Whodunnit? Murder On Mystery Mountain

23 Checkmate

"Good evening, this is your captain speaking. The weather is about to get pretty turbulent, so advise with caution, and listen to the flight attendants instructions."

Lana thought it was the end. The plane was going to crash and her life was getting cut short. All the work she had put in to her successes, washed down the drain. She clutched the hand of the person beside her. "I don't wanna die." She whispered. The man smiled at her. "We're all going to die one day." Lana turned to look at him. "What did you say?"

The man was rather attractive and that's what caught her attention in the first place. He looked like he was dressed for some sort of fancy dinner. Holding his hand now was making her feel hot. Lana drew her hand back. The stranger grabbed her hand again without warning. "I said we all are going to die. You want to know how not to?" Lana's breathing became quicker.

"Jericho by the way. What's your name?" Lana tried to pull her hand away, cursing. "Let go of me!"
His hand was on her mouth in a flash and she felt the tip of a blade in her side. "I will not hesitate." Jericho gritted through his teeth. In that moment, Lana understood everything. "It's you isn't it. Dread filled her soul. "You're the killer, you're offering me money to help you kill all of those innocent people."
Tears pricked her eyes.

The stranger smiled so coldly Lana thought he looked like a porcelain doll. "Guilty. Do yourself a favor and cooperate. You'll get as much money as you need or want." He leaned in close then, whispering through his teeth. "And if you mess this up, this blade will be in your throat by the morning."

* * * * * * * * * *

No. It couldn't be her. Lana would never do such a thing! Yet here she was, holding a knife and staring down at the body of the girl she had just stabbed. Giles could only stare, his throat closing up. He raised the gun, pointing it at the girls head. "Lana." She stared right back at him. Everyone around stood motionless. "What have you done?"

Lana looked down at the knife and then found the eyes of the person she had met so long ago on that airplane. "Ask him." She pointed the knife at Jericho Sanchez. All eyes traveled to the man's face. "It was you!" Phillip glared at him, his once clear blue eyes turned a darker shade. "You son of a bitch!" He launched himself at Jericho, tackling him to the ground.

The camp went into a flurry of activity. Giles pointed the gun into the air and fired again. It didn't make a difference. Phillip, Calvin, and Zayne had Jericho pinned to the ground. Brooklyn was hot on Lana's trail. Ethan and Sage just stood there, stunned. Everyone was yelling, the air was making Giles ears ring. He turned to follow Brooklyn and Lana down the road.

Brooklyn tore off her sandals and ran barefoot on the cement. "You bitch! You liar! When I get to you, you're fucking screwed!" She was screaming and out of breath. Lana was in a pool of tears, running and not stopping, not even to catch her breath. Why had she done something so stupid? The answer was that Lana needed the money. Jericho had promised to give her a large sum if she helped him.

* * * * * * * * * *

Calvin couldn't believe his ears. Jericho was laughing like a hyena. The older man had him subdued, a knee on his throat. Zayne was sitting on his arms and Phillip stood nearby holding the knife Lana had dropped. "What a piece of shit! You happy with yourself you psychopath? Huh?" Calvin increased the pressure on the man's throat as he spoke. Jericho continued to laugh.

"You think I'm done?" Not a second passed before Jericho wrestled his hand away. He reached into his belt and pulled out something. "Ready for this old man?" He laughed. Calvin screamed as pain shot through his side. Zayne fell to the ground as Jericho twisted the axe even harder into Calvin's side. Then the killer was standing. In the darkness, he looked exactly how Zayne had pictured a killer would appear.

He had his hair in dark tangles, blood was smeared on his hands and neck. His eyes were cold without a sliver of kindness. Jericho looked wild and weaponized. Phillip held the knife up. "Don't you fucking get any closer." Jericho titled his head. "I wasn't done." He rolled his eyes and before Phillip could register, had turned and put a bullet in Ethan's head. Pink hair and all, the boy tumbled to the ground. Sage didn't move. Zayne didn't move. Phillip threw down the knife. "Checkmate." Jericho said, snickering.