Sweet Sweet Murder

Chapter Seven

Hazel's POV

     The phone rang only once.

     "911, what's your emergency?" The operator said in a flat, bored sounding voice.

     "Hello!? My name is Hazel Martinez. I'm at 8711 Valer road. Someone attacked my friend! Please help! There's so much blood..."

     "Emergency services have been dispatched and our on their way." The voice said back quickly and with sudden care in her voice.

     "Hazel, are you alone there? Is the person who did it around?"

     "No..I-I don't think so."

     "I don't know...I think they left." The uncertainty in my voice was probably worrying her.

     "Hazel I need you to check on your friend. Is she breathing?"

     "I DON'T know," I said.

     looked over to Quinn. She had grown so pale in the two minutes I was on the phone. I ran back over to her. She wasn't moving. Her chest didn't rise or fall...It stayed motionless.

     "I don't think she's breathing!"

     "Calm down," She said in a somehow soothing voice.

     "The ambulance is almost there. They'll save her, don't worry."

     I heard the sirens just moments later. I ran out the door. The heat had not let up at all. It was still muggy and uncomfortable. I could barely see where I was going. The lights were lighting up the houses on the street as they quickly moved along. I rushed onto the front lawn, brushing through the wet grass again. I started waving my arms to get their attention. Quinn can't die. I can't lose another friend so soon.

     The police cars were the first on the scene. Three cars total, all newer models. Their sleek features made them hard to distinguish from the dark night. They moved quickly from their cars, guns drawn, pointed right at me.

     "Lie on the ground!" The stern voice barked out with a hint of urgency in his voice.

     "I'm the one who called!"

     "Please help her, she's inside!" I frantically said back.

     "Stay here."

     "Don't move from this spot. We'll check out the house," He said in a reassuring voice.

     "You said the attackers left, right?"

     "Yes- Well, I don't know. I think so."

     My thoughts were a mess. I couldn't think straight. This isn't really happening is it? No..This isn't real. I'll just play along then with all of this. I'll just wake up and it'll be all over. My attempt to construct a new reality was destroyed before I could even spend a minute in it. The ambulance rushed down the street with its sirens blaring. All that was running through my mind that it's here for Quinn.

     The ambulance stopped; the paramedics ran out and straight into the house. It was all a blur. Time slowed to a crawl. The lights on the emergency vehicle slowed their spin. I felt a raindrop hit the tip of my nose. The rain fell in slow motion. It started slow, but steadily grew. The rain was cold against me, but I barely could notice.

     I didn't know how long I had been sitting out here. It could have been a few seconds, hours, or eons. But eventually the police officers walked out of the house, followed closely by the paramedics, and right behind them the body. Maybe they shot and found the killers..maybe.. I started sobbing. It's not possible. No. No. Not again. This isn't real. This really is a dream. Someone grabbed my shoulder and sat me down.

     "What's your name?" The voice said trying to calm me down.

     "It's..My name is Hazel," I said trying to control my crying. By now it had just become a small trickle from my eyes. Almost like there was a leaky faucet in my head.

     "Where are your parents?"

     "They both work the night shift on the weekend."

     "What's their numbers? We need to contact them right away."

     "Did you know the girl in there? Do you have the number for her parents as well? Do you know where they are? My name is Officer Levia," The feminine voice said. Her questions were back to back and barely understandable.

     I finally looked up for the first time. Officer Levia knelt beside me. Her soft features were only just slightly distinguishable in the night and the soft rain. She had short, dark hair. I couldn't tell the exact color. Something was off with her eyes though. I couldn't put my finger on it. One looked darker than the other. However, I could feel the kindness and sorrow from them.

     "I'm sorry for asking so many questions, but we need to get this done quickly."

     "The sooner we get the information, the sooner we can get you settled," She said trying to reassure me.

     "Okay..."

     I gave the officer all the information she had requested. I could barely speak. Everything had just come crashing down all around me again. Twice in six months my whole world had been destroyed. First by Imogen's suicide...now this. Officer Levia tried to lead me to her car so we were out of the rain but my legs wouldn't move. It was as if they had been filled with lead. No matter how much I tried they wouldn't move. Another officer tried to help me up but there must have been something on my face, or the look I had. He quickly backed away after reaching for me and left me with Levia.

     "You said you live next door? Let's go inside and we can talk there while we wait for your parents," She said while she was pulling me up.

     "Yeah..We can do that."

     "I just need a few." I replied in a state of exhaustion.

     I sat there for a while looking straight up. I didn't know how long this entire thing had been going on for. Who would kill Quinn? Was it a failed robbery? Did they have a grudge? Did she piss off the wrong person? Or maybe she had a secret life I didn't know about and this was the backlash from it.

     I stared at the rain falling from the night sky. The emergency vehicle lights still flashing. Soon I would be in my house, and my parents will get back. I don't know what they'll say or do. Will they be mad? Will they be sad? I've got no idea. What will Quinn's parents say when they get back? How will they take the news that Quinn was..killed..Will they blame themselves? Or seek revenge?

     The questions flew by in my head one after another. I could barely even understand what I was thinking. I was a witness to this whole thing. Would whoever killed Quinn try to kill me next? I stood up, ready to go inside. As soon as I took my first step my heart began to race. My head felt as if it was being struck repeatedly by hammers. Everything began to spin and melt together. I took my second step and collapsed to the ground.