A Deadly Sorority (Book #1 Sorority Horrors)

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Seated in my swivel chair at my study desk, my elbows were firmly planted on it as I pondered. The lamp's bright light poured over the open notebook laid out before me. I was deep in thought; Steve and the Crimson Lake Killer ravaged my mind. And spontaneously, Kennedy randomly popped into my head like a kernel in a hot pan.

Call Kennedy; she's still in Irvine. Steve is her cousin, after all. She'd know if he were still alive or not.

That's when I realized—I'd been so consumed by the mystery of Steve's supposed murder that I hadn't even returned Kennedy's call. She left me a voicemail a week ago, and I forgot to call her back. But now was the perfect time; she could be a good source for getting closer to the truth.

I jumped out of my chair, causing it to swivel around and lightly creek. Grabbing my cell from the nightstand, I hastily dialed Kennedy's number and pressed the phone to my ear.

"Kayla!" Kennedy's voice burst through the line, brimming with excitement.

"Hi, Kennedy," I replied, raising my brows in curiosity, "You sound quite cheerful this evening."

"I've been waiting for your call!" Happiness weaved through her voice. "I'm transferring to UC San Diego, but all my scholarship promises remain intact. I just can't stay in Irvine anymore." Her tone shifted, tinged with fear and sorrow, "The Crimson Lake Killer targets random women, and since the sorority girls left, the cheer team disbanded, and the track team was put on hold, there's no point in me staying here."

"What?!" I gasped, barely able to catch my breath. "The Crimson Lake Killer has essentially shut down all the extracurricular activities at Irvine."

"Yes, he's a sick, twisted individual." Kennedy sighed.

"That's astounding!" 

A brief silence hung through the line of our gloomy call.

"Why didn't you let me know you transferred?" I asked, feeling a tinge of betrayal.

"Well, I called you and left a message. I was just waiting for you to call me back." Kennedy replied. 

"That was two weeks ago." 

"I know, but I also wanted to give you space. I knew you were going through a lot, and I didn't want to bother you," Kennedy confessed, hesitation trailing every word. 

"Kennedy, you've been my best friend since fifth grade. I would never think you're bothering me by sharing updates about your life. Moving to a new university is huge, and I'm so happy for you. Plus, it means you're away from the Crimson Lake Killer."

Silence hung heavy on the line, and I couldn't hold it in any longer. I had to ask Kennedy about Steve, hoping she wouldn't think it was the only reason I called.

"Is it true... was Steve really murdered?"

Kennedy inhaled sharply. "What?! I haven't heard anything." her voice trembling in shock, " Who told you that?"

"Patricia," I said, the name feeling heavy with guilt.

"No, the last I spoke to him was..." Kennedy began, "Oh my God! I haven't spoken to him in two months." She admitted, realizing it'd been longer than she expected. 

"The last I spoke to him was when I saw him around campus. He was riding a bike near Lake Donovan. But I hadn't heard anything about him being murdered."

"Yeah, it took me by total surprise."

"I.. uh.. still.. can't believe it." Kennedy stammered, digesting the news like a big watermelon to be swallowed whole. "I'll have to call him Kayla. And find out what's going on. I'll let you know if I get into contact with him."