“Hello?” I call out, my voice breaking the stillness. “You can’t be here right now. This is a crime scene.” I take a few cautious steps forward, the crunch of twigs beneath my feet punctuates the growing tension in the air.
A woman emerges from the shadows, startling me to the core. I barely suppress a scream as my heart races andinstinctively leap back. “Jesus Christ, you scared me! You need to—”
“It’s not safe for you here. You must leave,” the old woman warns, her voice firm and unyielding, cutting through the crisp air.
“Do you know who did this?” I ask.
“These are answers I cannot give, ” she breathes, drawing closer, her eyes locked onto mine with an intensity.
Ummm, okay…
“Who are you?” I’ve never seen his woman before and I know practically everyone in this town.
“I’m Suzanna. You must leave. She wants your soul... everyone’s soul… Don’t give it to her.” I swear I saw a flash of light in her grey eyes.
“Who wants my soul? What are you talking about?” This old bat is clearly not taking her pills.
As she extends her hand, aiming to touch my chest with a gentle touch, I instinctively step back so she can’t touch me.
Sheesh… weirdo.
“Can you feel it? It speaks.”
“What speaks?” My brows furrow.
She takes a step closer and holds a finger up to her mouth for silence. She whispers, “It says, ‘though still I hang, my rhythm’s apart, for within my shine, I beat like a heart.’” Her voice trembles with an urgency that leaves me unsettled.
“I have no clue what you are talking about. Listen, this is a crime scene. You have to leave.”
“You can free them. You can free all of them. I can help you,” she implores, her eyes wide and glimmering with a fervor that borders madness.
I take another cautious step back from the unsettling old woman, shaking my head, my heart racing. “Leave. Now.” My voice is now more stern.
I try to turn away, to escape the unsettling encounter, but her words cling to me like a haunting melody, forcing me to pause.
“Ignite the fire that makes your heart race. The demon of passion is capable, you’ll see.”
“What do you know of him?!” I demand, as I whirl around to confront her again. But she has vanished into thin air.
A soft fog weaves its way through the ancient trees of the forest, swirling in ethereal patterns before fading away like a forgotten memory. It leaves behind only the gentle patter of rain that clings to the foliage, lending an eerie stillness to the woodland.
“Hey girl,” she makes a face, “everything okay?” Jules’ voice startles me and I jump.
“Um, yeah. I just thought I saw… never mind. It was nothing. I collected a few samples for you,” I say as we walk back to the house. I hand Jules the bags that contain fragments of skin and a fingernail.
“Badass! Nice work, Dani! Hopefully there is some DNA that wasn’t the victims. Look at you, making me look good on my first day as supervisor,” she bumps my hip with hers.
“Let’s go back to your place and get ready! Destiny doesn’t need me until tomorrow. Carter is going to pick us up at 8.”
“Sounds good, babe!” I say back as I clean up all my gear.
Chapter 15
Dani
With a joint in my hand, I take a puff and pass it to Jules. We dance in front of the mirror while listening to music as we get ready for the club.
Jules dons a flirtatious miniskirt that flares out slightly with every step, complemented by tall, sleek leather boots that accentuate her long legs. She wears my favorite crop-top, showcasing her toned figure beautifully.
