Short Story Collection

Watch House Murder

Writing June-1-Short Story

It's the second day into the fire watch season I've volunteered again. I start my climb up to my tower with my arms full of yarn and books to keep me occupied.

I watch as the sun appears behind the mountains as I set up my room, I've finally gotten everything set how I like it, I have a perfect view of my sector so I sit down and start working on my newest project. The day creeps on with doing my rounds every hour or so. The sun has gone down and my eyes are starting to feel heavy. I loop a stitch marker into my project and start packing up.

As I start on my final round of the day I look down and see a struggle. It looks like a woman and a man. I watch as the man pulls something out of his pocket and drives it into the woman. I run down the stairs but I'm too late. The man is gone and the woman is taking shuddering breaths. The blade of the knife protruding out of her body, blood pooling around her.

She looks up at me as my hand lurches towards my walkie-talkie.

"Comand Center, this is fire watch 4. I've just witnessed a murder!" My voice is shaky and panicked.

"Fire watch 4, what was that?" Command crackles.

"A woman was just stabbed at the bottom of my watch tower," I shoot back putting her head in my lap.

"Help is on its way," Command responds.

I brush her blonde hair out of her face, her body is covered in scars, bruises, dirt, and cuts. Her green eyes are empty and unfocused.

"Stay with me," I beg.

I watch as she takes her last breath, I press my fingers against her neck and fly into action I lay her flat on her back and tip her chin up clearing her airway and start CPR.

"1. 2. 3. 4. 5," I count before blowing air into her lungs. I repeat this until I hear the sounds of a helicopter.

"Come on, help is almost here. Come back to me," I say checking her pulse again. Still nothing.

I keep going until I'm tugged back and a man replaces my spot on the ground.

I watch as they drape the body in white, and the blood seeps through. I watch as they load the unknown lady's body into the helicopter. I watch as they sweep the woods finding no sign of the man. I watch as I'm led to the helicopter and forced to sit while the medics check me out against my protests.

I am taken to the local police department where I tell everything I remember about the last hour of my life.

Now, I'm sitting back in the same fire watch tower, just hoping that the son-of-a-bitch who killed Sharron Kingly 28 years ago shows his face again.