SCREAM - THE ANGEL OF DEATH

CHAPTER TWO

After dropping Tatum off to school, Gale returned home. She trudged inside and placed the keys into the blue bowl beside the door on the white stand then closed the door, the deadlock engaged upon its closure. She sighed and walked down the hallway, her heels clicking on the wooden flooring beneath her as her shadow crept alongside her on the cream white walls that guided her towards her office. She opened the door and stepped inside, using a wooden doorstop she forced it to keep the door at bay. She opened a window and smiled as the fresh breeze came in and lathered across her body.

Turning, she sat in front of her computer and turned it on. While she sat there, she picked up the book and opened it and began reading the section that was about the author, Sidney Prescott. She saw the photo of her, she was smiling, a bright happy smile, the first Gale had seen since the early 2000's. She closed it with a thud, a flash of inspiration hitting her hard, but she jumped when Dewey spoke from the doorway.

"Hi", his voice was low.

Gale had a hand on her chest. "Jesus, Dewey!"

"Sorry" he said and walked in. He removed his hat and held it in his hand and sat down on the chair in the corner, Gale noticed his expression and frowned herself and spun the chair slowly and looked at him. Their eyes locked and he frowned hard. "What?"

"I know that look, Dewey. I've seen it before" Gale said with a serious tone. "What's going on?"

"It's complicated" Dewey responded.

Releasing a chuckle, Dewey examined her as her lips curled up. "When has a complication ever stopped me before?"

"You've gotta keep this on the downlow, Gale. Promise me" said her husband, a serious look planting itself across his face as he spoke to her. "This can't be getting out until I allow it to".

"Jesus, yes, I promise" replied Gale, straightening her back and sitting up. "I won't tell a soul".

"I'm trusting you, Gale!"

"And I'm trusting you to tell me!" She said loudly. She was dying to know.

"Two teenagers were killed last night".

Gale went cold. A shiver ran down her spine. It felt like music had been injected straight into her body, she pulsed with excitement and fear. The feeling of the coldness circulating her bloodstream snapped her back to reality where Dewey was watching her, waiting for a reply.

Dewey inspected his wife up close, the way her eyes cracked onto objects around the room as her mind raced. The way her fingers curled into her fists as her knuckles went white. She was thinking of a way to cash in, or cash out, on this new tragedy. She wanted to write, no, she needed to. She needed to express her inner journalist and uncover the truth just like she did all those years ago. Her eyes met Dewey's again.

"What're you thinking about?" asked Dewey, his eyebrow lifting.

Gale gulped. "How did they die?"

Dewey gave her an expression of disgust. "Gale, really?"

She slapped his leg. "What weapon was used, genius?"

"Hunting knife. Eight-inch blade" he acknowledged coldly.

Gale knew it. She began to shake. "Is it starting again?"

"God, I hope not. One of the girls, Kasey-" he spoke and then stopped. He knew the law of disclosing information like that. "Pretend you didn't hear that. She was found hanging from the ceiling, like my sister was. If this is happening again, we can find a pattern".

Gale took a mental note of the name then said. "Kasey? As in Casey Becker?"

Dewey's eyes widened, "And Casey Cooper!"

Gale smirked. "There's a connection already".

"I don't know about the other girl" Dewey started.

"What was her name?" Gale asked.

"You know I can't tell you".

"You've already told me about Kasey, may as well give me the scoop, Dewey".

"Fine, her name was Vienna Walker".

Gale laughed. "Walker? Charlie Walker!"

Dewey lowered his head.

Gale smiled softly. "Dewey, we won't let this happen again. Not like last time. We weren't prepared or ready, but this time we will stop it before it gets out of control. Nobody else will die".

Dewey put his arms out and trailed Gale in. She was stunned by his sudden action, but she melted into his touch and draped her arms around him tightly. She brushed her lips against the side of his head and closed her eyes and smiled softly. When Dewey pulled away, she noticed the tears building in his eyes. She frowned.

"Shhh, Dewey. What is it?" she asked softly, her voice barely a whisper.

"I can't help but-" he sobbed. "I can't help but wonder about my sister, about Tatum".

Gale's eyes closed and she hugged him again. "I know you miss her. I wish I had gotten to know her, she seemed sweet".

"She would have liked you" Dewey replied.

Gale chuckled. "She watched Sidney punch me down, I'm pretty sure she laughed".

Dewey chuckled with a sob hidden beneath the expression. "She called you a bitch I think".

"No, that was Sidney still".

They both laughed. Dewey smiled and kissed her and she kissed him back. His hand was tightly pressed into her lower back pulling him in closer. Gale knew where this was going, and she wasn't going to allow it. But she was happy to sit here for a few moments and enjoy the normal side of life while I lasted.