Page 13 of Silent Trail

Seizing the opportunity, Reagan slipped away from the officer's penetrating gaze, disappearing into the shadows of a quiet hallway.

The fluorescent lights above flickered, casting an eerie glow on the linoleum floors as Reagan's footsteps echoed softly. Each step was filled with a mix of terror and exhilaration. This was a dangerous game, a dance on the knife's edge between freedom and capture.

And Reagan was loving every moment of it.

"Can you believe what happened?" a hushed voice whispered, the voice slipping out through a cracked door and momentarily distracting Reagan.

Reagan paused, curiosity piqued, and pressed against the cool wall, straining to catch every word of the conversation unfolding behind the closed door.

"Kristen didn't deserve this. She was so nice to everyone," the first voice continued, choking back a sob.

"Who could have done such a thing?" the second voice asked, her tone laced with disbelief and horror.

Reagan's lips curled into a small, satisfied smile. Fear was spreading like wildfire, just as Reagan had hoped, and the world would soon understand the consequences of Kristen Lee's actions. It was only a matter of time before someone made the connection.

And if they didn't—well, then Reagan would just have to make the connection for them. In the depths of Reagan's soul, a dark, insidious desire burned—the desire to be caught, to make the world understand the reasons that had led to such desperate measures. But for now, Reagan would remain a shadow, unseen and unheard, weaving an intricate web of fear and suspense.

And Kristen Lee and Jane Johnson would not be the only people caught in that web.

Continuing down the hallway, Reagan headed toward an exit and stepped out into the cool morning. The air was redolent with the scent of damp leaves and freshly cut grass. Police officers milled about, their movements slow and methodical, but Reagan could sense the lack of progress in the investigation. Reagan felt a pang of surprise, followed by a surge of confidence.

A hushed voice caught Reagan's attention. "It just doesn't make any sense."

A group of female students stood nearby, their faces pale and somber, engaged in a whispered conversation. Reagan edged closer, straining to hear their words while maintaining a casual demeanor.

"Who do you think is next?" another asked, her eyes darting nervously around the group.

Reagan's heart raced at the realization that this plan was working better than anticipated. Fear had taken root, and the seeds of anxiety were sprouting like weeds. Reagan couldn't help but feel a grim satisfaction at the thought.

"Should we talk to the police?" asked a tall girl with dark hair, her brow furrowed in concern.

"About what?" a blonde retorted, her arms crossed defensively over her chest. "We don't know anything, so what would be the point?"

"But we knew Kristen," the tall girl replied, her tone uncertain. "Maybe we know something important without knowing what it is."

Reagan listened to the exchange, drawn by the tall girl's sense of duty. Why not toy with them? Maybe feed them a little misinformation? It would be so satisfying, seeing their fear up close.

In the end, however, caution prevailed over temptation. Reagan knew that getting too involved would only increase the chances of being caught.

Then, as the group of female students started moving together, Reagan's eyes locked onto one girl in particular. She was petite with auburn hair and a confident stride that screamed arrogance. Reagan's heart clenched with bitterness.

Time to face the music, Reagan thought, pushing off from the wall and following the group. Reagan trailed like a shadow, maintaining enough distance to avoid arousing suspicion but sticking close enough that there was no fear of losing them.

"Hey, Sophie!" a voice called out, causing Reagan to tense momentarily. A lanky guy with glasses approached the auburn-haired girl, offering her a timid smile. "Ready for that study session we talked about?"

"Sure, Todd," she replied, returning the smile with a hint of...what...seduction? As they walked away together, Reagan couldn't help but notice the way Sophie's hand lingered on Todd's arm just a moment too long, a calculated gesture designed to manipulate the unsuspecting boy.

Playing with people's emotions like they're toys, Reagan thought angrily. You won't get away with it for long.

The pair entered a building, and Reagan followed suit, taking care to blend in with the throngs of students traversing the halls.

"Let's head to the library," Sophie suggested as she guided Todd down a corridor. "That's where you're supposed to 'study,' right?" Her eyes twinkled.

Todd nodded, casting an adoring glance in her direction. "Oh, yes," he answered playfully. "I've done plenty of 'studying' in the library."

Pathetic, Reagan thought with disdain, watching the interaction without staring directly at them. A girl's just been murdered, and all these two can think about is fooling around. Sophie's even worse than I thought.

The scent of old books and fresh ink wafted through the air, mingling with the murmurs of students exchanging idle gossip. The library loomed just ahead, an imposing structure that seemed to watch them with an air of silent judgment.

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