Below The Waves

Chapter Eight: Fourteen

The fire crackled in front of him, giving off a soft glow and dimly lighting their room in the cabin. Shawn stared at the newspaper article hung on his cabin wall, Ricky had fallen asleep a while ago. He stood up, unwillingly, like he wasn't in control of his own body, and walked over the the framed picture, dragging his feet. "Local Fisherman Catches Biggest Fish to Date." He read the headline out loud. Below it was a picture of his grandfather and himself standing beside the small fishing boat, with a huge fish lain out in front of them. Suddenly a huge wave of rage washed over him. He ripped the frame off the wall and smashed it open, glass shattering around his feet. The noise echoed through the cabin, for no one to hear. A sudden gust of wind blew the paper across the room and into the hand of a shadowed young child with blond hair that was dripping wet and blue pjs. She had freckles and dull blue eyes. She flipped it over and dropped the flimsy paper on the ground.

Murder Streak Continues.

Only ten days after the murder of Alissia Johns, another young girl, Nicola Bant went missing. After another ten days her body was found floating in Lake Alpine. The official report is not to be released to the public, but family members say that she had just turned 7, which is around the same age as the other 14 confirmed victims before her. It is believed that her killer is the same one who has been committing the previous crimes. An investigation continues for the many young girl's killer.

A tear slid down the girls cheek. Below the paragraph was a picture of a girl with blond hair and freckles and bright blue eyes. She had a smile that spread from cheek to cheek. The child's lone tear vanished before it had hit the hard wooden floor. Her head shot up and she stared at Shawn, then she lifted her hand and Shawn's shoulders slumped over and he walked back to the couch, where he feel asleep. The girl's shape started to waver when Ricky awoke. They locked eyes. Ricky blinked. Before he could speak the girl spoke.

"My name is Nicola." She stared at Ricky with a blank expression. He nodded.

"Ricky." He held out his shaking hand. She touched it hand and a painful sensation like hot ice spread up his arm.

"AH!" He shouted jumping back.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." She whispered.

"It's ok. Why is your hair wet?" It reminded him of the girl that spoke to him, the one that was supposedly in the bottom of the lake.

She couldn't have...

The girl didn't answer. She disappeared into thin air, causing the small fire in the brick fireplace to extinguish and a small gust of wind to blow the newspaper over to Ricky. He picked it up and his mouth dropped open.

I small whisper escaped him. "14." He lifted his hand to cover his mouth. "14 of them." He shook like a leaf, clinging onto a branch, the impossibility of it all. Too much. Too much had happened.

14.

He will stop this.

He couldn't bear seeing anymore torchured souls. He would bring them peace. They could leave the hell they are live.

He had to.