The Killer's Keeper

Chapter 1

She slowly sank deeper, comforted by the coolness of the water. The one place she could not forget the memories, the one place that always held her mind captive. The blackness started creeping around the edges of her mind. She felt slower, drowsier, and heavier. It was as if the weight of all that had happened has come back to her and kept her under the water. She struggled against it for a moment, her body fighting from pure instinct. Her mind though, her mind calmly eased her body into it, accepted its fate, gave soft reminders as to why this is for the best. From the surface the cool waves lapped rhythmically into a continuous beat, the beat of death. The amount of bubbles slowly decreased until they stopped completely, and for just one moment everything was silent. The crickets creeping in the blades of grass around the edges of the water were quiet, the beat of death had stopped, and everything was clear.
One
Two
Three
     Laura burst through the surface of the pool gasping for breath, slightly coughing as she halfheartedly swam back to the shallow end. She slowly stepped out of the pool, her hair darkened to the same shade as the night around her from the water clinging to each strand. Her maroon bikini hugged her curves as she grabbed her towel and looked at her phone.
"Shit, eight missed calls already. I can't catch a break with him."
     Before she could even start a new call, call number nine rolled in from Kenneth.
"What do you want Kenneth? It's my night off and I have every intention of drinking cheap wine and listening to Johnny Cash."
"Oh your life is so terrible Laura, cry me a river. You know it was my night off too, you could have gotten drunk at my place and seduced me. I would not have complained."
"You are my boss Kenneth and honestly just an asshole, I don't want to have to spend more time with you than I have to. What do you mean by "was" your night off?"
"New case, and a big one at that. We need the best of the best on this one and you are the best."
"Tell me something I don't know Kenny boy, can I get the details now or is this staying on the down low."
"First of all never call me that, if you want a nickname for me Daddy will do-"
"In your dreams."
"Oh every night darling, but anyways... All I can say is he is back and so-"
     The world stopped. The words Kenneth were speaking ceased to hold any importance. Laura wished she had not come back up from the water, she wished this phone call was still part of the nightmare; his warm breath creeping at her ear, the rope burns forever on her wrists even if the scars had faded, her hair that she dyed dark just to get as far away as possible from this man. He could not be back, Laura watched him sink, she watched him drown. It could not be poss-
"Laura are you listening to me? We are on a tight schedule, you know we do not have long before this happens again, and there is another letter."
"Alright alright, send me the address and I will be there within a half hour."
"Okay and Laura?"
"Yes Kenneth?"
"I am sorry about this, but you know him the best."
"Don't apologize, it's like you said, "We need the best." See you soon."
     Laura hung up the phone and quickly showered, hoping that he has it found her again. He could not have figured it out right? New address, new look, almost everything was different....
                          ~30 Minutes Later~
     Remember that sense of pure dread that every child has when they take a cookie out of a jar and hear their mom come up behind them, or that jump scare when watching a horror movie and someone else in the room starts talking? These fears were nothing compared to what Laura felt walking into the apartment complex. Her stomach was in such a tight know that she felt sick and her face packed more and more with each step she took. She carefully made her way to the top floor passing officers as she went, some looking just as bad as her and those that knew her looking sympathetic. She just rolled her eyes and walked on until she got to the entrance.
"Kenneth!"
     She yelled into the room, she knew she was going to have to walk in there eventually but the longer she could hold off she would.
"One minute Laura!"
     Kenneth quickly finishes up his conversation with two police officers and walks toward the entrance, slightly gagging as he did. This is just as bad, if not worse, than the first time this happened. He looks at the happy photos of the girl, Rebecca, that are on the walls of the apartment. The cheerful photos of her at college and with her family are splattered and painted red, the white couch she was sitting at when he broke in has a spill from her red wine, the ropes that were meticulously tied to the corner posts of the bed had been cut but Kenneth could still remember seeing her tied to them when he walked in. He watched as Jeffrey, head of the morgue, got help from some of the medics to place her body in the black bag to be examined back at the office. This girl was young, strong, beautiful, but different from his old type. Rebecca's dark raven hair that went just past her waist was nothing like the short blonde hair he used to see, and her tanned skin was nothing compared to the porcelain clear he used to go for. Kenneth realized the connection before he called Laura here, but knew he could not just leave her in the dark on this. Almost to the door he picks up the letter with Laura's name on it and grimly welcomes her.
"Victim 26, black hair, tan, hazel eyes, 5'8, just graduated from college with a masters in fashion design, was moving out in two months to go to New York where she was offered a job already, and now she's dead."
"So he's changed his victims? Is the M.O. Different too?"
"No, still the same. Home was broken into, tied her to the bed, signs of rape but we will not know for sure until we get the rape kit to confirm it, finished off with six stab wounds to the abdominal area. He also is keeping his signature; there were photos of her. From where he had been following her around, they were scattered around her body on the bed. Laura I am not going to lie to you, she looks exactly like you... and the letter, it is addressed to you."
     Every bone in Laura's body went rigid, her mind telling her that she cannot run away even though she is so prepared to. The thought of this all made her sick, made her want to go home and hide in bed. She knew she could not hide though, he would find her. He always finds her. Recomposing herself, Laura takes the letter and looks back up at Kenneth.
"Wait, did you say six stab wounds?"
"Yes why? We have not been able to find the significance of the number, but I am sure it will reveal itself soon enough."
"It doesn't need to reveal itself, I think I already figured it out."
"What is it?"
"The first time this happened two years ago it started with no stab wounds, it was a simple strangulation. Then the second victim was stabbed once, the third victim stabbed twice, fourth victim stabbed three times, etc. I was the last victim, number seven. Which would make you think that she would be stabbed seven times  following the same suit, but I lived... I think the number of stab wounds reflects the number of lives taken before the current. I would get on my badge that then next victim has seven stab wounds, sick bastard."
"That would make sense, I will see how I should approach the media about this. Laura we need you to open the letter first though since it was directed towards you, then we need to bag it for evidence. Also I would prefer it if you start sleeping at my place becau-"
"This better not be some sick and twisted attempt of trying to seduce me by saving the 'damsel in distress' Kenneth, because I could very well kick your ass right now."
"Listen Laura I am being dead serious, no funny business. I am not trying to seduce you but no one knows my location and this is obviously involving you so it is not safe for you to be at home anymore. After we finish up here u will follow you to your place, help you pack your bags, and then we are going back to my place to figure out the best plan of action. You will not fight me on this one Laura, I have made up my mind."
"Fine Kenneth, but I swear I can handle myself."
"Yeah yeah whatever sugar plum, just open the letter so we can get out of here."
     Laura looked down to the simple white envelope in her hands. The familiar elegant handwriting on the front that came together to make her name. With a slight shiver, she tore open the top of the envelope and pulled the paper out. Kenneth watched her as she read and saw all the blood drain from her face, he went to ask her if she was okay but she fainted. Kenneth quickly caught her body before she hit the ground and called one of the medics over to help her. He looked at the letter himself to see what this was about and his blood ran cold.
Dear Laura,
     I truly have missed you. I miss the way you looked tied up in our bed, the way you would stare defiantly back at me when I told you how I was going to kill you, how soft your skin felt under my touch. Speaking of skin, I must say, your tan suits your new look very well. It goes exquisitely well with that beautiful dark hair of yours. A bit longer than I would like, but I guess it is just more for me to pull. Your hazel eyes though, they are the same. They give you away to anyone that knew you before you changed, and I knew you so well Laura. You have always been my favorite girl. "The one that got away," yes? Well after staying in the shadows and watching for so long I just could not stay away. You are very tempting. I see you every night, still sadly you never forget to lock your doors. Let's be honest though, that never stopped me. You did start loosening up lately though, swimming was not something I expected you to pick up but I will not complain. That little maroon bikini hugs your body in the most delicious way. Ah, your body, I miss it dearly. I miss it so much that I am here to make an offer. If you willingly come to me and become mine forever (and no I will not kill you either, see I am so generous now) I will stop killing forever. Think about some of the passionate times we had together Laura! You know, when we were dating and you had not realized my specific 'tastes'. It could be fun, but you have a week to make a decision. As an act of good faith, I will not even kill another girl this week! I warn you though, try anything against me or to imprison me, or do not accept my offer and one girl will die every single night. I do not care if she looks like the old you or the new you, she will die. That is all for now, cannot wait to feel your body against mine again love.
     P. S. Make the right decision and save everyone around you, it is what you have always been best at. I will see you soon.

Sincerely,
          Luca