MaRkeD

chapter 2

I sighed, as I drank my coffee, reading the headlines on the news.

A girl found dead at the abandoned field. 8 years old. The police are looking into the matter for further information.

"Looking into the matter" my ass.

Same way they've been looking into the previous cases for two weeks now huh?

"Well so far, we've not been able to identify the young girl. It seems she was among those who lived on the outskirts. But we are pushing further, and soon we'll get to the bottom of this. Thank you." the inspector was saying.

Pushing further huh??

Last week it was the pizza boy, they said it was a street fight. Which was definitely not true. But seemed a reasonable explanation, just because he had tattoos?! Crazy people,the lots of them!

Before that it was the pretty cashier at the mall. The only genuine person in this sick town. Sweet, nice, happy. She was found dead in her bathroom floor naked, one morning.

And guess what the police did? That's right! They tagged it "accident" which sounded reasonable but may not have been true.

This f*****g world! and stupid people! I thought to myself as I grabbed my keys and left the house.

I kept a job at the café. And apart from the fact that it kept me busy, and provided steady income, not enough but steady.

It was the "gossip-hive" of the town. Every single information went through there, from the lace underwear christine wore yesterday to the recent color of mrs Linda's faeces. All of it.

It was just down the road, so I always walked it. It gave me the liberty of not having to worry about a car.

I arrived a little late, but everyone was too busy talking about what "actually" happened to the dead girl to notice.

I scoffed. Bunch of idiots analysing things that didn't even happen.

"Could it be a serial killer? Do I have to finally leave this town?" Anna almost bumped into me as she shrieked.

"Jeez, Anna watch it!"

"Did you hear the news today?" She continued, ignoring me.

" If I didn't, stepping in here already filled me in" I rolled my eyes.

She giggled.

" The police are saying she may have died of hunger, She looked really skinny." Anna was studying my expression.

"Listen anna, i don't know about that but I have work to do. And I suppose you do too." I said slipping on my apron.

"You are not even bothered, are you?"

"Why should I be?" I replied, maintaining my poker expression.

"I don't know? To show you care at least".

"It won't change anything. Get to work anna"

I moved away from her. I didn't like the way she was studying my expression like she was trying to figure me out.

I couldn't focus at work. Old joey's words wouldn't leave my head.

I itched so badd to talk to someone, but mother was gone and I hate paul now. He didn't believe me. But I had no one else.

I went outside the back during lunch break to have some isolatry peace, but Natalie already beat me to it. She was out there smoking a cigarette, staring into space.

Natalie was the town's regular weirdo. People had said she had an intimidating aura, and that's why everyone avoided her..

But in reality, she was just a different breed from the rest of them. Kept to herself and never got involved.

Quite alright, at times she gave off pretty creepy vibes. But that's prolly only because everyone here is always so nosy and involving...

I went through the whole day with a half mind. Half a mind to call Paul and just talk. Half mind to just disappear from this place or from the planet (if possible)

But if I left here, there was nowhere else to go. I let out a big sigh as i jammed my dressing locker, done for the day.

"Hey" her breath fanned my neck.

I jumped and turned around to find natalie standing so close. I hadn't heard her coming.

"Sorry. Mind if I walk with you?" Her voice was terribly low, i had to strain to hear it.

"Suree."

"So what do you think?" She started after a really long pause.

"About what?" I stared at her, surprised the question was actually for me.

She gave me a really weird look. It was a very quick glance but i caught it.

"About the little girl this morning."

" Ohhh, well everyone has a lot to think about that. But i do have my suspicions.

"Okay? So what are your suspicions?" She replied with a little stress on the last word and a half smile.

" I just think there's really more to it than they're letting off."

"They?" She turned to look at me

She really is smart.

"So what do you think?" I said with a smirk tactfully avoiding her question.

"Well...... I'm guessing this is your house" she said very indifferently.

I prolly stopped breathing and studied her for a second.

"How did you know that?" i replied struggling to hide the Panic laced in my voice.

" Because you stopped walking" she replied in the flattest tone without even looking at me.

I let out a sigh. Quietly wondering why I panicked.

" Ohhh .. so you were saying??"

"Yh, so see you tomorrow yeah?" she whispered and walked off with a smirk.

That brat!!

Of course i wasn't expecting her to actually tell me what she thinks but i couldn't help but laugh...

I was exhausted and didn't want think anymore about my life.

So i just lay down and thought about mum and Natalie, and for the first time in a long time i slept with a smile.

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