Needleleaf Creek

3

Next day. Joshie had now woken up, still tired from what happened yesterday. Joshie looked at the window, squinting. He was surprised, that another crime scene took place. This time, it was Annie, whom he chose for the prom night. He ran outside, shocked. He then saw her body, covered in blood. She had multiple stabs on her chest, one on her neck, and two on her abdomen. He saw her parents, in tears. He knew Annie doesn't deserve any kind of this mess, for she a kind person, to whom you want to be with. He saw Arch, looking innocent. The look was fake, he knew; both of them knew. Joshie was feeling strange. Arch had been majorly injured yesterday, but why is he here? He thought. Mark and Laira rushed towards the crime scene and looked at Annie's body, shocked. Mark saw Joshie, with a melancholy face. He and Laira went to Joshie, they then started patting his back gently. Laira stroked Joshie's arm, making him feel a bit better. "Robinsons twins, Annie. Who's next?" Joshie cried. He looked around, nervously and saw that Arch wasn't there anymore. He knew Arch was up to something. He felt Arch wanted something from him. "Arch." Joshie said. "Little ol' Arch." He added. "I knew you would suspect something from him." Laira said, quietly. Joshie agreed, and so does Mark, prentending to know it, too. Mark suddenly saw a black figure in midst of the woods, leading to Needleleaf Creek. Mark started to follow the figure, frightened. Laira and Joshie looked at Mark as he walked into the woods, following a big scream. Joshie and Laira ran through the woods, shocked, and saw Mark, with a knife on his hand. "Now you're impaled." A warm voice said. Mark heard it, Joshie and Laira did, too. They were mystified. Joshie and Laira quickly helped Mark get up, screaming in pain. They called for help at some nearby ambulance. Mark laid on the stretcher, and got in the ambulance, leaving quickly with roars of sirens passing through Joshie and Laira's ears. "Oh, i hope he's alright." Laira said, with a worried face. "Come on!" Joshie said. "We gotta visit him." He added. Laira nodded, worried for her new friend. Both of them rushed through the busy streets of Needleleaf, and reached the hospital. They ran through the doors, out of breath. They asked a nearby accountant a Mark Willingham. The accountant told them that there was no patient with that name. A car would be more faster than running. Joshie thought, so it would be impossible for them to reach first place. "But there's no other hospital except for this." Joshie said, frustrated. Laira was worried for both of them, now she's realizing her fascination with the mysterious happenings could've led to this. Both of them went out of the hospital, feeling apprehensive. Joshie felt worried for Mark, he is used to see him very often. He stood up, and held Laira's arms. "There's no turning back, Laira. We gotta find him." Joshie said. Laira just nodded, with a shocked face. They then rushed through the night, trying to find Mark. Their first stop was the woods. Joshie knew that any kind of kidnapping scenario would be the woods, especially the warm huts near the creek. They ran through each path, one to the other. Until they heard a surprising scream. Joshie was familiarized by the voice, he knew who it was. He ran through the path, gliding left and right, passing through the roots of the trees, and the trees itself. He gripped Laira's hand, following him, shocked. But as he ran, he suddenly stumbles down into the mud, pulling Laira into him. He tried to dodge swiftly, but he didn't succeed. Laira fell on top of him, hitting his chest. He felt a harsh pain, swifting through his chest. Laira stood up, also feeling pain. She helped Joshie up, and as Joshie stood, he suddenly saw another black figure, leaping towards him. Laira saw the figure, too, she was shocked. The figure swas slowly turning into colors, and as the figures take steps forward, a face, similar to both of them, appeared. A face whose hands were impaled. Joshie saw it, He knew it, Laira knew it; all of them knew it. "Arch." Joshie groaned. "Yes, it is me!" Arch yelled. "I knew it!" Laira suspected. Arch tried to run back. Laira tried to follow him, but the mud slowed her down. Joshie tried to run, trying to catch up on Arch, but Arch threw a big branch towards Joshie. It hit Joshie's arm, causing a fracture. He fell down, screaming in pain. Laira ran towards him, worried, and helped him up. She accidentally touched Joshie's fractured arm, following a loud scream. "We have to get you to a hospital, quick!" Laira suggested, worriedly. She guided him towards the hospital, and as they reached the hospital, Joshie was already dead unconscious. Laira went directly to the emergency room, holding Joshie's unconscious body. The nurses went and helped him get in the room, Laira then sat down, with tears on her face. Why is this happening to me? She thought. She didn't know Joshie also felt the same way as she did. First Mark, then, Joshie?! Laira wiped her eyes, she took a deep breathe, and thought of positive things. She thought things most people like, until she heard a scream from outside. She stood up, knowing it was Mark. She ran outside to see if he screams again. He screamed again. "Don't worry Mark." Laira said, quietly. "Were coming to save you." She added. She started to run, and suddenly thought about Arch. "This 'Arch' guy is really getting into my nerves." She said to herself, continuing to run through the muddy path. She ran into the woods, until she reached the far west of the creek. She then saw a gazebo from the east of the creek. She squinted her eyes to see what was in the gazebo, she was shocked to see Mark, tied up in his chair, with a tape on his face. She was angered to see her friend suffer, she knew what she had to do. So, she stood up from the bushes, and tried leaping on the rocks, until a voice was heard. "Hey!" A young man hollered. "What are you doing here? Off you go!" He added. Laira was frustrated at the man. She then ran fast as ever, towards the young man, hitting him head first. The young man stumbled, unconscious on the ground. Laira looked at his face, assuming he was part of Arch's entourage. "Seems like Arch is more important than himself." She teased. She then headed towards the gazebo whom Mark was in. Mark turned around, seeing Laira outside the gazebo. He was delighted. Laira stepped inside the gazebo, taking the tape off Mark's face. "AHHHHH!" He screamed in a painful manner. "Shhhhh." Laira said. "There might be others out there, so keep your lips locked tight." She added, quietly. Mark just nodded, with a smile, of course. Laira then took the rope off around him. Mark stood up, and started to hug Laira. "You know," He said. "You the only girl i've hugged in my life." Laira chuckled. "Wait, where's Joshie?" Mark asked. "He got hit by Arch, his right arm fractured." Laira said. Mark was shocked, starting to get angry on Arch. "Oh, i'll get that Arch!" He said. They started to run to the south, where most of the mysteries occur, including to what happened to the Robinsons twins. They ran towards the woods, until they saw Arch, holding a blood-stained arm, and he was singing. Mark and Laira were disgusted by the gruesome scene. Both of them try to cover their own eyes, and they realized that a what-seem-to-be charming student would turn out to be gruesome. "How gory!" Laira said, startled by the scene. Mark agreed. Both of them started to walk slowly, passing by Arch. Arch looked back, with a bloody face. "I think he sees us." Mark whispered, frightened by what's going to happen next. "Run!" Laira screamed. Arch stood up, and tried catching them. Mark and Laira ran swiftly, left and right. Arch followed, holding a blood-stained knife. "You're next on my to-kill list!" Arch shouted. "We gotta split up!" Mark suggested. Laira agreed. Both of them separated in opposite directions. Arch stopped, fooled. He then dropped his knife on the ground, and kicked it, landing on top of the rocks on the creek. He was very frustrated. Now, that Laira and Mark know his secrets, he was now sure that he will be exposed, no more fame, just misery. "Les Misérables." He said. "But don't worry, i'll get both of you next time." He said to himself. He started to fix himself, took a bathe in the creek, and left, leaving evidence all over  the place. in the gazebo, at the creek, and the arm. Silence had now taken over the creek. Mark met up again with Laira at the creek. "Look how much mess he's made." Mark said, still frustrated at Arch. Laira just nodded. Laira noticed a wound at Mark's hand, she suddenly remembered what happened to him. "Hey," Laira said. "How's your hand doing?" She asked. "It's fine, just stings a bit." Mark said, hiding his wounded hand in his pocket. "I better take you to the creek,  let me wash it for you." Laira suggested. They then headed on to the creek. Laira started washing his hands. He started to moan in a painful manner. "It's going to be alright, Mark." She said. She then took her handkerchief to dry up his wet hands. Mark thanked Laira. "Let's meet up again and visit Joshie in the hospital, it's getting late at night." Laira suggested. Mark agreed, so they stood up, and headed to their homes together.