The Prologue

Prologue

They found the body at 9 AM, on Vine and Barrel Street, June third, 2009.

She wore a short, light pink summer dress with spaghetti straps. Her dress was rumpled and stained with assorted bodily fluids. She was faced down, sprawled scross the street. Brian was glad he could see her face.

He felt sick, looking at the unfamiliar and awkward angle her limbs were twisted into.

She wore no shoes, so he could see her feet, long and paint toes which were now chipped, bloody and raw.

He pixie cut hair was tangled and ratty. Some patches of auburn were missing to reveal the ivory skin beneath.

He felt angry and nauseous and numb all at once.

The glare and noise of the sirens came back to him all at once. There was a police officer shaking him. Brian was standing, yet his knees felt too week. He was didn't care though; he was using all his willpower trying to not look at the girl. Suddenly, Brian realized that he wasn't, but staring at the ground. The image of her body was seared into his mind, and he saw it everywhere. There was no officer, or ambulence, or any people gathering behind the yellow tape. There was only her.

"Son!" The officer in black yelled, dimly making it through Brian's subconscious.

Brian mumbled something in response.

They were bagging the body. He wanted to tell them to stop. He wanted to yell and scream and cry, but he couldn't. His throat was too dry and the tears wouldn't come. He wanted to look away, but found that he couldn't.

They turned her on her back, and Brian's world came crashing down.