In Memory of Reed Fray

Twelve

Skylar loved his brother dearly, even if he never really said it to Reed, he showed it in ways he knew how. But not every sibling relationship was perfect. There were times when they were young that he wanted to strangle Reed for being such a good kid. He always had told about whatever the three of them, Austin included, did and they would get in so much trouble. Austin brushed it off but Skylar wasn’t one to let go of a grudge. But it was almost impossible to stay mad at Reed. He would pester you for forgiveness and do things, crazy, funny things, that you would forget about why you were mad at him.

But now Reed wasn’t here to do those crazy things that would get Skylar off of getting mad at him. And he wasn’t here for Skylar to strangle too. Skylar had been scouring pages of yearbooks for a week to look for Elena Evans. Or maybe someone who looked exactly like Elena, as Reed had once mentioned in his journal. But he wasn’t as lucky as Reed had been. It’s been days since he started his search and no such luck in finding any girl who went to Benjamin High who looked like Viola in a black and white picture.

“It’s creepy to see you here and searching those yearbooks,” Mrs. Dornan said and Skylar jumped from the sound of her voice. It had been so quiet in the library and school had just been out.

He composed himself and turned to the old lady. She wasn’t exactly that old, he could guess that she was in her early sixties and savoring the life she’s leading before she turns in her retirement papers that she kept on postponing. Actually, she looked so much like Skylar’s Nana Fray that it seemed impossible for him to be rude at her. Nana Fray used to whack his head sideways if he as much as rolled his eyes at her comments. There was no telling what Mrs. Dornan would do if he was rude to her.

“Why is that?”

She shrugged and sat in front of him. Age was already evident in her features but her eyes were still as warm and bright as any young adult, “Your brother. He spent much time here too, before he passed.”

Skylar felt his heart contract. It still didn’t settle with him that Reed was really gone and hearing it from other people, people he barely knew, hurt all the more, “Did you know what he was looking for in particular?”

“Well, he didn’t start with the yearbooks. He’d asked me if there were any student files here. I told him he was stupid because those files were kept in the office,” she chuckled and then looked at Skylar, “I know the differences between you Fray twins. One is the bad boy and the other is the boy-next-door. At that time, I thought he was the bad one. What, with how he dressed himself up.”

“What happened next?” It wasn’t that Skylar was impatient. But he needed to know what Reed started looking for. He never mentioned it in his journal. See, the annoying thing about Reed was that even if he kept a journal to put all his thoughts in, he leaves details. And unfortunately, they were the important ones.

“He apologized and told me that he just wanted to know about Viola Rose. He said that there was something about her that irked him. And so I told him that I found her creepy too. Because she looked exactly like an old student here.”

Skylar looked at her, “Does she?”

A smile crept on her face, “Elena Morgan. Brown hair, blue eyes, the only difference they seem to possess is Viola’s a few inches taller.”

Skylar furrowed his eyebrows, “Could you tell me more about her?”

A fond smile stayed on her lips, “Elena, she was the girl everyone adored. Prom queen, president of the student council, captain of the cheerleading squad. She was voted nicest student in school. A wonderful personality for such a beautiful face. It seemed impossible for someone as perfect as her to exist.”

He wondered how he could connect Viola to Elena. The only plausible connection was that Elena had the same name as the killer calls Viola so maybe Elena Morgan was her Mom. But then again, with how Mrs. Dornan describes Elena, Viola being her daughter seemed unlikely, “So they just look alike?”

Mrs. Dornan paused for a moment and look at Skylar amused, “You certainly don’t know Viola. Honestly, I think she’s a reincarnate of Elena.”

“What do you mean?”

“That Viola Rose, students here doesn’t give her a chance. She’s amazing and you and I both know your brother saw it too.”

Skylar stayed quiet for a moment. He knew that Reed had been attracted to her from the beginning, and the cloud of mysteriousness only added to his attraction. But Skylar couldn’t really see how Viola Rose could be as great as the next girl. Maybe it’s because every time he sees her, he’s reminded of his last moments with his brother.

“Ah, here it is, Elena Morgan,” Mrs. Dornan said with a fond grin, “See, they look exactly alike.”

Skylar stared at the black and white page. A young woman, probably their age, had a radiant smile on her stunning face. Her hair was long and luscious, probably like ones you see in shampoo bottles and advertisements and her eyes shone with youth and happiness. Skylar could see the resemblance, the same facial features and everything. Elena Morgan was beautiful, there was no doubt about it.

“She’s beautiful,” Skylar whispered, unable to stop himself.

He looked up at Mrs. Dornan and she had a knowing smile, “That, she is. There were so many guys after her. The last I heard of her, she was getting married to Paul Evans.”

“Paul Evans?” Skylar asked, “He went to school here too?”

“Oh, of course. He was a jock but a smart one. He’s like your brother actually. Black hair and those dreamy blue eyes, everyone loved him and Elena together. It was like a love story written in fairy tale.”

Skylar furrowed his eyebrows. Viola’s parents went to school here. Elena Morgan was gorgeous and Mrs. Dornan said that there were so many guys after her. Could it be possible? Was the killer an alumnus of the very institute that Skylar was in? Would it be possible to figure out who he was this instant?

“Were there,” Skylar paused, his forehead creased, “any guys who were totally head over heels in love with Elena and they couldn’t take a hint?”

He knew his question was blunt but he didn’t know how to be subtle in a moment like this. But Mrs. Dornan didn’t seem to mind, “Oh there were guys who trailed after her like lost puppies. There were plenty who wouldn’t take a hint. Elliot had to threaten them to stay away.”

“Elliot?” Skylar repeated, getting confused.

Mrs. Dornan was about to explain when David popped out of nowhere. His blond hair was disheveled and he looked like he just ran a marathon, “Skylar! I didn’t think I’d see you here.”

He was breathless and his face was tinged with red. His brown eyes seemed to be darting everywhere and he usually just did that when he was trying to think of what to do, “I was just looking for something. What brings you here?”

“I was looking for something too!” David replied, nodding with too much enthusiasm. But then checked his watch, “But isn’t the library supposed to be closed at this time?”

“Oh!” Mrs. Dornan said and check her watch, “Ah, the cons of old age. I was going to tell you I was closing but I ended up chit-chatting.”

“It’s okay, Mrs. Dornan,” Skylar said, mentally cursing David for his bad timing, “I’ll come back here tomorrow.”

He bid goodbye and headed to the hallway of his school. David was by his side and he was a bit more himself now though he was alert. Skylar could tell by his stance, “Dude, what the hell is wrong with you?”

His head snapped to Skylar and he shrugged, “Kind of pranked John Louis, but it kind of backfired.”

Skylar didn’t respond. He knew why David was too alert. John Louis wasn’t the type of guy to mess with but when you do, you were in for a load of fun. He’s had his fair share of pranking the guy with David and it was only then that he realized that the two of them haven’t hung out for a while.

He was about to comment on that when he saw a small figure running towards him at top speed. And you know what they say about speed and velocity, the force of impact would be too great which was why he was knocked out when Tori collided into him. He groaned and tried to move underneath her and it was a good thing she stood right back up.

“Skylar!”

“Hell, Tori!” he muttered, glaring at her but his gaze softened when he noticed the panic in her eyes, “Is something wrong?”

“It’s T-Toby,” she stuttered and she looked like she was about to cry.

Skylar held her by her arms, “Breath, Tori.”

She inhaled and exhaled loudly and then it was her turn to grip his arms, “We have to help him.”

And then she sprinted again and Skylar stared right after her. She stopped in the middle and turned to him, “What the hell, Skylar?! We have to get to him before it’s too late!”

Her words seemed to bring him back to the world and he sprinted right after her, forgetting all about his best friend beside him. He followed her to the back of the school, the one where no one bothers to go to nowadays. Even the stoners don’t bother to go there. He stopped abruptly when he saw Tori kneeling over an almost lifeless body.

Images of Reed’s lifeless body came to his mind. The pale pallor of his skin, his brown hair matted with his own blood, the bruised lips, and the mutilated neck. The pain rushed back and he felt his heart inflate and then burst. He couldn’t move, he seemed so rooted in his spot.

She turned and her brown eyes met his, “He still has a pulse. We can still save him. Help me.”

When he didn’t move, she stood up, realizing why he froze. She held up her hand to his cheek and caress it softly and he couldn’t help but lean to her touch, “Ignore the memories. Fight through pain, Sky. We can’t afford to lose an innocent life.”

She grabbed his hand and led him to Toby and together, they got him up and dragged him to her car. He got in the driver’s seat and she settled in the passenger and for a moment, he was frozen again by the pain. When she grabbed his hand and squeezed it, he looked at her briefly. She gave him a small nod and he drove off, as quickly as he possibly could, as far as the speedometer could.

When they arrived, Tori immediately shouted for help and a team of nurses rushed into their car and placed Toby in a stretcher, shouting words Skylar could barely comprehend. The moment the doors of the ER closed, he sunk down on the floor, the pain too much to bear. It was ironic how a moment earlier, he was happy because the possibility of bringing justice to Reed was feasible but now, the pain and sadness he felt was too much to bear. It was suffocating him.

Skylar and Tori watched as the doors of the ER opened and a stretcher and a bunch of nurses scrambled out. He realized it was Toby and both of them immediately followed. They watched as they vanished into the doors of the OR and both of them sunk into the chairs in the waiting room. Tori excused herself to call Viola and to inform Toby’s family once his belongings were given to them.

Skylar was dumbfounded as he waited; he didn’t even realize that Tori had come back. She handed him a cup of coffee and settled beside him again. He ignored the steaming cup in his hand, setting it on the empty seat beside him and looked at her. When she looked back at him, it took that one look for her to crumble and he reflexively wrapped her in his arms.

“I-I saw him. H-he, I-I thought he was dead!” she sobbed and he closed his eyes, hugging her tight, not trusting himself to speak.

They stayed like that for a while as her sobs subsided and her breathing slowly evened. Eventually, she fell asleep in his arms. He maneuvered her to lie on his lap and he took the coffee he had set aside. He winced as it slid down his throat; it was cold and didn’t taste good. Finishing it in a gulp, he sighed and played with Tori’s hair.

Everyone within range of Viola was in danger, even him. But what happened to Toby wasn’t enough for the message to be taken by him by heart. The killer was so close, he could almost smell him. He just needed to be smart enough. He will find justice for his brother.