7 Days of Darkness

Chapter 3 - Accused

Night 2

Justin:
I spent the night with Victor to get to know him and his "family" as he called them a little better seeing as they came late last night and went to bed pretty early. They were all very gracious and offered me a drink. "So," I said putting my ice cold beer back on the table, "how'd you guys end up in Mournstead."

Lily, Victor's best friend took a sip of her drink and spoke smoothly "Well, we were supposed to be at Victor's house for poker, but we got lost and ended up finding this place." Chi nodded and tossed another dart into a dartboard mounted on the wall. Chi interested me. Thoughts ran through my mind whenever I met up with him. Thoughts like was he telling the truth last night when I found him behind Travis's house?

I had wondered that about everyone else too. Who could I trust? There were quite a few people in Mournstead tonight and many of them were suspicious. I knew Austin wasn't the killer...or was he? Did he just set everything up? Cheryl was very suspicious after finding blood on her coat, but Austin had locked her up for interrogation. Charles could've done it, but why would he? He was rich enough that he didn't need anything. Chloe or Tanner were also suspicious but I wouldn't think either of them would kill. Rachel seemed somewhat disturbing but I don't think a gun would be her style. Peter was crazy, very suspicious. Harry seemed very eager to leave, also suspicious. Any of these four could've done it too, but Chi seemed the most suspicious. Then there was John, John could've easily killed Travis, but again, it doesn't seem like his style.

I happened to pack some bullets but when I went back to check how many there were, they were all gone. The only bullets I had left were the three in my pistol. I guess that'll have to do. I didn't want to just start using them on people though, that would make me seem like the murderer. The only thing that I could do now, was wait and hope that I'm not next.

• • •

Cheryl:

"Stop lying to me!!" Handcuffs and cigar packs went flying around the room as Austin, tears running down his face, threw everything off of the small table in the centre of the room.

"I'm not lying, I swear!!" I screamed back "I don't know how Travis's blood got on my coat! Why can't you see that?" I wrapped my hands tight around the cell bars. Austin's jail cell was a small room in the corner of the building with a small cement slab as a bed, and a broken toilet under the barred window.

"Why should I believe you?" Travis was pacing back and forth in the room, his voice choked from crying.

"I went to medical school for 12 years! I deserve more credit than being accused of murder. Plus I was sound asleep last night after finishing the book I was reading!" Austin turned back to me and started to shake his finger.

"No, no, no. You're lying. You have to be! Why else would you have blood on your coat?" He pounded his fist against the now empty table and started to sob quietly. "He was my best friend, and he was murdered in cold blood! Travis was completely INNOCENT!!!" Austin slammed his fist against the table and continued to cry. He was in so much pain. I could see it in his eyes, and hear it in his voice. He had good reason to be mad. His best friend since he was a kid was just killed, and he could do nothing about it. Austin was just as scared, and confused as I was when he dragged me off to his jail cell.

Just before I could enter my own house, Austin grabbed my arm and pulled me out. Justin and Chloe followed closely behind, but they didn't do anything to stop him. They just let me get taken to where Austin wanted to interrogate me. Justin seemed to encourage Austin and told me to stay calm and that Austin wouldn't hurt me. Well, Justin lied. Soon after entering his own house, Austin shoved me into his cell and immediately locked it. I couldn't do anything to stop him. I had no knowledge of self defence and was only really skilled in helping people and healing their wounds.

I stopped trying to free myself and noticed Austin again. He was hunched over the table and still crying. He had a picture in front of him, with Travis and himself next to each other and smiling while crouched down next to a dead deer that they had most likely shot and killed for meat. The picture must've made him remember hunting, and he went to his shelf and picked up a large shotgun. "Now listen here," he said, aiming the huge firearm at my chest "I'm going to count to three, and by the time I say three, you'd have best given me the truth." He cocked the gun so it was ready to fire. "1."

"I can't tell you anything!" I yelled at him, my palms slipping from the sweat.

"2." My heart started racing faster.

"Austin, please! I didn't kill your friend!"

"3." Austin clamped his hand around the trigger and the shells were released. I felt several pieces penetrate my skin and everything seemed to go in slow motion as the light faded away into darkness.