“Justin?” she murmured. Her eyes cleared and she saw the face she’d never forget. Xander Drew, her next door neighbour. She hadn’t seen him much these last couple years; they’d drifted apart. But now, she jumped into his arms and cried on his shoulder.
Then she looked around. “Justin?”
That was when she saw it -- the limp body of her boyfriend being lifted onto a stretcher. There were cuts and bruises on his body everywhere and the chest of his shirt was soaked in blood. His eyes were open in an eerie gaze that sent chills down her spine. His hand fell limply over the side of his stretcher as they checked his pulse. The paramedic looked at his watch as his fingers pressed on the boy’s neck. He shook his head and the two doctors put the white blanket over Justin’s head.
She buried her head into Xander’s shoulder and cried. He just held her. He didn’t say a word, either from being in shock himself over seeing the body or just because he couldn’t think of anything to say. Whatever the reason, he just held her for hours and hours. Long after the police, the paramedics and everyone else had left, he stayed there just holding her.
How could someone as sweet- Sara’s thoughts were interrupted by Mr. Calendar raising his voice slightly in the middle of his sentence. Not out of anger, but more so to get the attention of the entire class. She looked up, slightly startled. It just isn’t possible.
The voice of Principal Shnieder came over the intercom, which squealed a bit as it was turned on. “This is Principal Shnieder speaking. Due to the recent incidents in town, there will not be school until further notice. Also, a seven o’clock curfew has been placed on the town. Anyone caught out past seven will be brought home by a police escort immediately.”
The announcement of school closing was followed by a barrage of hoots and hollers from students as they flooded out the doors. All except Cathy and Mike, who both realized what this meant: the killer had struck during the night.
CHAPTER FIVE:
GOOD TIME
6:00
The party was just starting. Grendel didn’t really want to start this early, but the curfew forced him to. It also ensured that once everyone got in, they had to stay until morning. Which was just fine for him, and one other person.
“School’s out for summer!” Cathy and Xander chanted along with the music blaring over the speakers. “School’s out forever!”
Grendel’s front yard was packed with kids and it was hard for Mike, Cathy and Xander just to stay close to one another. Sara was over by Grendel, chatting away to him, although he didn’t really notice. He was watching Cathy. Intently.
“This is a great party, Gren!” Tommy shouted over the speakers.
“What?” Grendel replied, putting a hand to his ear.
Tommy motioned for Grendel to speak in private. They walked away from the yard and into the kitchen.
“When are we doin’ it?” he asked.
“Shh.” Grendel put a finger up to his mouth and took a quick glance around. “You want everyone to hear? Alright, around seven o’clock, you, Sud and Derek ask Mike to help you lift something. You do whatever it takes to keep him out there. That’s when I’ll take Cathy upstairs to talk to her. If Xander starts being a problem, just dump him. Got it?”
“Yeah. What about Sara?”
“That fucking airhead slut? She won’t be a big problem.”
About forty minutes later, music still blared over the stereo. Everyone in the yard was bouncing and singing. Grendel’s backyard was a large open space contained by high wooden fences stained a rich rusty colour that kept out prying eyes. There was a large brick barbeque a few feet from the north wall that was currently covered with speakers, and a metal fire pit near the centre that was clogged with cigarette butts.
The yard was filled with people attending the party.
From one end of the fence to the other, it was packed so tightly that it was hard to move, let alone dance, although people still managed. Drinks were passed from the cooler from person to person until they found their desired party. People jumped and swayed and pushed, turning the backyard into a giant mosh pit.
Jeffery Dunam made out with a girl a few years younger than him against the back wall of Grendel’s house. He had a beer in one hand that was half empty, and was so drunk that every time he took a drink great splashes of it dribbled down over his chin.
Beverly Mass was throwing up into the barbeque, the roar of the speakers making her stomach do a back flip every time it urged.
Sara smiled, raising both her hands up into the air and bobbing along to the beat, bending her knees and thrusting her arms. “Whoo-hooo!”
Xander followed at her, watching the way every part of her danced. Her hair, her jacket... every part of her moved to the heavy bass beat. He smiled.
She turned and looked at him, both hands clenching his drink to his chest and his feet planted firmly to the grass.
Frowning and rolling her eyes, she slapped the drink out of his hands.
“H-hey!” he stammered.
“If it’s not alcohol, it’s not abuse,” she stated in a factual tone. She reached over and grabbed both his hands.
His heart began to beat faster.
She raised their hands above their heads and pumped them, her fingers laced around his until he got the rhythm and started to do it on his own.
He smiled.
“You looked
