It's been two weeks and the same thing has happened to me twice. The nightmares haunting my nights with reality greeting me the following day was something that gave me the creeps. At some point, I started questioning myself if I was really the one doing the killing? But how's that possible? I never leave my house at night when the murders happen, so how could I be the one committing the crime?
I even thought about informing my co-workers but decided against it. Where will I even start? Will anybody believe such an absurd theory? Worse would be them thinking that I'm just finding excuses after doing something wrong.
I couldn't take that risk, so I chose what worked for me, silence.
We were summoned by the department head, questioning us about why, despite being tasked to capture the serial killer, we had done nothing to apprehend him?
His eyes would linger long at me, making me feel all creeped out.
Did he suspect anything from me? I couldn't help but ask myself.
Despite knowing that I did nothing wrong and that the killings had nothing to do with me, I could still not get rid of those horrible scenes haunting my mind and the bloody state I would wake up in.
“ It's been a f*****g month and all you have been doing is sit your asses here while citizens are being murdered.” The Chief commander said, his eyes shooting daggers at us.
“ They are better off dead, they are criminals, after all.” I said, covering my mouth immediately after I realised what I just blurted out. I swear I didn't mean to say that, and how that came out of my mouth was something I didn't know.
Likewise, I could feel my comrades looking at me weirdly, and I knew I messed up big time.
“ So Miss whites, do you mean to say that all the criminals deserve to be killed even without being tried?” He asked and I shook my head.
“I'm sorry I didn't mean to say that,” I apologised profusely, trying to make amends for the slip of my tongue.
My head suddenly felt dizzy, and I could feel fog washing over me.
I tried to shake my head, clearing off the fog that was seeping into my mind.
“ I don't think this team is competent enough to carry out the investigation. You are dismissed. I'll assign new officers for this task.” The Chief commander said before walking away with a huff.
“ What the hell was that, Lisa? You know you will get into trouble for what you just said!” Justin asked. I could feel his anger coupled with worry.
I was still confused, nothing was making sense to me at this point.
“ Leave me alone, please.” I pleaded. I needed to gather my bearings and pinpoint how exactly I ended up saying something I never even thought about.
Not only that, but I couldn't help but think that someone forced those words off my mouth. But is there any logic to explain such superstition?
Mark walked to me and patted my back before leaving the room.
I know they must be confused about what I just did.
I could tell he had questions to ask me, but he respected my request and left me alone.
I don't know how I ended up in my apartment. My head was spinning, and a migraine was creeping.
Stripping, I walked in the shower and let the warm water caress my skin.
I stayed under the shower until I heard my phone ringing.
Switching off the water, I get out and tie my bathrobe around my body before retrieving my phone from my bag.
“ Hello Mom?” I greeted, trying to sound as cheerful as possible. I didn't want my mother to be worried about me. Likewise, I had learned to pretend to be fine, even when I wasn't.
“ Hello darling, you have not visited mom for long. Why don't you drop by and have dinner with us? Your father misses you too.” Her sweet and soothing voice greeted my ears, making me smile.
My father never approved of the Idea of me working for the police. Being the only child they had, he was worried that something would happen to me in the line of duty.
My mother, however, supported me. She would always tell me that I should do what I feel passionate about. But that did not mean my father loved me any less. I could feel his love for me.
I stopped visiting frequently when my father kept on insisting that I drop from the police department. Likewise, I didn't want us to have to fight every time we saw each other. Furthermore, I just hoped my father would come to accept me for who I am and accept that being a police has always been something I wanted to be. It was a dream come true for me.
My passion for that profession was not something I could give up just like that. It is like a second life to me. I still remember the fight we had the last time I visited. That was a month ago, I had just been selected to join the team that would be investigating the serial killing happening in the country.
My father was not pleased with the news, and nor was my mother. For some reason, I thought that my father was more anxious and afraid than angry at me.
After I left that night, I never went to visit them again. Now that I was dismissed, maybe I could give the good news to my father.
I was discharged from the team investigating the matter, but that would not stop me from continuing with my investigation.
I have to seek answers to the connection I have with the serial killing. Furthermore, I would not assume that nothing was wrong with me. Everything was very wrong, not with me having dreams that turned to reality the following day.
“ Okay, Mom, I'll be on my way.” I replied, knowing that my mother would be glad to hear that I'll visit.
True to my thoughts, I heard her let out a happy smile.
“ That's great, I'll cook your favourite foods. I know your father will be happy to hear that you are coming over.” She said,
I wanted to tell her that there's no need to go to an extra length and prepare my favourite dishes that anything could do for me. The important thing was I would be dining with my family, but before I could say that, she had already hung up.
After drying myself, I wore my favourite jeans and t-shirt.
I then drove my Toyota Tacoma and headed to my parent's house, which was a thirty-minute drive from my small apartment.
I arrived at the house and parked my baby before getting the gifts I had bought for them from the boot and led to the house.
“ I'm home.” I announced, expecting my mother to open the door with her sweet smile as she always did, but this time I was met with silence.
“ Mom, Dad.” I called out, pushing the door open, only to stumble and almost fall from the sight before me.
My parents were lying on the floor, their blood spattered all over the living room.
Their limbs severed and scattered around the house. Their bodies had the same claw marks I had seen in my dreams and from the bodies of the serial killer victims.
Before I could register what was happening, police sirens sounded. The police surrounded the house.
I moved my eyes and that's when a note caught my attention. It was left just next to my mother's severed head.
I walked with wobbly legs and picked the note, the words written mocking me to no end.
“ They are better off dead.”
The same words I had said to the chief commander in the meeting today.
I was lost in thoughts when the police warning pulled me out of my thoughts.
“ Miss Whites, we suggest you surrender. You have been charged with killing countless number of American citizens, "
Those words sent a chill down my spine.
I was not born a fool. One thing was now certain to me, I just landed myself in a setup.
I chuckled bitterly, laughing at the irony of my life. The officer who was prideful of seeking justice for others was now standing in her parent's house, unable to seek justice for herself and her parents' death.
“ We need to get the hell out of here.” A magnetic voice greeted me, making me turn to find a rather handsome and tall man standing at the door, leaning like he wasn't in any hurry.
“Who are you?” I asked, observing the man.
“ Your saviour.” He said, and before I knew it, he shifted to something that looked like a big dog before grabbing me and running off.
I heard gunshots being fired at us, but he managed to dodge them.
That's how I found myself here, in what they referred to as a pack, in the midst of monsters.
Flashback ends.