Chapter 1
January 4th, 2018
“Your classmate, Teresa, was found dead in the clearing of the woods, depth of our town. Investigators confirmed she died from the two bullets that both aimed towards her heart. Missed, but she lost a lot of blood and left dying in the cold,” Officer Jones lifts his head up while finishing his report, barely making a sound, eyes stone-cold.
The sound of the deafening gunshot rings quietly in the back of my head as I swallow down the lump that was forming in my throat. I stare at the doorway, planning an escape.
“Hey, kid, you here with me?” Officer Jones waves his hand across my distracted face, his booming voice interrupting the rhythmic beating of the gunshot echoes.
“Yes,” I answer, my voice barely audible. “But why are you telling me this?”
His eyebrows furrow in concern. “We looked at the security cameras. You were there that night when Teresa was murdered and Jason disappeared.”
Jason. My heartbeat quickens in response to the name, and I force back the tears that were spilling out of the corner of my eyes. “I’m a suspect, I assume.” My voice shows only shallow emotions, leaving him in doubt.
“Yes and no,” Officer Jones says slowly. “The cameras show that you saw Teresa being shot. The bullet was coming from a different direction from where you were standing. But it is, quite truthfully, rather suspicious that you were there, outside, all alone at night,” he pauses and takes a sip of water. “ May I please ask you what you were doing there?”
My hands rub together. “I’m not supposed to say,” I reply quietly. I draw large circles on my thighs, tracing along the thin fabric of my leggings and sigh in satisfaction.
Officer Jones opens his small notebook and flips to a page which made him blink twice. Fast. “I see that your classmates have confirmed, Jason was your boyfriend? And so do you have any clue where he went?”
I nibble my lower lip and look out the window, hoping to see something amusing that can distract me. “I-I’m not sure,” I admit and the emotions wash over me once again. “Do you think he’s dead, sir?”
Officer Jones forces a tiny smile that plays on his lips. “We’re still investigating this case. It’s why I need you to give me as much information as possible, kid.”
My head spins wildly, pleading me to spill out the truth, but my mouth does not seem to respond. I hesitate for five deep seconds before dropping the idea. “Sorry, I don’t have anything for you, sir.”
He raises an eyebrow, obviously not believing my statement. “At the very least, tell me your relationship with Teresa. And if possible, anything different you have noticed about her in the past few months.”
“Teresa?” I question. “Teresa.” My mouth gapes in horror. “Sir, she was evil. Her wicked plans to ruin me, her little tricks that can make guys swoon over her. Boy, that girl was so confident about herself she made others feel like trash. And the worst part was, I think-” I pause in disbelief.
The nasty scribbling sound of the blue pen stops short in Officer Jone’s hands. He tilts his head sideways, awaiting for the last part of my sentence. “Keep going,” He urges.
“The worst part was, I think Jason fell for her too.” My voice is hushed as it nears the end.
Officer Jones’ face twists slightly in pity and he touches my shoulder gingerly. “You’ve had enough for one day, kid. Maybe I’ll visit some time later to ask you more questions. For now, be careful.” His eyes glow with caution and concern. “The killer is still on the loose.”
I gulp down the fear that was welling inside as I nod him goodbye. As I hear the door shut behind him, I go back staring at the ripped holes in the sofa. “Jason,” I mutter, my breath hitching itself at the end, “Please be safe.”
