I glance up and notice the board on the back wall, along with all the pictures of crime scenes that were found, including some bodies I don’t recognize. Must’ve been Silas Rivera going on a killing spree again. I know his family is just as disturbed as mine.
Still … I’m impressed Detective Foley managed to gather so much information based on a few simple murders. So obsessive, it’s almost unhinged. I like it.
I approach the board and look at it up close. He even found the crime scene in the alley next to the shop, but the body is missing. I left it where it was supposed to be found, but some fucker had to go clean it up for me.
But it’s the note next to the crime scene that makes me narrow my eyes.
It’s the same handwriting as the notes sent to me.
I pull off the pin and snatch it off the board.
Let me help you.
I readthe words over and over again.
This wasn’t meant for the police. This was meant for me.
CLICK!
I hold my breath and glance over my shoulder.
Someone’s here.
I peek out the door and look around. There’s a light on in an office up ahead, to the opposite side of the room I entered through. Someone must’ve come back to pick something up.
There’s no more time. I’ve stuck around far too long already.
I check the light one more time before I rush through the hallway without looking back.
“Hello? Is someone there?”
I bolt into the room and jump through the window feet first, right before they enter.
Adrenaline races through my veins as I hang onto the ledge and wait for the time to pass. I can hear their footsteps getting closer and closer, and I hold my breath.
One.
Two.
Three.
Finally, the footsteps ebb away again, and I let go of the breath.
That was fucking close.
And exhilarating.
I put my hook around the ledge again, slip down the rope, then unhook it and run out of the alley while taking off my mask and gloves, tucking them into my pocket before I make it to the main street. I unfurl my hair from the knot I made and put on a pair of glasses from my other pocket so no one will recognize me as I walk to my parked bike, get on, and race off.
Back to Spine Ridge University, where I will definitely grill the person responsible for leaving all those notes. Someone has been lying to me, and I know just who to stalk to find out the truth.
Orion
I pullmy pen off the paper and take a sip of my wine, lamenting the days past. God, when Sunny ripped my notebook out of my hand and read it in front of her girl squad, I was about ready to die.
If only my heart had stopped right there and then, at least that would’ve been the perfect ending. But no, my godforsaken heart just started pitter-pattering like a downpour on an open sea.
I guess even my eternal death wish can’t beat the flustering hope she injected the second she told me my words were beautiful. Spoken like a true goddess.
