The Last Sketches of Alice
Prologue
It was the blizzard that kept her indoors. So it was from the sanctuary of her bedroom that Alice watched the snowfall. She brought out her notebook and began to draw the lines of the snowflakes as they spiralled out on the window. They began to web, appearing to make cracks in the glass. As if a spider was waiting for its prey.
It was the first days of winter. And the first time Alice heard about him. She spiralled the ice onto her paper, the pencil askew as she heard the fatal screams from next door. A mans head rolled on to the ice below stuck like a fly onto the frozen web.
It was the first days of winter. And the first time Alice heard about him. She spiralled the ice onto her paper, the pencil askew as she heard the fatal screams from next door. A mans head rolled on to the ice below stuck like a fly onto the frozen web.
Chapter 1
Static played from Alice Harbinger’s walkie-talkie, a voice was trying to reach her. It hummed with the stray flies. Alice lifted her walkie and flicked the switch, turning the dial, tuning out the feedback.
Crccht…. “Welcome to Willholme…”Chrcct. The voice belonged to a man, his voice deep but gentle.
“…Bill?.”
Rccct… “Alice!” fzzr
“Shouldn’t you be running this place? Maybe not talking to a Ranger apprentice?” Alice broke the twigs beneath her feet in a powerful stomp to the ground.
“I will when they’re the only recruit.” Bill looked out of his looktower. There were sketches of him, some in crayon, some in charcoal. All presents from Alice throughout the years. His face was bald everywhere, from the chin to the skull. His frame looked almost comical, similar to a boogie monster with the arched back. He would be terrifying if it wasn’t for his smile- a gunshot of pacifistic bliss. That kind that of smile that stretched across a face and reassured everyone that everything will be ok.
“So how many staff do you have? Am I going to see much of you?” Alice brushed her hand against the bark as she trailed up the mountain trail, her feet pounding away at the earth.
“Well I might need my calculator for this… Let’s see, there’s me, Samantha, you….
“What’s our count so far?” Bill grinned into his radio, it was as if he could see Alice through the small speaker.
“Three! There’s only three of us here?” Alice’s dirty blonde hair untangled from her ponytail and clogged in her mouth.
“I never said I ran a large reserve. Do you still want the job?” Bill stood stoic overlooking Willholme, his large frame could clearly be seen in the glass tower, blackened by the sun, looking more like a statue than a man.
“Well I’m here now.”
“I’ll take that as a yes then.”
Crccht…. “Welcome to Willholme…”Chrcct. The voice belonged to a man, his voice deep but gentle.
“…Bill?.”
Rccct… “Alice!” fzzr
“Shouldn’t you be running this place? Maybe not talking to a Ranger apprentice?” Alice broke the twigs beneath her feet in a powerful stomp to the ground.
“I will when they’re the only recruit.” Bill looked out of his looktower. There were sketches of him, some in crayon, some in charcoal. All presents from Alice throughout the years. His face was bald everywhere, from the chin to the skull. His frame looked almost comical, similar to a boogie monster with the arched back. He would be terrifying if it wasn’t for his smile- a gunshot of pacifistic bliss. That kind that of smile that stretched across a face and reassured everyone that everything will be ok.
“So how many staff do you have? Am I going to see much of you?” Alice brushed her hand against the bark as she trailed up the mountain trail, her feet pounding away at the earth.
“Well I might need my calculator for this… Let’s see, there’s me, Samantha, you….
“What’s our count so far?” Bill grinned into his radio, it was as if he could see Alice through the small speaker.
“Three! There’s only three of us here?” Alice’s dirty blonde hair untangled from her ponytail and clogged in her mouth.
“I never said I ran a large reserve. Do you still want the job?” Bill stood stoic overlooking Willholme, his large frame could clearly be seen in the glass tower, blackened by the sun, looking more like a statue than a man.
“Well I’m here now.”
“I’ll take that as a yes then.”
Samantha waited for both of them at the peak of Buffalo waterfall. She stood there with dark brown skin and thick black hair, her frame was small and delicate, for a moment Alice thought she was a living doll. Her features were flawless. But despite her appearance she had the look of world weariness, it was a look that contradicted her young and good looking features but it all fell together naturally for her. Alice wanted to be jealous but once they started talking they got on like long lost sisters.
Samantha looked at Alice, her dirty blonde hair, her small body that was proud of its curves. When Samantha stood and talked to her, Alice stood like Peter Pan with a whimsical happiness about her that over powered her bitterness and hurt. Samantha wanted to know more, to push how much they could compliment one another.
“So you’re my replacement?” Alice asked with a grimace.
“And that must make you mine? Ha. Where’d Bill pick you up from anyway? He talks about you. Loves them pictures you send him.” Samantha watched jump from the rocks, crossed the tearing waters below. She followed her.
Alice laughed upon the rocks while Bill watched from the other side. It was a bit too old to be skipping rocks, especially on the rocky falls. He headed back to the lookout tower where he waited for them to return. Happy in himself that he could share his piece of happiness with another two people.
Alice waited for Samantha on top of the waterfall. She let her hair loose so the winds would take it in the wild. As Samantha caught up they sat and stared at the sun resting over Willholme.
“Pretty ain’t it?” Samantha said as Alice’s hair tried to escape her body.
“Ain’t it just.”
They sat and waited while the sun fell down. Queitly at peace with one another and nature. Samantha soon left, leaving Alice overlooking the dusk of the night.
“Stay safe, hun.”
Alice smiled at her and closed her eyes and brushed her hands on the rocks below. Here with the earth she was at peace. She wasn’t having flashbacks on the skidding car, she couldn’t feel the cold the pierced her bones like they did every night back home. It was a vacation from her nightmare and she didn’t want it to end.
As Alice’s hand brushed the ground beneath her they caught hold of a notebook, the words were large and scribbled manically. But the closer she read the heavier her heart sank.
While I watched my brother die I was introduced to him. The man had punctured the abdomen of my brother, he was bleeding out, holding onto his guts as I entered the room. He must have seen me because the man looked in my direction. I stood stiff. Expecting that he would do the same to me. Instead he let me watch. He used some kind of butcher knife and began to slowly remove my brothers head from his body. I watched the skin crawl back and reveal the insides of his throat. His face looked phoney, it was expressionless and vacant. Suddenly he wasn’t my brother anymore. He was a corpse. The man smiled at me. It was a handsome smile.
Alice slowly stood up and overlooked the black forest. The shadows hanging from the trees, bitter pits of hollow that were haunts to the predators of the night. Alice hid the journal in her rucksack as a familiar pain hit. The cold was back, twisting itself in her bones.
Chapter 2
Alice walked home to her cabin that rested on Ice lake. It was serene, and the tyre swing that hanged by her window made it look more like a old photograph than a place to sleep. But despite the peaceful setting Alice couldn’t get with of the words she had just read; the girl who watched her brother die, the man who smiled. She was tired. And wanted nothing but her bed.
As she entered the cabin Samantha was waiting for her. Her ebony eyes buckled Alice’s knees as her arms caressed the bed. Wearing nothing but a thin black thong and bra, she pouted her lips enticing Alice to play. Samantha welcomed Alice home with her fingers releasing the hatch of her belt.
“Please, Sam… I’m not ready” Alice said, reluctant to turn down her advances but exhausted from the darkness that had followed in the night. Samantha was there.
“I love it when you call me Sam.. Say it again.” She swaying her hips and taking gentle steps that put Alice under a spell.
“Sa-m“ Her words were lost. Samantha was escapism, the dawn from macabre notes. Samantha touched Alice, leaving her motionless as her lips pressed against her legs, moving slowly up her waist as Samantha removed the last of her clothes. They kissed. Alice discovered the curves of Samantha’s porcelain body, her skin was soft, it made her sink further into her flesh. Samantha tied her hands into Alice’s hair and held tightly as they indulged in each others embraces.
Alice looked up at Samantha from the pillow of her breasts and stroked her cheek with the back of her hand.
“Well I guess this makes us girlfriends.” Alice smiled, teasing her fingertips around her cocoa skin.
Samantha cusped Alice’s hair and breathed in her lavender scent. She stayed silent. No words could improve what they had in their moment. They fell asleep in each others arms. Sleeping together till dawn with the embers of the open fire.
As she entered the cabin Samantha was waiting for her. Her ebony eyes buckled Alice’s knees as her arms caressed the bed. Wearing nothing but a thin black thong and bra, she pouted her lips enticing Alice to play. Samantha welcomed Alice home with her fingers releasing the hatch of her belt.
“Please, Sam… I’m not ready” Alice said, reluctant to turn down her advances but exhausted from the darkness that had followed in the night. Samantha was there.
“I love it when you call me Sam.. Say it again.” She swaying her hips and taking gentle steps that put Alice under a spell.
“Sa-m“ Her words were lost. Samantha was escapism, the dawn from macabre notes. Samantha touched Alice, leaving her motionless as her lips pressed against her legs, moving slowly up her waist as Samantha removed the last of her clothes. They kissed. Alice discovered the curves of Samantha’s porcelain body, her skin was soft, it made her sink further into her flesh. Samantha tied her hands into Alice’s hair and held tightly as they indulged in each others embraces.
Alice looked up at Samantha from the pillow of her breasts and stroked her cheek with the back of her hand.
“Well I guess this makes us girlfriends.” Alice smiled, teasing her fingertips around her cocoa skin.
Samantha cusped Alice’s hair and breathed in her lavender scent. She stayed silent. No words could improve what they had in their moment. They fell asleep in each others arms. Sleeping together till dawn with the embers of the open fire.
Chapter 3
From the break of dawn Bill was already ready for his morning patrol. Hiking over to Buffalo Falls, across Dante’s Woods, and through Gobin’s Cove. As he crossed the falls he saw Samantha leave Alice’s cabin, crossing the stepping stones over Ice Lake.
Bill gently knocked on the cabin and was greeted with silence. He tried again, steadily, just a solid knock, just to see if Alice was in.
The door pried open slowly. Bill saw Alice, her hair was covering her face as her body was balled up on the floor underneath a blanket for two. Alice was out.
Bill tiptoed over to lift her, conscious not to disturb her sleep. She looked happy. He moved Alice into her bed and placed her head on the pillow. Her eyes opened. Although partly awake, her conscious still resided in her dreams.
“Where’s Samantha?”
Bill walked over to the curtains pulling them shut.
“…Daddy?” Alice called out. Bill walked over and stroked her head that was laced in sweat.
“Back to your dreams, kid.”
Bill closed the door behind him as Alice fell back to sleep. His face dropped into a sullen darkness.
From the break of dawn Bill was already ready for his morning patrol. Hiking over to Buffalo Falls, across Dante’s Woods, and through Gobin’s Cove. As he crossed the falls he saw Samantha leave Alice’s cabin, crossing the stepping stones over Ice Lake.
Bill gently knocked on the cabin and was greeted with silence. He tried again, steadily, just a solid knock, just to see if Alice was in.
The door pried open slowly. Bill saw Alice, her hair was covering her face as her body was balled up on the floor underneath a blanket for two. Alice was out.
Bill tiptoed over to lift her, conscious not to disturb her sleep. She looked happy. He moved Alice into her bed and placed her head on the pillow. Her eyes opened. Although partly awake, her conscious still resided in her dreams.
“Where’s Samantha?”
Bill walked over to the curtains pulling them shut.
“…Daddy?” Alice called out. Bill walked over and stroked her head that was laced in sweat.
“Back to your dreams, kid.”
Bill closed the door behind him as Alice fell back to sleep. His face dropped into a sullen darkness.
Samantha was waiting for Bill on the tyre swing.
“You’re mad at me aren’t you?” Samantha’s legs swayed back and forth.
“After all that’s happened she doesn’t need any more heartache. Just don’t go hurting her feelings.” Bill didn’t wait for Samantha to talk, instead he walked away, walking slowly through Goblin’s cove.
Samantha jumped from the swing and followed him.
“She’s a big girl Bill. She can handle herself.” Bill didn’t say a word and looked ahead. Continuing on his patrols.
“I like her. It’s real. I’m not going to hurt her feelings. You believe me don’t you?” Bill headed up the trail as Samantha stopped in her tracks. His silence were more punishing than his words.
Bill could hear her steps come to a halt as he followed his morning route. He wasn’t in control of a lot of things in his life, but walking gave him a sense of purpose. There was nothing going through his mind, just the sensation of his feet placing themselves on foot in front of the other.
He walked back to the watchtower. Opening the papers.
Serial Killer Returns to Willholme
Bill placed the paper down. He thought that maybe, if he just stayed where he was that trouble would stop following.
Serial Killer Returns to Willholme
Bill placed the paper down. He thought that maybe, if he just stayed where he was that trouble would stop following.
Chapter 4
Bill waited in his watchtower for the rest of the day. He hoped by waiting he wouldn’t attract the madness, that by staying inside his watchtower he’d avoid trouble. But like moths to a light trouble drew towards him, waiting to ignite.
He heard a scream and watched as a flare shot out in the evening sky. He ran towards Goblin Cove, the rocky paths weaned in and out, gravelled stones that wore dishevelled faces watched as he ran.
It was too late.
Bill saw the bodies. A family of three. Hacked to pieces bit by bit. Their heads sitting on top of a wall lined up. Alice wasn’t far behind but Bill blocked her view. He knew she was coming.
His brow forced together, as if his skull was trying to massage his mind.
“Don’t come any closer.” Bill said. Walling himself between himself and Alice.
“Fuck.” Alice looked at three dead bodies, seeing glimpses of the mangled heads sitting like ornaments on a wall. He stomach shrank and turned. The blood dripping into the Goblin’s mouth. “What are we going to do?”
“We do nothing kid.” Bill sternly held Alice by her shoulders. She could see desperation in his eyes.
“We need to call the police, the feds, someone.”
“This is all I have Alice. This, here, the murder, it’s sickening. But Willholme Reserve won’t be able to handle the attention. They’ll take it away from me, from us. All of it. We’ll have nothing left.”
“You’ll have me. We’ll have each other. We can’t ignore this. This could be that serial killer, and if he’s here…”
“If he’s here we get him. And we get him good. But we’re not bringing attention to the reserve.”
Alice helped Bill dig three graves in the middle of the reserve. They hiked for two hours, and trecked through cliffs over Buffalo Falls, the path was notorious for killing someone with one wrong step. Bill toted the three corpses in a bag, a rope tying them together. Swinging against the rocks as they climbed. Eventually Bill stopped them in their tracks.
“This is where we dig.”
The two of them dug deep into the earth, the sweat merged with the caked on mud, dripping into the eyes of Alice. With each stab of the earth her heart fell, plummeting into the uncertainty. She was an accomplice to the crime. Burying these people. Not going to the police. She wasn’t any better than the man who killed her.
“Don’t come any closer.” Bill said. Walling himself between himself and Alice.
“Fuck.” Alice looked at three dead bodies, seeing glimpses of the mangled heads sitting like ornaments on a wall. He stomach shrank and turned. The blood dripping into the Goblin’s mouth. “What are we going to do?”
“We do nothing kid.” Bill sternly held Alice by her shoulders. She could see desperation in his eyes.
“We need to call the police, the feds, someone.”
“This is all I have Alice. This, here, the murder, it’s sickening. But Willholme Reserve won’t be able to handle the attention. They’ll take it away from me, from us. All of it. We’ll have nothing left.”
“You’ll have me. We’ll have each other. We can’t ignore this. This could be that serial killer, and if he’s here…”
“If he’s here we get him. And we get him good. But we’re not bringing attention to the reserve.”
Alice helped Bill dig three graves in the middle of the reserve. They hiked for two hours, and trecked through cliffs over Buffalo Falls, the path was notorious for killing someone with one wrong step. Bill toted the three corpses in a bag, a rope tying them together. Swinging against the rocks as they climbed. Eventually Bill stopped them in their tracks.
“This is where we dig.”
The two of them dug deep into the earth, the sweat merged with the caked on mud, dripping into the eyes of Alice. With each stab of the earth her heart fell, plummeting into the uncertainty. She was an accomplice to the crime. Burying these people. Not going to the police. She wasn’t any better than the man who killed her.
They had held their flashlights between the trees for torches. Alice’s flickered- reminding her of her dying battery. It flashed on the soil, on Alice, on Bill. Each shovel to the ground pulled out more soil. Till eventually they laid the bodies down, then the heads, and finally the soil.
They were as silent as the dead as they walked back to their cabins
They were as silent as the dead as they walked back to their cabins
Heading back Alice saw a piece of paper, similar to the kind of the journal she picked up earlier. It was a passage. She waited till she got inside her cabin to read it. It was a continuation. She wondered. Were these notes being left for her to find?
I should have been sick to my stomach, but I didn’t feel any kind of sickness. Infact, I’d say it felt more like butterflies.
The oddest thing about that man though, it would go and kill, his blood on his hands…. but then he’d start asking questions. Like, what he was doing there, or who I was. You see, the man wasn’t well. I think the doctors called it something like split personality syndrome but I don’t know. To me he was just a P short of a pecan pie.
Now did I ever think he’d turn on me? Why sure. That’s why I did it. To think he could put those big arms around me and snap my neck in a split second! What a rush.
The oddest thing about that man though, it would go and kill, his blood on his hands…. but then he’d start asking questions. Like, what he was doing there, or who I was. You see, the man wasn’t well. I think the doctors called it something like split personality syndrome but I don’t know. To me he was just a P short of a pecan pie.
Now did I ever think he’d turn on me? Why sure. That’s why I did it. To think he could put those big arms around me and snap my neck in a split second! What a rush.
Chapter 5
Bill had spent the morning cleaning the shovels he’d used to bury the dead. He thought about what he had said, and the guilt overcame him. He’d go to Alice, go to the police. Confess that he panicked and take the punishment that awaited him.
Bill walked to his watch tower to clear out his things. As he entered he found he drifted to his portraits by Alice. There was a note.
Dear Bill,
Thank you for inviting me here but I’ve got to leave. It was only recently I could look myself in the mirror and say to myself ‘It’s over. You can move on.’ And now you’ve made me face another shitty night. I didn’t want to be there and I don’t agree with what you’ve done. I don’t want to be apart of a crime, not anymore that I have been already. I’ll be going to the police. Just the thought alone that a serial killer could be here, and we’re helping him… That’s just sick.
I expecting more from you. More from this. Instead, I’m going to try move on with my life, and try live with last night. I hope that the authorities will see that you panicked. That you thought that you didn’t have any other option. But you did. And I think you know that too.
Don’t try to find me.
Maybe in another life we could have been better friends,
Alice.
It was too late. Bill felt the world crumble around him as the he dropped the note onto the floor. The door opened. He hoped it was Alice, but as he looked it was Samantha waiting for him in the entrance. She saw him distraught, as a man who had just walked through the coals of hell.
“You’ve done it again haven’t you Bill?”
Bill look confused, but Samantha approached him. Her eyes twisted and firm. “Stupid man.”
She picked up an axe that hung upon the side of the door. It was large, metal and deadly. “And now you know what we have to do to her.”
Bill got up. His face turned deep red and murderous.
“Leaver her be Sam, forget it. I’ve going to the feds. It’s over.”
“You killed her parents! You were going to do the same to her! You just didn’t know it. Let’s finish this already.”
There was a flash inside Bill’s mind. The memories he repressed, the side of him that he flushed away, the side of him he keeps hidden.
“That… it wasn’t me.”
“No Bill. It was always you. You always killed. You embraced it. You’re a killer. And now it’s my turn. “
Bill looked at Samantha. Her auburn hair flowed down her shoulders.
He fell to his knees. He couldn’t hide anymore.
“You’re right. I’m a monster. And I’ve created a monster….”
Bill wept and buried his face in his hands. The lock in his mind was released. There was no turning back for him.
“I left them for you.”
“You did what?”
“That family. I left them for you. I want you back big bear. I want us back. The way we use to be.”
Samantha drew closer to Bill, running her hand down his cheek.
“I did it for you. It’s the only way we can be closer…” Samantha brushed her hand down his chest, resting it on his groin. She pulled herself on top of him. Grinding softly. “I thought you loved me sweet care bear. Don’t you love me?”
Bill felt bile crawl in his stomach. He pushed Samantha off his waist as she fell backwards onto the floor.
“I never loved you, not even---“ Bill’s words stopped. Samantha had plunged an axe cutting his face in two.
“You’ll always love me, Bill.”
Alice watched from the window. Catching Samantha’s eyes as they darted through the pane glass.
Bill had spent the morning cleaning the shovels he’d used to bury the dead. He thought about what he had said, and the guilt overcame him. He’d go to Alice, go to the police. Confess that he panicked and take the punishment that awaited him.
Bill walked to his watch tower to clear out his things. As he entered he found he drifted to his portraits by Alice. There was a note.
Dear Bill,
Thank you for inviting me here but I’ve got to leave. It was only recently I could look myself in the mirror and say to myself ‘It’s over. You can move on.’ And now you’ve made me face another shitty night. I didn’t want to be there and I don’t agree with what you’ve done. I don’t want to be apart of a crime, not anymore that I have been already. I’ll be going to the police. Just the thought alone that a serial killer could be here, and we’re helping him… That’s just sick.
I expecting more from you. More from this. Instead, I’m going to try move on with my life, and try live with last night. I hope that the authorities will see that you panicked. That you thought that you didn’t have any other option. But you did. And I think you know that too.
Don’t try to find me.
Maybe in another life we could have been better friends,
Alice.
It was too late. Bill felt the world crumble around him as the he dropped the note onto the floor. The door opened. He hoped it was Alice, but as he looked it was Samantha waiting for him in the entrance. She saw him distraught, as a man who had just walked through the coals of hell.
“You’ve done it again haven’t you Bill?”
Bill look confused, but Samantha approached him. Her eyes twisted and firm. “Stupid man.”
She picked up an axe that hung upon the side of the door. It was large, metal and deadly. “And now you know what we have to do to her.”
Bill got up. His face turned deep red and murderous.
“Leaver her be Sam, forget it. I’ve going to the feds. It’s over.”
“You killed her parents! You were going to do the same to her! You just didn’t know it. Let’s finish this already.”
There was a flash inside Bill’s mind. The memories he repressed, the side of him that he flushed away, the side of him he keeps hidden.
“That… it wasn’t me.”
“No Bill. It was always you. You always killed. You embraced it. You’re a killer. And now it’s my turn. “
Bill looked at Samantha. Her auburn hair flowed down her shoulders.
He fell to his knees. He couldn’t hide anymore.
“You’re right. I’m a monster. And I’ve created a monster….”
Bill wept and buried his face in his hands. The lock in his mind was released. There was no turning back for him.
“I left them for you.”
“You did what?”
“That family. I left them for you. I want you back big bear. I want us back. The way we use to be.”
Samantha drew closer to Bill, running her hand down his cheek.
“I did it for you. It’s the only way we can be closer…” Samantha brushed her hand down his chest, resting it on his groin. She pulled herself on top of him. Grinding softly. “I thought you loved me sweet care bear. Don’t you love me?”
Bill felt bile crawl in his stomach. He pushed Samantha off his waist as she fell backwards onto the floor.
“I never loved you, not even---“ Bill’s words stopped. Samantha had plunged an axe cutting his face in two.
“You’ll always love me, Bill.”
Alice watched from the window. Catching Samantha’s eyes as they darted through the pane glass.
Chapter 6
Alice froze. This wasn’t happening.
Samantha darted to her. She was enraged. To her this was all her fault. If she would have just laid down and die, if she could just give up and leave her be.
Alice’s knees buckled- she remembered how to move. But she waited. She watched as Samantha ran towards her from the watchtower.
Samantha caught up swinging the axe above her head, she held it more powerfully than anybody would have thought. The axe swung down to Alice but missed her, instead Alice had manoeuvred a gas cylinder below, that bounced Samantha to the ledge of the watchtower.
Samantha darted to her. She was enraged. To her this was all her fault. If she would have just laid down and die, if she could just give up and leave her be.
Alice’s knees buckled- she remembered how to move. But she waited. She watched as Samantha ran towards her from the watchtower.
Samantha caught up swinging the axe above her head, she held it more powerfully than anybody would have thought. The axe swung down to Alice but missed her, instead Alice had manoeuvred a gas cylinder below, that bounced Samantha to the ledge of the watchtower.
Alice watched as Samantha clung on the ledge, and it was then that she noticed the rising sun sweeping up over the night, killing the stars, bringing the last daylight for at least one of them.
Alice punched throw the window of the watchtower to take hold of a flare gun, she grabbed it, looking at Bill’s dead body on the floor. Samantha was coming round, grabbing her axe from the floor. But it she wasn’t quick enough. The flare from Alice’s gun shot, a whistle fired with a dragons tail of red as it pushed Samantha over the ledge. The streaks of red flare fired to the ground taking Samantha with it.
The sketches of Bill laid out in the outlook, the same ones Alice drew and sent to him. He was a poor man dealing with two sides of himself, exploited by someone who wanted more than her boring life, encouraging his mental illness. She really wanted to hate Bill, but she didn’t have it in her. She only saw a used and pathetic person who was bullied into something worse.
She sat on a chair over looking Bill’s body and began to draw. She shed tears, as she etched the charcoal, darkening the inside of his wounds. Even in death, even as a killer, Bill still managed to come across as soft and gentle. She shaded his lifeless eyes, and wildly she drew his sweat and blood soaked hair. As she finished she gathered all her sketches over Bill’s look out tower and placed them in a bin with a well-lit match.
Samantha was dead on the ground, Alice pulled out her notepad once again and began to draw. She went in closer, she wanted to see her expression. The look only the dead can have. Alice began to draw. Leaning in closer, to watch the curves of Samanta’s chin line together with her neck separating into her collar bone.
Samantha’s arm sprung up. Grabbing Alice’s hair. Tightly watching the woman who thought she was all alone. She pulled Alice as tightly as she could towards her, penetrating her with a knife direct to the gut. Alice fell on to Samantha, she took her last breath uttering her last words “fuck-you.”
Alice gasped. Her breathing struggled. She turned on radio, rolling off the body of her dead friend.
fzzz-krrct “Anybody… is anybody there?” krrccccct.
There was silence. Dead air. She tried. Again. Her body growing cold, losing blood. Her heart fighting to stay alive.
zzzzppp “Please help. Help.” Fzzzzz “Help.”
Alice slept. Laying her head on Samanthas body, using it to soften the hard earthy dirt. She dreamt about her summer. She was happy to leave home, she wanted to be away from her home. From the taunts of the towns folks. She was always the girls who stood and watched as her parents died. They didn’t think she was listening but she always overheard everyone talk about her behind her back
‘oh what a poor girl.
‘And she just watched? Why didn’t she do anything?
‘She was a child!’
‘Poor people. My child wouldn’t have watched as I died. They would have done something. They would have known better.’
The voices ran through her head. She thought she was twisted, but the twisted words were comforting to her. As she laid dying she only wanted to be home. She dreamt the sun was rising. She dreamt she was being lifted with the sun. It was keeping her warm as the blood left her body.
Fuzzzzz… “Hello? What are your coordinates? Hello?” fzzzzz.
Alice laid dying.
‘krrct. “HELLO? Are you there? Respond.” Krccccc
Alice dreamt she was floating. She was going home.
“Please respond. Send a message if you respond. Over.”
Samantha’s arm sprung up. Grabbing Alice’s hair. Tightly watching the woman who thought she was all alone. She pulled Alice as tightly as she could towards her, penetrating her with a knife direct to the gut. Alice fell on to Samantha, she took her last breath uttering her last words “fuck-you.”
Alice gasped. Her breathing struggled. She turned on radio, rolling off the body of her dead friend.
fzzz-krrct “Anybody… is anybody there?” krrccccct.
There was silence. Dead air. She tried. Again. Her body growing cold, losing blood. Her heart fighting to stay alive.
zzzzppp “Please help. Help.” Fzzzzz “Help.”
Alice slept. Laying her head on Samanthas body, using it to soften the hard earthy dirt. She dreamt about her summer. She was happy to leave home, she wanted to be away from her home. From the taunts of the towns folks. She was always the girls who stood and watched as her parents died. They didn’t think she was listening but she always overheard everyone talk about her behind her back
‘oh what a poor girl.
‘And she just watched? Why didn’t she do anything?
‘She was a child!’
‘Poor people. My child wouldn’t have watched as I died. They would have done something. They would have known better.’
The voices ran through her head. She thought she was twisted, but the twisted words were comforting to her. As she laid dying she only wanted to be home. She dreamt the sun was rising. She dreamt she was being lifted with the sun. It was keeping her warm as the blood left her body.
Fuzzzzz… “Hello? What are your coordinates? Hello?” fzzzzz.
Alice laid dying.
‘krrct. “HELLO? Are you there? Respond.” Krccccc
Alice dreamt she was floating. She was going home.
“Please respond. Send a message if you respond. Over.”
Alice thought about the taunts. They were keeping her awake. She thought about breaking branches underneath her feet. The air that entered her lungs from the breaking dawn, the openness of where she was. The adventure.
Her hand moved. She fingered the flare gun, pointing at the sky, she aimed for her home and pulled the trigger. They can go to hell, she thought.
Alice didn’t go back to sleep. Instead she pinched herself, seeing songs from her youth. Humming in lunacy.
She didn’t know how long she was singing but when the passing rangers found her they told her she was out cold and stayed that way for two months. One of them was waiting beside her bed. She had blonde hair, a skinny frame.
“Samantha?”
Her hand moved. She fingered the flare gun, pointing at the sky, she aimed for her home and pulled the trigger. They can go to hell, she thought.
Alice didn’t go back to sleep. Instead she pinched herself, seeing songs from her youth. Humming in lunacy.
She didn’t know how long she was singing but when the passing rangers found her they told her she was out cold and stayed that way for two months. One of them was waiting beside her bed. She had blonde hair, a skinny frame.
“Samantha?”
Epilogue
A woman with dirty blonde hair waited over Alice’s bed. It was one of the rangers, older than Samantha but with a uncanny look to her.
Alice jumped up. A handcuff stopped her jumping from the bed.
“Easy girl. You’ve been out for a while. Save your breath.” The woman spoke in short pauses. Later she found out they were worried she had suffered brain damage.
Police guarded the room. Alice shot a look at the Samantha look alike.
“Don’t worry. They just want to ask some questions. They just didn’t want you going anywhere. Seeing what you left behind they didn’t know what to expect from you.”
“I- killed her.”
The woman covered her lips. Whispering into her ear.
“you think you killed her… Samantha killed herself, killed Bill, and stabbed you. You’re not going anywhere girl.”
“Who?” Alice tried to finish, but her words couldn’t escape her.
“You met my cousin. Good riddance to her. Just don’t go saying things you regret. You’ll be fine. Cammy’s here now.”
The woman, Cammy stroked Alice’s hair. Alice’s heart began to pound. She struggled and pushed and pulled, attracting the officers over.
Cammy was asked to leave, the officers asked their questions, Alice, against her nature told her Cammy’s story. The officers left pleased.
Day’s passed. Alice waited for Cammy’s return but there was nothing. Just an envelope she had left that Cammy had snuck behind her pillow.
Inside were the sketches of Bill, and even some of Samantha. She unfolded the sketches revealing a note.
“Hey girl.
I’m sorry I left but I wanted to make sure you were alright. I don’t want to think you’re in danger, because girl, you’re not anymore. You’re lucky I was in the area. Samantha, my bat shit cousin had just come from visiting me, and there was a crazed look in her eyes… I couldn’t get it out of my head. Something’s been wrong with her ever since our cousin died from that killer years back. She became obsessed.
A woman with dirty blonde hair waited over Alice’s bed. It was one of the rangers, older than Samantha but with a uncanny look to her.
Alice jumped up. A handcuff stopped her jumping from the bed.
“Easy girl. You’ve been out for a while. Save your breath.” The woman spoke in short pauses. Later she found out they were worried she had suffered brain damage.
Police guarded the room. Alice shot a look at the Samantha look alike.
“Don’t worry. They just want to ask some questions. They just didn’t want you going anywhere. Seeing what you left behind they didn’t know what to expect from you.”
“I- killed her.”
The woman covered her lips. Whispering into her ear.
“you think you killed her… Samantha killed herself, killed Bill, and stabbed you. You’re not going anywhere girl.”
“Who?” Alice tried to finish, but her words couldn’t escape her.
“You met my cousin. Good riddance to her. Just don’t go saying things you regret. You’ll be fine. Cammy’s here now.”
The woman, Cammy stroked Alice’s hair. Alice’s heart began to pound. She struggled and pushed and pulled, attracting the officers over.
Cammy was asked to leave, the officers asked their questions, Alice, against her nature told her Cammy’s story. The officers left pleased.
Day’s passed. Alice waited for Cammy’s return but there was nothing. Just an envelope she had left that Cammy had snuck behind her pillow.
Inside were the sketches of Bill, and even some of Samantha. She unfolded the sketches revealing a note.
“Hey girl.
I’m sorry I left but I wanted to make sure you were alright. I don’t want to think you’re in danger, because girl, you’re not anymore. You’re lucky I was in the area. Samantha, my bat shit cousin had just come from visiting me, and there was a crazed look in her eyes… I couldn’t get it out of my head. Something’s been wrong with her ever since our cousin died from that killer years back. She became obsessed.
But I guess it’s lucky I came along. I don’t expect you to come find me, but you’re welcome too. From what they tell me you’re all alone now, so if you need a family, and it’s not too screwy for you to hang out with the cousin of a girl who’s stabbed you (did I just right that?- wow). I just want you to be ok.
Come find me if you want to.
p.s those sketches are good. Keep it up.
Cammy
Come find me if you want to.
p.s those sketches are good. Keep it up.
Cammy
Alice took out her note pad and began to draw herself in a spiderweb, the drew herself in the bed, being prayed upon by a black widow. Crudely drawing the lines with black biro, the fangs dripping blood. She pulled down the notepad and dropped it too the floor and thought maybe, it was time to start a new life again. To step away from the serial killers and the isolation, the bickering townsfolk and the bad memories. She sketched one last time, she drew herself rising with the sun, flying anywhere. Flying away.
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