A murderous summer

Chapter 7

She hurried out her cell out of her bag and dialed the emergency number. The few adults at the scene were trying to prevent the children from looking while keeping an eye on the show. The horror is always popular with its audience... She seemed herself unable to tear her eyes from the hand in the algae. There was no distinct sign. Could it be Laurie's body?

The police took things in hand upon their arrival. They secured the perimeter and made the curious crowd to take off. At the news report at noon, journalists announced that the killer now had a nickname. They called the water killer because the bodies were all found near water. Joelle shook her head, chuckling. It's too ridiculous! Why serial killers are nicknamed so stupidly? Beside who gave them those nicknames? Journalists? Unlike the other corpses, there were no details. The information must be filtered up to protect the investigation. The victim had still not been identified yet.

The girl received a sermon in order to have spent the night outside the house without warning. She was also punished for that. Her parents decided to ground her for a week. Joelle didn't care because she really had no friends to go out.

She quickly climbed the stairs to shut herself up in her room. She sat near the window to browse inside the sketchbook. She found a portrait of each of her friends. Peggy had managed to reproduce Simon and Christine kissing under a tree. Why things had to change? She wanted everything to be as before. Get back all her friends and her quiet existence. Who could go after them? They didn't ask that! A serial killer attacking only teenagers... It's so cliché! A bit like an old scenario of B movie. She closed the book, heaving a deep sigh. She had to find the killer at all costs and stop it.

She sat down heavily on the bed, sighing again. Then she sat up quickly. She suddenly regretted her punishment. Joelle wanted to talk to the others. She had to know what they had noticed during the last days. Any altercation or even an argument... It's bullshit! And the girl wanted to take a better look at the body found on the beach. Her gaze went to her phone she launched on the bed, but she shook her head.

"No way. I must confront them."

Since Christine was telling lies about her, she wanted to confront them directly. She wanted to see their reaction when they were face to face. If they were still her friends, they would be able to look at her. Of course, she wanted to know if Christine had them all brainwashed.

She opened her laptop to do several researches. She explored around social networks, looking at her dead friends' profiles. She found no strange or threatening remark. She discovered many references about the murderer who now ran the streets. People said he was a night hunter, along the water to find easy prey. She raised her eyebrows. It was a very interesting description. She thought a moment. Could he hunt at random? She still read a moment. Her research was very interesting, but sleeping on the beach wasn't easy. Her eyelids grew heavier. She gave up her computer to lie on her bed.

Hopefully I have no dreams...

* * * * *

She was awakened by a knock at the door of her room. She groaned as she turned. She finally opened her eyes, facing the window. It was sundown. She was straightened slightly. She was surprised to learn that she had slept most of the day. She rubbed her face.

"Honey," her father said on the other side of the door, "can you come down?"

She frowned.

"Of course," she replied, still sleepy. "What is going on?"

"It's important."

Intrigued, she shook her head to wake up a little more. She swung her legs out of bed to finally stand up. She stretched before heading to the door. Her father was waiting outside her room. She asked what was happening, but he didn't answer. She headed for the stairs, her father following. She expected that her parents offer her a new lecture. Except that there were two men sitting at the kitchen table. She raised her eyebrows.

"Inspectors Brennan and Nolan," she said, approaching them. "What do I owe the honor of your visit?"

They rose, a hesitant smile on their lips.

"We need to talk to you," Nolan said.

"I thought I told you everything at our last meeting. Did you find something?"

"You were on the beach this morning, weren't you?"

She nodded.

"Did you see the body?"

"I'm the one who called emergencies. What is going on?"

"The body found this morning is your friend Laurie," Brennan said quietly. "Her parents reported her missing yesterday."

The girl felt her legs give way. Her father hastened to help her and her mother brought her a chair. She remembered her dream without understanding. She plunged into the water to retrieve her friend. She hadn't managed to find her. She was gone... She believed that this time, it was just a dream. She hadn't witnessed the death of Laurie. In a trembling voice, she asked if she had drowned. They shook their heads.

My dreams are real...