The Last To Know

Chapter One

Every single morning my mom is screaming my name up the stairs. “Anthea! It’s late! Let’s go!”

Over and over as if I can’t hear the first time she says it. This morning however, there wasn’t any screams, not once. I hurry out of bed, something must be wrong if I don’t hear her calling out for me.

When I get downstairs her and dad are both silently sitting in front of the tv watching the news.

“What’s going on guys?”

They both turn to look at me, my dad reaching for the control as fast as he can and turning of the TV.

“Sweetheart, we didn’t hear you come downstairs”

“Okayyy weird much, was that the news? What’s going on you guys never watch them?”

They look at each other contemplating telling me. My mom shakes her head no but my dad says yes.

“Come on guys just tell me” I say walking over to the couch.

“Your aunt Jen texted me to turn on the news because something happened very close to your school.” My mom says hesitantly

My dad chimes in, “ There’s been a murder at that fast food place by your school.”

“WHAT!? Like an actual murder?! Turn on the TV I want to see.”

Again they turn to each other, talking only with looks. They always do that when they want to talk around me without letting me know what it is they say. I grow impatient and reach for the remote to turn it on myself. They definitely think I’ll get scared, they still treat me like a child.

“I’ll be fine I can watch it, I won’t get scared.I watch crime documentaries all the time.”

They look at me and then at each other and then back at me.

“Alright fine but if you get scared turn it off.”

“ yes mom”

We all sit together watching as the news show the reporters at the scene. There’s about 6 police cars, the corner, yellow tape everywhere. I’ve seen this on shows and movies but it never felt real. I never thought it’d happen here, that I’d see it so close to home.

The reporter is giving the details they have. “A young man was found deceased early this morning, the police are treating this as a homicide. They have yet to find any leads.”

They pan over to the body being carried out of the crime scene

“If you have any information please contact your local police department

.”

A picture of the guy appears on screen , I gasp, I’ve seen that guy. He was the one who took my order yesterday, he was being creepy. I felt so uncomfortable, I could feel his eyes looking me up and down. That was the only time I had seen him working there but I hoped he got fired so that we didn’t have to see him again, and now there he is, his picture on the screen. My mom takes the control from me and turns off the TV.

“That poor boy, and his family, may God give them strength.”

I shake my head in agreement, it sucks, he was weird and creepy but I don’t think he deserved to be murdered.

I get up from the couch and head upstairs, I’m late for school already and with all the police who knows how late I’ll get there.

Our usual route to school is packed, so much traffic. As we approach the street by the RJ’s Burgers we see cones and police closing off the street. People trying to get close enough to get a glance of the scene.

The corner was still there, collecting evidence I’m guessing. A police officer, whom I presume is the chief, is talking to the reporters.

*Ding* The notification scares me and I jump a little.

Did you see the news? About what happened at RJ’s?

It’s my best friend, Lucy, she was with me yesterday at RJ’s. We both got a weird feeling from that guy. We thought about saying something to his manager but decided we didn’t want to be those people so we let it go instead.

Yeah I saw, i can’t believe it’s real.

I know, I mean he was a creep.

Well yeah I know but he didn’t deserve that.

Hmm maybe not but maybe he did.

Okay then crazy, see you at school

Love you.

Love you too byee

She can be so insensitive sometimes but I love her regardless. We met when we were in elementary, I was being bullied by some girls and Lucy stepped in. As soon as they saw her they ran away and never bothered me again, we’ve been best friends ever since.

She’s never afraid to speak her mind and I won’t change that, I do however, remind her that she needs to be more mindful about what she says.

We finally reach the school, my mom drops me off at the corner though, she doesn’t want to get stuck in traffic again.

As soon as I walk into school I hear everyone talking about the murder. Everyone coming up with their own crazy theories, trying to solve the crime.

I hear some saying it’s probably the first of many to come, that we might have a serial killer right here in Eterdale.

I doubt that’s the case though, I mean nothing interesting ever happens here, we don’t even get tourist. The town is too small and there isn’t much to do here anyway, we only have one motel.

Basically everyone knows each other so if there were to be a serial killer it would definitely be someone we know.

But I can’t think of a single person who would be capable of this, the biggest crime that’s ever happened here is my neighbors husband Mr. Harrelson getting a DUI on New Years Eve last year.