Evil Within

CHAPTER 28

The morning air carried a chill that seeped through Luna's apartment as she sat on the edge of her bed, staring blankly at her phone. It had been a restless night, and the shadows of her thoughts lingered heavily. When Sophia Green’s name flashed on her screen, she hesitated before picking up.

“Luna, we need to meet,” Sophia’s voice came through, steady but urgent.

Luna bit her lip, glancing toward the window where the winter sun peeked through the curtains. “I can’t,” she said quickly.

“Luna, this is important. I think you can help—”

“No, Sophia,” Luna interrupted, her voice trembling. “I can’t meet you right now. Lucas called earlier. He’s coming over.”

There was a pause on the line before Sophia responded, her tone softening. “I understand. Be careful, Luna. And remember, I’m here if you need me.”

The call ended, leaving Luna to wrestle with her fears. Lucas was always protective, but his unannounced visits were becoming a source of anxiety. If he discovered her involvement with Sophia and the case, it would only make things worse.

A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. She opened it to find Lucas standing there, his expression a mix of concern and frustration.

“Lucas,” Luna said, stepping aside to let him in. “I wasn’t expecting you so early.”

He walked in, his sharp eyes scanning the room as though searching for something out of place. “I needed to see you. Are you okay?”

Luna sighed, crossing her arms. “I’m fine, Lucas. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Because this town isn’t safe,” he replied, his tone firm. “The college is shut down, and there’s a killer out there. I can’t leave you alone here.”

“I’m not a child, Lucas,” Luna snapped, her frustration boiling over. “I’ve been doing everything you’ve asked me to. Staying home, avoiding unnecessary risks—everything. But I’m not leaving just because you think I can’t take care of myself.”

Lucas frowned, his hands resting on his hips. “This isn’t about control, Luna. I’m trying to protect you.”

“And what about what I want?” she shot back, her voice rising. “I want to stay here. I have my reasons, and I’m not leaving just because you say so.”

Lucas stared at her, his jaw tightening. He could see the determination in her eyes, the fire that wouldn’t be extinguished. Finally, he sighed, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

“Fine,” he said quietly. “Stay. But don’t blame me if something happens to you.”

Luna looked away, her chest tightening with guilt and anger. She didn’t want to push him away, but she couldn’t let him dictate her life.

“I’ll be fine, Lucas,” she said, her voice softer now. “I promise.”

He gave her a long look before nodding and turning to leave. “Take care of yourself, Luna,” he said before walking out the door.

As Lucas drove away from Luna’s apartment, his frustration lingered. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, that Luna wasn’t telling him everything.

He found himself heading toward Carla’s house, hoping to get some answers. When he knocked on the door, it wasn’t Carla who answered but her mother, a woman with a stern expression and a sharp gaze.

“Lucas,” she said, her tone curt. “What do you want?”

“I need to speak with Carla,” he replied, trying to keep his voice steady.

“She’s not here,” her mother said firmly, stepping out onto the porch. “And even if she were, I wouldn’t let you see her.”

Lucas frowned, taken aback. “Why not? I just want to talk—”

“Talk?” Carla’s mother interrupted, her voice rising. “Last time you came here, I heard everything. You think I don’t know what you were pressing her about? My daughter has her own life, and I won’t let you drag her into whatever nonsense you’re dealing with.”

Lucas opened his mouth to respond but found himself at a loss for words. Carla’s mother’s protective stance was unyielding, her glare making it clear that he wasn’t welcome.

“Stay away from her, Lucas,” she said, her voice final. “And focus on your own sister. She needs you more than you realize.”

With that, she stepped back inside and shut the door, leaving Lucas standing on the porch.

He stood there for a moment, her words echoing in his mind. Carla wasn’t the problem, and neither was Luna. But he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something bigger was at play—something he was being kept in the dark about.

As he walked back to his car, Lucas resolved to find out what was going on. Luna might not trust him enough to share everything, but he wasn’t about to give up. Not when it came to protecting the people he cared about.

The curfew had draped the town in an eerie silence, punctuated only by the occasional hum of a passing car or the rustle of the winter breeze. Shops and public places shut their doors as soon as the sun dipped below the horizon, leaving the streets desolate. Safety was now a priority, and the town had taken no chances after the series of gruesome murders.

A lone policeman, Officer Greg Harper, was on patrol, driving through the empty streets. The town's stillness felt unnerving, the kind of silence that made one’s instincts bristle. But Greg shook off the unease. He’d been on the force long enough to know that fear was the enemy of vigilance.

He pulled into a drive-thru, craving a quick snack to break the monotony of the night. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead as he ordered a coffee and a glazed donut. Minutes later, he pulled up to the pickup window, thanked the server, and parked his car a few feet away to eat.

The warmth of the donut and the aroma of coffee offered a momentary comfort against the cold night. Greg leaned back in his seat, about to take a bite when he felt a sharp, searing pain in his neck.

His eyes widened in shock, his hand instinctively reaching for the source of the pain. As his fingers met the hilt of a blade, realization hit him like a freight train. Blood began to trickle down his neck, and his breathing grew labored.

Greg turned his head with immense effort, his vision blurring. Standing just outside his car window was a dark figure, cloaked in the shadows, their face obscured by a mask. Greg tried to grab his weapon, but his strength was fading fast.

A guttural grunt escaped his lips as he slumped forward, blood spilling from his mouth onto the dashboard.

The masked figure tilted their head, observing him with eerie calmness. With a swift motion, they opened the car door, dragging Greg’s lifeless body out and across the cold pavement.

Minutes later, another patrol car drove into the area. Officer Joanne Miller and her partner, rookie Officer Ethan Clarke, were conducting their rounds when they spotted Greg’s car parked at an odd angle near the drive-thru.

“That’s Harper’s car,” Joanne said, frowning as she pulled their vehicle closer.

“Maybe he’s taking a break,” Ethan suggested, though the unease in his voice was palpable.

Joanne parked and stepped out, her flashlight cutting through the darkness. “Greg?” she called out, but there was no response.

As she approached the car, her heart sank. The driver’s seat was empty, but blood smeared the dashboard and the ground below.

“Ethan,” she called urgently.

Ethan joined her, his flashlight sweeping the area. The two followed the blood trail, which led toward the telephone booth near the edge of the lot.

When Joanne’s light fell on the booth, her breath caught in her throat. There, hanging grotesquely from the telephone cord, was Greg’s lifeless body. His head lolled unnaturally to one side, blood staining his uniform and dripping onto the ground below.

“Oh my God,” Ethan whispered, stumbling back in horror.

Joanne’s training kicked in as she pulled out her radio, her voice steady but filled with urgency. “Dispatch, we’ve got an officer down. Requesting immediate backup at the drive-thru on Main Street.”

The two officers stood frozen for a moment, staring at the macabre scene. The killer had struck again, but this time, they had taken one of their own.

The chilling message was clear: no one in the town was safe—not even those sworn to protect it.