The Dancer | Wattys2018 | COMPLETED

10 - Outsmart Me

Madison read the note aloud, her hands shaking, "Dance with me?"

That was it. That was all the note said in elegant, cursive handwriting on a plain simple white piece of paper.

Marcus exhaled, "So you guys found this in Madison's apartment, in her locked room?"

Madison nodded. Her and Tyler hadn't told the brothers about their dad being in that room too. It was best they didn't know, for now.

After returning from the park, Tyler washed up and then they woke up the boys, including Alessio. Madison had to admit, waking them up needed an orchestra. They had all sat in the lounge, discussing what information they knew, and what these items might mean.

So far, they had only opened the note. The USB was being left for last.

"The only possible person behind these murders is The Dancer, the guy Tyler told us about." Sebastian said, "What other insane man writes dance invites for his next victims?"

"Let's see what's on the USB." Tyler said, handing it to Austin, who plugged it into his laptop. 

"It has...one file." Austin said, "Which is a video." He opened the file and everyone gathered around before he pressed play.

Dylan Ashborne sat there, tied to a chair with his mouth taped closed. He wore silver framed glasses and his eyes were wide open in fear. None of the boys said anything. They just watched, shocked and traumatised.

The voice that came wasn't from Dylan, but the person behind the camera instead.

"Regardless of who got a hold of this USB - the Ashborne brothers, Madison Perelli, or the police - just know that I am giving you the chance to stop me. Perhaps even outsmart me." The man chuckled, "I agree, seven years and fifty seven murders, my God what an achievement." He paused and then continued, "Dancers. The filth who call their movement an art." He snorted, "I'm here to cleanse their art, and make it more...interesting, let's say. Each dancer I murder, is art in itself. Take Madison's parents for example; I sneaked up on them and stabbed them in the back, just like they stabbed their dear friend, Miriam, in the back." He paused.

Madison frowned. Miriam was alive and healthy. Her parents loved Miriam like their own family, they would have never stabbed her in the back, both literally and metaphorically speaking.

The man continued, "You call me a murderer, I call myself a blessing. I will continue blessing this world, by finishing what I started, and that starts now."

The man stepped into view, his back facing the camera. A blade, almost as long as a sword, wielded in his hand. Dylan was blocked from the view, but Madison already knew what was coming and so she slammed the lid of the laptop closed.

"You didn't tell us Dad was there." Marcus said in a low voice, turning to Tyler.

Tyler shrugged emotionlessly, "Didn't seem like a good time."

"I don't give a fuck about a good time or not, Tyler!" He shouted, walking towards Tyler, "You always hide shit from us, what the fuck is your problem?" He grabbed Tyler by the front of his shirt and shoved him backwards.

Tyler swung at Marcus and his fist punched Marcus's nose. Tyler grabbed Marcus by the front of his shirt and held him there, "I'm leaving tomorrow morning, with my problems." He let go of Marcus and left the room.

Austin and Sebastian sat there, unfazed by what happened.

Marcus looked at Madison, blood trailing down from his nose to his lip, "You didn't think we'd want to know?"

Madison took a deep breath, "We were going to tell you, after we went through the note and USB."

"Alright, let's just calm down a bit." Sebastian said, "Why would The Dancer kill Dad? He wasn't a dancer of any sort at all."

"He's finishing what he started." Austin said quietly.

"Killing the spouses and children of dancers."

*** Author's Note ***

This is just a short chapter but hopefully I'll write a longer one next. Would you guys prefer shorter or longer chapters? Also, comment any feedback, and vote if you like it.

Thank you all for the support, love you xx