CHAPTER ONE - FEAR
Even when I opened my eyes
All I could see
Was darkness.
The trees around me rustled against the violent wind, tossing me between them. I tried to run but my legs didn’t move. My heart pounded in every crevice of my body as my blood ran cold through my veins. He was here. I could feel him.
My mind spun as my eyes darted back and forth searching for him. The ‘Nighttime Killer.’ He was out, and he was looking for me. I didn’t know what colour his hair, skin or eyes were but I knew if he had the chance he would kill me.
Leaves crunched behind me as I swung my head. A tall figure emerged from the trees. This was my only chance to escape him. I watched as he inched forward, his posture tall and his stride long as he made his way towards me. I tried to scream but the air from my lungs drained. My legs froze as he got closer, paralysing me with his presence. My body shook as I realised that he was masked as he inched closer. ‘Aria’ he spoke softly, his voice hazy.
‘Aria?’
I jolted awake to see my mother shaking me at the end of the bed. I gasped for air finally being able to breathe as I saw her stare down at me concerned. ‘Aria? What is going on with you?’ My mother asked, swiping my forehead with her hand. She examined her hand seeing it filled with sweat. ’Are you still having those nightmares about the ‘Nighttime Killer?’ she whispered while staring closely at my frightened state.
‘N-no’ I stuttered back, staring into her worried eyes.
‘You know you don’t need to worry about that love. You are safe. He won’t hurt you’ she smiled, softly moving a strand of hair out of my face. She stood up, drawing my blinds to let in a piercing ray of sunshine that automatically made my eyes squint.
‘How long is your shift at the diner today?’ my mom asked as I readjusted my eyes to the light in the room.
‘I finish at eleven.’
‘Aria, I told you to start finishing earlier. Do you have someone that will be closing with you?’
‘Yes mom. Zane will also pick me up and bring me home.’ I tap my phone on my table beside me to see a message from my boyfriend Zane covering the screen. I smile at his annual ‘Good morning’ text and throw off my duvet exposing myself to the crisp air of the summer morning.
‘As long as you are not out alone that late Aria, everything is going to be okay. He will get caught soon’ my mum smiles, closing my door and leaving my room.
I breathe in feeling my lungs fill with air. This was my new reality. My boyfriend Zane, had practically become my bodyguard while Diamond Creek was being terrorised by the ‘Nighttime Killer.’ I sighed, dusting off my uniform preparing it for the day ahead of me. I rubbed my tired eyes realising that I hadn’t slept properly since the revelation of the killer. Living in such a small town, the chances of coming face to face with him were not only real, but extremely likely. The hair stood on the back of my neck thinking about all the things he could do to me. I hadn’t prepared for this.
‘Aria! Come look at this!’ my mother shrieked from outside my bedroom door. I hurriedly ran down to the living room where she stood with the television remote in her hand, eagerly pressing the volume button to raise the voice of the reporter on the news channel.
I gazed at the image on the television. A reporter speaking in front of a suburban house in Diamond Creek. The footage of police officers and paramedics swarming the house played as the reporter spoke.
’There has been another incident overnight which has left a young woman dead. It is reported that Diamond Creek’s ‘Nighttime Killer’ had been stalking the victim prior to her death and had followed her home before allegedly stabbing her to her death. The victim has been identified as 19 year old Jordyn Alan.′
My heart dropped. An image of a young blonde girl filled the television screen. Her eyes were the piercing colour of blue and her long blonde hair fell down past her chest. I slowly peered over to see my mother frozen in shock with her mouth agape. She turns her head to meet her eyes with mine as I try to gasp for air.
‘I- is that..?’ she whispers.
I nod slowly with a tear rolling down my cheek.
Jordyn Alan was the head cheerleader of my school Diamond High’s cheer squad. I saw her daily, prancing down the halls with the rest of the squad, her fruity filled perfume leaving a scented trail behind her. She always smiled and her crystal blue eyes always glistened. We had only ever spoken a few times at school, but the shock of her murder rattled me.
I hear my mom’s phone begin to buzz beside me as she reaches for it in her pocket.
‘It’s Helen.’ She gestures and I nod as she picks up her phone to be greeted by her best friend.
I turn back towards the television as the report continues. A picture of Jordyn alongside the first victim glistened harshly on the television. Jordyn was the Nighttime Killer’s second victim. His first victim, Erin Johnson was an older lady, about the age of 24. Her hair was also blonde and her eyes also crystal blue.
My brain could not comprehend what I was seeing. How was it possible that a random man had just began terrorising the people of our quiet little town. The people of Diamond Creek were and have always been a tight community. Knowing just about everybody who came in and out of it. Either the killer is some psychopath that stumbled into the wrong town, or someone we all know.
I run back to my room, picking up my buzzing phone from the bedside table.
‘Hello Mr Lyle’ I spoke promptly into the phone, clearing my voice.
‘Hello Aria, I am sure you have heard the news.’ My manager speaks softly into the other end of the phone.
‘Yes I just saw it now.’
‘Tragic. I can see how this news can be extremely concerning for you to want to continue your night shifts at the diner. I want to assure you that I am hiring full time security onto the property until the killer is caught.’ My manager speaks.
‘That would be fantastic Mr Lyle’ I say with a sigh of relief. Sure, Mr Lyle was sometimes a bit of a nonchalant manager. He often turned a blind eye to many important things happening in Diamond Creek as his mind was always consumed by his business. But, considering 90% of his staff are young girls, I’m sure he is taking the killer more seriously than ever.
‘Great. I will see you tonight.’ He hangs up the phone.
I place the phone down once again reaching for my uniform. I place it on brushing my long brown hair into a tight ponytail. I sit at my vanity, cleansing my face from the morning rush and placing mascara on my eyes to make the brown in them stand out. Surely it will be okay now that Mr Lyle has security on the premises. I would be lying to say that I wasn’t quite terrified of working the diner in the night, even with Zane around.
‘Mom!’ I shout out from the front door. ‘I have to leave!’ I grapple at my shoe trying to forcefully shove my foot into it without needing to undo the laces.
‘Aria please be careful tonight!’ My mum races up to the door with her phone held tightly to her chest. Helen still must be on the other line. She kisses my forehead looking down at me with fear in her eyes.
‘You have Zane picking you up tonight, yes?’ My mom confirms.
‘Yes.’
‘Okay baby stay safe. I love you.’
‘I love you too.’ I smile before grabbing my house keys and closing the door behind me.
The diner wasn’t very far from my house. About a 15 minute walk. It was still extremely risky walking in the daylight in Diamond Creek, however all of the Nighttime Killer’s attacks happened during the night. I began walking towards the diner carefully peeling my eyes to scour the streets around me. If only my dad hadn’t walked out on my mom two years ago, I wouldn’t need to put myself at risk to work this stupid job. He left her with nothing but the house we lived in and broken memories. I promised myself that I’d pull my weight ever since that day, being 19 and able to work, and I haven’t broken that promise since, working 6 days at the diner all while juggling my studying.
I jog up to the door of the diner swinging it open. The bell at the top of the door rings and Jenny pops her head up to look at me from behind the counter.
‘You’re closing tonight?’ She asks with a shocked expression on her face. I walk over to the counter placing my bag and keys onto it.
‘I sure am. You really didn’t expect to close alone tonight with all that’s been going on, did you?’ I chuckle.
‘It’s horrible isn’t it? You remember Jordyn don’t you?’
‘Yeah I went to school with her. Shame.’ I begin tightening my apron for the shift.
‘Well it’s been a ghost town here all day. I’m assuming people are too afraid to leave their house, even if it is to come get some curly fries.’
‘Well all that means is a lovely quiet night for us.’ I laugh while turning on the television above the counter. The news channel begins right away as I take a seat on a swivel chair in front of it. Jenny was right, the diner was empty, not a car or customer in sight. I sigh and look back at the television as my breath hitches.
A police sketch of the Nighttime Killer flashes brightly onto the screen.
My stomach churns.
‘Police have suspected from numerous clues that the sketch shown on your screen matches the description of Diamond Creek’s Nighttime Killer. If you see the man, you are urged not to approach and immediately dial 333.’
My eyes widen at the sketch in front of me.
The killer. His eyes are bright green with a tinge of brown running through them, squinting in a harsh stern. His skin is shaded into roughly in the colour of a dark caramel and his black hair is perfectly shaved into a faded buzz. The tattoos sketched creep up his thick neck showing there are many more underneath the clothes drawn onto him. Suddenly all my fear is lifted from me.
‘Oh my god. Am I wrong to say he is gorgeous?’ Jenny approaches behind me, snapping me out of my daze. I swallowed a harsh lump that had formed in my throat.
He was perfect. The most handsome man I had ever seen in my life.
No- Aria what are you doing? He is a killer.
A killer that I wanted to go face to face with.
