.

"Honey, I'm home!" Hilary smirked. That statement…so ironic.

Hilary grabbed an apple from the kitchen and walked into the family room. She turned on the television and sat on the paisley couch. She wasn't paying attention but could vaguely hear the news anchors discussing something about a "Kira." Hilary sighed, not caring in the least.

Instead, Hilary took her backpack and climbed up the stairs. She dropped off said backpack on her bed and sighed. Homework time.

Suddenly, a strong scent hit Hilary's nostrils. It smelled like something rotting. Hilary sniffed again and followed the scent to her parent's bedroom. Standing before the door, Hilary paused only for a minute before throwing open the double doors into the room.

It took Hilary only a moment to realize what was going on. There was something lying on the bed, and that was what was rotting. There, on the four-poster bed, was the thing that was giving off the horrible odor.

It was something with long brown hair, bring green eyes, and a terrified expression in its eyes. It was also covered in blood.

Hilary opened her mouth and screamed. "Mother!"

April 24th

Looking back on her short life, Hilary wished desperately for her old, boring life. It seemed as though this pas week had gone on longer than her past nearly-eighteen years on this earth.

Hilary had called for help after finding…it. Immediately afterwards, Hilary had called her father's phone, but only received his voicemail.

After that, everything seemed to fly by in a blur. The hospital, seeing the bullet that had been used to shoot her mother, seeing the blood that had poured out of her mother's body from the stab wounds, the funeral, and then hearing the police report. The police told Hilary and her father that there was nothing for them to do. The police had no suspect, no motive, and no prints. They told Hilary and her father that this was a simply burglary, nothing more. The police were "awfully sorry for their loss" but that there was "nothing they could do."

That had been two days ago, and Hilary had done nothing since then. She hadn't gone to school, picked up the phone, done her schoolwork, or even brushed her hair. Instead, Hilary sat in front of the television, blankly staring and not taking in a word. Her father returned to New York yesterday, but told Hilary to take as much time off as she needed.

"You've had a rough time, Hilary-san," he told her as he waited for the taxi to take him back to the airport. "Just rest. You can make up the schoolwork later."

Hilary decided to take her father's advice for once. Now she was on the paisley couch, "resting" by channel-surfing.

Soap opera. Flip.

Talk show. Flip.

Children's show. Flip.

Soap opera. Flip.

Flip, flip, flip.

"And now, an update on the Kira case…"

No flip. Hilary put down the remote and stared at the television.

"We have knowledge of another slew of deaths that were obviously executed by Kira." The reporter was saying. "For those who don't know, a little background information about Kira. A few weeks ago, many criminals began dying of heart attacks. Later, it was determined that these deaths are because of a person whom the Internet is calling "Kira." "Kira" is a derivative of the English word "killer."

So far, Kira is responsible for the death of many criminals. Several psychologists have hypothesized that Kira is seeking justice, but many civilians disagree. All we know now is that crime has dramatically decreased around the world, and, so far, Kira has only killed those whose guilt was determined without a shadow of a doubt. However, as many people are becoming concerned, the Japanese police department has set up a special task force solely for the purpose of catching Kira. This task force is being led by the great and masterful L. L is the world's most renowned detective and has always apprehends the guilty party.

I'm Hoschi Matzuki for Channel Five news, and we will, as always, run daily updates on the progress of the Kira case. Thank you for tuning in for today's update."

Hilary turned off the television and sat up on the couch, frowning. Kira was killing criminals? Kira was eradicating…murderers?

Kira could kill her mother's slaughterer.

Hilary's mind, unused for the past week, whirred into life. Kira was seeking justice; Kira was killing people, Kira…Kira…

Kira could help her.

And then Hilary flopped back onto the couch, dejected once more. How could she find Kira? Not even L, the world famous detective, could find Kira. How could she, a girl who wasn't even eighteen yet? She would never find Kira. She would never avenge her mother's death.

"It's hopeless," she whispered, and held her locket tightly.

And then there was another flash of light, and more images flashed before her eyes. She saw a fancy metal building, a boy a few years older than she, and another one. The first boy had a pale face, messy black hair, and dark circles underneath his eyes. He was sitting in what looked like a ball and he was also surrounded by sweets.

The other boy, however, was as different as night and day. This boy had neatly combed hair, an ironed shirt and pants, and wore a blazer. He looked like an advertisement for Hilary's school.

But then a new image found Hilary's mind, and this image seemed darker than the others. This time, the clean boy was sitting in a room, eating chips and writing in a book. There wasn't anything blatantly out of place, but Hilary was unconvinced. She concentrated on the notebook and stared at it. She tried to read the title.

DEATH NOTE.

Hilary gasped, and the images fled from her mind. Could this boy, this soft pretty-boy, be the feared murderer everyone was hunting for? All she had seen him do was eat chips and take notes in a strange book, but these suspicions were enough for her to go on.

Fueled more by anger than anything, Hilary stood up. She reached for the phone to call a friend, but stopped herself. After all, she didn't have any friends, no life to leave behind.

She was all alone.

Hilary got dressed for the first time in a long time. She even showered and brushed her teeth.

After, Hilary opened the door and walked into the sunlight. She decided to look for the metal building she had seen and see where it took her. She didn't know what would happen there-she didn't know whether or not they would let her help.

And yet…she did have an advantage over all of them. Hilary felt the locket bounce against her chest as she walked. She smiled softly, and then laughed.

"Time to catch a killer."