Who Killed Wanda Day? (DAY! Series Book 1)

Wanda Day claimed to be an ordinary woman in an ordinary city with a perfectly ordinary job. But Wanda was a good liar and she knew that as well.

When chatting with Mrs. Dawson at the bakery, Wanda liked to poke fun at the endless stream of conferences that took over her hotel, and the mess the business types left behind. With Mrs. Flint, the supermarket worker, she commiserated about the never-ending piles of laundry she had to tackle, and the stubborn stains that refused to budge. And when she talked to Mr. Paul, the elderly library owner, Wanda would bemoan her fate as a kitchen worker.

Sure, on the surface, Wanda Day seemed like your average Jane running the only hotel in Youngsville, a tiny town of 712 folks nestled in the Alaskan woods. But don’t be fooled by appearances. Wanda’s hotel was the place to be, with conferences happening left and right and businessmen from all corners of the globe flocking to stay. And you know what they say about money - it talks. Her hotel was a boon for the local shops, and she quickly became a beloved figure in the community. Because no one knew her secret.

But let’s rewind for a moment: Wanda Day had a fairly typical upbringing. Born in the mid-80s in an even tinier village in Alaska, she was raised by parents who embraced the concept of free love and constantly encouraged her to pursue her dreams. And young Wanda had a vague inkling of what she wanted to make of her life.

At the tender age of seven, she committed her first feline homicide - and not just any old cat, mind you. No, it was the rotund and obnoxious Chuckles, the neighbor’s pet who had been eyeing Wanda’s guinea pigs like they were a five-star meal. And that just didn’t sit right with Wanda. So one day, when her parents were preoccupied inside, she snuck into the garden and lay in wait for fat Chuckles.

After sweet-talking the chunky fluff and stroking his furry head, she delivered a swift and deadly blow with a nearby stone. She spent hours staring at the lifeless body before finally burying it under a towering fir tree in the backyard. And as she shoveled dirt onto the makeshift grave, Wanda realized she had discovered her true calling.

During the following months, a peculiar trend unfolded in the neighborhood as cats and dogs mysteriously vanished without a trace. The perplexed residents embarked on desperate searches for their beloved pets, unaware that the killer was often among those lending a helping hand in the quest for the missing animals. Little did they suspect that “Charlie,” “Max,” and “Skeeter” had long found their resting place beneath the sheltering canopy of the forest.

As she approached her twelfth birthday, she began to realize the importance of discretion. The neighbors had begun to cast suspicious glances at John Peters, the fifteen-year-old son of the local vicar, but there was no concrete evidence to implicate him. Rumors of a pet-napper with murderous intentions quickly spread throughout the village. That night, Wanda inscribed her first rule in her diary, using bold, red letters to emphasize its importance.

1. NEVER KILL SOMEONE YOU KNOW!

During the subsequent three years, Wanda seized every opportunity to hop on her bicycle and venture into the neighboring villages in search of unsuspecting prey. She meticulously set traps in the forest, targeting squirrels, mice, and moles, relishing in the various methods she employed to end their lives. The sound of a neck snapping brought her a twisted sense of delight, but she also found herself captivated by the act of strangulation. The overwhelming surge of power that coursed through her veins surpassed even her wildest dreams.

At the age of sixteen, she obtained her driver’s license and promptly established another rule:

2. NEVER KILL IN YOUR COMFORT ZONE! AT LEAST TEN MILES FROM HOME

As she gained the freedom of mobility, she found herself able to adhere to her self-imposed rule with utmost precision. While her parents believed she was engaging in typical teenage activities like partying and experimenting with substances or simply fucking around, she had a different agenda: Death held an irresistible allure for her, and she could feel a growing desire for something more significant stirring within her. Yes, Wanda harbored a chilling ambition, she wanted to kill a human.

The thought of extinguishing a human life consumed her every waking moment, and she often pondered the sensation of watching the light fade from someone’s eyes. However, Wanda was not naive. She understood that taking a human life was a far cry from dispatching a neighbor’s dog or even “just” a wild animal. If a person were to go missing, the police would undoubtedly launch an investigation. And if a body were to be discovered, the scrutiny would only intensify.

Wanda immersed herself in every article and book she could find on the subject of murder investigations, meticulously studying the intricacies of the process and formulating her own plans. She would often spend hours parked in her car, lost in thought as she contemplated various methods of taking a life. As her plan began to take shape, she developed a keen interest in chemistry, particularly the precise amount of chlorine required to incapacitate a person for a sufficient amount of time.

At the age of seventeen, her world was suddenly turned upside down when her parents passed away unexpectedly. Despite having viewed death as a constant companion and even a friend for over a decade, Wanda was consumed with anger. Death had taken from her the very things she held most dear, and for a year she abstained from killing anything, refusing to offer HIM any more gifts. Yet, the urge to kill persisted. No matter how much she blamed death for the loss of her parents, the desire to take a life continued to throb within her heart.

One day Wanda embarked on a journey through the vast forests of Alaska, seeking solace in the tranquility of nature. As she drove, she briefly passed through a tiny village called Youngsville, so minuscule that it seemed to vanish in the blink of an eye. Her emotions surged within her, fueled by the recent encounter with her parents’ lawyer, which had once again thrust their untimely demise to the forefront of her mind. Despite the substantial inheritance they had left her, no amount of money could ever compensate for the profound loss she had endured.

And then, in a moment of serendipity, Wanda’s life was forever altered. In the middle of nowhere, she spotted a large sign bearing the words that would change everything:

HOTEL FOR SALE

In truth, she had been at a loss as to what to do with her life. Initially, she had set out on a journey through Alaska with no particular destination in mind. However, the hotel she stumbled upon was something she had never actively sought, yet it would ultimately open a door that had been closed to her. Until now. Wanda wasted no time in contacting the agent, and after a brief viewing, she departed the hotel with a gentle smile on her face. Death had taken from her the things she cherished most, but in its wake, it had bestowed upon her a gift whose true value she could not yet fully comprehend.

After precisely two months, three weeks, and two days, she found herself standing in the quaint hotel that now belonged to her. Thanks to the inheritance left by her parents and the proceeds from the sale of their house, she had enough funds to cover the necessary renovations. What appealed to Wanda the most about her new acquisition was the seclusion it offered. Nestled amidst the heart of the woods, the hotel was accessed via a two-mile-long road, with the village of Youngsville located approximately 7.5 miles away. The solitude and isolation provided the perfect backdrop for her new chapter in life.

The hotel itself was a grandiose structure, boasting a spacious entrance hall with three adjoining offices, a large breakfast room, two conference halls, two common areas, a vast library, and a staggering 30 rooms spread across four floors. However, what truly captivated Wanda was the sprawling basement, which spanned not one, but four floors. She had no interest in discovering why the builder had deemed four basements necessary, but she had a particular use in mind for the lowest level. This floor housed something truly special: a massive stove that heated the pool during the winter months. And Wanda knew that the stove was sizable enough to incinerate a “piece of wood” measuring, say, 5′8 feet and weighing approximately 180 lbs.

As the weeks passed, Wanda busied herself with overseeing the various companies she had commissioned to renovate the hotel, and in the summer of 2002, she celebrated the grand opening and welcomed her first guests. She also made a concerted effort to befriend the residents of Youngsville, recognizing that the influx of tourists would bring much-needed revenue to the small village. She was the sole employee of the hotel and had her hands full with the day-to-day operations. However, she had blocked off a weekend in October for bookings, as she was determined to make her twisted wish come true. For months, she had planned her first murder, obsessively writing out plans and calculating risks. She giggled to herself, confident that no murder in the world had ever been as meticulously planned as hers. During the planning process, she added four more rules to her already extensive list:

3. BE PREPARED.

4. HAVE A BACK-UP PLAN TO ESCAPE.

5. DON’T! LEAVE! DNA!

6. HIDE THE BODY WELL OR BURN IT!

The final point on Wanda’s list was her plan for disposing of the evidence. Her motto was simple: no body, no crime. The incinerator in the basement was the key to making this possible, she just needed a victim. She had initially considered targeting prostitutes, as many serial killers do in the beginning, but she wasn’t entirely convinced. After all, she was a woman, and the murder didn’t necessarily have to be sexually motivated. No, Wanda had set her sights on killing a man.

On the first weekend of October, she drove 60 miles to Juneau and headed to a bar in search of the perfect victim. But none of the men she encountered seemed to fit the bill. They were either too small, too large, too hairy, too heavy, or too popular. One by one, Wanda ruled them out until she suddenly laid eyes on HIM. He was perfect. Handsome, not too big, not too heavy, with piercing green eyes and a full head of brown hair. The freckles on his face gave him a certain charm that caught her attention. She smiled at him, and when he returned the gesture, her heart raced up to her throat. She had found him. Her first murder victim.

Wanda drugged the man’s drink, rendering him docile and easy to lure out of the bar. By the time he sat in her car, he was already exhausted and slept soundly in the passenger seat. They made the journey to the hotel in no time at all. Everything was prepared, and with the aid of a luggage trolley, Wanda transported her chosen victim to the freight elevator and down to the lowest basement, where she finally fulfilled her long-awaited wish.

To her last day, she occasionally dreamed about the events that transpired in the basement. However, like most things one does for the first time, it was over far too quickly. As the man’s body was consumed by the flames in the stove, Wanda felt a euphoric rush course through her body, unlike anything she had ever experienced before. She knew, without a doubt, that she would do it again. And again. And again.

As the months passed, Wanda became a proficient and methodical murderer, periodically luring men to her basement dungeon to meet their demise. However, at the age of 19, she made her first and only mistake in her career as a serial killer. She had miscalculated the dosage of the narcotic and victim number 17, ironically her favorite number, awoke in the basement before she could secure him to the stretcher. He was a tall, slender man with a strong build, chosen by Wanda for his striking green-gray eyes that had made her heart skip a beat. She had even entertained the thought of kissing a man - him - for the first time. His wild, dark blonde hair only added to his allure, and she found him undeniably attractive. She had a very special plan in mind for him, but it was all shattered when he suddenly threw her to the ground with a loud roar and full force, leaping up to his feet.

Panic coursed through Wanda as she envisioned herself locked up in a drab, orange jumpsuit. This thought only served to fuel her anger, as she was far from finished with her killing spree and had no intention of rotting away in prison for the rest of her days. She quickly grabbed a large iron bar and rose to her feet, her eyes fixed on her counterpart. She had expected him to yell or attack her, but instead, they simply stood opposite each other, staring intently.

A momentary surprise washed over her as the man in front of her broke into a gentle smile. “It seems like we both share the same hobby,” he remarked, his eyes sparkling with an unexpected camaraderie.

For the first time in the 19 years, 5 months, and three days of her life, Wanda felt a sense of unease. She knew that murder was not a topic one could openly discuss with just anyone. She had never shared her thoughts and feelings with another person, keeping her dark secret confined to the pages of her diary. Yet, she had often fantasized about what it would be like to converse with someone who shared her twisted inclinations. However, she quickly dismissed the thought, convinced that the man was merely attempting to confuse her in order to seize an opportunity to escape. And THAT was something she would never allow.

As the man rubbed his wrists and cast a curious gaze around the room, her confusion deepened. She became uncertain whether he was genuinely attempting to befriend her or if it was all part of a ploy to overpower her. Memories flooded her mind, each of her previous victims had pleaded and begged for their lives. “I’m Colin,” the man calmly introduced himself, turning to face her. His question struck a chord within Wanda. “Why did you start? Couldn’t you have found another hobby?” he inquired, his voice steady.

Wanda gazed at him, and before she could even process her thoughts, she found herself babbling uncontrollably. “I can’t knit,” she blurted out. Colin burst into laughter, a sound that reminded Wanda of the singing of angels and sounded even more beautiful to her than the sound of breaking a neck.

Her biggest mistake had unexpectedly transformed into something miraculous. Initially, the two conversed in the basement, but within an hour of the incident, they found themselves seated in the library upstairs, in front of a crackling fireplace, exchanging stories. Colin was captivated by Wanda and her precision, while he himself admitted to being sloppy and negligent. He had almost been caught twice and had fled to Alaska in a blind panic, seeking refuge in Juneau until the police ceased their investigation. As they gazed deeply into each other’s eyes, Wanda knew that this was something truly special.

Just three weeks later, Wanda and Colin were married in the small church in Youngsville, pledging eternal fidelity to each other. She couldn’t have been happier - she had finally found her place in life, just two years after the death of her parents, which had upended everything.

They ran the hotel together and continued their “hunting” expeditions, as they jokingly referred to them. The two strictly adhered to the rules set by Wanda, and over the course of the first six months, they added even more rules to the list:

7. WATCH OUT FOR CAMERAS!

8. NEVER KILL SOMEONE IN AFFECT! YOU’LL MAKE A MISTAKE!

9. DON’T KEEP TROPHIES, PICTURES, OR VIDEOS!

10. DON’T DOCUMENT IT!

11. DON’T TALK ABOUT IT!

The positive pregnancy test came as a surprise to both Colin and Wanda, as they had never planned on having children. They spent hours discussing their options and contemplating how they would navigate the challenges of raising a “normal” child. Eventually, they reached a decision to have an abortion. However, despite reconciling with Death and rekindling their friendship, Wanda couldn’t bring herself to leave her unborn child in his hands. At the last moment, she decided against the abortion. When she returned home that night, she found Colin waiting for her in a pillow fort he had built, with pizza at the ready. As she explained her change of heart, she saw a sense of relief in his eyes. He too had secretly embraced the idea of becoming a father but had left the final decision to his wife.

The birth of their first daughter in 2005 was celebrated by Colin and Wanda with a bloodbath in the basement of the hotel, while their newborn, Mary Belle, slumbered peacefully in her pram nearby. They named her after a notorious child serial killer, and just one month after giving birth, Wanda founded DAY! (Death Association Youngsville), which, amusingly enough, was also her name after marrying Colin. Through the darknet, they connected with a man named Chuck Johnson, who shared their interests. They invited him to join them, and he helped Wanda create a website on the darknet. She wanted to create a platform where people like them could openly discuss their “hobby.”

The hotel provided the perfect cover, with guests arriving from all corners of the world. Colin and Wanda hired Chuck as their IT expert, and over the next two years, more and more serial killers made their way to Youngsville. However, she made it clear to each of them that they had to follow her rules. Together, they devised yet another rule that was of utmost importance to all of them.

12. BE MORE ORDINARY THAN ORDINARY!

To maintain their perfect camouflage, she gave birth to a son in 2007. Since she had made a bet with Colin on the baby’s gender, and lost, he named the boy Harrison Ford. During the baptism ceremony, Colin couldn’t help but giggle like a little girl, causing the priest to give him a questioning look. Wanda could only roll her eyes at her husband’s antics, but deep down, she was filled with happiness.

In 2008, she held the first “DAY! GATHERING.” Serial killers from all over the world flocked to the hotel for a week, during which time it was closed to “normal” guests. Some arrived with “luggage” they had collected on their way from the airport, while others purchased it from Wanda and Colin. The week was a resounding success, with guests exchanging stories, demonstrating their killing methods, and even receiving training on how to remove traces and craft the perfect lie in the event of a police investigation.

In 2018, Wanda unexpectedly gave birth to another daughter named LeighAnn, who became the pride and joy of her parents. Although her arrival was unplanned, they wholeheartedly embraced their new addition. Their happiness extended beyond their dark pursuits, and family evenings filled with Monopoly and Uno brought them genuine joy.

Meanwhile, Colin had established a small real estate agency, specializing in selling vacant houses and building plots in Youngsville to fellow serial killers. The association they had formed had grown significantly, boasting 189 members from 27 different nations. Over the years, 23 serial killers had relocated to Youngsville, taking advantage of Wanda’s offer to rent out the compartments on the third basement floor, which had been divided into 50 small units. One member, Kenneth Walker, had expressed his gratitude, as it had become increasingly challenging for him to keep victims trapped in his own home while living with his wife and three children. Wanda couldn’t agree more, as renting out the compartments not only provided a solution for sedentary serial killers but also proved to be a lucrative source of income for her.

Youngsville had indeed become home to a total of 25 serial killers by now with permanent residences, but their presence went largely unnoticed due to their strict adherence to Wanda’s rules. Surprisingly, Youngsville had become one of the safest cities in Alaska, despite the fact that 3.5 percent of its population consisted of serial killers. Christopher Thielmann, one of Wanda’s collaborators - and Colin’s best friend - had once expressed concern for her daughter Mary Belle, who had blossomed into a beautiful teenager. However, Wanda reassured him that there was no need to worry. Although her daughter interacted with serial killers on a regular basis, none of them would dare to lay a hand on her. The unspoken understanding and respect for Wanda’s family boundaries ensured her daughter’s safety within their unusual community.

Wanda’s intuition proved to be correct. She had created something that everyone in their community revered, and the ground on which she walked was sacred. No one dared to contradict her or break any of her rules, as the consequences would be dire. Wanda’s reputation as a ruthless killer ensured that everyone in Youngsville remained in line. However, the thought of anyone harming her daughter still lingered in Wanda’s mind, and she added another rule when she first saw Mary Belle being looked at by a classmate.

13. NO UNDERAGED VICTIMS!

Despite the potential discouragement of a few potential guests, Wanda and her husband’s fortune had grown to the millions through the sale of houses, and the hotel brought them a good amount of money. They now lived a life free from financial worries, enjoying a relaxed existence. They had become fully integrated into the community of Youngsville and were respected by all. Everything seemed to be going well for Wanda, and she couldn’t have been happier with her life.

But during the 15th DAY! gathering, a beastly little woman named Mrs. Fletcher, who lived in Youngsville, was taking her usual Sunday morning walk through the woods. Her piercing scream echoed through the small town, rousing its inhabitants from their slumber.

Yes, Wanda Day, the goddess of fear, duchess of death, madam of murder, baroness of brutality, had been murdered.

So, the question these people now face is quite clear,

„Who killed Wanda Day, the goddess of fear?”

Were the rules broken? Did someone step over?

And murdered her there in that field of clover?

I’m curious what the people will say

And who the one is, who killed Wanda Day.

*****