Decode [s.m]

two.

two.

I lift the spoonful of cereal to my mouth as I eat my breakfast while scrolling through Juliette Paulson's social media. She didn't really have any photos of herself and it was hard to see her face from her newly updated small profile picture. She wasn't even tagged in anything, either.

My phone rings and I answer the incoming call from my father.

"Hey, dad." I say into the line.

"Why'd you go for a knife this time?" He asks me.

"It's more silent. The town became more quiet, what I used was better."

"What knife?"

"Heated silver, non-switch."

"Where is it?"

"Cleaned and under my floorboard."

"Good."

With that, he hangs up and I continue trying to stalk Juliette. The door in the hallway opens and I hear the soft footsteps of Sheila. She yawns, her arm stretched out into the air as she wears a silk bonnet protecting her hair and a large shirt of Jonah's. Her hazel eyes meet mine and she gives me a toothy welcoming smile. "Hey, Shawn. Long time no see, huh?"

"Sheila, I have missed you dearly." I say. "Finally, Jonah has stopped crying. You know, I'm very glad you two had sex. He wouldn't stop jacking off to you."

Sheila lets out a laugh as she grabs the box of cereal while Jonah comes out the room. He sports a fresh trail of hickeys down his stomach and I already know where they lead to.

"How lovely." I motion to the love marks. "She's left a trail like Hansel and Gretel!"

"It's more of a trail for me so I don't get lost in her pu..."

"Finish that sentence and I'm breaking up with you." Sheila says to Jonah. She turns her back and pours herself a bowl while Jonah mouths the word to me - "Pussy."

I let out a small smirk and shake my head. Jonah grabs the remote and turns on the television. The news reports talk about Iyana and cover the story. Sheila stops pouring herself a bowl and quickly turns around.

"No." She says at the television.

Oh fuck...

"Iyana...." Sheila begins to say as she walks over to the couch with Jonah. Jonah holds her as she shakes at the information.

"You knew her?" I ask.

"She used to be my Big before I left the sorority house." Sheila says as she begins to cry.

Ah fuck.

"Jesus Christ." I say. My sympathy is real this time. Had I known she knew Sheila I would have never done this. I don't like seeing women hurt.

Even though I'm hurting women.

"Sheila, I'm so sorry for your loss." I say.

Jonah holds onto her while she rests her elbows on her knees, the tears flowing down her bare face. Her shoulders shake as she cries over the loss of her friend.

"She was the sweetest girl in the sorority. She organized a whole program for the elderly at the recreational center!" Sheila cries. "No one had an evil eye out for her. Absolutely no one! How could someone do this?"

"People are really fucked up in this world." Jonah says. "Baby, I'm gonna be right here for you through all this pain."

"Why would someone do such a thing?" Sheila asks.

"On the news they said they think this might be a cult thing with Halloween at the end of the month." I tell her.

"That's fucked up." She wipes her tears.

I look at the distraught woman before me and feel like shit. Shawn, you have added yourself to the Men Ain't Shit List.

I reach for the control and put the volume up to listen to the reporter talk about the murder.

"Iyana Silverton was a junior year student and the University just behind us where she studied English Literature. Silverton was known around campus as a member of the Delta Nu sorority, where she was president and organized the clean up of the community every Sunday. Silverton was only 21 years old. Authorities are asking for those with any information to come forward as soon as possible." The reporter says. "A vigil for the bright student will be held tonight at 6pm in front of the Delta Nu sorority house."

"Think you can handle it?" Jonah asks Sheila.

Sheila nods her head and wipes her tears. "Yeah. I can handle it. I'm sorry, I'm sorry for crying in front of you guys."

"Sheila," I say as I sit next to her, "don't apologize. You just lost someone close to you. It's okay. Don't apologize."

"Thank you, Shawn." She says as we hug.

"I'm sorry this world is so dangerous for women." I say as we part.

Sheila excuses herself as she goes back into Jonah's room as closes the door. Jonah sighs and I look at the television in front of us.

"I hate seeing her like this." Jonah says.

"If this is actually a cult, that is truly terrifying." I say.

"I doubt it." He tells me. "We discussed this in my psych lecture yesterday. Usually a cult will let you know it's a cult. They all are different."

"I don't get it." I say.

"Look at Bundy, man. That man went after women who looked alike. Dahmer went after black men. A killer usually has a type. This dude is just going after women." He says.

Witches!

"I can't tell what's worse - a motive or no motive." I say.

"No motive. They don't fear a thing." Jonah says.

Wrong, Jonah.

I do fear a thing.

Being caught.