Lurid

Part 1

One chilly Halloween night, 18-year-old Colin Rice watched his 10-year-old brother, Jonah, while their parents were at a Halloween party.

"Colin? Can I talk to you about something?" asked Jonah.

"Yeah. What is it?" replied Colin.

"Have you heard about these recent murders?"

"No. Why?"

Jonah was confused. "You haven't heard??? There's this guy around here that's been running around killing random people. A kid told me at school."

"Jonah, you shouldn't believe everything you hear," Colin said.

"He says that two victims ended up with broken necks in their own homes. The tops of their spines stuck out of their skin; that's how bad it was. When the cops found the bodies, they both threw up. They also couldn't find any fingerprints."

"Oh, come on, that's not true."

"It IS true, Colin!"

"Okay, let's say that what you're saying is true. I'm not about to let anything happen to you. Just make sure to lock all the doors and windows," Colin reassured. "The cops will catch the guy in no time."

"You sure?"

"I'm sure."

"Cross your heart?"

"And hope to die."