The Maple Murders

Chapter 8 - It's just a bad day.

Monday, January 16th, 8:00 AM.

The morning had already been a rough one for Emma. She overslept because her phone died overnight, rendering her alarm useless. Then, she discovered she had left the fridge door open all night. The idea of spending the day with Ash only heightened her stress. To make matters worse, Emma hadn't slept until 4 AM; she had spent the entire night worrying about Rosa, who hadn't responded to any of her messages or calls.

A sinking feeling gnawed at Emma's gut, foretelling that today would be another challenging day. With a string of recent difficulties and the day starting on such a sour note, she felt little optimism. Despite her complaints, as the clock struck 8, it was time to leave.

As usual, Emma headed to the staffroom before the start of her shift. It buzzed with activity, particularly because the medical students were present. However, today felt quite different. Conversations were hushed, creating an eerie atmosphere. The absence of Rosa, who Emma had never worked without, added to the unease. Scanning the room, she couldn't find Ash, but spotted April and Charlotte chatting in a corner.

Approaching them with a smile, Emma initiated small talk. "Hey, guys! How are you?"

After exchanging pleasantries, Emma noted the peculiar atmosphere. "What's going on? Something feels... off."

Although Emma suspected it was related to Daniel, she was curious about the rumours circulating.

"The police have been investigating the hospital," April replied.

Quickly interjecting, Charlotte added with an excited tone, "Rumours say there was a murder. Some even say there were two."

"It's unsettling, isn't it?" April remarked. "To think an innocent life was taken away so suddenly, especially here at the hospital..."

"There are some sick bastards out there," Charlotte chimed in.

Emma's mood shifted as regret and guilt washed over her once more. However, her attention was diverted when Charlotte exclaimed, "Ash!"

Turning around, Emma saw Ash standing behind her, startling her with her sudden appearance.

"Good morning, guys. Ready for another stressful day?" Ash joked, though her tone lacked warmth.

Charlotte replied excitedly to Ash's question. They were working together for most of the day, something Charlotte's been looking forward to for ages. Soon after, the two medical students left for a quick meeting before their shifts.

Turning to Ash, Emma mentioned the topic from the previous day. "So, I was thinking about yesterday. You've been through a lot, so I thought maybe we could go out one day, perhaps to the beach or a café." Emma continued to explain that a day out would be good for Ash to relax, but as she spoke, she noticed Ash's face change ever so slightly. The same face that leads to something Emma didn't want to hear.

"You've got the wrong idea, Emma." Ash stated, almost like a warning. "Me and you are not friends. You're nothing more than a tool, and I don't need you for anything other than my game."

Emma felt a mix of embarrassment, anger and shame. She thought they had built some sort of connection, that maybe, just maybe she could help Ash become a better person. However, Ash's words extinguished that hope, leaving Emma feeling furious.

"I am not a tool," Emma asserted. "I'm not your helper, I'm not your toy, I'm not—"

"Yes, you are," Ash interrupted, her tone chilling, reminiscent of the day Kat died. "You're my tool, and you do as I say. Try and disobey me, just try it, and you'll fucking regret it."