Chapter 18
2386 Words
Jay was too busy to think about the last weekend. She decided to look for a job. She needed some additional activity, otherwise she would think about the murders all the time. And that was not what she wanted. It was damn frustrating that she could not find answers to her questions. Besides, she had too much energy and had to discharge it somewhere, so finding an extra job seemed to be the perfect solution.
The whole week passed. Jay managed to ignore rumors saying that she was John Tyler’s lover. Some said, and Jay was convinced it was Craig Henderson whom she saw at the party, that John introduced her as his daughter, but since they had different names people believed that he just wanted to hide the fact that he has an affair with a minor. Some, with Samantha Lorenzo as a leader, predicted that Jay will try to make a career through bed. Very soon. It made her laugh. Actually, she was glad that people did not believe she was Tyler’s daughter. Hank, together with Ash and Darren promised to keep their mouths shut. It was enough for her.
Now Jay was waiting for the weekend with a dose of fear. It was two weeks since last murder and she was afraid that it will happen again. Although, she was still hoping that she is wrong. But the fact was that the police had not found any traces that could help them catch the vampire, so every young woman should watch her back.
She stopped at the gas station to refuel the car. She wanted to visit one more martial art school, before she will decide where she wants to work. West Brooklyn was a bit too far from her flat, but after all she liked driving, so the distance did not matter at all. Jay entered the shop to pay. ‘I need to eat something.’ She thought and came between shelves looking for snacks she wanted.
- Stupid b***h! – She heard some drunken guy. – Give me that beer!
- We don’t sell alcohol to drunken customers. – Said the cashier.
It was a young girl, a few years elder than Jay. Short and slim. With long dark blonde hair and green, tired eyes. She watched the customer leaving the shop with an indifferent face expression. Jay chose her snacks and approached the girl.
- Annoying guy. – She said.
- Like many others. – The girl, the badge said her name was Margaret, charged Jay’s shopping.
Jay rarely looked in people’s mind, but this girl seemed to be very unhappy. After few pictures she understood why. Margaret was the eldest child in a big family. She had four siblings and they lived in a small, shabby flat. All the emotions Jay felt told her that the girl hated her parents. Father, an alcoholic and loser, who pours his frustration on his wife and kids. Her mother, a house cleaner, who is unable to leave her husband-tyrant and allows him to mistreat the whole family.
It was Margaret’s first job. She hated it as well, but it gave her a kind of freedom. She could run away from family drama and she had her own money, which she was collecting to be able to leave the hell she was living in.
- Fifty-two fifty. – She said looking at Jay suspiciously.
- Here, keep the change. – She said giving the girl seventy dollars.
- Thanks! – She replied calculating the tip.
Jay left the shop and approached her car. She got into it and started the engine. But before she left the gas station she pondered over the sad fate of the girl. At least it was not her fault that she lives in such a family. Jay really hoped that Margaret will manage to get out of that sick environment. ‘I’ll try to help her.’ She decided. ‘She’s old enough to take care of her younger siblings.’ Jay strongly believed that with little help the girl will achieve her goals.
‘Now let’s move on!’ She hurried herself up. It was almost six and she did not like to be late. She did not like making people wait for her.
In the evening Jay was comparing the martial art schools se visited that day. It was late, but she took a glass of wine and forced herself to make the final decision. She took everything into consideration. Location, references, size of classrooms, number of pupils in groups. And of course, how many classes she may get. At that point the “Lee Chan’s Dojo” seemed to have the best offer. And she could start next month. Without hesitation Jay circled the chosen school and considering she did a good job, she went to bed.
***
She woke up abruptly. She was wet with sweat. Her breath fast and uneven. She probably had a bad dream, but she had problems recalling it. She got up and on shaky lags went to the bathroom where she washed her face with cold water. Her hands were trembling and all she could think of now was the fear. She could still feel it. Panic and overwhelming fear.
She had no doubts that the vampire attacked again. Another girl had died that night and she dreamt about it. ‘I have to remember!’ She thought. She went to her bedroom, opened the closet and took out ritual candles and amulets. She did not use anything else. She left the real magic to her grandma and Carter. But she could get into a trance to look into her head.
She brought salt from the kitchen and made a circle. She called all four elements and lit a candle for each one. The last one she lit for her soul and mind. She closed her eyes and focused on her breath. She let her thoughts drift freely, her body to relax. She felt a soft, warm breeze from the open window. She saw a gas station and the young girl, Margaret. She tried to chase it away, so she could concentrate on her dream. She imagined herself that she is reaching out to touch what she was looking for.
Her head fell back, eyes became pitch black wells. The gas station in West Brooklyn. A young girl with sad green eyes. Unpleasant, drunken customer. He approached her. Caught her arm and shook her. She started yelling at him, demanding that he let her go. She shouted that he will not hit her again. That she will not allow him. And only then Jay noticed that the drunken guy changed. The girl was facing her father now. Without thinking she ran to help the girl.
She felt a sharp pain in her arm. She looked down and noticed she was bleeding. Her skin was cut by someone’s nails. She felt anger. This man had no right to hurt his daughter! Jay was ready to give him a lesson. She looked up and freeze.
His eyes so close to hers. A demonic smile on that handsome face. She could feel his breath on her skin. His desire. Lust. Hunger. He leaned over and licked her neck with his tongue, just above the pulse.
- Run! – He whispered into her ear.
She broke free from the iron grip and rushed to escape. Driven by a panic fear of the girl whose body she was trapped in, Jay was trying to stop the vision. She heard his laugh and shuddered. ‘There’s no escape!’ She heard his voice in her mind. ‘You’ve already been here. I brought you here in a dream, so you could feel what she felt when she was dying!’ The girl stopped suddenly and looked around. It was quiet. Too quiet.
He appeared suddenly. Behind her. And Jay could feel everything. He paralyzed Margaret leaving fear and pain, so she could experience the same torments. She felt life escaping her body. Metallic taste in her mouth. ‘Death is so beautiful. Exciting!’ He said in her mind. ‘I can’t wait when I’ll sink my teeth in your neck!’ An animal murmur escaped his throat. ‘Keep dreaming!’ She thought and he laughed. ‘I’m sure your blood will taste delicious!’
Jay felt she was losing consciousness. She fought for every breath. The landscape blurred before her eyes. She was suffocating with her own blood.
‘See you soon.’ She managed to hear his whisper and she passed out.
***
She started coughing violently. Her throat hurt as if someone was choking her. She chucked something thick and spat. Then she opened her eyes slowly. Sunrays dazzled her. She felt sharp pain behind her eyeballs. Her whole body was sore. She looked around carefully. The candles were still burning, so she quickly closed the circle.
Jay stood up slowly, went to the bathroom and washed the blood from her face. She wandered if it was her blood. But finally she decided that she did not want to know. He tried to suffocate her with blood and it did not matter whose blood it was. She took a shower to ease the tension, and then she dressed up and cleaned the floor in the bedroom.
While making breakfast she was listening to the news. She did not have to, because she already knew who the victim was. ‘He’s close.’ She thought. ‘What if he knows everything about me? Maybe he follows me?’ She wondered. ‘He definitely plays with me. What should I do? Go to the police?’ She pushed that thought far away. She would have to explain how she knows everything. She could be accused for not coming earlier.
‘It’s a privet game.’ Of that she was sure.
She ate listening to the news she was waiting for. Then she took her bag and drove to see the crime scene. The police was still there. She parked on the side of the road and approached the police tapes and a cop who was keeping the crowd away.
- Stay back! – He said to her.
- What happened? – She asked.
- A murder has been committed here. – He explained.
- Oh my God! – She pretended to be shocked. – Margaret?! Is she okay?! – She saw a flash in his eyes.
- Wait here! – He ordered, walked away and used his radio. He nodded and came back. – Come with me. – He said lifting the tape.
He took her to the shop where the owner was questioned. It was quiet here. The TV set on the wall was turned off. Several stands were knocked over. Canned drinks and chewing gums littered the ground. Besides this, there was no sign of struggle. It was not the place where the girl died.
They waited patiently until the detective leading the investigation was done questioning the owner of the gas station.
- That’s the girl. – He said and left.
- Jay? – She turned to face Mike Patterson.
- Captain Patterson? – She said surprised.
- Did you know Margaret Stenson? – He asked.
- We’ve just met. – She said. – A very nice and friendly girl.
- How did you meet? – He was suspicious.
- Here! – She said without hesitation. – I sometimes refuel the car here. We always had a good talk. – She lied. – I wanted to help her. You know, to find a flat, became independent.
- I understand. – It seemed he bought it. – Did she say something? Maybe she had enemies or someone threatened her?
- No. She just wanted to leave home and be free. That’s all I know. – She sobbed. – Who could do that?
- We’ll find out. – He promised.
- You think it might have been that drunken guy? – She asked, terrified.
- What guy? – He asked immediately.
- Yesterday afternoon, when I was making some quick shopping on my way to martial art school, Margaret had an argument with a drunken customer. She didn’t want to sell him beer. – She explained.
- We’ll check that. – He promised. He put his arm around her shoulders and led her to the door. He stopped outside. – But I’m afraid that this is more complicated.
- What do you mean? – She asked.
- We had two more murders which are similar to this one. – He said. – You’ve probably heard about it.
- Yeah, I did. You think it’s a serial killer? – She frowned. – All the girls had many in common in their look, indeed. But as far as I know that’s all.
- Different social status, environment, interests. – He summed up.
- But the appearance of the victims shared many common features. They all were quite short, slim, with long blond hair and green or blue eyes. – She pointed out.
- Do you know who you just described? – He asked.
- Who? – She was a bit confused.
- Yourself. Be careful. – He said with concern.
- I will. – She promised. – Good luck Captain. – She added and walked away.
Jay went straight to her car. On her way she passed by the young police officer, who again lifted the tape for her. She thanked him and said goodbye. There were still many people waiting for some news. Some of them tried to stop her and ask questions, but she only shrugged and moved ahead. Disseminating information about the murder could harm the investigation, she knew that so she just remained silent.
She did not have to look for the crime scene to see what happened. The vampire went one step forward and invaded her dreams. Even if she did not remember it clearly, she could always use her magic to reach out to her own subconscious. At this point the fact that such visions always ended with a blood loss and terrible headache was not important. She was tough and could take a lot.
She came back to her flat to take a rest. She was exhausted not only physically, but mainly psychically. And she was well aware of the fact that it was only beginning.
- Writer
