Y/n felt his heart violently beat against his ribcage as his eyes glazed over the message. He read it over and over again. His mind registered the words.
His hands started trembling lightly and his face paled as he put his phone back into his pocket. Y/n put a hand on the doorknob to stabilize himself as he felt his world spinning. He gulped his saliva down reaching into his pocket for his keys and shakily opening his front door.
He stepped into his threshold, hung his bag on the racket, and felt his nostrils filled with the smell of warmed food. Easing his mind slightly "Hey dear how are you?" A feminine voice sounded from the kitchen
The boy put on a smile and walked into the kitchen to his mother dressed in an apron making dinner "It was good, I had a study hall with some friends." He said.
The woman turned around with a smile "Okay dear, dinner's ready you can go seat yourself already." Y/n nodded and made his way to the dinner table seating himself on his chair.
'That unknown number...'
his mother came in with a pot and put it on the table before serving the boy his meal and seated herself to serve herself a portion.
Dinner was quiet for the first few moments.
Until Y/n spoke up as a thought entered his head "Mom?" his mother looked up at him to show her acknowledgment of her son.
"Do you know Avery Emmons?" He questioned rubbing his neck. The woman stayed silent "Yes I've heard about her." she reckoned. The boy bit the inside of his cheek as he pondered about his next words. "Alex Emmons asked me if you could perhaps start a case about her?"
The woman let her utensils hover in the air before she put them down with a clanking sound "I'm sorry Y/n but I can not do that." Y/n eyebrows shot up in bewilderment "What? Why not?!" He chided.
"Y/n." She sternly scolded "Avery Emmons has been missing for five months now, for every day a person is missing their chances of being dead increase, especially with the current state of this town the chances of her being alive are extremely low."
Y/n held back a sour expression and instead clenched his jaw "So just because her chances of being alive is low it means we shouldn't at least look for her body? And what if she's alive? Nobody is trying to even find her!" he proclaimed earning a scowl from his mother.
"Because it's not that easy Y/n, anything could've happened, her body could've been disposed of for example. we don't need concrete proof to know she isn't dead, the facts spell it out already. Avery Emmons was on her way to her friends and she got murdered on the way there by the Runswick killer and her body got disaposed. It is not realistic to ponder on what-ifs."
Y/n face was filled with disapproval "But what if she's actually alive?" he countered
His mother shot him a warning look "This discussion is done. I'm not opening a case for Avery Emmons. I already have a case as a matter of fact."
The boy's nose scrunched up but refused to answer.
After dinner, the boy did the dishes, went up to his room, and fell down his bed internally screaming to himself.
Y/n tilted up his head from his cushion as an idea popped up in his head. He got off his bed and descended the stairs grabbed his bag and went up again.
Y/n put his bag and pulled down the zipper to grab the poster handed over to him by Alex. He stared intensely at the photo of the girl grinning back at him with her e/c eyes.
The h/c haired boy clenched the paper in his grasp as he felt frustration build up.
'It seems no one cares about Avery or her unusual vanishment.' Y/n narrowed his eyes as he glanced over to his drawer.
"fuck it." he stomped over to his drawer and threw it open taking out a grey cassette recorder and looking at it in awe. Glancing between the poster and the cassette recorder he started debating his choices.
'Time to take matters into my own hands' The boy sat himself down by his desk laying down the missing poster and putting the recorder close to his mouth. his thumb hit play.
"March seventeen ****"
"Entry log number one"
"I am going to investigate the disappearance of a teen girl by the Name of Avery Emmons."
Y/n looked down at the text under the photo of the young woman
"She was last seen on October sixteenth ****, leaving her house to meet up with friends, but she never came back home that evening, leading people to believe she got killed by the infamous serial killer terrorizing Runswick."
" But when you look at her vanishment from a different perspective you'll notice gaps in the story, that lead me to believe she might still be alive."
"Every serial killer has a signature way of killing, a way that is unique to them. And the Runswick Killer? They leave their victim's bodies out in the open to be found, I suspect as a way of striking fear into innocents and a form of power trip."
Y/n put a hand to his chin as thoughts raced through his mind
"But this wasn't done with Avery's body, which is out of character, Why would the Runswick killer suddenly change their consistency to dispose of one body? And even if they did dispose of the body for example throwing it in the lake, or burying her, wouldn't they have found her corpse? Runswick is not exactly a big town. Even if they cremated her, there would be remains that would be found."
"This just doesn't make sense. I'm gonna use these tapes to keep track of my findings as well as potential interviews...and suspects. I think the best course of action would be to try to get an interview with Alex Emmons, brother of Avery. Until further notice."
The boy stopped his recording put down his cassette recorder on his desk and groaned out in exhaustion as he moved his hands through his hair '...How am I gonna find a girl that's been missing for almost half a year?'
The boy pushed his chair away and got up to sit down on his bed 'I should see if I can ask Alex for an interview for better insight on her disappearance.' Y/n stayed in his position for a while before he got up once more to get ready for the night.
Y/n stood in the bathroom brushing his teeth after a shower when he thought back to the sinister message he had received and felt a chill go up his spine 'What was that about? Was it some prank by Clark or Kiara?... Was it ...from the killer? I mean that would be the most common answer, but then comes the question how did they know we buried it? And how the hell they got my number?
The boy put a hand to his head 'This is giving me a headache. I'll just ask Clark and Kiara about it at school.' Y/n spit out the remaining toothpaste, washed off his toothbrush, and went back into his bedroom plopping down on his bed and pulling the covers over himself staring at the ceiling.
The male stayed at the ceiling for an unspecified amount of time trying to force himself into falling himself.
He didn't fall asleep until late in the night.
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Knocking was heard from the first floor making Y/n groan from the interruption to his slumber "I'm coming!" he sluggishly shouted.
The h/c haired male dragged his body out of bed and put on his slippers before moving down the stairs to open the door to the person outside.
"Elio?!"
Before him stood the black-haired male looking at him with a flat expression. Elio let his eyes wander down the h/c haired's attire "You are aware it's around eleven am, right? And you're still in your sleepwear." Y/n rolled his eyes at the remark "No? Really It's not like I just work up or anything, how did you come to that assumption? he responded sarcastically.
Elio gave him a dubious look "Are you seriously still sleeping at this time? What are you? a sloth?" Y/n pulled his mouth into a condescending smile "Does insulting me satisfy your superiority complex?" he rebuked. No answer.
Y/n sighed and leaned against the doorjamb "Speaking of, What are you doing here, There's no school today, remember?"
"We have to work on our assignment, remember?" the black-haired male responded with an underlining hint of taunt. Y/n blinked for a few seconds before he grinned airily and slung an arm around Elio forcefully pulling him into the house.
"Well then, come inside and make yourself at home!" He exclaimed. Elio in response to Y/n's behavior made a tormented face "Why do you always act like this with me?" He tiredly asked. "like what?"
Elio eyed him "Like an imbecile."
Y/n dramatically put a hand to his heart "Ouch." He moved his hand to playfully ruffle Elio's hair "Come on Eli, you know you've always been my favorite person to tease~" Y/n cooed.
Y/n let go of the black haired male "Let's go up to my room, my mother wakes up in about an hour, so we won't have that much time alone if we stay down here to work." Y/n began moving up the stairs,
Elio stayed behind for a short while his eyes glanced at the wall next stairs noticing the absence of certain photos that had hung over the stairs when they were younger. Y/n stopped in his tracks and peered back at Elio "You coming? Or are you too shy for dear ol' me? Y/n teased to which Elio shook his head.
Y/n shrugged "Okay." he continued moving up the stairs. Failing to notice the small smile itched on Elio's lips.
Y/n opened the door and stretched out his arms "Welcome to my sacred space!" He beamed. Obsidian eyes observed the room slowly. nothing had changed, well apart from the covers of the bed. The walls were the same, the furniture, the childhood photos. Elio sucked in a breath as he walked into the room.
"You can put your stuff wherever. i need to use the bathroom I'll be back, make yourself comfortable" Y/n said and closed the door leaving the obsidian eyed boy alone.
Elio put his bag down near the bed and stared around the room. 'Nothing has changed.' He started moving his feet towards the unmade bed. He let his fingers trembly glide against the mattress where the h/c haired boy had slept and let out a shaky exhale.
Gods, if only the others could know he was standing in your room. Elio glimpsed at the photos on the wall above the wooden desk. A specific photograph caught his attention.
He walked over to the photo and narrowed his eyes to get a closer look at the photograph. A wave of nostalgia hit him. It was a photo of the six of you, all making silly expressions. His eyes drifted to a grey cassette recorder lying on the desk. 'He still has this?' Elio tilted his head as he wondered what could have possessed the h/c haired male to use the old gift.
His inquisitiveness compelled his fingers to slowly reach towards the recorder and his eyes glimpsed at the door. He placed the play button. Y/n voice sounded out.
March seventeen ****"
"Entry log number one"
"I am going to investigate the disappearance of a teen girl by the Name of Avery Emmons."
Elio stared indifferently at the cassette recorder as he listened to the audio.
"She was last seen on October sixteenth ****, leaving her house to meet up with friends, but she never came back home that evening, leading people to believe she got killed by the infamous serial killer terrorizing Runswick.-"
Elio jolted as the door opened and swiftly turned off the recorder "Back!" Y/n exclaimed and grinned at the black haired "Let's get this assignment started!"
Elio stared at him blankly before he walked over to his bag to take out the needed supplies. "Were you listening to my recording?" Elio peered at him at the side of his eye "Let's not stale, time we gotta get to work." The black haired took out his chemistry book and laptop.
Y/n narrowed his eyes at Elio's reluctance to answer his questions. "Here since you don't have your own chemistry book yet you can borrow mine." He handed Y/n his book. "Thanks" The h/c haired mumbled gratefully.
Y/n plopped himself on his bed as he mentally prepared for a long study session.
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MEANWHILE [warning this part will contain description of violence]
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Two people were walking through the local park talking and joking around. One of them spoke up "Where did Morgan say she wanted to meet Wesley?" a girl with h/c hair asked the boy next to her. Wesley looked at his watch "She said around eleven am." he replied.
"Okay well then we're good on time, let's go sit down at the bench there while we're waiting," the girl said pointing toward a bench a few meters away. "Fine by me Rachel." the hazel eyed boy said.
the two strode up the bench and sat down " I really hate how Mr smith assigned us this big presentation, it's so annoying." Rachel groaned. Wesley nodded "I agree, but I also understand why we need to do it." The girl scoffed at the boy's predictable answer "I knew you would say that, Wes." Rachel bit on her nails "I still know don't how you are so good at the subject though."
Wesley stuck up his chin "Well it's because I'm a natural talent of course!" he boasted.
"Oh shut up." Rachel moped in a mild exasperated tone. Wesley winked "I'm only joking...partially." The h/c haired girl smacked her friend on the head in a playful manner "Ah okay okay, I'm sorry, haha just stop!" the auburn-haired male pleaded. putting his hands up in surrender.
"Yeah you better be sorry" Rachel heartily scoffed crossing her arms before she smirked "Hey.. I hear a rumor that you have a tiny crush on Morgan." Wesley's face turned red and his eyes grew wide "What.. what? Where did you hear that?" he stammered.
Rachel shrugged "Can't remember." She leaned closer toward her friend "Well so you?" Wesley's ears turned red "Do i what?" The female raised a bow "Do you have a crush on Morgan?"
"No..no!" Rachel hummed unconvinced "Then why did you invite her to do the project with us?" she teasingly questioned. The Auburn-haired male put his hands on his face to try and cover up the warming feeling washing over him "Because she's really smart and knows a lot of the subject.
The h/c haired girl nodded and stood up stretching her arms "Where are you going?" Wesley asked.
"To the park restroom." Rachel shot him finger guns "Who knows maybe while I'm gone Morgan will show up and you can have some alone talks." with that she started walking away. "Rachel..." The male whined. But Rachel only chuckled and kept walking.
The girl reached the public restroom and went into the restroom to do her business. After she was done she opened the stall and to one of the sinks to wash her hands. She turned on the water and began washing her hands while humming. She heard a sound behind her but didn't pay it any attention.
after she was done she turned off the tab and shook off her hands.
She looked up into the mirror and nearly had a heart attack. Behind her in the mirror stood a figure. A person dressed in black, a hood pulled over their head outlining the dirty beige mask they wore. Rachel made a disturbed expression and looked behind her to look face-to-face with the person
"Geez... You almost gave me a heart attack." The h/c haired girl breathed out. no reply. Rachel furrowed her brow at the lack of response and let out a nervous laugh as she took in the outfit "Why the hell are you sneaking up on me like that in a Halloween costume?" The individual gave no response, only stared down at her.
Rachel hardened her frown "Hello?..." Nothing.
"Um...Are you just gonna stand there?" again. No reply.
"Weirdo.." Rachel muttered under her breath slowly moving past the person.
The girl walked out of the building slightly on edge. Suddenly swift footsteps were heard and before she knew it she was harshly slammed against the outside wall of the restroom. "Hey!.. What the fuck is your prob-" she was cut off by a sharp pain in her stomach.
She looked down and saw a dagger stabbed deeply into her abdomen and she let out a strangled gasp. She gazed up at the mask at the two black holes where the individual's eyes where, Rachel couldn't see their eyes because of the mask which made her even more scared.
But before she could get out a word the maniac slowly ripped the dagger up her abdomen through her mesentery causing blood to drop out of her wound. Rachel let out a scream in agony as she felt her stomach being sliced open.
The individual put a hand to her mouth to stop her screams, but it didn't stop tears from pouring out of her eye sockets. Abruptly, the dagger stopped moving near her upper waist.
The hand that was blocking her mouth disappeared and went to grasp a lock of her h/c colored hair. Rachel stared on in petrification.
The maniac twirling with a lock of her hair between their fingers, seemingly in a trance.
Rachel stared wide eyed at the almost fond display, still deeply wounded with the dagger still in her upper waist but all she could think about at that moment was, what was happening? She didn't understand it at all.
Before the girl could process the event the dagger dragged up her bust to her neck. The maniac slowly let go of her hair and watched as the girl started choking on her blood.
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Wesley was sitting on the bench getting more annoyed by the moment 'Where is Rachel?' The boy groaned out as he looked at his watch and at the path the girl had gone down. 'Damn, this girl will be the death of me someday.' The boy got up and started walking towards the restroom.
as the restroom came into his view he noticed something strange. there was someone standing by the opening. Wesley got closer and he stopped in his tracks. Laying on the ground was Rachel. dying. He couldn't see her whole body due to the person in the way but it looked like she had been stabbed from her neck downwards.
And the person standing above her? Was holding a bloody dagger. The boy felt his face pale and tears welling up. Wesley met his with Rachel and in her last dying breath she lowly mouthed "Run."
Wesley took several steps back his body pumping adrenaline preparing himself to sprint. The murderer tilted their head to their left indicating they knew he was there. Wesley didn't waste another second and turned away to run.
He looked back for a split second and Rachel's murderer was now facing Wesley, staring at his running form. The lunatic lifted up the bloodied dagger and waved to the auburn-haired male.
'Why the f**k? That...That had to be..That is the Runswick killer.'
The male ran until his lungs started burning and he slowed down when he was far away from the crime scene. he was now standing under a bus stop. He didn't let his body finish resting as he too out his phone and dialed the emergency number.
"911, What's your emergency?"
"Help! Please my friend got murdered!"
"What's your location currently?"
"My location is-"
The phone dropped to the ground.
"Sir? Sir!"
Wesley stared terrified at the sight before him. A figure dressed in all black, a dirty beige mask. The one he had just run away from. Only this time they were holding a Metal baseball bat.
'How did the f**ker Move so fast? And why are they holding a different weapon?'
Wesley didn't have time to react as the bat was raised and slammed against his skull, the force sending his head flying and hitting the glass wall of the bus stop. The boy felt his world spin from the impact. But as the bat was raised again, Wesley pushed through the pain and kicked the maniac in the stomach causing them to lose their balance for a second leaving allowing Wesley to try and run past.
Metal was hit against the other side of his skull and he knocked into the outside of the bus stop glass. The second hit left his brain rattled and sadly couldn't recover as quickly from it. The metal bat was raised again. Again and again and again.
Blood splattered against the glass as Wesley's brain was bashed in until his body went limp.
The killer lowered the bloodied bat.
Wesley's damaged phone was still on call with a worried operator trying to communicate with him. The killer glanced at the mobile phone, walked up to it, raised the bat one more time, and smashed the device.