Iris Pierce Mysteries

Chapter 16

I knelt down in front of the body, just like Howard did on many occasions. I was careful not to touch the blood soaking the cardigan and seeping through the wood. Manfred's eyes were glassy, wide open in fright. I didn't want to stay in this room any longer, not with this body here. I went back downstairs to the telephone and at the same time, tried to catch a glimpse of Rowena outside. The door was still open, a soft breeze entered the house. It all seemed to be peaceful out there. I was about to dial Hepinstall's house number Howard had given me in case things went south when a terrified Rowena clutched my arm.

'Iris! The officer, he's dead inside his car! Someone snapped his neck. Did you see the killer?' She asked, her eyes wide from panick.
'No, I think he left after finishing Manfred.' I replied as calmly as it was possible to be in this situation. 'I'm gonna call Howard, he'll bring the police-' Rowena cut me off suddenly, her grip even tighter, almost piercing into my blood vessels. 'I saw him! Iris, I saw him come into the house!'
'You what!?'

Suddenly a grey blur swiped down in between me and Rowena. She might have lost her arm if I hadn't pushed her away. I looked up, a skinny wan with pointed ears and mousy hair looked down at me. His leather gloved hand was closed around the wooden handle of an axe that had almost cost Rowena her arm. 'It's you. You're the killer.' I said, my voice trembling. 'Took you a while to find me,' Edward had a smirk on his blood splattered face, 'so many people have died. And if you get in my way, I'll kill you and your friend too.' He looked to Rowena, cowering by the sofa. 'I won't hesitate to decapitate that detective you like so much.'

He left me and sauntered over to Rowena. His hand grabbed her hair causing her to shriek. Edward held his axe by the end and struck Rowena with the wood, knocking her unconscious with blood dripping down her forehead. He stared down at Rowena as if debating what to do next. Edward decided to end me next. I forced myself up to my feet and began up the stairs. My heart was beating in rhythm to his footsteps following me upstairs into the bathroom. I turned the lock and backed up against the wall. The axe head attacked the door, cutting through it and sending chips of wood towards me.

Was I really going to die here? In an old man's bathroom all alone? Edward's axe broke the door down, it fell to the floor sending dust flying in all directions. Edward stood before me, face decorated with his victim's blood. Surprisingly, he didn't come to me with his deathly axe ready to attack but walked up casually. As if he was talking to a friend he met in the grocer's. His face was so close to mine, I could see the lust in his eyes and just how crazy this man was. 'Do you want to know why you didn't realise I was lying when you interviewed me?'

He continued without my consent. 'Because we are like each other. You are not the only one who can converse with those things forbidden to the living. You are not the only one who can tell a person's personality and private life just by looking at them. You are not the only one with other people's emotions swimming around in your head, banging against your skull and tearing your mind apart. We are more alike than you know it. Both of us have so much hate in here,' he jabbed his chest as I swallowed. 'So much hate pent up that we need to get rid of it because one day, our hearts won't be able to contain it and we'll snap. The only difference is that I've done something about it. I've taken revenge on the cause of my suffering! You sit there obeying every order that stupid detective gives you because you think solving crimes will help you forget about it. Forget about your boring, stupid family, your stupid friend and STUPID, STUPID PEOPLE!' He spat at me. I still hadn't said a word, terrified of this man.