MIND

There's never an off day

Dylan's breathing became ragged with fear as he lay under the bed hiding. He was shaking and for good reason. His fear heightened with every crash and shout he heard. He closed his eyes as if trying to silence the sound. He wished he could just disappear right there and escape the suffering that he was inevitably gonna face. His eyes shot open when he heard his door flung open. He retreated deeper under his bed and was hoping he wouldn't be found out. His dad's rugged voice sent chills down his spine “Come out here boy! You think you are man enough now huh?” he barked

“Leave him alone. He's just a child. He's your son” Hayley rushed into the room crying.

“No son of mine would disrespect me in my house” He retorted harshly.

Dylan's heart was pounding, threatening to rip out of his chest. The moment he was dreading came as the bed he was hiding under got raised up and thrown to the other side of the room. “No! No!!!” Dylan shouted as his dad picked him up from under the bed and dragged him out of the room.

“Quiet boy! I'm gonna teach you the manners you lack” He shouted angrily, his deep voice filling the house.

“Please leave him alone” Hayley continued crying, walking behind them. His dad turned angrily and landed a resounding slap across her face, sending her crashing to the ground.

He dragged Dylan to the basement, ignoring his cry for freedom. Dylan's heart sank when he saw the all too familiar freezer by the wall. He tried wriggling free but he was no match for a ex marine turn cop. His dad held him with one hand and opened the freezer with the other and before Dylan could protest, he was already lying in freezer, locked from outside. He hit the freezer repeatedly, crying as he lived his dreaded moment again.

“And then I woke up. Just like before” Dylan said, avoiding Miss Greene's eyes.

“And you said you started having the dreams again after the night of the rescue?” she asked. Dylan nodded in response. “I'm glad you feel you could trust me enough to tell me about what's been going on since you started your new school. Knowing everything that troubles you, I can be able to help you” she added

“You said whatever we discuss is confidential that's why I was bold enough to tell you. I couldn't just walk up to anyone and tell them someone is killing people in my town and he or she has focused on my life. You do believe me, don't you?" He asked now shifting his gaze to meet hers.

“Of course Dylan” she smiled “Can you tell me more about it?”

“It's been four days since we rescued Vanessa and we haven't heard from the pyscopath and no one has died yet, seeing as he promised he was gonna pick a name. Vanessa is....how should I put it?! Not like her usual self. She's less bitchy and more mellow. I think the near death experience really got to her. Ethan is still trying to figure out who the killer is with me and he's slightly paranoid, always alert not wanting to be mind controlled again. Eva is....well Eva. Still mad at me and she and her friend have been acting a little off lately. I don't know if they know too but something is ticking them off. The cops are just as clueless, confused at the unsolved murders and the town is gradually getting tensed thinking about a serial killer on the loose” He explained and shifted his gaze away from her again.

“Do you think it all falls down to you Dylan? Like it's your burden, your mission to save the town and everyone in it from this.... killer?" She asked, placing her arms on the desk.

“It literally does. These killings are like games to this killer and he's throwing me in as an opponent. I don't know why. Making sure I'm aware of what he's gonna do next and I can't just standby and watch as people die when I could have stopped it” He replied

“Why? Because of what happened to your sister? You still blame yourself. You think if you had pulled the trigger earlier she would still be alive. So with all these going on, you feel you have a shot to atone for your mistake” She stated calmly. Dylan glanced at her in silence. “If you would only just legitly let someone in instead of just keeping an act because of your mother, you would see you are okay to live life and move on from the past” She added

He heaved a deep sigh, rubbing his forehead. “Now that I think of it, you sound like Eva. You both think you have me all figured out”

“If we're both saying the same thing, then you need to keep her close” She smiled “Well our time is up for today. I hope to see you again next week" She closed her note.

***

Camila stared at the unusually quiet Amy who sat across her from the table, engrossed in her bowl of cereal. She just watched her for a while until she couldn't take it anymore knowing something was really wrong for her to be that quiet during dinner. “What is it Amy? You don't seem yourself this evening” She questioned

“hmm...?! Nothing. Just been stressed out lately thinking of some stuff” She replied, still focused on her bowl of cereal.

“Eating cereal as dinner and sitting silently while at it. Something is really bothering you. Boy trouble?"

“Eeew sis” She made a digusted face

“Okay girl trouble then?"

“No!!” Amy complained ”I'm not into girls and I don't have boy trouble because there is no boy. I just....have other issues I'm thinking about” She added

“You know you can talk to me right? About anything” She said with genuine concern

“Yeah...yeah I know. Just not about this” She concluded.

“Alright. I'm here whenever you need me” Camila stood up, adjusted her uniform and headed out of the house to work, at the precinct.

***

Ethan stared Intently at his computer. Clicking on the mouse and scrolling down the pages of his search. He was too focused on what he was researching that he didn't notice his dad come up behind him and peeked at what he was staring at. “What the hell is this?" He asked almost shouting, startling Ethan that he almost jumped off the chair.

“Gosh dad! Some privacy please. You scared the s**t outta me” He held his chest, gaining back his composure.

“What the hell is this? I thought you were watching p**n or something. ‘How serial killers operate'. What?!” He read on the screen

“That's messed up dad. p**n?! Seriously?” he quipped

“That's better than what I'm seeing here. Please tell me you are not a serial killer or planning to be one”

“What are you talking about dad! Of course not. I'm just trying to know how they operate maybe we can figure out the one killing in our town” he defended

“That's a relief. For a second there I thought....wait, why the sudden interest in it. This are matters for the police"

“I'm interested because it's affecting my friends and I. So dad please can I focus on what I'm doing” He concluded turning his attention back to the computer screen.

***

Sheriff Donovan glanced over at Eva who curled up next to him on the couch quietly, eyes fixated on the movie they were watching. Her lower body wrapped up in a blanket. “Are you okay honey?" He asked. She nodded without speaking. “So how are things at school? You and Dylan are good friends?" He questioned.

“No. He's kind of arrogant, rude and a bit weird. I don't think I can be friends with him” She replied without shifting her eyes from the TV.

“I think that's more of a reason you need to be friends with him"

“And why is that?” she asked

“I'm asking and concerned about him because after what he's been through, he's bound to come out a little screwed up. That's why I want you guys to be friends, maybe it might help him feel normal again” he explained

“Whatever he's been through doesn't give him a free pass at being arrogant or rude or weird. We've all been through some stuff” She retorted

“Not like him you haven't. Let's see. He lost his little sister when he was little, he killed his dad and spent part his teen age at Juve. Have you been through that?” He stated, knowing that would definitely capture her attention and he was right. She shot up at him instantly, staring at her dad with questions popping up in her head.

“What! For real?” she sat up, folded her legs under her as she kept staring at her dad who was nodding. “Tell me everything dad” She muted the TV so her dad could focus on her.

Sheriff Donovan shifted his gaze to her, seeing the urgency in her eyes. He cleared his throat and began “Well his dad Connor Hale was a deputy at the precinct back when I wasn't a sheriff yet. We were both deputies and we all attended the same school, Sunnyvale high, his dad, his mom and I. Hale was a drunk, gambler and an abuser. He started abusing his wife verbally and physically when he started piling up debts. He would hit her till she passes out. Dylan couldn't have been more than three when all these started and it got worse when they had Dylan's sister. He would beat her up, lock Dylan has in a freezer for hours and leave the girl crying alone. Hayley would confide in me and I'd try to talk with Hale but he wouldn't listen and it got to a point when he tagged me as his enemy. The abuse continued for years until the night when he got too far. According to Hayley, he got home drunk as usual, tried to force himself on her and when she refused he began his assault her. He was still hitting her when Dylan came out of his room and grabbed his gun, pointed it at him. His little sister began crying and tugging on his pants for him to stop but it enraged him more and he violently pushed her down the stairs. She fell and broke her neck, resulting in her death. Seeing this, Dylan pulled the trigger and shot him. He bled out and died before the ambulance arrived. The court at the end ruled it as self defense and Hayley took the opportunity and took her only child and left town until now”

“Oh my God” she said as though about to cry. Feeling like she could feel what they must have been through during that period. “How come no one in school knows about this?" She questioned

“Because the department hid it from the public as best as they could seeing as it involved a cop. They knew it wouldn't breath well for the department” Sheriff Donovan replied.

“That's messed up. I can't imagine what he must have passed through. Losing his sister and having to kill his father. That must have been traumatic. You are right, something like that changes someone. I knew something was different about him”. She said with a sympathetic look.

“See, that's why I said he could use a friend. I can tell he's trying to act as normal as he can but that must be a burden on him. He's just a kid”

“Yeah you are right” She said with a low tone now realizing she might have been a little harsh and judgemental on him the last time they spoke and now she felt it like her duty to try to help him.

***

Vanessa stood up from her bed and walked up to where Dylan was sitting on the chair close to her desk. She smiled as she took his phone he was so focused on from him and then straddled his lap. She pushed her hair to the back of her neck and leaned into him, landing a soft kiss on his lips. He accepted the kiss as they both swirled their tongues in each others mouth. He broke the kiss, flashed her a smile and then looked around the room, still holding her body against his. “Nice room. Almost double the size of mine. He wasn't kidding. The room was large with a queen sized bed covered with a blue butterfly bed cover. She had a large mirror by the wall with a table containing her makeup kit on top of it. Her closet was pink and was almost as wide as the wall itself. Her reading desk and chair which they were currently occupying sat at the wall directly opposite the bed.

“Do you wanna admire the room or do you wanna make out with me” She whispered with a smile

“Definitely make out with you” he resumed kissing her as she found the hem of his shirt and moved her hand inside his shirt, rubbing over his abs before she pulled the shirt over his head resulting in them breaking the kiss.

“Wow! Do you workout?" She asked as she leaned back and admired his perfectly built body.

“No I don't. Just sit ups every morning” he replied just as he picked her up, making her giggle a little as he carried her and gently laid her on her bed. He took off her crop top, leaving her with just her red lacy bra and black bumshort on. “You on the other hand, look like you do yoga” he pointed out, staring at her outstanding physique.

“I try” She laughed and drew him into her, straddling him as he lay on top of her while she liplocked with him again. After kissing for a while, he placed his fingers on the handle of her bra, running his hand through it. She giggled again “Stop being a tease and take it off already” She whispered in his ears. He smiled and was about pulling it down when his phone began to ring. “No no no. Ignore it” She said annoyed by the phone's interruption.

“It might be a life or death situation” he joked, trying to stand up from her. She held onto him until he eventually wriggled free from her. He walked to the table and grabbed the phone. He looked at the caller, it was Ethan. He sighed, sat back down on the bed and answered the phone. “Yo! Worst timing man” he said with a smile.

“Dylan!” Ethan called, his voice sounding shaky like he was sobbing

“Ethan!” he called now sounding serious. “What's going on man?" He asked

“I don't know where we are. We are trapped here...and...and we can't get out. Someone is keeping us captive. It's cold...and...and dark and we can't see a thing”

“Slow down man. Who is we?" He questioned

“Me, Amy and Eva. We are all trapped here” he replied clearly afraid

“Where are you? Can you see anything around you?” He stood up from the bed, running his hand through his hair as he paced about the room.

“It's like a basement...like a tunnel...I don't know man just please come find us. Please Dylan please come find us. It's scary here and we can't.....” he trailed off

“Ethan!” he called thrice

“Somone is coming...I hear three footsteps...they are coming! I don't....” the line went dead, cutting his sentence short.

“Ethan!!! Ethan!!” he called but no response.

“s**t!"