Page 5 of Traithorn

Mortem

It’s time for Death

My breath hitches, a pulse of panic flooding me, like a flutter of something deep and dark stirring within. The snow falls heavier, and the world grows dimmer. The wind whispers a message that sends shivers down my spine, and I nearly jump again as my phone dings in my hand.

CASPER

Get here. Now.

The command is clear, and I cast one last glance at the surroundings before hurrying out of the graveyard.

“Darling…”the wind whispers, sounding all too feminine and real for my heart to be able to handle, and I want to scream at my mind to stop playing fucking tricks on me.

A memory pushes to the forefront of my mind.

“Oh, my darling, you should have seen the look on your face!” the red-haired girl cackles, her hips swinging sexily as she approaches me where I’m lying on the floor, covered in crimson and the corpses before me. A sight so horrific, it looks like a bloodbath. “Such a beautiful thing, don’t you think?” She turns to the man beside her, sizing me up like a predator would a prey.

“So beautiful, indeed.”

My heart aches at the memory, and I quickly stand to my feet, hurrying toward the safety of my car. I have to remind myself multiple times that they’re not here. They can’t fucking hurt meor anyone else anymore, yet they haunt my mind as much as they wanted my soul when they were out in the world.

I spot my car with the help of moonlight and settle into it, immediately locking the doors. The headlights cast the front of the car in an ominous hue, with the trees casting shadows, and I almost expect to see someone standing there.

I turn the key in the ignition and rev the engine, hurrying away from the damned graveyard I never should have visited. Especially not after my parents were brutally murdered by the two people I put in jail.

—————

“WHAT’S THE MATTER?” Iask, entering the police station while dragging the jacket closer around my body. The brutal cold from the outside leaves my body rigid, my cheeks stinging from the wind’s icy slap, and a sharp ache spreads through my frozen ears.

Pushing through crowds of worried civilians and all-too-curious journalists, I’m left panting by the time I’m inside the building. Casper’s searing eyes meet mine at the door, quickly locking it to prevent the swarm of people.

“Why did this happen? Vexglade hasn’t had a single murder in years!”

The voice of a journalist filters through the door, loud and jarring. Casper pushes me aside, away from all the commotion.

My fists are clenched, my heart aching from those words.

“Hasn’t had a single murder in years…”

The last time was my parents.

I swallow the lump in my throat, attempting to appear unaffected. Casper cannot know what happened all those years ago. Not the truth, at least.

Casper’s jaw tightens with palpable annoyance. “What took you so fucking long?”

A snap of irritation surges through me, but I take a deep breath, not wanting to lash out at him. It would only give him more ammunition to start a fight with me, one I don’t have the energy for right now.

“Those journalists. I’m sorry,” I apologize, swallowing the words down after uttering them.

He huffs like an immature little child before leading me to his office at the rear of the station. His green eyes are overshadowed by the circles underlining his skin, exhaustion wearing heavy on him, and I feel bad for feeling so mad at his attitude.

Of course, he’s mad.

This is the first murder in years.

It’s shocked the entire town.

“What is it, baby?” I ask in a kinder tone, one I know he appreciates.

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