Hunger #Wattys2017

Mystery

A blonde haired, caramel skinned girl was deep in slumber until she was awakened by her alarm clock. She angrily slammed her fist on the snooze button.

"Another day in Karina Bell, another day in hell..." she mumbled.

She changed from her pink silk gown to her usual black tank top with a big, yellow fleur de lis in the middle, and sky blue capris. She slipped on her pink sandals and opened the door to her room to walk down a narrow staircase for breakfast. Once she was in the kitchen, she overheard a line on TV.

"Man was eaten..."

"Whoa whoa whoa turn that up!" exclaimed the girl.

"Sherri, use your manners." said her father.

Sherri let out a sigh and said, "Will you please turn up the volume?"

Her father proceeded.

"A man by the name of John Withers was eaten alive yesterday in an abandoned house on the boulevards of Steven and Bravest, No one knows for sure who or what could've eaten him." the news reporter continued.

"Aw man! I gotta tell Judi about this!" exclaimed Sherri.

"You mean our new neighbor across the street Judith Quinnmore?" asked her father.

"Yes father, you don't have to be so formal though." she said with a smile. "Oh crap I'm gonna be late!"

She took a waffle from a plate, stuck it in her mouth, grabbed her backpack and headed out the door.

"Bye Fa-Da, bye Papi!" Sherri said muffled as she ran across the street.

Running to a simple one story house, she knocked on the mahogany door that stood before her.

The door opened to reveal a short girl with pale skin and turquoise eyes. Her long orange hair was tied up in a ponytail, and she was wearing her usual green pullover hoodie and black leggings with blue short shorts over them, and orchid purple sneakers.

"Ayyyy Judi!" exclaimed Sherri as she gave her friend a hug.

"Hey Sherri." Judith replied with a smile as she hugged back and quickly broke it. "Did you hear what happened on the news this morning?"

"Yeah, some dude was eaten alive in an abandoned house." Sherri said. "C'mon, we'll talk about it on our way to school, and pick up Connor while we're at it."

"Oh yeah, I forgot he lived around here." giggled Judith while scratching the back of her head. "Next street over after we walk down this one right?"

"Right." Sherri confirmed. "Let's get to walkin'."

The two proceeded their walk to Connor's house.

"So how much did you catch of that headline on TV? My father was talking to me through some of it."

"I caught where they found a piece of a shirt covered in blood as evidence. They say judging by the design on it, that the killer was definitely a woman." Judith said.

"I bet it was a succubus or a vampire." Sherri growled. "She must've screwed that dude and left or sucked all his blood out and left."

"It's neither of those." Judith said. "If it was a succubus it would've just taken the man's soul and left his body to rot, no signs of harm done to it. If it were a vampire, it'd be impossible to drink ALL the blood from a person's body, especially of his stature. Besides, unless it hasn't eaten for weeks, if a vampire would've done it, they would've died due to overindulgence."

"Nerd alert." Sherri coughed. "Oh I see."

"They also said in the headline that the man looked like he was mauled by an animal." Judith continued, pushing up her glasses when she felt them slip off her face. "And I heard that."

"Heh heh, so a werewolf?" asked Sherri.

"No. They also said that they investigated some bite marks that looked like a deer's." Judith replied.

Sherri stopped in her tracks.

"No way...a carnivorous deer?" she blurted after being lost in thought for a few seconds then continued to walk.

"No one knows what it is for sure," Judith concluded. "but the body is being taken to a lab or further investigation."

"Dang." Sherri said. "Well we're almost to Connor's house, all we need to do is turn this corner and go past those two houses."

-

Inside the house was dark, well the den was dark as a luminescent light bled weakly through the kitchen. The only light that splashed upon the room apart from the television that displayed the morning news, mainly the headline about the man that was mauled and eaten alive by the mysterious creature.

A boy sat back against the couch staring down at the broadcast. His backpack next to him, his arms almost seeming slapped next to his body, his head slightly tilted to the side as he stared down the idiot box, his eyes bloodshot and sleep deprived, his mouth, a frown upon it. Even with his semi-lively appearance of a light purple sweater, blue jean shorts, and long, tan brown boots, he felt tired, numb, like he could just detach from his body and let his soul roam.

Another attack huh...? When will this end...? I would beat it if I could, I would kill it if I could...

He absent-mindedly brang his arms towards himself and looked at his hands.

I would control it if I could...

There was a knock at the front door.

"Connor, your friends are here!" exclaimed his mother.

Waking up from the weight that was upon his mind, he grabbed his backpack and ran to the door.

He put on his best fake smile and tried not to look tired as he opened the door.

"Hey Connor!" Sherri and Judith chipped.

"Hey guys." Connor replied.

"Have fun at school sweetie!" his mother exclaimed.

"Thanks mom, bye." he said as he closed the door to his house and followed the girls.

-

After a few minutes of silence among the three, Judith glanced over at Connor and noticed his tired look.

"Connor what's wrong?" she asked.

"Yeah man, you look like you've seen some stuff." Sherri added.

"I'm just tired...because I had nightmares..." Connor mumbled.

"Do you feel like talking about them?" Judith asked, her voice full of concern.

"No." Connor replied bluntly, but not to be rude.

"Aw don't worry dude, you'll have plenty of time to get a couple power naps in once school and homeroom starts." Sherri assured to him.

"Yeah...I guess so." Connor sighed.

His stomach growled, he put a hand over it thinking no one would hear.

"Did you eat breakfast this morning Connor?" Judith asked.

"Yeah I did." he replied. "Just...not enough..."

"You need to eat more dude." Sherri said. "Skipping meals is unhealthy."

Connor just nodded in response.

No it's not...me skipping meals could save lives...