The Masked Killer - A.T Ben Saad || English

Chapter 4: Oliver

I shove everyone aside. As soon as I see what everyone is staring at with fear, I feel light-headed. No, this can't be! Have I taken too many pills? Are they still kicking in? Jamie is hanging in the hallway closet in a grotesque, inhuman manner, suspended by a rope among the coats. "No... Jamie!" I cry out. I rush to her and touch her cold body. The chill seeps through me. I carefully turn her around. Her entire back is sliced open, and I don't want to imagine what it looks like if I pull that gaping wound apart. "W-who did this?" I stammer. Rage wells up inside me. I feel so much right now that it's like my body is trapped in some fever dream.

"I don't know, but we can check the security cameras and then report it to the police?" Henry suggests. His voice trembles, and his eyes are wide open. He runs a shaking hand through his hair. Levi stands with his back to us, looking at the closet door. "Uh, guys..." Fear is evident in his voice. "I'd leave the police out of this..." he says as he turns to us and steps aside. A message is scrawled in Jamie's blood on the door. What kind of psychopath does something like this? Levi turns towards us, his eyes are wide open, and a small bead of sweat rolls off his gleaming forehead.

"Beware, misfortune lurks around the corner. P.S.: Don't bother calling the police, because I can get to you faster than the police can get to me." I read softly. A large smiley face is scrawled underneath. In disbelief, I stare at the door.

"What now?" asks Lola, a tear escaping from the corner of her eye. "I honestly have no idea," Noah says. He soothingly rubs her back and gives her a long hug. "Can't we call the secret police? You know, the undercover agents and all," Matthew suggests quietly.

"Yeah, but how are we supposed to do that? If this killer is some kind of stalker, they could hack our phones and find out who or what we're talking to," Henry reasons.

"Well? We have cars, don't we? We could drive to the police station," Noah says matter-of-factly.

"And then what? What if the killer is out there waiting for us? We'd be screwed anyway!" Levi shouts. Noah sighs.

"That's true," he admits. Lola's crying grows louder. "Oh, it's okay. I'm here for you," Noah comforts her softly.

"And so am I. We'll deal with this killer. It'll be alright, Lola, really," Matthew says. Noah looks at him questioningly, but Matthew just shrugs and walks toward the kitchen.

"We need to check the security cameras," his voice echoes through the silent house.

"We can't just leave her hanging here like this?!?" I shout. She looks so abandoned; so frightened and alone. Her eyes are still open. I bend down and close her eyes, then give her a gentle kiss on the cheek. Only now do the tears start flowing. Like a leaky faucet that won't stop dripping, the tears keep coming.

"Hey... It's going to be okay, buddy," Levi rubs my back.

"No! She's already dead! What do you want to do? Call her back or something?!?" I shout angrily. Angry at the helplessness I feel. I should never have let her go... I should never have gotten that high. Memories of last night are a chaotic blur, stabbing at my mind like shards of glass. My stomach churns as the last words I spat at her echo in my ears. I'll despise myself for it until my dying breath. The truth is I can't help her. The truth is she's doomed. The truth is if I get my hands on that killer, I'll be the one driving a stake through their heart.