Petals of Rose Valley

When Water Turns Red

I'm sitting on a park bench waiting for my best friend, May, to show up. She's about 5 minutes late when I see her walking down the cobble path.
"Lindsey!" She yells out to me. "Sorry I'm late, my new apartment is really far from here."
"Jeez, isn't that the 3rd apartment this year?" I ask when I go to hug her.
"Well, when your ancestors were nomads who traveled across zombie infected Eurasia from Japan to Ireland it's hard to stay in one place for a while." We start to walk down the path into the park. "So, how's the government treating you?"
"It's really exhausting. Crazy business all around the country I have to deal with now because of the Queen's condition." Even though we're trying to keep quiet about this whole situation with the Queen, I tell May everything. We've been best friends since university. She's always there for me, and I'm always there for her.
"So, anyone special you want to tell me about?" She giggles.
"No, May, there isn't anyone special. And there probably wont be. Work takes up a lot of my time these days. You know."
    "Yeah I guess, but I mean, is there anyone you like? Anyone at all?"
    "May, for the last time: There is no one special in my life and probably never will be"
    "Okay, okay, fine." May looks at me and coughs, then looks down, and then back up at me thinking I can't see her, and then coughs again. I sigh and say:
    "Anyone special you want to tell me about?"
    "Okay!" She shrieks, "I met this guy in the studio yesterday and he's great! We got coffee and he's taking me out on Saturday and I can't wait!"
    "So, this guy is a model?"
    "Yeah, but he's not just one of those dumb models, he's like really sweet and considerate and smart and really, really hot."
    "Well then. In other news I just had to go to Victoriana for some crazy business," I tell May.
    "What happened? Did anyone get hurt?"
    "No, no. Nothing like that. So in the middle of town this man falls right out of the sky in broad daylight. Hundreds of people saw it, including Detective Graves."
    "Really? Wow, that's insane. Did the guy die?"
    "He didn't. Actually he's perfectly fine. I even had breakfast with him. Or, almost had breakfast with him. Even weirder, he has a tattoo."
    "A tattoo? Are you sure? Those haven't really existed in hundreds of years."
    "Positive. They even took him down to the lab, it was an actual tattoo."
    "That's so bizarre. So, where's he staying?"
    "Well, I brought him here and set him up in an apartment. The city is paying him a salary until we figure out what's going on, but there's something strange about him. Not to mention he also has an American accent"
    "Are you serious? You're the only person I've ever met who has an American accent. Are you sure this guy isn't faking?"
    "I don't know, I do have a pretty good six sense about this stuff. Plus he also fell out of the sky, with hundreds of people watching."
    "Maybe it was some sort of illusion. Maybe he's just scamming the government."
    "I seriously doubt that, May. He doesn't even know what bacon is."
    "Well whatever. So, are you going back home for the holidays?"
    "Of course. My whole family is going to be there this year, I can't wait." I look around the park. There's quite a lot of people out today. I look over by the lake to see if any boats are out when I see Noel sitting down on the grass feeding the birds little scraps of bread.
    "Hey May, that's the guy over there," I tell her as I point to Noel.
    "What guy?" She asks, clueless as always.
    "The guy who fell from the sky."
    "No way, really?"
    "Yeah, let's go over and say hi, he's a really nice guy."
    "Okay."
    I lead May over to the lake and tap Noel on the shoulder.
    "Hey Lindsey, what are you doing out today?" Noel asks me.
    "I was just on a walk with my friend May. May this is Noel, Noel this is May."
    "Nice to meet you," Noel tells May.
    "Nice to meet you too." May responds.
    "So, you busy?" I ask Noel.
    "No not really. I was just bored of staying cooped up inside all day so I came to feed the ducks."
    "Want to join us on our walk?" May asks him. I turn to May and she winks at me. I sigh and look back at Noel.
    "Sure, that sounds great." He says as he gets up and wipes the grass of his jeans.
    "So May, do you live around here?" Noel asks and we start walking.
    "No, actually I live on the other side of the city. I just got a new apartment there. How about you? Where are you staying?"
    "Well, Lindsey was kind enough to set me up with an apartment in the heart of the city."
    "Well that's Lindsey for you. Always using the governments money for some reason or another." May says.
    "Hey!" I turn to May.
    "I'm kidding! I'm kidding, jeez." We laugh. "Hey, look at the water. It's all red, is that blood?" May asks frantically, pointing at the lake
    "No, it probably isn't. I think it's just the pollen on the water. Nothing to be afraid of." I reassure May.
    "So Noel, have you met Lindsey's dog yet?" May asks.
    "No, I didn't even know you had a dog." Noel turns to me.
    "You didn't tell him about Princess McMuffin Nuggets!" May yells.
    "No I haven't, and for the last time May, that's not his name! His name is Jasper."
    "Well you'll have to introduce me sometime." Noel tells me.
    "Well I guess I-" I'm cut off by the sound of May screaming.
    "Oh my God!" She shrieks. I look over in the direction she's screaming at.
    "Oh my God." I say.
    "Somebody call the police!" Noel yells.

    In the pond, hidden in the reeds is a dead mutilated human body.