Inside the Shadow

Chapter Fifteen: Anything that you wish Pov-Zach

"Coming right up, an older hit picked specially by one of our loyal listeners, going by Mr. J. We now give you, 'I never told you what I do for a living,' by MCR." Driving downtown to visit with Mairi I played the radio to help keep my mind from wandering off. The song began with a strong sound, lots of guitar and drums, the lyrics describing the perspective of a man who had died with his wife but was not allowed to join her in heaven for he was meant for hell. He chooses to make a deal with the devil just to have a chance of seeing her again but only in exchange for sacrificing a thousand souls. Each night ended in a bloodied knife and soiled sheets as he collected each body. Sadly, in the end, the devil had really just tricked him for he was never going to get what he was working towards. The lyrics spooked me a bit given that it was a requested song based on the life of a serial killer. As the song came to a part about a book with the names of victims, I had already pulled over in front of Mairi's house, her mom's van there sitting in the driveway. I got out locking my car as I approached their front door. I heard a commotion on the other side of the door as I rang their bell.

"One minute!" Came Mrs. Noble's voice, her not far, reaching me in only a few seconds letting me into their hall for taking off shoes which I did, then I followed as she led me through the second doorway to the living room as she welcomed me in. I saw Min before us, seated on the far wall facing the door. "Hey Zach, I'm glad you're back, come sit." Mairi spoke eagerly as she patted the couch cushion next to her inviting me to sit both verbally and physically. "Thank you, Mrs. Noble, for letting me over I mean." I stammered proceeding to sit ready to get a start on our search through all of the photos that I had taken yesterday. "Of course, Zach, as long as Min wishes, I am glad you are keeping safe given your trip yesterday." Her tone was almost sweet but her choice of words gave off the impression of passive aggression. I decided to ignore the feeling and let my focus be set on our task. Mrs. Noble turned and headed out of the room through the dining room that was connected by large sliding doors half shut but was normally only shut at night. "Shall we get started?" Mairi questioned leaning in, filling my prereferral view but she was not a bad view at all. Even with all of her pain she still showed to be lighthearted and bubbly, there was a spark in her eyes like they were the dancing fire of her soul. I took my fingers and put a few of her beautiful brown locks behind her ear. I sat staring at the wonderous detail of her face, each freckle, dimple, or smile line. "I love you." The words slipped out so carelessly, it truthfully coming from the bottom of my heart. Soon after the feeling of her not feeling the same came forth, reminding me that today would be the day that I no longer kept secrets from her. I carried guilt from seeing Nelly at the party as well as a few other nights after that first time; I turned to face frontways no longer feeling as if I could enjoy her love fully.

"I love you too, is everything ok Zach?" Her question being a great one was still one that was hard to answer. "I hope it will be." My reply lacking in confidence knowing it would take a miracle. Setting my sights on my phone I pulled up the collection of photos, us both fixed to go through them in depth anticipating capturing any sort of damning evidence we could use against an actual police officer. The first few ones were not seen as too helpful, most clumps of dirt carnival rode, grass patches, and sprinklings of litter mostly from food. As we were quite keen on coming across anything it felt as if any little scrap of paper or broken piece of glass could hold the key. We sat together painstakingly concentrated, searching several photos taking up the continued forty-five to fifty-five minutes until we were viewing one that I neither recalled seeing nor even taking in general. I, however, did remember that I had come across a sort of shack not too far from where I had started, a few yards from the beginning of the caution tape. The picture showed a Tormek brand motorized tool sharpener, it was the only object in the picture and any other ones that showed the rest of the room. There was also a photo of a door that I had come across that had been locked so I felt it inappropriate for me to adventure any further.