Bass Case

Chapter 27: Shadow of the Killer

    Everything happened so fast. Josh fled, and Dana was rushed off to the hospital with me just standing in the center of it all. My head is spinning. But how? We caught the killer. How could Dana have still been attacked? I hear the frightened whispers from the surrounding crowd. I need to find Josh.

    I make my way back inside, searching frantically for the just released prisoner. I see him sitting in the farthest corner of the student union, looking scared out of his mind. He looks up at me with frightened brown eyes, "Sorry, for leaving ya man. Just...we know what happened last time that happened..."

    "No. It's fine. I totally understand." I say, sitting across from him at the table. "You alright?"

    He nods his head in a daze. The edge of his mouth starts to twitch uncontrollably. Then he buries his eyes into his hands. "What the hell? Why is this still happening?" He utters, "It's bad enough that it had to happen the Anika and Derek. They were the nicest people anyone could ever meet, and someone had to go and take their lives away." He lifts his head, his eyes full of tears. "I don't want to be here anymore Daniel. It holds just too much crime and sorrow, and I'm scared out of my mind of being another victim either for prison or worse..."

    I sigh, patting him on the shoulder. "Then you should leave, Josh."

    "Would I be a coward?" He asks.

    "No. Anyone in their right mind would leave this place." I state, settling down against the back of my chair. "It's just...not safe here anymore. No matter what we do." We sit there in silence, washed over with a sense of overwhelming defeat and dread. After all we've been through, we still can't seem to escape this nightmare.

"Then, I guess it's for the best. It was a good run, but...it's just not what it use to be." Josh sighs.

"Yeah. I agree. I think once Sarah gets out of the hospital we'll leave this place for good."

"I hope that's soon."

"Yeah...me, too."
***
So we returned back to my apartment. I let Josh stay with us until we all decide to leave. I stand in the kitchen making pasta for all of us. I promised Angelica I would be home for dinner, and I kept my promise. As soon as I hear the door lock click open I turn excitedly towards the door, hoping to be surprised by Sarah's recovery, but only Angelica walks through the door followed by Brenda. I'm shocked to say the least. I wasn't expecting her over. "Oh, Josh. You're here, too." Angelica says.

"Yeah. Sorry. It was a last minute decision." I reply.

"Oh, no. It's okay. I invited Brenda over unexpectedly as well."

"I hope I'm not taking up too much space. You don't have to serve me." Brenda states.

"No! There's plenty. Come on in." I smile.

Angelica comes up beside me in the kitchen, looking over the meal. "Smells good."

"Thanks." I reply. I can feel a bit of heat rise to my face, remembering our conversation from earlier, but I try to act as normal as I always have. "So, Sarah hasn't woken up then..."

"No...she still won't wake up..." Angelica sighs, tears forming at the edge of her brown eyes. She bites her cheek as she grabs plates to set out from the cupboard.

I gulp down some bile, debating whether to disclose what I witnessed earlier with Josh. It's been stressful enough as it is, but I feel that she has a right to know. "Angelica." I whisper, "Have you heard about the incident earlier?"

"Incident? What incident!" She exclaims, panic quickly seeping into the atmosphere as everyone turns towards the two of us.

"Did something happen?" Brenda asks, her eyes wide in worry.