Page 6 of Strangled
Over time, the gossip eventually dissipated, but the people’s fear of something beyond the dead residing here never did.
Rumor circled around town that it was their “deranged son”, who no one even knew existed until after their bodies were discovered.
The Mariuses weren’t exactly the most social people, but when it was determined they had a child, it was a complete shock.
After his existence was unearthed, he soon became a prime suspect as he was nowhere to be found around the assumed time of the murder. They based most of the vague information theycouldobtain, like time of death, off of decomposition, according to the medical examiner.
Their son never appeared again.
I think he was killed as well, only his body was never discovered like his parents. But most people around here think he went ballistic, then disappeared out of fear of getting caught.
The rumor of their son being guilty most likely spread because people crave an explanation for an unexplainable horrific event—even if it meant dragging a tragically orphaned child through the mud. It doesn’t help that the police didn’t—and still don’t—have a single lead.
It quickly became a cold case and remains one to this day.
“What thefuck?!” Iris’s high-pitched shriek pulls me from my contemplation. I blink a few times and focus back on the… situation.
Quite frankly, it looks like a fucking slasher film took place in this room. Years’ old blood is splattered across the decaying white walls. There’s so much of it absorbed into the walls and the floor, they must have bled to death quickly.
You can visibly see where both bodies were when they were found. Two black spots are imprinted into the floor, the wood rotten with mold and whatever else. The smell of death and decay is faint, barely existent, but still obvious it’s not a natural scent.
Well, I suppose deathisnatural, but this isnot.
“I’m going to be sick,” Iris retches behind me, her telltale footsteps thundering across the floor as she runs to the bathroom. Tearing my eyes away from the once gruesome—well, still very fucking gruesome scene in front of me—I take in Cade’s paralyzed expression.
“Cade,” I wrap my arm around their waist and hug them tighter, attempting to bring any semblance of comfort. They already have a costume on, the material silky against my fingers as I play with it.
“What are you even supposed to be,” I muse as I rub my hand back and forth along their hip, trying to distract them. Cade buries their face into my chest, a puff of hot breath soaking into my mesh shirt and warming my already too-hot flesh.
“Slenderman,” they mumble, and my brow quirks.
“In this?” I pinch the white spandex between my fingers and pull it taut before releasing it. It snaps back into place, and Cadence shoots me a glare.
“Well, I wasn’t fucking done getting ready.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Your sarcasm does not go unnoticed. I got a bit fucking distracted.” I fight a smile twitching on my lips. It’s always a rush when I’m able to pull Cade out of their worry-filled mind. It’s just a testament to how deep our relationship is.
“Don’t even ask me why I decided to wander. Because evenIdon’t know the answer.”
I laugh, not the least bit surprised.
“Anddd clearly you pulled me out of my panic. Again.” Cade sighs. “Thanks, Lyke.”
“Eh,” I huff and squeeze them before letting go. Now that attention has been brought to our physical connection, it feels weird now.
They turn their back to the room, eyeing me for a second before taking a few steps. “What are you going to do about it?” they ask, trepidation creeping into their tone.
“I don’t know.” I shrug, my eyes falling back to the dated massacre before me. Gooseflesh prickles at the back of my neck once more as murder scenarios run through my mind. I rub my hand back and forth over my buzzed head as I contemplate what to do. There’s not much Icando—at least for right now.
“Nothing for now,” I tell them, tearing my eyes away from the room with shocking difficulty.
“Ly—”
“Go finish getting ready. I’ll lock the door so no one can come in here, and I’ll call first thing in the morning to get the room cleaned.” Cadence raises their brow, their face full of disbelief, which, I can’t blame them. I’m probably full of shit, but…
“I’ll even call a fucking priest to cleanse the room and rid it of demons or whatever the fuck they do if that’ll appease you,” I deadpan, and Cade rolls their eyes.
