Death Has Come...



"Death has come to your little town, Sheriff. Now you can either ignore it, or you can help me to stop it." ''-Dr. Sam Loomis "Halloween" ''

Death Has Come... is the second episode of the horror series, The Sound of Fear, which was adapted from an original novel and later movie script written by JamesonOTP.

Episode Summary
The whole town is shaken by Candy's death and as the list of suspects grows, so does tensions. As suspiscions threaten to tear apart friendships and relationships, it becomes clear that this is a serial killer and that they can and will strike again.

When two more people end up dead, Larissa makes an offer to Mike to help him find the killer. But Billy and River both believe that the killer may be one of the four of them. Then, to really complicate matters, attention turns toward a mysterious freshman at Larissa's school who is harboring a deadly secret.

Meanwhile, a sleepover for Larissa, Billy, River, and Mike takes a turn for the very worst.

Characters Introduced

 * Evan James
 * Eddie White
 * Clare Hicks

Established Main Characters

 * Larissa Oliver (Created by JamesonOTP)
 * Billy Davenport (Created by JamesonOTP)
 * River Wahlzman (Created by ClevanOTP)
 * Jayden Eva (Created by CharyssaOTP)
 * Mike Saunders (Created by JamesonOTP)
 * Adrian Stark (Created by Camsay)

Soundtrack

 * 1) "Don't Fear The Reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult

Trivia

 * The episode is named after a Halloween quote from the character of Dr. Sam Loomis, played by veteran actor, Donald Pleasance. The title has been shorted from "Death Has Come To Our Little Town" because writer JamesonOTP felt that the title was too long. The shortened title idea came from his friend, Jackie aka CharyssaOTP, who created Jayden Eva and Clare Hicks.
 * Katie is a character originally from the book The Screams of Fear, which the story was based on, and the script adaptation, The Sound of Fear. In the original novel and movie, she was a friend of Larissa's, not her co-worker. In both the novel and movie, her last name was Compton. It has been confirmed that Compton is her surname in the series, though it's not mentioned in Pilot.

Episode Tagline
The Killer Is Among Them...

Episode
Jayden cleared her throat loudly. “Larissa?”

Larissa shook her head, trying to come to her senses. She just needed to say something, anything at this moment.

“Where were you?” Larissa asked.

“Checking up on me now?” Jayden asked, smiling.

“Where were you?” Larissa repeated.

Jayden looked taken aback. “I stepped out to make a phone call.”

“To make a phone call?” Larissa asked, gripping her own cell phone, tightly. “Was it to me, perhaps?”

Jayden looked confused. “No, I was calling this girl I met at a bar a couple nights ago. Her name was Clare.”

“Clare?” Larissa asked. “Funny, I’ve never heard of her.”

“I don’t like to talk about my personal life,” Jayden replied. “It’s a complicated story and I’m sure you’d rather not have to sit through it.”

“Tell me,” Larissa said.

Jayden sighed. “We had a one night stand, end of story. She lost her earring at my house. I finally found it this morning so I was trying to get in touch with her. But, she didn’t answer her phone.”

“Have you gotten any strange calls lately?” Larissa asked. “Any at all?”

“No,” Jayden said. “Not that I recall. Larissa, what has gotten into you? You don’t quite seem yourself.”

“It’s just this whole thing has me shaken. That’s all.”

Jayden nodded. “Maybe you just need to lay off the dark chocolate caramel almond cappuccinos for a while. You might be a little jittery because of those, huh?”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Larissa nodded, seeming distracted. “Yeah, perhaps.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Listen, I’m gonna head on home. You and Katie have this under control and call me if you need me. I’ve worked overtime and I just want some rest.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Larissa nodded. “You do that, Jayden. We have the store on lockdown.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Hopefully not a complete lockdown,” Jayden said with a laugh. “I’d rather we turn a profit tonight and that would be kind of hard to do if you quarantine the store. Anyway, take care, Larissa. Whatever’s got you upset, just don’t worry about it. Relax a little bit, okay? You’re way too young to start having gray hair from the worrying you’ve been doing.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Yeah, I guess,” Larissa said.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Jayden smiled. “See you the day after tomorrow.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Larissa sighed as she took a seat on the stool behind the counter, watching as Jayden exited the shop.

<p style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">____________________________________________________________

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Billy practically zoned out as he passed DVDs over the scanner, checking them back in. River stood across the room, restocking. Billy didn’t even noticed when the electronic bell sounded, signaling an entrance into the store.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Adrian Stark stood at the front desk, looming over Billy, who was seated at the desk. He cleared his throat.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Oh, sorry,” Billy said. “Can I help you?”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Poison Ivy: The Secret Society,” Adrian said. “Do you have it?”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Billy thought for a second. “I’m not sure. Let me check.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Adrian tapped his fingers as waited. Billy typed the name in the computer and scrolled down.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“We do, sir,” Billy said. “But it’s rented out to someone named Clare Hicks. It’s due back tomorrow.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Adrian nodded as he reached in his pocket and pulled out a business card. He handed it to Billy, who looked confused at first. He took it and looked it over.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“My card,” Adrian said. “Call me when it comes in.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Billy nodded. “Yes, sir. I can do that. Is there anything else I can help you with.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Adrian looked around for a moment before he shook his head. “No, Billy. That will be all. Thank you.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Billy looked down at his name badge and then back up at Adrian, who was headed out the door. Across the store, River was watching, intrigued. River put up the last movie in his hands and started toward Billy.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Who was that?” River asked. “Talk about major creep factor.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Billy glanced down at the card. “Adrian Stark. It appears he’s an architect.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Wow,” River said. “That’s pretty cool but seriously, that guy gave me the heebie jeebies.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“You’re not the only one,” Billy said, absentmindedly shoving the business card into his pants pocket.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“So,” River said, walking behind the counter. “We need to talk about what’s going on around here.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“What are you talking about?” Billy asked.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“The serial killer,” River replied.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Can we honestly call this a serial killer?” Billy asked. “Serial killers kill multiple people and so far the only victim is that Candy Moreau chick.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Think about it,” River said. “Do you think that a killer who drew inspiration from Scream would be a one-time killer? Why waste time studying the movie, developing a gimmick, and carrying it out if it’s gonna all fade into obscurity? The whole think reeks of a repeat offender.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Billy looked suspicious as he stared River in the eye. “You seem to be pretty sure of that, River. Something you’re not telling me?”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“You think it’s me,” River said.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“I never said that,” Billy answered.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“It’s all over your face, Billy.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Billy shrugged his shoulders. “All I’m saying is that I don’t know who it is. And as far as I know, you don’t either. But you sure act like you have everything figured out.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“I’ve watched a lot of horror movies,” River said. “After a while, you can start to figure it out. Like in Scream three, it was obvious that Roman was the killer. I never bought that he died. Never trust a character that dies off-screen. If you don’t see them die, then you should always believe that they’re still alive.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Billy laughed. “Are you fucking serious?”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">“What’s so funny, shitface?” River asked.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“You,” Billy answered. “They’re just movies.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“No,” River said. “They’re just movies until some psycho starts to copy them. Then, they’re game plans. Blue prints, if you will.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Billy’s smile quickly faded as he looked down at the DVD he was about to scan back in. John Carpenter’s Halloween.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Death has come to your little town, Sheriff,” Billy whispered to himself, thinking as he said it.

<p style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">____________________________________________________________

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Larissa sighed as she grabbed another cup of mint chocolate crème cappuccino.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“I am so tired and I have no idea why,” Larissa said.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Katie walked over to the desk and sat a couple books down. “How about you go on and head home? I can stay and close. I really need the hours because my roommate lost her job and I’m paying the rent by myself this month.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Larissa nodded. “You would be okay with that?”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Sure. I just really need the money so I’d be glad to cover the end of your shift.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Larissa smiled. “Thanks, Katie. Um, the keys are in the office and you know the drill. Guess I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon?”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Katie nodded. “Yep. See you then, Larissa. And really, thanks again.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Larissa smiled as she started to open the door. “Don’t mention it. Thanks for the extra sleep I’ll be getting.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Katie grabbed the books off the desk and started toward the back. She was interrupted by the ringing of the phone.

<p style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">____________________________________________________________

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Jayden sat down her green tea and walked to the door to answer it. She was shocked at who she saw standing there.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Clare?” Jayden asked, in disbelief.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Hello, Jayden,” Claire said as she walked in without a proper invitation inside. “I see that I missed a call from you. Pretty strange and random from a one-night-stand, don’t you think?”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“I found the earring that you lost,” Jayden said, picking the small diamond off the coffee table and handing it to Clare.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“So are you gonna keep making small talk all night or are you gonna ask me to join you for a cup?” Clare asked with a smile, pointing toward Jayden’s green tea.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Listen,” Jayden said, clasping her hands. “What happened, it was a one-time thing. If I wasn’t sure that your diamond earring was worth a small fortune, I would have never called you earlier today.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“I sense that you still want me,” Clare said, moving toward Jayden.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“No,” Jayden protested.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“I can see it in your eyes,” Clare whispered into Jayden’s ear.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Jayden gently pushed Clare away from her. “I don’t like you like that, Clare.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“You must be insane,” Clare said. “No one turns down Clare Hicks.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“I did,” Jayden said.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“You mark my words, Jayden Eva,” Clare said. “You will come crawling back. Wait and see. And I’ll be waiting to tell you that I told you so.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">As Clare walked out the door, she smiled to herself.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">I always get what I want, <span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif""> Clare thought. ''And once I had a taste of Jayden, I was hooked. I will have her again, and nothing is gonna stop me.''

<p style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">____________________________________________________________

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Larissa looked alarmed as she closed in on The Coffee Shelf. She stared at all the ambulances, the cop cars, and the yellow crime scene tape. Off to the side, Jayden stood, her head buried in her hands as a cop stood with his arm around her.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“What’s going on?” Larissa asked an onlooker, but deep down inside, she already knew.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">The killer had struck again.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Someone was murdered here last night,” the female onlooker said.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Do you know who it was?” Larissa asked.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“No names have been released,” the woman said.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“My store!” Jayden exclaimed. “It’s ruined! I’ll never be able to reopen this place now! I’ve lost everything that’s important to me!”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Larissa felt her heart sink. She wasted no time, darting toward the crime scene tape, raising it up and ducking under and running toward the open door.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Excuse me, Miss!” A cop called. “You can’t go in there! Miss!”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Larissa ignored him as she ran inside and toward the dead body. It was a girl, lying on her stomach, her face turned away from Larissa. Blonde haired, dressed in a Coffee Shelf uniform. Her organs had fallen out of her body, trailing for a couple feet to the massive pool of blood that stained the yellow carpet beneath her.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Larissa knew who it was and couldn’t bear to see the look of agony that must be on her lifeless face. Katie Compton, her co-worker and friend.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Larissa covered her mouth in shock as two hands grabbed her and pulled her away from the body and out the door. She didn’t even resist.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Are you crazy?” Mike asked. “You don’t need to see that.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“That could have been me,” Larissa said, removing her hand from her mouth. “I was supposed to close but Katie begged me to let her close instead to get a few extra hours. I was supposed to be here.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Then whoever killed her might have been coming after you,” Mike said. “Larissa, look at me. Are you okay?”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Larissa nodded, visibly shaken and loosing color.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Listen,” Mike said. “Let’s go over here to the ambulance and let them look you over, okay? Make sure you’re okay.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Mike led Larissa over to the ambulance. The EMT saw her and immediately began to help Mike get her up into the back.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“She’s not looking so good,” Mike told the EMT. “It was her friend and co-worker that was killed. She’s shaky, looking pale, and is slow to respond.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“She’s in shock,” the EMT said. “I’ll check her vitals.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“I’m not gonna leave you,” Mike said. “I’ll stay with you, Larissa.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Whoever did this,” Larissa said, weakly. “I want them to pay for this. They deserve to rot in jail for the rest of their lives.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Yeah, it’s quite horrible what they did to her. You shouldn’t have seen that,” Mike said. “It can give a girl like you nightmares.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“I want to help you,” Larissa said. “I want to help you catch the killer.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Mike nodded. “We’ll see what we can do. But right now, you rest.”

<p style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">____________________________________________________________

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Billy and River stood at the counter of Video Zone, starring at the TV as the Avengers played for the trillionth time.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“As much as I love this movie, and as good as it is, I am getting so tired of it,” Billy said.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Scarlet Johansen is so hot in it, though,” River said, popping some Skittles in his mouth.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Eh, give me Chris Evans,” Billy said. “I wanna do my part to be patriotic.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">River laughed. “Seriously, that is the lamest thing I’ve ever heard.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Don’t be hating,” Billy said, unwrapping a Starburst.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">River rolled his eyes. “I wanna do something tonight. I’m really bored and I have no plans after work.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“What is there fun to do in this little hellhole town?” Billy asked, shoving the cherry Starburst in his mouth.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“A whole bunch of nothing, that’s what,” River said.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">The electronic doorbell sounded and River immediately sprung into action.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Welcome to Video Zone,” River said. “My name is River. Feel free to look around and if you need any help finding anything or have any questions, I’m here.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Thanks,” the guy said. “I’m just gonna look around.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">River looked at the guy for a moment and then looked back at Billy.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Really?” River asked. “A coat with a hood and it’s only late September.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Billy watched the guy for a moment. “I bet you that he’s a shoplifter.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“You really think so?” River asked. “I was thinking just your garden variety creep.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“That too,” Billy agreed. “Keep an eye on him but don’t look like you’re watching him.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">The guy walked over to the videogame section and tried to act nonchalant. He bent down, acting like he was looking at the games on the lower shelf and grabbed three of the store cases behind the empty videogame case. He took a pocketknife out of his jacket pocket and with a pop and twist, he pried off the alarm. He stuck the game inside his jacket and started to pry off another alarm, but he felt a hand grab him around the wrist.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">He dropped the knife in his hand as he was pulled to his feet by Billy and River.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Caught you, you little thief,” Billy said.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“I’m sorry,” the guy said. “Let me go!”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Oh, we’ll let you go alright,” River said. “Outside, where you belong.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">River took the game out of the guy’s jacket and set it aside.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“What’s your name?” Billy asked.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Please don’t press charges,” the guy pleaded.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Tell us your name,” River repeated, sounding stern.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Jesse,” the guy said. “Jesse Clyde.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“What, you think you’re Bond now?” River asked with a slight chuckle. “I’m Jesse. Jesse Clyde. Double-oh-zero.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Billy laughed. “River…the matter at hand, please.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“So yeah, anyway, you tried to steal from us and that’s not cool,” River said. “So we’re not gonna press charges but you’re banned from the store.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">River escorted Jesse to the door as Billy opened it for him. He pushed Jesse, who fell down outside the door. He got up, looked at the store, pulled his hood back over his head, and started off in a different direction.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Back inside the store, Billy grabbed the knife and walked back over to the front desk. He opened a drawer, closed the knife, and tossed it inside.

<p style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">____________________________________________________________

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">This was definitely not the place that fifteen year-old Eddie White wanted to be. All alone, walking the street at night. His best friend Evan James had got drunk and left him all alone on the way home from a senior party. Evan wouldn’t answer his phone and his voicemail wasn’t set up. He couldn’t call his parents. How would he explain the whole situation without having to tell the truth?

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Evan pulled his hood over his head and inserted his ear buds, his iPod blaring in his ears.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Seasons don’t fear the reaper,” Eddie sang along with his iPod. “Nor do the wind, the summer, the rain.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Eddie stopped abruptly when he got the feeling he was being followed. He turned off his iPod and looked around, listening close.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">He heard it, the faint scuffling of feet in the distance. He turned around in the direction of the noise and saw something startling. A robed figure with a bronze colored mask. He looked at it, confused.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Hey,” Eddie said. “You with the mask. What’s your deal?”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">The figure didn’t reply, but instead kept walking. Eddie raised an eyebrow.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Hey, you!” Eddie shouted. “I’m talking to you.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">The figure kept walking toward Eddie, quickening its pace. Eddie immediately knew something was off and decided to turn back around and walk away. He looked over his shoulder as he walked. The figure followed him still.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“What the hell?” Eddie asked himself.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">He quickened his speed, looking over his shoulder. The more he sped up, the more the figure sped up. Finally, Eddie broke into a run, not looking back.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Shit!” Eddie said as he ran as fast as he could.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Eddie’s ear buds popped out and started to wrap around him. He didn’t try to save them, just pulled them out of his iPod and tossed them aside. He kept running, not even sure where he was anymore. He just knew that he couldn’t stop.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">That’s when it happened. He felt the arm grab him around the mouth and pull him backwards. He tried to fight, but no sooner than he felt himself against the killer, he felt a searing pain in his back and chest. Eddie looked down at the large blade sticking out of his chest, and all the blood that was spewing out.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Do fear the reaper,” the figure said as they violent pulled the blade out of Eddie.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Eddie tried to stop all the blood that was gushing out but his attempts to apply pressure grew more and more feeble as he slipped closer to death. Eddie broke down in tears, his cries muffled by the figure’s gloved hand.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Suddenly, the cries stopped and Eddie fell completely limp. The figure threw him to the ground and with one motion, wiped the blood from his knife.

<p style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">____________________________________________________________

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Larissa drove to school, ready to get the day over with. As scared as she was about Candy and Katie’s deaths she felt her school, a place where she once was miserable, was her one safe place.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Larissa sighed as she turned on the radio.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“—And police are reporting that a third victim has been found dead. The victim is a fifteen year-old boy whose name has not yet been released. With the deaths of Candy Moreau, Katie Compton, and this newest victim, it makes the third death in a span of just over seventy-two hours. Priceland police are saying that this is fact, a serial killer--”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Larissa shut off the radio and tried to push all the thoughts in her head away. She pulled into the school and found a parking place.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">No sooner than she opened her door and stepped out, River was at her side. “We need to talk. This afternoon at Video Zone.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Larissa nodded. “Okay.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“And bring your cop friend,” River said as he walked away.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Larissa started toward the school and was shocked when she saw the cops dragging a young boy to their car. She recognized him vaguely. His name was Evan James, a freshman. He was in her art class.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“I didn’t do it!” Evan said. “I swear! Eddie was my friend.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Eddie,” Larissa whispered. “Eddie White?”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“I didn’t do it,” Evan said, looking at Larissa.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Larissa watched sadly as Evan was pushed into the back of the cop car.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“He killed his own friend,” a girl said from behind Larissa.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“How do you know?” He boyfriend asked.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“They found some of his stuff at the scene of the crime,” the girl answered. “Tragic. They were both only fifteen.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“I don’t think he did it,” Larissa said, looking at the girl behind her. “I believe him.”

<p style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">____________________________________________________________

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Larissa sighed as she walked into Video Zone. River looked up at her and smiled.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Glad you made it,” River said. “Where’s the fuzz?”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“He’s on his way,” Larissa said. “It’s not like I don’t have anywhere to go. The place where I work is closed because it’s a crime scene. A girl I work with was gutted like a fish--”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Scream reference,” Billy said. “Two points.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Larissa glared at him. “Ha ha. Very funny.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Sorry,” Billy said. “You looking for a job?”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Now,” Larissa said. “Since my old one is serial killer ground zero now.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Billy pulled a shirt from under the counter. “Rentals and sales are up since the last two murders. My dad is making me the store manager, so I can use some more help around here. You’re hired.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Billy tossed the shirt at Larissa, who grabbed it and threw it over her shoulder.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Thanks,” Larissa said.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Sorry, I’m late,” Mike said as he walked in. “What’s going on.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“I think we need to have a slumber party--” River said before he stopped midsentence as Mike rolled his eyes.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Slumber party?” Billy asked.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“No, no, hear me out,” River said. “We have a vast collection of horror movies here, a few horror experts, and a detective. If we can put our brains together and rack them for a few hours, I bet we can solve this and end it all tonight before any of us become the next victims.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“You’ve seen one too many movies,” Larissa said.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“What about you, Billy?” River asked. “What do you think?”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Honestly?” Billy asked. “I think that one of us is the killer. Makes sense if you think about it. We’re all the usual suspects and each one of use has a motive.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Mike shook his head. “It’s not me.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Naturally, we’re all gonna say it’s not us,” River said. “That’s why we gotta get together and put the cold hard facts together. Really investigate this. Unless you’re scared.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Larissa shook her head. “I’m in. Even if your insane idea doesn’t work, at least we can have each other’s backs.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Count me in,” Mike said. “If Larissa thinks it’s a good idea, then I trust her judgment.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Billy?” River asked. “You in or out?”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Billy nodded. “I’m in. So how about we have it at my place? I’ll close the store down early. I’ll say it was because of the recent deaths.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Mike nodded. “Alright then, boys and girls, well girl. Let’s see what we can figure out when we put our heads together.”

<p style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">____________________________________________________________

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Larissa and Billy sat on the couch together, eating popcorn and watching I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. Billy screamed, covering his eyes. Larissa glared as she had to dodge his big toe, which almost poked her in the eye as he jumped.

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">“Watch your feet,” Larissa said as she tossed a piece of popcorn at Billy. “Besides, how does this movie help us figure out who the killer might be? It’s obviously the supposedly dead guy from the first movie.”

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">“Where’s Mike and River?” Billy asked as he caught the piece of popcorn and popped it in his mouth.

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">“Somewhere around here,” Larissa said.

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">“I’m gonna go look for them,” Billy said, pulling his sneakers onto his bare feet.

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">“They probably went outside,” Larissa said.

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">“I’ll go check,” Billy said as he got up and walked out the back door.

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Larissa scooted back a little bit on the sofa and got really comfortable. She was zoned in on the movie and almost didn’t realize when Billy’s home phone began to ring. She finally noticed it and looked around for Billy. When she realized that Billy was still outside, she got up and answered it.

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">“Billy’s house,” she said.

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">“Hello, Larissa,” the distorted voice said. “I think you guys are getting a little close for your own good. Now it’s time to die!”

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Larissa screamed as the closet burst open and the hooded figure with the gold mask charged at her. He sung his knife, but Larissa dodged. She ran over to the dining room table and took the vase of flowers from the table it threw it at the figure. It bounced of him, knocking him to the floor, and shattering as it hit the floor behind him.

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Mike ran down stairs, gun in hand. He looked at Larissa, then at the figure. River came running in from the hallway behind the figure. He took one look at him and stopped dead in his tracks.

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">“Whoa!” River said.

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Mike aimed his gun at the figure, who was now standing and shot. The bullet missed the figure and went into the wall behind him. In a flash, the killer was out the back door. Billy stumbled into the back door, grabbing his upper arm, which was bleeding and appeared to have been cut.

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">“He got me a little bit,” Billy said, slumping down to the floor, obviously in shock.

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">“We’ll get you to the hospital in a bit,” Mike said as he ripped a piece of his T-shirt off and tied it around Billy’s arm tightly.

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Larissa looked over where the killer fell saw something lying on the floor. As she walked toward it, she realized that it was a cell phone.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">River walked over and grabbed Billy’s hand and helped pull him to his feet. Mike walked over and took Larissa, holding her for a moment, making sure she was both steady and that her nerves had calmed.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“We’re okay,” Mike said, brushing a lock of hair out of Larissa’s eyes.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Well, that proves that none of us is the killer,” Larissa said as she eyed the killer’s cellphone.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">Mike walked over and carefully picked up the cell phone and looked it over. He opened it up and brought up the call log.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“According to this, this cell phone was activated a week ago,” Mike said. “The call log has never been emptied or deleted and the very first phone call made from this phone was not to Candy Moreau. It was made to your cell phone, Larissa.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“The call the other day when I was at work,” Larissa said.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Perhaps they’re using multiple phones,” River suggested.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“Why, when this phone is untraceable?” Mike asked. “That’s just more work, more planning, and more hassle. What I’m thinking is that there is more than one killer and each of them has a cell phone. Now, we have one of them.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“More than one killer?” Billy asked. “Well, that means that it could still be one of us. Each one of us was gone at different times tonight.”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“And we were split up when the call came in to Larissa,” Mike said.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">River and Billy traded distrusting glances at one another, then they both looked at Mike.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“You know an awful lot, Mike,” River said.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">“I’m a detective,” Mike replied. “It’s my job. Just what are you implying, River?”

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Georgia","serif"">River shrugged. “I don’t know, Detective. Use your skills to figure it out and then you can tell me what I’m implying.”

<p style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">TO BE CONTINUED…