Snow Cover

Chapter 25 News Report

Julia's POV

I strip off every little layer of clothing, leaving it lying in a pile on the cold, tile floor. I stand up before looking around, getting another look at the entirety of the room. This bathroom is much bigger than I ever thought it would be when originally getting here. I guess that must be because I have never been able to afford rooms like this when staying at hotels. But it is huge and has two doors on each end of the bathroom that opens into the room.

The mirrors are even bigger making me feel exposed but also looking so much different than I have in a very long time. I look at my body from every angle until I finally feel at ease about how I look. Thinking I look nice with all my little imperfections that used to stifle any good thoughts about myself, but now I look and love what I see. Its beautiful as if I have some sort of glow to my skin, this thought makes me smile. It has taken me years to like myself, so I know this moment wouldn't seem like much to most but for me this was a step in the right direction when being so exposed in a vulnerable situation. I smile to myself before getting back on track to why I am actually in here, to get cleaned up.

I turn to look at the bathtub. The porcelain tub is absolutely huge, looks like it could fit three people in here at least, but I just needed some room and time for myself. So, as I let out a deep breath, I bent over the wide bath to reach the knob just to turn on the shower above to try to make this as quick as possible. I try to turn it, but it didn't work as easily as it did last night. That's strange, I try turning it again, but it didn't budge. I guess it is somehow stuck not wanting to turn at all.

I keep jiggling it for a moment before I hear in my ear. "You have to lift it, then turn.. it's an old shower." John says this causing me to yelp out as I jump almost falling into the bathtub below me, but with my tight grip on the tub and knob I was able to keep myself steady. "Sorry.. if I startled you.. I just remembered how, when I took a shower last night, I had the same trouble with it and had to make sure that you knew what I figured out. I assumed that's why you hadn't started the shower yet." he states before reaching past me to pull and twist the knob, turning the water on as I try to calm my breathing down.

"Oh.. uh.. Thank you so much for the help." I say as he caresses his hand up my exposed thigh before mumbling. "Anything you need." I politely send him a small smile, still feeling freaked out since I never heard him coming in here at all. Maybe I was just being that loud and distracted by the knob and my thoughts.. I don't know, but that man seems to move silently like a mouse. It's astonishing really. I pull the pin at the top of the spout to start the shower water above as I look back to notice that he leaves me alone in the bathroom once again.

I grip the edge of the bathtub, squeezing it tight as I let out a wavering breath, feeling freaked out for literally no reason. Maybe it's my consciousness getting to me because it knows that I need to tell him about my moment with Colby.. Sometime today.. Maybe it is because I woke up in a panic making my heart jump start. When no one likes to wake up that way. I'm not sure, but all I know is that I need to relieve this pounding stress within my head to calm me down and get rid of the jitters that are trailing through every last inch of me for no reason that I can see.

I get into the shower just needing the hot water to help me as much as it possibly can, just so I can try to start this day right. I close my eyes and lean my head back as I let the hot water cascade all the way down my body. The heated water caresses over every inch, helping ease my mind with every drop of water that passes over my skin. I let out a deep breath, finally feeling at ease as I let the water soak every strand before I open my eyes, just so I can grab the shampoo.

But as my eyes open I can see the silhouette of a man outside the curtain which takes every last bit of air from my lungs. I grab my chest, trying to calm as I squeaked out. "John?" there is no response as I ask louder. "John? Is that you?" I asked this feeling the anticipation building with every syllable that came out of my mouth. But the silhouette doesn't move even remotely to my questioning, "What are you doing in here John?" I ask with no response, which is scaring me as I turn away with my hands over my mouth, not knowing what to do about that.

I need to confront John about being in here because this is freaking me out with him acting like this. I understand that I came here with him and that makes me his guest, but he needs to know that I still need privacy. I nod to myself as I reach for the shower curtain. Pressing my eyes together with nervousness as I hold my breath, just worried about how this will go. I swing the curtain open to expose whoever is there, which I am hoping is John and just assuming it's him at this rate. As soon as I push the curtain open, I pop my eyes open just as fast, to not see anyone in here.

I am gasping out, trying to regain the air in my lungs from the nervousness and now confusion that is overwhelming me, making me feel absolutely insane at this rate. It wasn't John? It wasn't anyone? What? That is impossible.. I saw someone outside the shower curtain.. I know I did.. Or I guess I thought I did.. I don't know.. Maybe that is just me and I'm going insane. I was over here blaming John and he didn't even do it. I feel bad about automatically blaming him and that now makes me feel like I am losing my mind.. What is happening to me? My body and mind are going insane today.

At that moment John pops open the door to the bathroom, causing me to yelp out. He throws his hands up in surrender. "Hey, hey.. it's just me.. Did you call my name? I thought I heard you say my name.. What's going on? Are you alright Julia?" he asks me so sweetly as my eyes pan all around the evidently empty bathroom. I look back and forth before my eyes meet up with his. "Yes, I did call you.. I'm sorry.. I thought I saw someone.. Well, I thought I saw you in here.. It scared me." I declare as he nods, then takes a look around the room protectively.

He obviously doesn't see anyone before coming back to me. "I'm sorry you thought you saw something, but I don't see anyone." He says as I nod feeling idiotic about this. "Yeah I'm so sorry, I guess I am just seeing things that apparently aren't even there.. Maybe I got something in my eye.. I don't know but I feel absolutely insane being startled about everything this morning.. sorry for worrying you." I explain to him as he nods.

"Is this because you're so nervous about being here with me that the stress is getting to you?" he asks me as I nod in response. "I think it might be.. I'm sorry I'm not normally this paranoid." He nods as he grabs my hand to kiss the back of it. "Hey it's ok.. don't worry about it. It's not a bother whatsoever, I swear.. It's ok to be nervous about this new place with me, and just remember there is nothing wrong with that. So try to not beat yourself up too much, when the mind is stressed it can play mind games on you." he says this to me as I find myself just vigorously nodding, because he is making me feel better.

"You're probably right.. Thanks John, that made me feel better." He smiles big at me before kissing my hand one last time, then closing the door behind him. I stay in the shower finishing washing my hair and body but with one eye open, as if I half expected to see that silhouette again. But, of course, nothing happens, and it makes me feel worse for expecting to see that, when it was obviously just made up in my head. I finish the shower in a type of shame with how I am feeling about the situation. I honestly don't feel any better like I was hoping I would.

I huffed out before stepping out of the shower and wandering into the hotel room to get dressed. I meander into the closet grabbing what I need for my outfit as I came out with my arms filled up. I walk over to the bed, tossing my things on it before I glanced over to see John sitting in front of the TV, leaning forward, looking very enthralled into what is being said on the news at the moment. My eyes ping over to the screen, and it is showing a woman who looks right around my age, maybe early 30s. With dark brown hair like mine and even light skin like mine. It seems almost eerie how many attributes we share.

I take a step closer as I dry myself off from the droplets that are still dripping down my body. The woman in the picture looks familiar, I don't know how I would know her but I feel like I do. I slip my underwear and bra on trying to think of how I know her, but i can't place her face at the moment. Once my shirt is slipped on I turn back to keep staring at the screen as I read the name that is displayed under her picture. It is Samantha Ortega. "Samantha." I whispered to myself as I find my feet drifting closer out of pure curiosity. I think that is the same woman who was working with Colby.. I'm pretty sure that is what he called her and that would explain why she does look familiar to me.

This story really gets my attention now that I think I know who this woman is, so I walk even closer, taking the towel that is wrapped around my head off, so I can hear it clearly. They are asking about any information given to indicate who would do this to her. Apparently she is another victim of the serial killer, r*ped and strangled while being stabbed.. That is awful.. How could someone do that to another person? I'm in shock as I realize I have seen that place where the police are investigating.. It's where I was smoking last night and where I had kissed Colby.

What? That seems almost impossible and yet I am seeing it on the news. It looks as if they have it taped off with cops all around as they keep people away. But that is right by us. How did neither one of us hear this going on or even notice it? I run over to the window, expecting it to be made up as if this is just a dream, but as I push the curtain open and peer through the window I can see all the people and police cars still over there.

How did this even happen? I was out there just last night with Colby.. It must have happened later, since I was probably one of the last ones to see her alive.. That is insane to even think. I am in shock and awe as I let go of the curtain, letting it close as I turned around, slowly letting that thought sink in.