Durham Killer

7

Durham, Ontario

August 9, 2023

"Folks, we have just been given information on the death of the Perkin siblings. Last Saturday, at 3PM, Gabriel Perkins was murdered. Suspects have been found. Police are still determining which is the real culprit. Gabriel's older sister, Evangeline Perkins was also murdered by an unknown attacker yesterday at 6PM. Detectives and police think it could be the Crimson Killer. Two years ago, Laura Rethorn escaped from Edinburgh Correctional Facility, Edinburgh, Ontario. No one has seen her since. People who knew Evangeline and Laura knew they didn't really tolerate each other. Evangeline always got more than Laura. People are still debating and creating conspiracy theories on this case. We will update you on further information. Sunnyside News, out."

"Sunnyside news indeed," Leah told the TV. A new news page had started about a prime minister breaking up with his wife. Leah didn't pay attention. Her mom walked in holding a batch of cookies.

"I just don't understand how Laura got away. Edinburgh has great security." Leah's mother stated.

"No, it doesn't. It has medium security. I don't know any prison in Ontario with high security. It's either low or medium. It's terrible. We should move." Leah remarked.

"No, we shouldn't." Leah's mother and Leah turned to Leah's dad on the couch. "Just because a problem comes our way, doesn't mean we run away from it."

"But what if it's a mass killer, aka a problem, and we don't run from it? It will literally kill us." Leah argued.

"Yes, true. But I mean real world problems."

"Murderers are real world problems. It's a problem right now."

"I know that. Stop arguing with me and listen. What I mean is problems like a mid-life crisis, divorces, getting stuck on a math problem, writing an essay, etc. These problems are real world problems that happen to almost everyone. We don't give up and run away. We stick with it until the end because it we don't it will kill us, figuratively."

"In your situation, we should definitely run away from the killer. But if the killer kills someone we love and we hold onto the that for a long time, it will destroy us- figurately of course." Kristin added. She changed the subject. "Oh, that's our prime minister!"

"Huh? You mean Trudeau?" Leah shut the TV off in boredom and sadness and went to her room.

"Hey!" Her father cried in frustrated and turned the TV back on.

As soon as Leah's body slumped onto the soft bed, she burst into tears. Eva was gone. Caroline was gone. Her life seemed to float away on a raft on the river of sorrows. Both her friends were gone. She decided to turn on the news again, but this time on her TV instead of the living room TV. Pressing the red button on the remote, she saw a different lady from before. This time it was her classmate in college, Keira Radke. That girl annoyed her loads, but Leah didn't make a scene. Keira started talking about some raging wildfire that hit Hawaii. 115 or so people were killed. More Sunnyside news that aren't Sunnyside. Sunnyside news never had good things to say about the world-it was always murders, theft, natural disasters, etc. Why they called it Sunnyside, she'll never know. Next, Keira started talking about the murders- finally some information Leah could use to save herself and Durham!

"The police have just updated their report on the murders of the poor innocent Perkin siblings. The police are also announcing a break-in at the police station, of all places. The break-in occurred the day of Gabriel Perkins's death. A man that police are still discovering the name of," A picture of a shorter man with black scraggly hair and a long beard was shown standing holding what looked to be a wire of some sort above his head. His beady green eyes glared at the people below him. "Was found again near the place where Laura Rethorn was last seen- a dirt road leading to the west side of Toronto. Police are investigating the area immediately. Laura Rethorn and her sidekick, Lorenzo Clementi, are still to be found. Police and detectives suspect this man," The picture from before popped up again. "ould be Lorenzo Clementi wearing a disguise. No evidence has been proven but several theories are flying about." Flying about? Who says that on the news? Keira slightly looked behind the camera. She nodded faintly. "Now it is time for the weather with Rainy Week news channel. Sunnyside News, out."

"Hello folks, I'm Adam Kline and we're here with Daleigh Bunch to talk about the weather. This week..." A middle-aged man from Rainy Week news announced cheerfully.

"Leah! Dinner!" Her mom called from downstairs.

"Sunny with some clouds-" The man was cut off by Leah shutting the television off abruptly. She rolled heavily wildly across her neatly bed making the sheets and blankets messed up. She swiftly and poorly re-made it and ran outside her room.

The smell of freshly baked lasagna filled the house. Melted cheese and warm tomato sauce odors filled Leah's nose and made her completely forget the murderer. Leah seemed to float on clouds towards the peaceful smell. She sat gracefully on her chair, awaiting the delicious food. Her father lifted some onto her plate. Immediately, she snatched her fork and gobbled up the pasta.

"Hungry?" Her father asked, chuckling.

"Mhm." Leah nodded with her mouth full of pasta. She quickly rinsed her plate and put it in the dishwasher. She swallowed the rest of her food and ran upstairs. She jumped again on her bed. She stared into space not knowing what to do now.

"Now what?" She asked herself.