Short Stories

My life changed the day I signed up for that criminal investigation class; it all seemed fun at first, I would be able to go on trips and visit crime scenes. I hoped to be able to help solve a few cases while I was at it. The class only had a $100 fee for joining, so when a spot opened I took it. I had thought things would be getting better in my life, my childhood had been filled with terror and death so helping solve people’s murder cases only felt right to me.  My first case I helped in I had always thought would be the worst I would see. A father snapped and killed his family, they slept in their beds not knowing that while they dreamt their dad was killing them off. It as a gruesome sight, the blood had been everywhere. When we left, I still couldn’t get the sight out of my head. I did everything to leave what I saw behind me, but the haunting faces of those children always found their way back into my head. I couldn’t even sleep at night without dreaming of those children calling out to me begging for help, but it was helpless I was frozen every time. When another case was posted and we were filling out the papers to take the trip, I almost requested not to go. I didn’t want to seem like a wimp, my peers were excited to go and I was filled with dread.  The bus was ready to pick us up; with every step closer I got to the bus the feeling of my stomach dropping only got stronger. The bus journey would be long and I planned to go over the case file we were given. I’ve always been one to get things done last minute, it never mattered when I started I could never finish until the day.  The file didn’t have much information listed, all that was stated was the police found a house in an abandoned town that had dead teenage girls in it. They were murdered in various ways and no signs of rape. The murderer was not caught, the last note was telling us all to be careful.  The rest of the trip I tried taking a nap, but sleep was still not on my side, I was seeing the dead children, they called my name, they told me to stop, not to go. I never understand what they mean, but it’s just a dream anyway.  As we get off the bus we’re each handed a camera, the town was deserted. The grass appeared to be dead and all that was left was dirt, the only grassy area was in the little woods near the bod roads about half a mile away. Little abandoned houses stand next to each other, some of them falling apart while others appear fine. Walking up to the house we are taking pictures of it looks like it would have been home to a small family, it was just a small white house that looks dirty due to nothing but dirt surrounding it.  We are given masks before entering, although the body’s have already been removed the smell is said to have tainted the home. When I first walked in I noticed the carpet, stains from mud and what I assume to be blood is in various locations in what I assume to be the living room. The kitchen is tile and is small, only old food is left in there, I started taking pictures of the carpet, then the walls where I found what I assumed to be scratch marks and holes from the struggle. The forensic team was already bagging up the empty soda cans and half eaten foods hoping to get some prints or DNA. I walked into the small hallway between the kitchen and living room, the hallway was carpeted as well and small trails of blood led from a door to the living room. I gently turned the handle opening the door. Chains were on the walls and scattered around the room were empty cups and food wrappers. There were blankets and pillows near the chains to make up a bed, and a bucket in the corner probably used as a toilet. I continued with my pictures in this room, and took pictures of the trail in the hallway, the next door was directly across from this room, twisting the handle and opening the door revealed what I assumed to be the killers room. Knives and guns were hanging in the room. I began with pictures of every knife. One had what I assumed to be blood on the handle. Pictures of these girls chained up were found in the drawer of the nightstand. I stepped out of the room and called down the hallway for a homicide detective to come and check out the room.   I then walked just a little further down the hallway to the last door. Opening showed it was just the bathroom. Bloody clothes were in the bathtub as if the killer planned to wash them before they were found. Taking my last couple of pictures I headed back to the living room and waited for the rest of the group. While waiting, I got out my phone and began playing some games I downloaded before arriving.  When the teacher started calling for us into the living room I slid my phone back into my pocket, he announced we would be getting dinner on our way back to our hotels and we would be back here tomorrow to assist the detectives. Walking to the bus I was looking around and seeing the few cars left in the driveways. Most of them were rusting junk cars and it appeared only few could possibly still be driven. One of the cars was a faded old red with paint chipping, it was too far to see much of the details, but I could see one headlight had been busted out.  The next day we unloaded the bus and grabbed out equipment. The detective told us the new information they found and sent us through to do a quick sweep of the scene. For lunch we were dismissed in groups, we were directed to bring lunch with us since this place had nowhere to eat open; during our lunch break we were allowed to sit on the bus to eat and walk around if time remained. My group consisted of me, some guy I had seen around campus, and then 2 more girls who I believe are in their first year.  We finished eating quickly and went to walk around, the guy led the group, the two girls followed, and I trailed along. I saw a reflection of light through a window while walking, the light was coming from the headlight of the red car we passed yesterday, but this time a man sat in the seat. This man was older with shoulder length greasy blonde hair, he was on the bigger side but I can’t tell much more about him through his reflection. The car was slowly following us, it was like a cat taunting a mouse before it captures its victim. I sped up my pace to get closer to the group, lightly jogging up to stand between everyone while I talked.  “We’re being followed” I stated “by who?” The guy asked “I’m not sure but I don’t think we’re safe” I replied. The two girls were so busy talking that they didn’t hear anything we said. We couldn’t turn around because he would get us, so I grabbed the hand of one girl and he grabbed the other as we took off running. We weren’t too far from the wooded area near the big road, maybe if we get in there we can hide and make our way back to the group when it’s safe.  The running was useless in comparison to the car, he still followed, only a little closer now as if letting us know we can’t escape. We made a sharp turn left onto the woods, but what we didn’t expect was his gun. It was a shotgun, he pulled it out and shot each of us in the back of our knees. The two girls dropped first, he caught up to them and finished them off. The guy next to me was the next to collapse shortly followed by me, the man walked up to us slowly, making our heart pound quicker. He killed the guy and next was me, he smiled as he pulled the trigger, but nothing happened. The gun never fired, he was out of bullets.  Then I was out of the woods, I was standing by the trees hearing this terrible sound, I followed the sound and saw the bodies of the two girls. They held hands when they died, I kept walking; I saw the guy laying there bleeding out, and lastly there I was. The killer had grabbed a hatched and used it to finish me off. With a gasp I sat up in bed, soaked in sweat and shaking. The nightmares have returned.