Marilyn High ✅

Chapter 10

Luke's POV

When Bella never texted back I started to worry. By the second day, that's when I totally lost it. I went to the school and asked where she was, they got quiet. They didn't even have to say it. My mind went to two people. Ethan or that creep. I would've asked the ladies where Ethan was, but I didn't know his last name. I walked around the school several times when I found him walking out of one of the elevators. A girl and a guy were next to him. I stomped up to him.

"Ethan!" I called out. He turned my way and his face went pale.

"Whoa bro, calm the fuck down." A tall guy got in between us.

"Ethan." I shoved the guy away. "I know you were with Bella last when she disappeared!" 

"Luke, I'm just as lost as you."

"The fuck you aren't." I shoved him to the wall.

"Dude, I swear. I was walking back to my car with her and then everything went black for me. I woke up on 23rd street. Bell was missing. I was the one who called in."

"23rd? Why the hell were you there?"

"Because there was nowhere else to park. Everywhere near the skate park was full."

"Yeah, uh, Luke. You need to chill. Ethan had nothing to do with it."

"Stay out of this." I flipped him off and glared at Ethan, "If I find out it was you, you're dead." I turned around and walked away. The next person would be the creep. The only problem was I didn't know where he was.

I went back to my house for an hour and decided to go to the host of that party. If I remember right, he knew who he was. I asked around for the host and when I found him, I got the information I needed. I made my way to the pool and he was there with some friends. I also figured out his name, which was good.

"Hey, James." I walked up to him.

"Who are you?" He asked.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Uh, sure?"

I pulled him out of the area so we could be somewhere a little more private.

"You tried to come onto Bell's a while back and I know there were several other incidents that you two ran into each other."

"Bell's?"

"Isabella. She went missing a few days ago."

His eyes widened, "She's...gone?"

"yeah. You wouldn't know where she went would you?" I snarled.

"If you're saying that it was me, you're completely wrong. I would never do that to...anyone."

I scoffed, "Really? You're a creep. You kept trying to talk to Bell's. And she disappears."I was about to say more but I realized he was crying.

"I would never kill Isabella. She was a great girl and I was drunk when I first met her. My sister was one of the victims of this fucker. Don't ever accuse me or anyone without having pure evidence!" He almost screamed and walked off.

I screamed and kicked the tree next to me. FUCK! Why couldn't I figure this out? I thought I had it all figured out. Not to mention I felt really bad for accusing him. I ran back up to him.

"James, I'm sorry. I'm just worried about what's going on and I just...I want this guy behind bars for life, no, I want him killed."

James turned around, "We all do. It sucks losing someone. Do you know anyone else who could have done this?"

"I thought it was Ethan, you'rea guy Bell's last hung out with, but I already talked to him."

"Ethan...does he have green eyes, is really tan, and hangs out with a really tall dude and a girl?"

"Yeah, you know who he is?"

"Ethan Williams..."

"What?" I asked.

"Something's been off about him for a while. He even knew my sister...he was with her a few days before she disappeared."

I stared at him in shock. He met my eyes and I think we knew what was going on.

"We can't call him in yet, we need more proof."

"Really?"

"Yeah, there was no way to prove that he was with my sister a few days before she disappeared except when she told me. Same with Isabella. Or did she text you?"

"No, she- she told me..."

"Fuck."

"Do you want to come over to my house so we can talk about this more, and in private? You can hang outyourfriends and we can meet later."

"No, it's fine. I was trying to find an excuse to leave them anyways."

I brought James home and we talked about the situation for another hour. We didn't have any luck trying to figure anything out.

"So, who are you exactly?"

"I'm Luke. I was-am Bell's boyfriend."

"So you're the mighty boyfriend."

"Yup."

"Right, uh, has she ever sent any text relating to Ethan at all?"

"No."

"Damn."

"I know. Maybe we could just try and go to the police?"

"Maybe. I was supposed to be home an hour ago. Can we talk tomorrow or something?"

"Yeah."

"What's your number and where do you live?"

"I live here and here's my number."

"I know, well, I'll see you tomorrow then."

Once James left I took a shower. I wish I wouldn't have fought with her. It could be the last time I ever see her. I rinsed my hair and turn off the hot water. The mirror was fogged up and the small bathroom was steamy. I threw on underwear and shorts and went to my bed. I turned on the news and it was another person.

"Another person has been found." The news anchor said, "She was just west outside of town. A couple were out walking when they saw her body in a swamp and called in." 

I couldn't believe who the couple were. It was that tall dude and girl with Ethan. They looked scared when they were talking to the reporter. I tuned out their voices and just lost myself. How was this still happening. Couldn't they check the body and see finger prints or something? Whoever this person is was skilled at this. The girl in the water had pale skin, and slit wrists, like her all her blood had been drained from her body. One of her fingers was cut off and she had little scratches along her neck. She had long thin blonde hair and her face was worn from being in the water so long. The longer I looked at it, the more I wanted throw up. This guy is horrible. My stomach turned and  I grabbed my phone and was about to text James, but he texted me right before I could type.

James: The news...

Luke: I know

James: this is disgusting. I'm pretty sure it's Ethan too. I'm going to report Ethan tomorrow. It's better that they have a lead rather than nothing. Of course, the wrong lead is bad too, but I'm sure it's Ethan. Can you come with me?

Luke: Good. I'll come. Text me when you wake up in the morning and we'll do it then.

James never replied to that. I looked back at the TV and decided to turn it off and try to sleep. I turned off the TV and pulled the covers over me. The horrifying image of the girl in the water haunted me.