Lone Survivors

IX (So, Where Is Your Savior Tonight?)

Detective Christian drove Spencer and I to the hospital escorting us down to the morgue to identify the bodies of my family members. I held Spencer's hand tightly, the tears dried up quickly. My Aunt Caroline taught me early tears were a weakness, to not show them, they made you too easy of a target. Time had aged them all, I confirmed what the news reporter verified in the video I watched. Hollis Porter, his wife Payton, his daughter Genevieve, and his son Patton were dead from a single stab wound straight to their hearts.

The detective offered us a ride back to the venue. We declined, despite the tragedy and the tamales from earlier I was still hungry. We said our goodbyes to the detective heading down the hall. My brain already beginning to analyze the situation. At the first venue we lost Eric and now in Spokane I lost my aunt and uncle. Either the killer was following the tour like so many of Spencer's fans did or the killer was on the tour. Needless to say, the thought was not the least bit comforting.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Spencer glanced at me.

"That depends, are you thinking the son of a bitch that killed our parents is following the tour?"

"That, or they're on the tour." He reached for my hand; I could feel him shaking slightly.

His house had been hit before mine, the South Street Slayer had taken his mom's life first, his dad shouted for him to run somewhere safe. He'd picked our shed; we used it as our secret hideout for years.

"Why go after my uncle? I haven't seen him in years." I ran a hand through my hair.

"To get our attention?" He rubbed the back of his neck. I'd been thinking of visiting my relatives, to reconnect with them now that I was free from Caroline's iron first. The first victim's death brought me onto the tour, was all this geared towards me? I had been the last survivor. The South Street Slayer told me as much.

"You're a very special girl Kaitie. We saved you for last. We cannot wait to see your grow; you soul will be ripe for the taking when we meet again."

"Are you sure you're up for dinner?" Spencer stopped at the corner.

"I am, we need to talk anyway." I took his hand again, pulling him down the street determined to get the answered to my unasked questions.

~***~

The South Street Slayer had returned and struck again.

He couldn't believe it, refused to believe it. With two families slaughtered there was no denying it now. The latest victims had been Kait's family. She had been the best version of herself with them. He remembered the emails, Hollis got her back into therapy, and Payton began the process to file for full custody. The dream almost fully achieved until Caroline stepped in. His grandfather had said she'd done it out of fear of losing the only connection she had to her sister. He was inclined to agree.

Your trip down memory lane is quite touching Charnas, I'm almost inclined to shed a tear on your behalf.

"Not now!" He hissed underneath his breath, disguising it as a cough.

The cat is coming out of the bag tonight Spencie. Only question I have is how you're going to do it.

He ignored the voice in his head, choosing to wrap an arm around Kait's waist upon arriving at the sport's bar. The waitress greeted them with a smile directing them to a private booth in the back. He smiled in thanks, ordering Pepsi for both of them. It wasn't his drink of choice, the last thing he needed was his inhibitions lowered.

"What did you want to talk about?" He opened up the conversation.

"First off, you lied to me." Kait began. "I asked your friends if you wore black contacts during your set. They all said no. Today you also had them and I didn't see you stop to put contacts in. You went from having scalding hot skin to freezing cold skin in less than a minute. You lost time Spencie, what's going on with you?"