The Ladies

Chapter one

Aurora

Two days. Two days of what ifs. Two days since he went missing. Two days since I started carrying a pocket knife with me at all times.

Ben probably crashed himself into a ditch during the storm but this town is used to people getting murdered under their noses.

Ben is not dead. Shut it.
I don't miss him, I never will but I wouldn't wish getting murdered on anyone.

Someone walks through the hall and stops right next to me.

I don't need to glance their way to know who it is. "Go away asshole, I'm not in the mood." I state without looking up.

"Not even a hello? I'm disappointed." My instincts haven't failed me, Liam Huxley is back.

I lift my head up to meet his gaze. Goddamn.

He's leaning on the lockers. His bare arms crossed. How many muscles can a human possibly have? His gray eyes are like the shadows of his black hair.

"You're drooling sweetheart." The smirk is audible in his voice.

I suppress a flush. "No, I'm not." I do check to see if there's any on my lips.

His eyes drop to my lips and I lick them "Back so soon?" Thank fucking goodness my voice doesn't shake. "How was L A?"

His confident expression shakes a little. "Good. L A Was good." He looks me over for a second. "It misses you."

"The feeling isn't mutual." My mother might miss me, Los Angeles hasn't seen me since the divorce. Can't say I'm that mad about it. "So, do you want a tour of the town or will the school suffice." I ask, bored.

"I think I know the town good enough besides that's the mayor's job sweetheart. Not yours."

Thank god for  that.

"How is everyone?" Knew it. His parents basically own the town but I bet my favorite books they're 'stuck' on a yacht or private villa to come help after the storm.

"I can't tell you how four-thousand-plus people are doing but we are all alive." Even if Ben is dead he can go rot in hell for all I care.

"Isn't your neighbors son missing?" He sounds skeptical. He actually doesn't know.

"Yes. I don't think anyone gives a shit though since he's responsible for a child almost dying." I clench my hands at the thought. The words tasting like poison on my tongue.

"So, to be clear: in the past two weeks you guys have had the town-golden boy sell drugs, a goddamned storm, said drug dealer going missing and now a burial for two serial killers." He widens his eyes and huffs as he counts with his fingers. "And people say Los Angeles is crazy."

I don't respond as I shut my locker.

Of course the idiot can't know when to shut up. "Are you going? From what I remember you love serial killers." What the hell does he think he knows about me.

"I don't love serial killers." I finally meet his eyes. "I just find them interesting." I glare at him. But damn.

I know who he is. Technically at least. A hot, cocky and arrogant bastard.

"That still doesn't answer my question," a smirk stretches on his lips. "Are you going?"
I roll my eyes before answering. "Yes, yes I'm going." Despite my annoyance with him the female serial killer museum has been my favorite museum since I could remember.

Female serial killers are already rare but the fact that there were two in our town has always mesmerized me.

Even after being executed the bodies weren't buried, a group of scientist found this topic as interesting as I do and decided to investigate on their brains and bodies. Just to see if they could crack the code for serial killers in our town. Sadly, our town is as normal as any just there's too much rage in the female population.

Today,  we finally get to bury the bodies. I'd be lying if I said I see their point. I'm just going to go see if there's anything more to learn about serial killers.

The newest had been executed when I was two years old, but I've listened to true crime podcasts about her. About the both of them of them.

Liam gives me a curt nod before clearing his throat. "Hey...umm, You ok?"

My head snaps up so fast I almost break my neck right there. After I can muster that he's worried about me I manage to form an answer. "Yes— Yes, I'm fine." I smile once the shock has passed. "Ran out of girls that fall for your bullshit?"

"Oh sweetheart I can assure you 'my bullshit' is adored." True words. Doesn't mean I'll let him have the victory of silencing me.

"Keep telling yourself that." My mind replays the sentence to find any flaws. "And don't call me sweetheart."

He opens his mouth to spew what is likely a smartass comment but the bell beats him to it.

Thank god.

"I guess I'll see you at the museum Huxley."

"See you there, Sharpe"

✨✨✨

The museum is packed. The air conditioning creates a soft breeze over the crowd. The place is wall to wall marble, some columns have daggers, guns and other things the serial killers
used for murder on them.

We make our way to the museum's garden. The nice autumn air hits us. The storm is long forgotten except the reminder brought by the occasional rain.

No one is wearing black or pretending to be sad. No one has to.

Some people are here because they think of this as closure, knowing that the people that caused them so much are going to rot six feet under.

They're dead. Both of them are long dead. But if I were those families, I wouldn't consider them gone until they're under the face of the earth.

Liam is easier to Google considering he has a whole Wikipedia page written about him. Not that I don't have one myself.

"Will you please cheer up." My best friend, Selin huffs. "You dragged me into this shit. You can at least look happy."

I shake my head. Easier said then done. I don't even know why.

I just have a bad feeling in my gut. As usual.

Four men step out of the museum doors, carrying two body bags. Three scientists follow them close behind. It's been a while since I last saw a body bag.

Neither of the killers had friends or family, so the museum was more than happy to claim them.

"So they go inside the coffins and that's it?" Selin asks sounding a little disappointed.

I look at her, surprised. "Did you expect a goodbye? I don't think anyone's sad they're gone." No one looks like they are anyway.

She makes a disgusted face. "No, god no. But why are they buried in the museum?"

"No one claimed them as family or friend and... oh well the museum is dedicated to them. And since we don't  have a criminal graveyard." I gesture at the building.

One of the body bags goes inside the coffin and slowly sinks to the ground. I hear collective sighs of relief behind me. I wonder how they feel right now.

One of the four men lifts up the second body bag but there's something wrong.

Maria Haine, was a forty five year old woman by he time she was executed and while I might be wrong, but the security guard\assistant -or whatever the hell he is- looks at the bag over his shoulder suspiciously before opening it.

I feel my heart freeze in my chest. No way. No fucking way.

Ben's goddamned body. His corpse stumbles out of the body bag.

The scene is frozen. No one moves. No one breathes. The scientists, the assistants, the crowd. Everyone stares at the body.

Someone screams and the scene resumes.

I think over thirty people called the police.
What do they think the police can do?

"Add that to the list sweetheart." Liam says behind me.

Selin and I turn around to find Ash, Duncan and Liam standing behind us.

"Done." I say, a little too shaky for my liking.

Was that too harsh for the first chapter?

I loved writing it 💜

                                Derin