Hunt of the Night

c h a p t e r t h i r t y t w o ( 3 r d p o v )

Previously...

"What is a grown man doing with a scrap book?" He whispered to himself, flipping open the cover. He wasn't prepared for what stared back at him.

Autumn.

She was on the first page. She was laying unconscious on the kitchen table with duct tape tied around her wrists, just like they had found Jade.

He quickly flipped through the pages, his eyes widening.

Newspaper articles, pictures, and dates lined each of the pages. He threw the book down, picking up another book.

Another girl lay on the first page. Her name was Paige.

"What the hell?" Chris tossed the book down with the other one. Working his way down the shelf, he pulled scrap book after scrap book down. Pulling out his phone, he snapped a few pictures to show the others just what he had stumbled across.

He took a deep breath, beginning to align the books back on the shelf one by one. He tried to ignore the shaking of his hands as he worked, but what he wasn't ready for was the sound of the door opening behind him.

"Edward?"

Currently...

5:00 pm Saturday

Chris' heartbeat was ringing in his ears, he could feel the sweat begin to form on his skin as he paced the length of the corridor, even his breathing came out in uneven pants. He was unsure if it was from the pills or from the impending crime. It was probably a mix of both. The first instinct he had was to duck into the nearby closet, but it had yet to be inspected by him or his friends, so instead he rushed into the room where they had found all the chemicals. He was attempting to be as silent as he possibly could, but was afraid Autumn could hear the incessant thumping of the bass drum he called a heart. He pushed his greasy hair out of his face and tried to focus his vision enough to read the labels on the bottles, completely forgetting he had sat the bottle he needed on the table. His vision wouldn't stop spinning enough for him to read the labels, and he heard Autumn's voice become worried as she searched the bedroom. In a panic, he grabbed the bottle that was sitting out on the table, and poured it on an old tee shirt he found lying on the floor. His hands were shaking, causing the bottle to fall onto the floor, spraying the clear liquid everywhere. Holding his breath, he looked up, passed the roof, into the Heavens, and for the first time in a long time he said a prayer. It was almost inaudible, short, and sweet.

Lord, please watch over my friends and I.

Tears began to break through the defense he had been building for years, and he tried to contain his gasps and yelps of emotional pain as he pressed his back against the wall next to the door, waiting.

As the footsteps drew closer Chris became more and more lightheaded. It was becoming hard to stand up on his own, for the door frame was beginning to bear his own weight for him.

Autumn's voice was shaky as she entered the room, "Edward?" She was so caught up in her own racing thoughts, she didn't notice Chris's panicking body at the entrance.

Chris took advantage of the moment, and wrapped an arm around Autumn's throat while covering her mouth and nose with the cloth. She reached up and scratched at his face while kicking his legs, but he refused to let go.

Autumn's struggles and muffled calls for help soon came to a halt, as the chloroform made her fall unconscious in his arms. Chris struggled with pulling her into the other room. He sat her down, and fell to the floor, banging his head on the cold, bloody wood.

He felt numb, but at the same time he felt everything. He felt the sweat and blood dripping down his body, but he couldn't feel the pain of the deep cuts from Autumn's nails. He felt the floor underneath him, and the heavy air pushing down against his chest, but he couldn't feel the pain in his head from the fall. He felt the immense weight of the plan lay on his shoulders, but he couldn't feel the fatigue as it slowly wrapped its claws around him.

The air felt dense as it filled his lungs, and it was difficult for him to take in a deep breath. As he looked up at the dusty ceiling, he was spinning and his mind was racing.

I'm about to kill someone.

I'm about to take someone else's life.

I'm about to commit murder.

He wasn't sure exactly how long he was laying on the floor, but Autumn soon began to mumble incoherencies.

Chris sat up hastily, the drum to his body still beating at a fast tempo. His hands were shaking as he extended his pocket knife in front of him as a form of protection from the dazed woman.

This was his time. He knew he had to do it now, while she was still out of it.

His original plan was to drug her, but he didn't have time to do that. He looked around the dainty house and grabbed a pillow off the shitty sofa. He pulled her to the floor and hastily kneeled in front of her. He held the pillow between his hands and stared at the girl underneath of him.

I can't do this.

Chris held the pillow in the air, hesitating as he gazed at the deranged girl. Guilt washed through him first, but then flashes of the night came to the front of his mind.

I have to do this.

With one last glance at the girl, he forced his eyes shut and pressed the pillow down. Turning his head to the side, keeping his eyes closed, he felt the body beneath him grow still. Deciding not to waste one more second in the dainty house, Chris took off without a second thought.

Through the house, the clearing, he finally caught back up to the rest of the guys who stood around a fresh pile of dirt.

It was done.

None of the boys exchanged words in this moment. Whether the silence was for the strangers whose lives they took, or the silence for their innocence that was taken away from them that night, was unknown. Words couldn't describe the pain and discomfort they were feeling as the shovel fell from one of the boys' hands next to that pile of dirt. Words wouldn't be able to fill the void this night would bring, their heavy breathing and panicked stricken looks were enough.

With a nod of the head, they knew.

They had managed to do the unthinkable.

They were free. 

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QOTC How do you feel about seeing Chris without his tough guy facade?