Our Out-of-TIme

— Everything depends on the next play. Will Kate DeCario pull it off, and claim her title as champion absolute?

The crowd of equally bored students, watches as the girl slowly places another pen into a palace of pens she crafted. Her brown eyes were wide with focus and her silly expressions was a prime indicator that her only concern was to finish it. And placing the final pen, upright, design and modified with a little flag of its own, Kate releases it carefully. Backing away and realizing her castle of items was finished, she and her classmates cheer loudly, engulfing all the sound on the cafeteria.

— Yeah baby!!!

The hype was such that it awoke the sleeping classmate upon which the pen castle was constructed, causing the whole thing to crumble, but one second after it was finished. Betrayed the students moan their dissatisfaction, leaving Kate to cheer on her own. Charlie towers over her, with his unfriendly gleam.

— Kate…

— What? It was fun.

He glances around to see the faces of the others classmates.

— Don’t you guys have anything else better to do?

They quietly move away to deal with their own things. Kate doesn’t bother but kneels to pick all the pens on her own. Charlie sighs and kneels next to her to help.

— Honestly Kate, this is the only time of the day where I get to relax some, and you build a castle on my back?

— A pen castle, Charcoal.

— You gotta have more consideration for others.

— That’s a mean thing to say. Makes me sound like a bad person.

— It doesn’t take a bad person to do bad things.

— Bad? Like what?

— Bother someone who was minding their own business?

— Would I really? — She asked confidently.

— You just did.

— What if the person wasn’t sleeping? Could I bother them?

— And say something completely pointless and not worthwhile when they are clearly working?

— Well, I would. Cause’ that’s how we became friends.

Getting back up, Kate and Charlie finish putting the abnormal number of colorful pens back into the girl’s case, and she readies to leave him. The curly brown haired waves goodbye to the person she is totally not in love with.

Her career of choice, which she should use her time in the university to pursue, was so all-over the place that she remained undecided. She was a good architect, some something around design or engineering was up her alley. On the other hand, she was interested in animals and liked Biology classes so much she could totally be a vet. She wanted to be a nurse too. Not to mention that the girl dreamed of opening her own bakery and work on her desserts professionally. Many nights were spent wondering about her condition.

Unlike Mr. Charles Hemmingway over there, who applied for Criminal Law as soon as humanly possible. The lad was but 7 months younger, but given the way their birthdays were laid out, march and September, it was like the girl was permanently one year older than him. And since that was something, she referenced constantly, he deeply hated their age difference. But like her, he too was a genius and during the past two years, with some luck, effort, and the right meetings, he got himself a foot inside the ADPS, the Public Safety Department of Arkansas. And he was already getting friendly with one of the lead investigators of the place, for future interests in his career.

Walking out the library, she puts on Kids by MGMT and mouths the lyrics while moving with the rhythm. After all she was a normal girl. As far she knows her morals are intact, or at least pointed towards a general moral north in which society more less stands. There aren’t things about her that she believes to be negative, not in an evil or malicious way at least.

Certainly, there were some character flaws and emotional mismanagements that even she wasn’t aware of, but she believed to be the wielder of the “10/10 all-around good kid” certification since 09’. Not like she was trying to prove something to someone, but honestly it was nice to know that she wasn’t some kind of outlier or degenerate in the making. It was just a recomforting thought, and it bothered her that she kept thinking about this sort of stuff, probably the other teenagers her age were either way worse than her, and they knew that, or they were much worse than her and didn’t know that.

Not that everyone is a bad person mind you. It was more likely that 99% of the people were good if not better than her, and it was just a minority of people that made no fucking sense as to why they were the way they were. Childhood issues are a serious thing, you know. But her family was a loving one. She was taken on many trips around the world, never really had to worry about finances and even got the chance to get along with her very present grandparents.

Her old man’s old man made a fortune selling houses and that helped Kate’s parents tremendously. Nonetheless, it was her hour to do something and given the support and the talent she had, the will to grasp it was up to a decision. A decision which her dummy brain could not settle down to pick. Even mom was starting to worry and planned some scenarios in secrecy, a few conversations to maybe edge the girl’s mind into a career. It’d be good to get a head start like Charlie did.

Heading towards her parked car, Casey chimes along.

— Hey girl! Ready to bounce?

Casey leans on Kate, pouting and whining.

— Girl… I’m gonna move.

— What?! To where?

— To Maine…

— The United States of America’s 43rd most visited state?!

— That’s a very specific piece of knowledge, how do you know?

— You’re moving up on the list and away from me? Are your parents forcing you?

— Kind of, but I know why they want to move.

— You can live with me and my fam if you want.

— As much as that sounds like the world’s best headache, I’ll pass. They are worried about my safety, Kate. The problem is this place.

— There has been a suspiciously abnormal number of colored pens being stolen around here. Not that I would know anything about that.

— It’s all because of that stupid killer everyone’s on about lately.

— The Dredge?

Reaching the evening-painted parking lot, Casey enters Kate’s car along with the owner. It was just a commodity for Kate to give Casey a ride home since her house was perfectly aligned with her own. Inside, the dark-skinned girl continues to rant, while Kate got the car started.

— You know these freaks do it because of attention right? Like, they kill one or two out of pleasure and then they keep going because everybody’s looking at them.

— Sometimes yeah. Most times they’re probably unhinged.

— Why not call them goofy names, like Nutty Putty?

— You wanna get killed by someone called the Nutty Putty Killer?

— Or not give them any names, see if someone cares.

— “I’m sorry ma’am we found your daughter’s body on a ditch. The modus operandi shows she was killed by the Nutty Putty killer.”

— You know what I mean…

— Can’t wait until HBO does a documentary on the Nutty Putty Killer.

— Kate.

— Sorry, I was going off on a tangent… when are you going?

— In a week or two. You know, my uncle lives there, so he’s gonna gives us a hand.

— Goddamn Casey… that sucks.

— Yeah…

The girls look over the passing scenery. Remembering the gentle warmth of that spring’s lush afternoon. The colors and the wind that even made them walk slower before getting in the car. Knowing she’ll have to get away from this quiet place she’s grown to love, Casey can’t help but to mutter her frustration.

— If only that guy wasn’t around…

— You don’t know if it’s a guy.

— You don’t know if it’s a girl!

— I don’t.

Kate agreed, confusing Casey for a moment.

— Touché…

— Oh, you know what? What if we —

— You’re not about to suggest we go serial killer hunting.

— No! What? That’s so stupid! Why would I ever say that?

Casey lifts an eyebrow at her friend, who although had her eyes on the road, could feel her friend’s expression and grew stiff with embarrassment. And though Casey’s guess wasn’t off, she didn’t hear the whole story.

— I was going to say… that we should ask Charlie if he could ask his buddies at the station for a dedicated search. If they corner this guy into a jail cell, you and your family don’t have to move!

— Girl, I don’t think that’s how it works…

— Why not?

— You think a station is going to listen to some graduate student they see every now and then?

— We don’t know if we don’t try, Trying means more than winning.

— Yes ma’am.

Kate drops off Casey and they say goodbye with a bittersweet air. The moments between them were now counted. How many times could they continue to talk like that? How many more times they can laugh in each other’s presence.

It doesn’t matter what anyone says. When someone dear to you moves away from your life and your reach, they generate a vacuum that cannot be filled the same way. Even with your smartphones and your letters and your visits. The daily presence of someone, the reassurance, the comfort of that person is not there anymore.

You’ll grow adjusted, you of caring heart. You wish to not bother them, as they wish to not bother you. The distance and silence grows by the day, the lives steer in separate directions and you will no longer be the same. That, not for a single moment, means you think less of them, oh no, no. Undoubtedly, after years, months and seasons, the memory of that person still forever resides in your heart, with an honesty that might just be humiliation. That shouldn’t be an issue for you should it? If you get to see one another again, at another place in another time, you’ll be glad you kept that locket.

Kate’s mind was a wondering one, for sure.

Arriving at her large house, she parked her car, got her keys and bag, and entered, greeted by comfort and the scent of homemade burritos in the making. Her mother wasn’t a chef, but if she tried to be one, she would gain a massive following. The family agreed unanimously. On the living room her brother who was 8 years younger than her and a sweaty pubescent nerd. He was on the living room’s couch, playing on his Switch and occupying as much space as possible.

— Hey nerd.

— How’s my baby-baby brother doing?

— I was fine, but now the room smells like old people.

She stands menacingly over him.

— Yee of little faith… you’ll be like me someday.

Smirking, the siblings laugh off their greeting and they boy makes space in the couch for her to sit down. Kate was beat. Beaten to a pulp, reassembled through dark alchemic means, and then beaten again. That’s an underestimated description of just how tired she was. And she knew it was because of Casey’s not-nice news.

Her dad, Fabian, came pacing into the room. If it wasn’t for a massive scar on the left side of the man’s face, he’d be the most average looking man on earth. There was an accident when he was a kid and lost his eye on the process.

— Hey sweetheart, how are you?

— Hi dad! I’m great, how are you?

They don’t hug because the dad seemed on a hurry and the daughter was somewhat tired. Glancing at the TV, she sees news about the Dredge Killer. Another victim was claimed seemingly four hours ago. Once again, a young girl about Kate’s age, stabbed and beaten. Her corpse was armed into a pose and a message was laid by them. The lead investigator, showed along with the reporter, talked about the scene, but the volume was mixed with the sounds of the house and the cooking and what not, keeping Kate out of the loop.

— Turn that garbage off. I don’t need any more negativity.

Micah then walked into the room, already groaning about something. The grandfather was an old stubborn horse, whose grey beard made even women jealous. His demeanor was such, that he could feel a disease in his body before falling sick. If the man told a budding cancer to leave, the cancer would develop, become sentient, develop a cure for cancer and apologize for not curing itself fast enough, all this before Micah could finish his sentence. This DeCario never had a barrier tall enough that he couldn’t surpass, even while being down an arm for most of his life.

Kate’s friends and alike, once learning about her father and forefather, would joke and confront her with this so-called family curse. That sooner or later Kate would also be a part of some accident and lose a body part. To which the girl replied playfully that she already dodged the curse by sheer willpower, and quote, “being an absolute girlboss.”

Goofs aside, she truly did believe that she was safe from this oh-so-spooky family curse. For one, this happened when both Fabian and Micah were 11, and her 21st birthday was two weeks ago. For two, what were the realistic odds that every firstborn of her family went through this kind of event? Though she was absurdly fast to tell others not to do the math, because the numbers weren’t quite on her side as she expected. And last but not least, acting as a source of fear in her younger brother, these events only happened to the male DeCario’s, and she was very happy to not start another female reboot.

— Sup gramps. — She says while looking at her phone.

— How was class, Kaitlin?

— I do the learn and I smarterer than ever! How was your day?

— Look at these news… this is a damn tragedy!

Kate was used to not being heard by her parents and generally anyone that was much older than her. Realizing that her grandpops wanted to talk about the dumb news, she just let him run loose. In the meantime, her dad had already left the living room. And it’s not like Micah was ranting about the serial murders, he was probably talking about the News itself and how they were simply not good at their job.

— And that damn Antonio! I never hated a Mexican so much!

— I don’t think you have to put it that way. — She chuckled.

— He’s supposed to be a coach mimma! And that’s the one thing he doesn’t do!

— Oh, so you hate him because of his takes on football?

— Yes! Why would anyone shout defense when you’re down 2–0?!

— That’s true, he is awful. You could just switch channels thought.

— And listen to that stupid —

The doorbell rings a triumphant sound, Kate’s perfect escape from this conversation.

— I’ll get it, please!!

On the door, an investigator. The man in the suit immediately showed her his badge. Kate’s cheerfulness immediately vanished, as if some terrible news was going to be delivered to her. It didn’t even cross her mind, that she could be in trouble somehow, it was just the fear of hearing something terrible.

— Good evening, ma’am would you mind answering some questions?

— About what?

Kate closed the door, leaving her and the man alone in the outside.

— I’m sure you’ve heard the news, regarding the Dredge Killer. Have you seen any suspicious behavior from your friends or any family member?

— What?! No!

— Anyone too tense or too eager? Any behavior changes? Drastic decisions taken or someone going too quiet or distant?

— No, no… I don’t think so. Everyone seems normal to me.

The detective rubs his neck, still no luck. The truth was that there was a pathetic sum of information regarding the killer. Not even a sighting or picture of the person. No one knew what they even looked like. If it was a man or a woman, if they were short or tall, their skin color or their voice. The only reason the officials have managed to link the deaths together were because of the notes left by the Dredge themself.

“Dredge,” because of his intent to shame the victims with personal information and reveal their secrets on their death note. Every victim was written about on the notes to be a rapist or a criminal or some kind of extremely malicious person. Though family and friends denied all accusations. And during searches to verify the Dredge’s claims, the victims were all cleared. Meaning that the Dredge was not some kind of vengeful spirit, a vigilante driven to kill the perverse.

The doctors and psychologists involved, inquired that The Dredge must be deeply disturbed, and blames their circumstances and evil traits on others. Trying to disassociate from the person they know they are. And like many psychopaths, possess immense IQ and control over his emotions. Some experts discuss the possibility of the Dredge being as young as the victims, and some kind of outcast. In some ways, the exact opposite of Kate.

— Okay, then… Be careful, miss. Don’t go out alone, if possible.

— Okay, thank you.

— If you learn anything, don’t hesitate to call. Thank you for your time.

Walking back inside, Kate tries to loosen up and pretend she didn’t meet with the officer. Jake didn’t bother to look away from the Switch, Mommy Giselle was still in the kitchen and Micah was still yelling at the television. Only her dad who was walking upstairs, stopped to ask her. But the girl brushed it off, saying that it was a classmate who were passing by and stopped to ask something.

Still in a hurry, the father dismissed the blatant lie and moved upstairs to his study. After a wonderful batch of burritos, Kate went to her room to wind down. Once watching a strange number of tutorials to things she would definitely never use and some reaction videos of her favorite shows, the girl went down a rabbit hole to see news about the current talk.

Instagram, YouTube, TikTok. One video or another, her mind was still just as lost as everybody else’s. And very much annoyed about all the conspiracies and weak discussions on the case, even if she was none the wiser. Though she started to get increasingly worried because victim after victim, all of them were located close in her town. In places that she knew and visited. It felt like the whole town was now stained by a presence.

But her heart skipped, and she let the phone fall into her face after it vibrated intensely. After recovering and checking it, she saw that it was Charlie who called her. Now that she wasn’t scared, her heart skipped with fluffiness. Answering quickly, she rolls to the corner of her bed.

— Hi Charlamagne!!

— Hey, Kate.

His voice was so close to the speaker, she got chills, making her cuddle harder against the bed in search of warmth. Charlie was also in his room, winding down after another long and hard worked day. Calls between the two weren’t uncommon at all, though Kate was the one to start most of them. Meaning that she always had a big smile whenever he called first.

— So… what are you up to?

— Nothing really. And you?

- Oh! I bumped into Casey on my way home, right? Or not bumped ’cuz you know, I give her a ride on Friday. But we were talking, and did you know she’s gonna have to move?!

— No-

— I KNOW RIGHT?! And it’s not even because she found her dream house elsewhere. Her parents want to move because of crime! I told her I may or may not be stealing pens, but she was like “no sis it’s not that”, she didn’t even get my joke! Talk about a waste of comedic potential.

And while she talked, Charlie got comfortable. It might have become a bad habit, but the lad could only have a good sleep if he dozed off to her voice. Turning to his side, he listens to her with little effort put into his responses.

— Actually, I was wondering if you could do me a favor. You think you can pass by the PD and ask them to focus on catching the Dredge? If he gets caught, Casey won’t have to move.

— That’s not how it works.

— She said the same thing but listen. He only does these things in our town. And to people our age. There has to be something to go off from, right?

— Everything you and I know; the investigators already know.

Kate sighs, looking up at the ceiling.

— But they are open for suggestions. — Charlie continued. — If you think you saw something suspicious you can call them. As long as you don’t make it sound like a prank, they might listen.

— Sure. Oh, actually I do have something!

As if she was laying down next to him, it was hard to tell how much time passed. Locked in that wonderful stasis, Charlie had already turned most parts of his brain off.

— What do you think?

— It’s good…

— You think it’s a good idea? I thought so too!

— Hmm.

Kate went quiet then. A half-asleep Charlie didn’t even consider it strange. Feeling her ears burn a little she whispers close to the phone, still not faltering in nicknaming him at every possible chance.

— Hey Charleston… Why did you call me?

The boy answered with honesty and with lack of awareness.

— I wanted to listen to you.

At that point Kate was rolling on her bed, audibly squeaking her joy. If one were to type out the sound she made, they would simply smash their head on the keyboard and the result would very much be accurate. Composing herself like a proper lady, she picks up her phone again.

— I suppose I also wanted to listen to you.

With a weird and focused half-smile, she pressed her phone harder against her ear, eagerly waiting for Charlie’s answer. But all she got in return were slow paced breathes. Realizing that he might have fallen asleep as he usually does when they are together.

— You sly dog, you got me monologuing. — She says, trying to deny her desire to speak more. — Goodnight to you too.

After hanging up. Kate proceeds to have an excellent night of sleep. The next day, she woke up like an abandoned ragdoll. War-torn-like clothes and a destroyed expression. But nothing a good morning routine couldn’t fix.

Heading downstairs, she sees her smartwatch display 8:22 in the morning of a beautiful sunny Saturday. While going towards the dining room, she noticed one of the carpets was flopped over. A clear sign of her brother’s presence, who usually dragged his feet, causing the carpet to move. And surely enough he was there, preparing his hot cocoa. Entering the kitchen, she ties her hair up, from the absolute mane that it was.

— Morning Jake!

— Good morning… — He yawns.

— Good morning, Katey.

— Morning Mom!

Her mom stops cleaning the counter to give her grown daughter a big kiss. As she sits next to her brother, Kate sees the TV play from the living room, over the opening from the kitchen. She managed to catch a glimpse of the frog cartoon that was playing right before it cut to the credits. She was served a plate of banana slices, strawberries, honey and açai, to which she thanked her mother for.

Her father comes bursting down, as if he was late to a meeting. With hurried good mornings, he asks where his wallet was, where he simply couldn’t leave without. Giselle and Fabian search franticly while the kids remain seated. Giselle accidentally spills a cup of coffee as she went off to help him find his wallet.

— Judging by the sound, I don’t even want to see that mess.

Looking forward, Kate sees that the morning news of 8:30 just started. And by then, the wallet was found and Fabian left. 2 minutes and 43 seconds later, the family hears a loud crash, seemingly just down the street. Kate is the first to rush out and by the entrance of her house, could already spot some kind of accident by the corner. Her mother and brother follow, and even Micah leaves the house.

Reaching the ravaged car, she now recognized, Kaitlin screams struck by grief. Her father was limp over the wheel, completely bloodied. Panicking, she grabs her phone with trembling hands and calls the emergency. Her mother rushed forward and forced the car door opened, to take her husband out. Micah watches from a distance.

— Hello 911, what is your emergency?

Kate failed to answer as she realized she was inside her room. And that there was no smartphone in her hands. She shoots up from her bed and finds it weird that her body was not in distress. Her heart and breathing only quickened after that realization. Grabbing her phone, she sees the time was 8:20.

— What was that about?

Opening the door to her room, she peaks outside. No screaming, no intense noises, just the sound and smell of her mom fixing up some breakfast.

Heading downstairs, she sees her smartwatch display 8:22 in the morning of a beautiful sunny Saturday. While going towards the dining room, she noticed one of the carpets was flopped over. A clear sign of her brother’s presence, who usually dragged his feet, causing the carpet to move. And surely enough he was there, preparing his hot cocoa. Entering the kitchen, she ties her hair up, from the absolute mane that it was.

— Mornin’ Jake.

— Good morning… — He yawns.

— Good morning, Katey.

— Mornin’ Mom.

Her mom stops cleaning the counter to give her grown daughter a big kiss. Micah then walks into the room, greeting everyone as well. As she sits next to her brother, Kate sees the TV play from the living room, over the opening from the kitchen. While tying her hair, she managed to catch a glimpse of the frog cartoon that was playing right before it cut to the credits. She was served a plate of banana slices, strawberries, honey and açai, to which she thanked her mother for.

Frantic and late, her father was heard rushing downstairs. He asks about his missing wallet. Moving to help her husband, Giselle accidentally spills a cup of coffee. Kate looks back to see the mess, and her mom tells her not to worry about it, while moving to clean it.

— Found it! — Giselle answers.

— Where was it? — Micah asked.

— Between the couch and the stand. Probably fell yesterday.

By the time the wallet was found, the morning news were already playing. 2 minutes and 43 seconds later, a car crash. As Kate and her mother go outside to witness the disaster, the girl finds herself back in her room. As if she had just woken up. Again.

— What?!

This time, Kate looked at the watch while rushing downstairs. At 8:20. And taken over by this strange feeling, witnesses everything that she already expect to see. Carpet, brother, frog cartoon, mom… and while her mom gave her a kiss, she asked her if anything was wrong. If anything felt wrong, only to receive some strange looks from her family, which made the paranoia a little worse.

Sitting down with a very confused expression, she sees Micah come into the room. The three family members were going about their day as normal while Kate continuously ran some equations on her head, with her modest number of neurons, in an attempt to grasp the current sequence of events.

“The patterns here seems to be, whenever dad leaves, he gets a car accident, and I’m sent back here.” — She thought. — “I must be schizophrenic. That’s what it is.”

Kate eats slowly, without blinking.

“No, that’s not it. The car accident happens a little after 8:30. Is it because he’s late?”

Breaking off her thousand-yard stare, she sees that Grandpa Micah had her dad’s wallet in his hands. She checks her phone and sees the remaining “safe time.” In her mind, she congratulates her old man’s old man, for doing something different and finding the wallet sooner. Maybe now her father wouldn’t have to —

— Why do you have Dad’s wallet? — She blurs out.

— Hmm? I found it on the floor. He must have dropped it.

— Oh.

— Are you not going to tie your hair?

Kate realizes her massive bed hair was still all over the place.

— I totally forgot!

Reaching for her wrist, she realizes that she did not bring her hair tie this time around.

— Nevermind.

Combing her hair with her fingers, she hears her dad rush down. The girl then advise her mother to move the coffee mug away from the corner as to not possibly spill it. Micah raises an eyebrow, seeing as it was impossible for Kate to know about the ill-placed mug, without ever looking back to the kitchen counter.

As the father arrives, asking for his wallet, the old man already presented by extending his one arm. Checking her phone again, Kate sighs relieved. Her father managed to leave 5 minutes earlier then previously. Now, there would be no accident.

— Why are you checking your phone so much?

Kate looks up at her grandfather, to see the stone-cold stare he had, piercing right though her. Caught off guard by such an offensive glare, she blurred out an excuse.

— I’m expecting Casey to answer me.

— Hmm.

She couldn’t understand why, but she was vehemently scared of being in the same room as Micah. This was an old feeling, that she would get scared of her own grandfather when she was little. No one really blamed her, he had quite the posture. At the same time, Kate couldn’t put two and two together. Besides the intense déjà vus back-to-back, there were still some anomalies.

Everyone, except for Micah and herself, acted exactly the same. And with no memory or awareness of this “loop.” But the two of them managed to make decisions with information gathered from previous loops. Thought Micah seemed completely unfazed by the situation, taking, and giving the wallet with clear intent.

This led Kate to think, that whatever might these strange repetitions be, Micah was already used to them and that the point of contention, was that he never expected her to also be a part of it. But Micah had already arrived at the same conclusion.

— Do you know?

Kate almost choked before checking her phone. Saying that Casey had finally answered, she was making excuses about paying her friend a visit. In her relative’s eyes, the sigil of evil. Hearing his heavy body lift out of the chair, made Kate leave faster. Simply blearing out that she must see Casey for academic purposes. Nothing else was said on the way out.

On her way to Casey’s home, Kate also didn’t think about anything else.