Chapter 9

MYSTIC HOLLOW

(Homicide)

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BY NAOMI INNOCENT

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CHAPTER 9

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It was lunch break already, the four friends sat on their regular table and had their lunch while talkibg about the recent killings.

"It was Detective Phillips, the news is on T.V already" Elena said as she stared at something on her phone

"I've not seen the news lately, can you show me his photo?" Alex asked as Elena showed her a photo on her phone.

"I know this man, I saw him yesterday night, he was on patrol with one other lady. We even talked" Alex said perplexed

"What were you doing outside at night?" Peter asked.

"I accompanied Fay to the bustop, it was 11PM then" he said feeling sad.

"You mean you accompanied your crush" Peter said teasing him.

"Just shut up, you're sounding like my kid sister now " Alex said as Peter chuckled.

"News have it that he died around 3AM. Shot on his head and the ribs. He lost his daughter, Jane Phillips to this killer and his wife died of panic attack" Elena read from her phone.

"Well, congrats to this killer, he just ended a family" Laura said staring at the pizza in front of her.

They stopped talking when they noticed the STAR girls walking to the cafeteria holding Thelma who seemed scared.

They were holding her as if she would tear up any moment.

"These girls are still here? I thought they'll be expelled after doing what they did to the Mayor's daughter" Alex said staring at them as he huffed.

"They were given detention, my guess is, Sarah didn't tell her parents" Elena said with a shrug.

"Even the principal wouldn't have expelled her or let Mayor know about the bully " Laura said and shook her head.

"And why do you think so?" Alex asked out of curiosity

"Seriously, are you a newbie in this school? Who doesn't know Mr. Liam is dating Sophia's mom? Though it's a rumor but he always give her some preferential treatments" Laura said as she took a bite from her pizza.

"I think it's true, do you remember when Sophia was sexually harrassed by Michael? He was expelled. Remember Michael has harassed two other girls before Sophia, why then would he be expelled when it comes to Sophia?" Peter asked.

"Mystic Hollow is one fucked up town" Elena spoke.

"I still don't understand why those girls would call themselves STAR girls cause I see nothing glittering in their lifestyle" Alex said with a shrug.

Laura gave a small laugh as she stole a glance at the girls before facing her friends.

"S is for Sophia, T is for Thelma, A is for Anna and R for Rhoda" Laura said and started laughing as her friends joined in the laughter cause it sounded crazy.

They stopped laughing when they notice Thelma crying already as they managed to eavesdrop.

"What if he came to kill me actually? What if I was his target? I don't want to die" Thelma cried as her friends patted her back and consoled her.

They stood up and left the cafeteria when they noticed they were attracting people's attention.

"You know Detective Phillips died at the lawn of Thelma's house?" Elena asked and they stared at her.

"News have it that the killer was running on the roof of their building before Phillips spotted him and went after him" Elena said.

"Who knows if Thelma was his target?" Peter said.

"That's why she is scared. This is serious" Alex said as they spotted Sarah walking to the cafeteria with her drawing book and journal.

Her face was pale white and her lips was plastered, including the upper region of her nose.

She sat down opposite them and adjusted her spectacle, she brought out her drawing book and started drawing.

"You know, I'm always wondering if she is drawing the next victim whenever I see her with that book because that's what she always does" Peter whispered as his friends stared at her.

"Who knows if its Thelma she is actually drawing right now" Alex said in a mockery as they all laughed except Elena.

"Who else have noticed she never comes here to eat or drink anything? She only comes here to write and draw" Elena pointed out as her friends affirmed her.

"Psycho" Alex muttered.

"Speaking of psycho? I've gotten the location of where my grandpa stays, we would go there today or maybe now" Laura said standing up

"Wait, you want us to ditch school?" Alex raised his brow at her as she stood akimbo.

"Yh we have to if we are gonna return today. Remember they stay at Bloomspring not Mystic Hollow?" Elena said standing up as Peter stood up too while Alex remained reluctant.

They coaxed him till he agreed. They carried their bags and walked towards the door of the cafeteria.

Elena glanced back at where Sarah was sitting down only to met gaze with her. Sarah has been staring at her all these while

Sarah stood up, carrying her books, she walked towards the other exit of the cafeteria.

The four friends got to the bustop as they got their tickets and entered the bus.

"Bloomspring sire" Laura told the driver who nodded.

Elena stared at Sarah through the windscreen of the bus. Sarah stood outside the school building and stared at her as the bus drove off.

The warning bell was rung as students rushed back to their classes.

Sarah heard the warning bell but refused going back to class, rather, she walked to the woods close to the school as she went to her favorite spot in the grave yard.

She plucked a flower and walked to the new grave stone as she dropped the flower on it.

On tbe gravestone was written:

IN LOVING MEMORY OF;

LIEUTENANT PHILLIPS

BORN 10TH MARCH, 1984.

DIED 28TH JULY, 2023.

she sat close to the grave as she wrote on her journal.

..

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"I think this should be the house" Laura said as she walked ahead of her tired and frustrated friends.

"Are you sure? The last time I check, we are just coming out from a building you mistook to be your grandparent's house" Peter said as they kept walking. (This story was written by Naomi Innocent)

"I'm sure this is it" Laura said as she knocked on the door.

She knocked again and there was no response.

"Ok, I guess not" she said and walked away from the door as the door opened, revealing a brunette old woman with grey eyes.

"Laura?" The old woman said as Laura turned her back towards the sound of the voice. Seeing her grandma, she raced to her giving her a warm hug.

"Oh thank Goodness" Alex said as Elena smiled and they all walked into the house.

Her friends walked to the parlor and sat on the wooden chairs and noticed the mantle was lit with fire warming the house as Laura and her grandma talked about something they both find funny.

"You're a grown up lady now. I remember when I last saw you, you were so little" her grandma commented and laughed as her friends laughed too.

"Come on granny" Laura said within gritted teeth cause she wasn't enjoying the conversation as her friends were laughing. She knew immediately they get back to Mystic Hollow, she would be teased to death.

"How about grandpa?" Laura asked, trying to change the topic on purpose.

"In his room I presume" her grandma said as she handed a photo album to Laura's friends.

She saw it and frowned. "Come on granny, that's not fair" she said because her friends were laughing so loud, looking at the photos of her when she was just 3.

"Now who wants meatloaf?" Her grandma asked as Elena, Alex and Peter screamed out of joy.

"Meee!!!" They said excitedly.

"What? Grandma please no meat loaf, we ain't hungry" Laura said but her grandma laughed.

"We are starving" Peter and Alex said simultaneously

"Come on sweetie, your friends want some and they are starving too" her granny said as she went to the fireplace to prepare them.

'Well that's because they haven't tasted how awful your meatloaf are' she said within herself and breathed down. Bitting her lower lips as much as possible in order not to say it out loud.

she shook her head and glanced at her friends who were engrossed with the photo album, Peter was busy taking pictures of the ones that looked real funny to him.

"Granny, where is Grandpa's room?" Laura asked as her grandma laughed

"You forget things too easily. I'm sure Edward told you how to find this place again. How is he? Why didn't he come along with you?" Her grandma asked

"He is busy" she lied and bit her lower lips as her granny shrugged.

"The room close to the mini library" her grandma told her as she nodded and muttered a thank you to her.

She changed route and located the room, the door was a little bit open. She opened it wider as she saw her grandpa, sitting on a chair close to the widow as he back faced her.

"Welcome, Laura, its so nice of you to visit" her grandpa said still back facing her.

"Woah, that was cool. How did you know I was here or the one?" She asked as he chuckled.

"I could smell you and your friends when you guys were at the doorstep" he said still back facing her as she got shocked and glanced round the weird room.

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TBC