Clouds of Violet

Chapter Twenty-Two

Friday, October 10th, 17:36

When we get to the police station, Sheriff Hudson is nowhere to be seen.

The station is empty, only a few workers here and there. The crime rate isn't high in Summer Cove, so this place is usually really quiet and isolate. The fan hums, and stacks of paperwork sit on almost every table. A TV screen—perched in the corner—is playing a football match.

"Hello?" Ruby-Jo calls out. The three officers there turn away from the screen, beers lazily hanging from their hands. One of them sighs, sliding his chair from across the room to his desk.

"Well, what can I help ya with?" he says, putting the beer can on his table.

The three of us exchange glances. Ruby-Jo looks a bit out of it, her eyes are droopy and she's holding onto Blair to stand up straight. Blair notices this and decides to do the talking.

"We had an encounter with the...new serial killer," Blair says. I hear a beer can hit the floor, the liquid inside it sloshing as all three officers walk toward us.

"This better not be some kind of sick prank," the tallest one says.

"It's not," I say. "Blair got it on camera."

When I look over at her, she's already on her phone, taking out the photo.

"Our friend got hurt," Ruby-Jo adds, while the officers examine the photo. "You see that chainsaw? She threw it at her."

"Which friend is this?" the short, stubby police officer asks.

"Ayeza Rizvi," I say. "Our friend Max Delgado was also there and he's taking her the hospital." He promised to text me when he got there, but he hasn't yet. I'm scared that he might get hurt, and I'm scared for Ayeza.

"Where was this?" the middle one demands.

"Well, we saw the murderer dragging a...dragging somebody's body out from the woods," I say, feeling a wave of nausea wash over me. "It was right outside the Cove Gardens. The fence, right over the fence."

"Sam, call Hudson," the tallest one orders. "Me and George will head on down, meet us there with Hudson. And girls, you are coming with me."

The tallest and shortest police officer escort us to a police car, while the middle one stays behind. We climb into the backseat—pressed against each other—fasten our seatbelts and watch the town become a blur in the sunset.

My phone chimes and I look at my latest notification—from Max.

Max: hey im at the hospital
You: is ayeza ok?
Max: she just went into the ER
You: oh my god
is it that bad?
Max: yep
im in the waiting room
You: im in a police car
as soon as i have free time i'll be there, okay?
Max: no it's fine
you don't have to come
You: oh ok
Max: we called her parents
theyre on their way
they can keep me company :))
You: okay lol
Max: igtg theyre here
got some explaining to do
see ya
You: bye

I stuff my phone into the back pocket of my shorts, drumming my fingers on my thigh.

"Was that Max?" Ruby-Jo asks.

"Yep, he got to the hospital safely," I say brightly. "Ayeza's in the ER and her parents are coming to the hospital. According to him, they're there already."

"Oh, I feel so bad for her," she sighs. "The poor girl got the worst of it. I hope she's alright."

"She was just assaulted," Blair says. "I doubt she's alright."