Fabula Obscrua

Pipes and Daggers

Sleep had become nearly impossible for Jared. The nightmare of Allie's murder, the images of the scene he'd stumbled upon haunted him day and night.

And yet, sleep had taken him briefly as he sat in the library attempting to catch up on his studies. He woke with drool on cheek and a crick in his neck from the way he'd fallen asleep sitting up.

“Jared.” It was Mrs. White, he'd not even heard her approach. “There's been another attack.”

Jared scrambled to his feet. The petite librarian pointed to the information desk. “The girl is there, she's pretty shaken up."

“Thanks Mrs. White,” he said and bolted for the desk. A knot of people surrounded a young woman seated on a chair, her face in her hands. There was blood trickling from beneath those fingers, and Jared paused, closing his eyes and forcing back the memory of the long knife wounds that had covered Allie.

“What happened here?” Jared said, shoving his way through. “I'm part of the campus security.”

Another librarian, Miss Scarlet answered. “Someone attacked this girl back in the stacks. Thank goodness Professor Plum was there. He heard her scream. Shame the attacker ran before he could catch him.”

Jared knelt in front of the girl. “Are you alright?”

She nodded, tears still streaking her cheeks, her red hair obscuring her face. She'd taken a cloth from the young man who hovered at her shoulder and put it to her bloodied cheek.

“What's your name?” Jared coaxed.

“Harriet,” she mumbled.

“Harriet, I'm Jared. Can you tell me what happened, what you remember?”

“She was attacked by some guy in the stacks.” The man at her shoulder spat. “I don't know why this place doesn't have better security.” He glared down at Jared. “Last I saw you, you were sleeping. Nice of you to rouse yourself after my little sister gets her face cut up.”

“I'm not on duty.” Jared said.

“Lonnie,” the girl said, reaching for the young man's hand, “He's only trying to help.” She gave Jared a faint smile. “Don't let Lonnie bother you,” she told Jared.

“Did you see the man that attacked you?”

“No,” she sighed. “I don't think Professor Plum did either.”

“I saw a man leaving the stacks. He was wearing a gray hoodie. Looked like that scum bag Andrew, if you ask me.”

“Lonnie, Andrew would not attack me,” Harriet protested.

“I think he would,” Lonnie growled. “He's hit you before. Don't even try to deny it.”

“Wait, wait,” Jared cut in. “Who is this Andrew?”

“Harriet's ex-boyfriend, the local pot dealer. Well, pot and other shit.”

Jared looked up at Lonnie. “And you really think he could have done this?”

“Oh, I'm sure of it.”

“What about you Harriet?”

She shook her head. “I don't know. It didn't sound like him to me. But he only hissed in my ear to shut up or he'd cut me.” Tears welled in her eyes. “I screamed, and he cut my face,” she choked out. “Then I heard the Professor, and let me go.”

“You're lucky he didn't do worse,” Lonnie snapped.

Jared nodded, thinking of Allie. “Listen, Harriet. Do your best to think of any details. W hat he was wearing, what his voice sounded like, even what he smelled like. Tell the police everything you can think of.”