Student Murders

the reckoning

Chapter 1

It was just another day at Auburn High when the sheriff came into my third period. Ben, Andrea and Issac were among the five arrested today. "Whats going on Ms.Annalee asked the officers." They just ignored her and kept as if they hadn't heard her. She ran out of the room, I'm guessing to the principal's office.

"Everyone to the auditorium now." Our principal came across the intercom. Whatever this is must be serious if we're having a school meeting. Everyone rushed as quickly as we could through the tight corredors. "I heard they found a body." Some girl leaned over me to tell someone. I recognized her from the cheer team.

"The Pellions had found the body of the star student Alec in their pond early this morning." Principal Joseph announced. Everyone erupted into screams and gossip, because things like this don't happen in this small town. The most exciting thing we ever have is the dances and the football games, but a murder was something that never happened.

"Quiet everyone! We will now have a seven o'clock curfew and no one is to be out without their parents. We think we got the ones responsible, but we aren't sure if there are more involved. For now school is dismissed and you will be going straight home. Your parents were being notified as soon as the sheriff came in today. You may leave." With that sections we escorted to their cars, parents cars, and buses.

"We're going hunting. No questions." My dad is acting abnormally and it's starting to frighten me. My dad always hunted, but cheery and never made me or my siblings go with him. Choosing to stay quiet, I let my mind roam to everything going on and what could be up with my dad. "We're picking up the twins and your mom then going to the cabin, mom has everything packed and waiting on us." He muttered still acting strangely. We are about five minutes from the elementary and middle school and another ten from the house so I popped in my headphones and reclined.

Upon arriving at the house my mother is frantically pulling bags out of our family home. "Dad what's going on with mommy?" Anthony the blonde headed twin asked frightened. Our mother was never like this, so it is quite worrisome to see. Instead of answering dad went to help her load up the bags in the back of the car.

"Sissy what's going on? Why is mommy and daddy acting like this." Annalise the red headed twin asked clinging to my side. I searched for the answer to us, though I couldn't find one right since their only seventh graders. I should tell them the truth, but I'm positive they will be more frightened and I don't know if it's the correct reasoning.

"They've been planning a trip and it was a surprise. Everything is okay." Just as I said the last word my mom entered the car, "Right mom, it's just a surprise trip."

She thankfully got what I'm trying to do, and quickly nodded. "Oh yes, me and your father are excited and can finally take you twins to the cabin." She leaned in close to me ear, "When the twins go to sleep, we'll tell you the truth of everything. No one, but the older folks that were in highschool with me and your father."

The cabin is on the outskirts of town which takes about an hour, so I got the twins comfortable. Within twenty minutes they were out cold. "Mom, their asleep now. What's going on with everything?" I could sense the air becoming tense with my questions. Whatever is going on has to be something horrible.

"There's a reason me and your father don't talk a lot about our years in highschool. Or when we do it sounds like something from a romantic movie. There was a lot of gruesome events that took place, events that..." She started to choke up to which my dad wrapped her under the arm he wasn't using to drive with. Her words confused me beyond anything, no one has ever said anything other than great things from when they were in highschool.

"What your mother is trying to say is, there were murders. Started one day out of the blue, then grew. Almost everyone in the school become murderers and hunted their classmates. One of the upperclassmen had found a book that was their ancestors. In the book..." My dad had to stop, because Anthony choice this time to wake up.

He looked around sleepily. "What was the book about dad?" My dad looked in the mirror at me to come up with something. I'm the creative one in the family, so naturally I could come up with elaborate things for a child. "It's full of old history of their family, just boring old stuff." He scrunched up his nose and layed back down. My dad I could see was grinning, the one thing Anthony hated the most is history.

I must have dozed out soon after. I awoke to my dad and mom picking up the twins that are currently laying on me. "We didn't mean to wake you up honey. Your dad was going to come back out and carry you in." My mom's sweet voice filled the air. She is the kindest and sweetest lady that I know of.

"It's okay mom, we need to finish our talk from earlier. I have a feeling that this is going to be a long a messed up night." The look of solomon on her face just deepened that feeling. Her and my dad laid the twins on the bunk beds and led me into the front room. Mom went to make us some coffee since we'll be up really late.

"Okay, back to the story, where was I.... Ah yes. So they found a book. It told of their family become wealthy and successful in business. That's when the murders started. At first it was only a few, then it became a hunting ground. I survived due to this cabin and your grandpa went through this as well. It's actually how your mother and I got together. She was running through the woods trying to escape when she fell onto the bear traps we had set." My mom lifts up her jeans to show her scare she always said she couldn't remember how it happened.

"That night your father fended off three football players and pried my leg from the trap. He helped me into the cabin where your grandpa bandaged up my leg. We stayed in the cabin for three days until the FBI finally came and arrest everyone involved. They were supposed to have burned the book, either they had lied or somehow a copy got made." My mom ended up in my dad's lap with a far off look.

If what they said is true then things are about to get horrible and turn to a Steven King movie. Wait, they didn't say how killing made them successful. "What did they gain for the killing? Must be something right?" They shared a look I couldn't describe.

"Well... the killings were supposed to help them mentally. As in knowledge would be transfered. That's how it was for me." My dad spoke with an disturbed voice. He had to be a participant to save my mom. Could that be how he's great sports? He nodded a if sensing where my thoughts had gone to. I don't blame him for what he's done, if he hadn't then my mom wouldn't be here.

"What makes you guys think that it's the same? I mean yeah he was in my grade but that doesn't mean anything." I looked between the two waiting on an answer. I could understand if there were many kids dying, but there's only one. I mean this could all just be a coincidence.

"He was the top in the school. That's how it happened last time. All the honor roll students were first and then they worked their way down. This could be a coincidence, but to be safe we're going to train you incase it isn't." My dad took one of the guns and a hunting knife from the shelf. I didn't want to kill anyone, this must have been plastered across my face.

"You need to learn. This will help you protect yourself and your siblings and friends. I wasn't prepared and almost didn't survive that night. We will not make the same mistakes. Your brother and sister will be staying in the cabin and we will protect them." My mom held my hands as she spoke in an even and calm tone. If this is true, I do want to be prepared.

"When do we start?" To say I'm not terrified would be a complete understatement. My dad started out with teaching me offense tactics and my mom took to the defense. Their method is I'm the same size as my mom so learning defense with her is the best. With my dad being stronger than most would be the best to learn attacking on and using my little stature to harm.

"Hello? Yes this is she. When did they find them. Okay yeah. We're going to be ready. Thank you, have a good evening." My came back from the phone with a hard look. "There have been three more bodies found. Your not going to school, we're training for the next week." She stpang at me and immediately I got into my defensive position ready to take her. We spent the next few hours until the twins got up practicing fighting each other.

"Hey honeys, do you want eggs?" My mom asked turning on the stove. She was breathing hard from the last session, but kept it at a minimum so they didn't notice and ask any questions. We agreed to keep them in the dark for as long as possible. Mainly due to their age and it would only scare them and more than likely scar them.

"I'm going to need to go to the library. I have a book report I need to do." My parents acting as if they were about to lock me away, but we needed to act normal. Also the school hasn't let us out yet and expects us to attend everyday as usual. After a few moments they agreed, but only if I make it back before dark. I kissed them both goodbye while my dad slipped the buck knife into the side of my belt and a pepper spray in my boot. This is the only way they'd allow me to leave.

I made a list of the books that I needed for the industrial revolution, I plan to get three books. I made my way quickly to the middle of town to the library. The town is unusually silent and completely deserted. It looked as if I had entered a ghost town out west somewhere. My hand instinctively gripped the blade at my side. I sensed a presence coming up to my left quickly. On instinct my leg came around, dropping them and I pressed the blade to the person's throat.

"Hey hey it's just me. I noticed you looked more alert and could help me. I'm new here and my brother disappeared." A dark haired boy uttered. I hadn't seen him around and he looked to be my age or a year older than I am. I kept my knife to his throat till I could grab my pepper spray in the other.

Slowly I backed away from the boy, but keeping aware incase there are others. "Who are you and why are you and your brother here." I asked tentative. In a moments notice he jumped up off the car I had him pinned to with a ball bat. I readied myself for the impact and to fight back only for him to go around me. Spinning around I seen him swing the bat at a dirty haired boy holding a crowbar.

All I could manage is watching the scene unfold in front of me. This mysterious boy seemed to have the job done in five minutes flat. "Why did you do that. You don't know me, or if I'll turn on you." He simply smiled in turn for my flat and more than rude statement.

"Neither do you, but I did just save you. That's something right?" He made his way slowly to me. I caught movement for the corner of my eye and slung my knife. Upon looking it ended up being the cheerleader from earlier with a butcher's knife. I retrieved my knife and decided to take the crowbar from the boy and handed the butchers knife to the guy I still don't know his name.

"Call it even now. Take this, it maybe handy. My name is Alexi." His eyes showed his surprise more than his face did. I began to walk away when I heard his footsteps coming up beside me. My hand tightened around the crowbar, just incase I needed to use it on him.

"My name is Evan. We just moved her day before yesterday. My brother and I came to live with our grandparents. What's happened around here." He seemed like a sweet guy but so did the cheerleader. I wanted to trust him, but then again I can't trust anyone. There's just something about him that I can't explain.

"Well I'm headed to get some books and head back home. You can join if you want, but we'll have to split when I head home." He nodded accepting this. For the next hour he helped me look for the books I needed. "Thank you. I need to head back now." I spoke once I had the books tucked securely in my bag.

"Let me walk you home. Just as a thank you for saving me." I agreed to let him walk me until I got to the Wellingtons house then he had to head back. The journey was silent as he trailed beside me, both of us deep in thoughts. "Well this is it, thank you." I told him before turning and walking into the forest. I turned back around to make sure he was gone only for him to have a dark expression before walking away. That was odd as I headed into the opposite direction he watched me go towards. I was smart enough to at least throw him off. We didn't need anyone showing up.

"Hey guys I'm back." The twins turned to me in horror. I looked down to see that I had blood staining my shirt. Thinking fast I muttered, "Guys calm down it's only paint. The library was painting one of their tables and I hadn't realized until it got on me." They both seemed to accept that, but my parents motioned me to the kitchen. They knew something different happened and wanted to know how bad things are in town.

"Why are you covered in blood? Also how did you get a crowbar?" My mother is the first to start spilling questions. The next thirty minutes I filled them in on the girl I had to kill, the mysterious guy, and the guy he killed. "This is worse than we thought. You'll be training with guns next and you and your father will set traps around the forest. Be ready by six a.m sharp." With that my mother led us back to the living room.

The morning came quicker than I wanted it too honestly. Getting up my mom handed me a cup of coffee and pointed towards the back door. Opening it, I noticed my dad sitting on the swing drinking a cup that looked similar to mine. "We're going to start with the targets, move on to the moving targets, and then hunting." My dad listed off the stages we'll be working in over this week.

We started off with a jog to get our bodies ready and awake. "I can go faster than usual and my reflexes seem to be more of a second nature now. Why?" I looked to my dad for answers. I noticed a change as soon as we took off.

"When you killed the cheerleader ...her athletic abilities and knowledge transferred to you. Kinda like when you download a hard drive onto a new computer. Me and your mother have been trying to find out how this is even possible, but keep coming up short." This did make sense. I thought it only happened with knowledge not the strengths and things.

Tossing me a rifle he pointed to the first target. It was a person shape about twenty yards out. Aiming, I missed the first three shots, but on the fourth I managed to get the right arm. By the seventh I made a head shot and kept up with the advice my dad is giving. I made ten head shots and three chest when he decided it is time to move to the moving targets. Those ended up being harder and I only made two out of twenty shots.

"We'll call it a day. You've done good and we'll pick up on the moving again tomorrow. Unless you want to spar some." My dad patted my shoulder encouragingly. I smirked when he suggested sparing. He swung his leg up towards my face, I in turn backflip. He makes a series of punches and karate kicks, to all of which I dodged and returned a blow. The next two he threw me off completely. He acted as if he will go for my left side, but attacked my unguarded right.

"That was great work, remember to always watch carefully. Your opponent could change their moves in a blink of an eye. Try to be one step ahead of them at all times, and switch them up as well. You can even deceitful and fool them." The whole time my dad is giving me tip, I couldn't help but feel like someone is watching us. I decide to brush it off as my paranoia with the current events going on.

"Thanks dad. I will remember that and practice. Do you think we should start helping the twins. With how dangerous it is, I feel like they might be a target as well. Or we could at least try to flee to the next town?" I questioned my dad walking back to the cabin. I fear that keeping them in the dark will cause them to get hurt in the near future.

"Dad when are we going back to town? I miss my friends and I hate the bunk beds." Annalise started whining to our dad. She tended to be the one who liked living in town and sociable, while Anthony and I liked the quietness of the cabin and kept to ourselves.

"I think it's time your mother and I finally tell you what's going on. We're here due to it being dangerous. There have been a few kids murdered, and we came here to hide. When Alexi came in last night with blood on her, it's because someone tried to hurt her. That's why we're here." Annalise wore a terrified look, while Anthony looked like he already knew what has been going on this whole time.

"I already knew. I've been waiting for you to finally tell us. They announced the muder at school, but Annalise was too busy listening to music to pay attention. What do you guys plan on doing about all of this." Stunned is an understatement. Anthony has always been smart, but we didn't think he'd have this all figured out already.

"Then you can join me and dad on our next training. Mom can work with annalise with defense, since she isn't the type to attack." Everyone agreed on the new set trainings. Dad, Anthony and I are going around to set up the traps and map them. We practised defense and offense while doing so, while Annalise and mom stayed back to work on cleaning the weapons and teaching annalise to fight.

"Okay we have traps and tripwire set. Tomorrow we may hook up the hunting cameras to keep an extra eye out. Let's head back." My dad stated. Yet again I couldn't shake the feeling that we are being watched. Skanning the area I couldn't see anything, but it is oldly silent. "Come on Alexi, it's getting dark." Dad called from about ten feet away.

Heading back, the feeling only got worse. "Hey you guys go ahead I'm going to check the traps. Toss me the crow bar." Anthony tossed the crow bar and I headed to the south perimeter. I am making a mental plan on how I will check them. Their set up in rows of two, teen feet apart in both up and down and long ways. I could walk in the middle of the two I thought.

The first thirteen traps were still how we had them. Once I got to the next few they were all tripped with logs. Someone had to have been following us to be able to know where we put them. Resetting the traps I radioed to my dad, "Hey dad, someone is setting the traps. I'm on traps 14-19, and they've been tripped with logs. I had a feeling earlier we were being followed. I'm resetting them and heading back now."

"Ok. Keep alert and the crow bar close. I'll be outside waiting on you to get here. Stay on the walkie just incase." I didn't mean to put my dad on edge, but he needed to know what exactly is going on. I took his instruction and held the talk button so that he could hear if something happened.