The man from the alley has officially entered my life. The time he beat up Daddy wasn't remarkable. Not that he hurt Daddy but that he was an unknown factor. Daddy got beat up at least once in every town. An upset parent or brother or uncle of on of my dead friends caught my one parent unawares and hit him thinking he was sending a message. What message? That it's okay to hurt others but not kill them. How about we do neither?
The second time I saw the man I swear he was following me. My throat clogs up. What if he was and I led him to my home?
"What's wrong?" Georgie asks from the comfort of her bed. I tucked her in like I imagine a mother might and stood at the light switch.
"Nothing," I lie again. I'm getting too good at lying. "If you need anything, please hesitate to ask."
She chuckles then rolls over. It's the same thing we always say to each other.
The third time I saw the man he threw someone into the path of a train. Three other people have died in similar ways in the last month. I think I've found a serial killer and it's not me.
Now what? I go to my room and shut the door. Dad's truck rumbles up the driveway. I can't talk to him tonight. The lies are too slippery and the truth about Georgie might come out.
I take out FINK and hold him close, trying to think what to do now. I can't go to the police. I have my own file and curious deaths follow me around so I'd be suspect #1. I can't tell Dad because then he would worry. And he'd make us move. Which would be fine if it meant getting Georgie away from Danny. Monica will freak if I tell her. The whole alley scene was too much for her and her sheltered ways.
I open FINK. He is the one person I can tell. No one will read this. My family knows it's off limits. My White Coat Doctor said she wouldn't read it. There is no one else in my life to share this burden with.
I set my pen to paper and write of the day and the three times I've seen The Man. I wonder if he's followed us around? Who is this man? Why is he targeting us? Is he the one who has been killing my friends? I bite the end of my pen. That thought is plain stupid. But I have to admit, The Man does look familiar. I add a few more details of him, like the snake tatoo wrapped around his right arm and his thinning hair and waistline.
When I'm done writing I understand what I have to do. Stop the serial killer myself.
The second time I saw the man I swear he was following me. My throat clogs up. What if he was and I led him to my home?
"What's wrong?" Georgie asks from the comfort of her bed. I tucked her in like I imagine a mother might and stood at the light switch.
"Nothing," I lie again. I'm getting too good at lying. "If you need anything, please hesitate to ask."
She chuckles then rolls over. It's the same thing we always say to each other.
The third time I saw the man he threw someone into the path of a train. Three other people have died in similar ways in the last month. I think I've found a serial killer and it's not me.
Now what? I go to my room and shut the door. Dad's truck rumbles up the driveway. I can't talk to him tonight. The lies are too slippery and the truth about Georgie might come out.
I take out FINK and hold him close, trying to think what to do now. I can't go to the police. I have my own file and curious deaths follow me around so I'd be suspect #1. I can't tell Dad because then he would worry. And he'd make us move. Which would be fine if it meant getting Georgie away from Danny. Monica will freak if I tell her. The whole alley scene was too much for her and her sheltered ways.
I open FINK. He is the one person I can tell. No one will read this. My family knows it's off limits. My White Coat Doctor said she wouldn't read it. There is no one else in my life to share this burden with.
I set my pen to paper and write of the day and the three times I've seen The Man. I wonder if he's followed us around? Who is this man? Why is he targeting us? Is he the one who has been killing my friends? I bite the end of my pen. That thought is plain stupid. But I have to admit, The Man does look familiar. I add a few more details of him, like the snake tatoo wrapped around his right arm and his thinning hair and waistline.
When I'm done writing I understand what I have to do. Stop the serial killer myself.
