Whodunnit? Murder On Mystery Mountain

5 Lana Winters

A woman admired her reflection in the mirror. She stood tall, staring into her own amber colored eyes. Lana could see a gray strand in the midst of her dark hair. She reached up to pluck it out. The beauty she had once had, was beginning to fade. Lana quickly shoved the hair into a nearby trash can and walked back to the mirror.

Despite the fact that she was free, Lana could not stop thinking about that month, so long ago. She had seen so much blood and so many deaths. It had been an act of God that she was still alive. Shivering, she picked up her makeup bag and walked out of the bathroom.

Giles had sent her the text almost instantly. "I need you." She stopped in her tracks. It was one thing for the former butler to be informal, but to send a text like a twenty first century millennial, absolutely shocked her to the core. Lana did not hesitate as she hit the call button.

It rang and rang, this continued for a solid twenty seconds where Lana almost hung up. Forget this, she wanted nothing to do with that man, as much as he was a friend. He had told her that he was cursed to live in a world of constant death and decay. No part of her wanted that life. Yet here she was, calling him almost instantly.

"Hello? Lana?"
"Yes, it's me."
He sighed. "Thank God! Lana, before I say anything else, please hear me out."
She rolled her eyes but held the phone close. "Go on."
Giles paused. "Lana...last night I found a message. It was just like the one we received at Dawson Manor."
Lana felt the air leave her body. "Are you sure, it's not some prank?" She sounded too hopeful.
"No. It is real. I need your help. I called you because I want me and you to kill this, this monster!"
"Giles, I can't do that again. It scarred me for life. I have to go now." Lana paused. "Hey Giles, one last thing. Don't get yourself killed in the process."

Lana put the phone down and closed her eyes. "Fuck." She moved toward the exit of the courthouse. Lana walked out into the road, barely registering the cars honking at her. Secretly, she hoped that one of the cars would veer off and hit her.
However, she pushed these thoughts from her mind and hopped into a cab.

When she arrived at home, Lana knew something was off. The neighborhood was just too quiet and anytime she took a step, she could hear her steps loudly echoing. She walked up the steps of her house and stopped. There, in the middle of the door, a note stuck out of the cracks. Lana grabbed it and began to read furiously.

Within moments, she was in her apartment and packing her bags. Tears were trailing down her cheeks. Lana could barely see through the tears as she shoved shirts and shoes in her bag. Giles would be pleased to know she would be coming to Camp Redwood, after all.