Secrets In The Shadows

Chapter 11: Awkward Talks

In the morning, there's a news broadcast that another murder occurred last night. I sit on the living room couch with Hunter. My dad and Uncle Aiden are in the kitchen talking. The blonde news lady holds the microphone in front of her and begins to read the words off the teleprompter.

''This is Evelyn James coming to you live in front of Richard Starks Academy where the body of a teenager has just been found. Police say the boy is seventeen year old sophomore Tyler Wilson. Sources say that after their football game ended, Wilson's teammates headed out to the parking lot and found Wilson's car still in the lot.

They found this weird because Wilson had just been benched and their coach told him to go on home. The boys called the police who brought a search dog with them and used it to find Wilson. They found his body in the forest, a long walk away from his car, dressed in peculiar clothing-'' the screen goes black. 

I turn my head to see my Uncle holding the remote. ''What did she mean by 'peculiar clothing'?'' I ask  him. Uncle Aiden runs a hand down his face and looks at my Dad. Dad gives a subtle nod of his head.

Uncle Aiden nods curtly and lets out a breath of air. ''He just left a football game, benched, meaning he wouldn't have had enough time to change completely out of his football gear. Meaning he should have still been wearing his gear.

When cops found him he was dressed with a blue robe tied around his shoulders, open-toed sandals on both feet, a crown on top of his hand, and a scepter clenched in his left hand. His gym shoes neatly beside him.  The UnSub, Unknown Subject, took time to dress him. That information wasn't supposed to be leaked to the public''. He frowns and grimaces. 

I open my mouth to ask a question but Hunter beats me to it. ''How do you know its the same killer?''. I look at him and then back towards my uncle. My dad crosses his arms and scowls and answers for my uncle.

''They don't. That girl, Ashley, was strangled to death while Tyler was stabbed. Different gender, different kill method, hell, even the way he dressed them was different. Its probably a copycat''. The way my father and Uncle glare at each other tells me each of them suspects differently. 

Hunter clears his throat. ''I take it school's cancelled?'' he asks. My dad nods, ''For two weeks until further notice. According to your uncle, its become a crime scene......even though he wasn't killed on school grounds just near them''. My uncle nods. I get up from the couch and head towards the front door. ''Where are you going?'' Hunter's voice stops me.

I turn around. ''Out. I need to clear my head''. As soon as the words are out of my mouth, the jackhammer begins its decent on my temple. My Dad and Uncle look skeptical. I try to reassure them. ''I'm going to Tuley. I'll be careful, I promise''. And before the three of them can object, I'm out the door and heading down the street to the park. 

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Once I arrive at the park, I take my shady spot underneath a tree and practice. I raise my right hand and flick it to my left. Shadows stretch away from the tree and in the direction of my hand flick. I try to form shapes in the shadows. I get as far to a flower when a shadowy hand appears on my right ankle.

I look to my left and Tress is a shadow against the tree. I can feel the confusion and worry coming off of her. ''I'm guessing you overheard the news broadcast?'' at that statement Tress launches herself at me, her arms enveloping me in a shadowy version of a hug. 

I hum, letting myself feel her warmth and love and vice versa, before carefully getting out of her hug. I push hair out of my face and she copies me. I smile. ''I'm fine. Don't worry.''. 

''There's a serial killer in our city and your telling me or yourself not to worry?''. I look up and Maddox is standing in front of me, with his hands in his pockets. I lick my lips. ''Technically its not a serial killer until there's three kills. So far we have two.'' I tell him. ''So far'' he says, and  walks towards me and takes a seat next me, almost sitting on Tress.

Luckily she moves at the last second. He turns his head towards me, ''So, any good reason you have to be out here when there's a killer in our city?'' he emphasizes. I smirk at him. ''I could ask you the same thing Grey. What are you doing here anyway?''. I tell him. 

He winces playfully. ''Ouch. Last name Winters. And here I thought we were partners in crime, principal buddy?. I saw you head in here from across the street and decided to follow you."  he puts a hand to his chest and gasps. I almost laugh. Almost. I repeat my question and this time he answers. ''I couldn't stay cooped up in that prison lock down of a home''.

Right. I think, his mom is Detective Gray.  I nod in sympathy. ''I met your mom yesterday during the interrogation, she seemed nice..".  He nods, a patient look on his face. ''What about your mom Winters?'' he returns the question. 

Suddenly there's a vice around my heart, squeezing it tighter and tighter, barely letting me breath. I suddenly feel like crying, screaming, and punching someone all at once. Tears form in my eyes. Maddox notices and waves his hands in front of him. ''Hey Hey Hey, crap, I'm sorry. Its just that-never mind, I'm sorry''.

He awkwardly puts a hand on my shoulder. I force the tears back where they came from and smile at him. ''Its okay. My mom...she had an accident while she was pregnant with me and it landed her in a coma'' I tell him. Well, I think, That's the half truth . ''She's in the hospital. She's been there since I was born" my voice breaks on the last word and I clear my throat.

Maddox opens his mouth to say something but is interrupted by the noise of a cell phone ringing. His cell phone ringing. He fishes it out of his pocket and answers it. "Hello? At Tuley, with Huntress. Ok, we'll be there" he hangs up the phone looks at me.

"Be there where exactly?" I ask him. He frowns. "That was my mom, she said Ashley and Tyler's families are holding a joint funeral at the school before having everyone join them at the cemetery. The entire school is made to attend. As well as Detectives".

I look at him. They think he'll be at the funeral. I can't believe the murders are only three weeks apart. The killer couldn't even wait until Ashley was buried before killing Tyler.

I get up and brush grass off of my clothes. I sigh. A feeling of unease creeping over my shoulders. "Looks like we have a funeral to attend".