Page 11 of Madness & Mayhem

I’ll live with the consequences of Lakyn’s wrath. I anticipate it. I’m waiting for it.

With a grunt, I roll over, grabbing the remote from the end table and turning on the TV. It switches on to the news, and I instantly swallow when I see the lighthouse in front of the camera.

And that dumb bitch newscaster.

“From Fox 7 News, this is Bridget Bofield, and I’m reporting here from Hellcrest Heights. Another death from a local resident of this sleepy town, and this time it has come on Halloween night. We all have to wonder, when will these brutal slayings end? Tonight’s death comes from Creed Lennon. A local boy who was attending college here. His father is the secretary of state here in Maine, and we expect him to make a statement later this morning. As for now, police have barricaded off the area. The curfew is still in effect, and we suggest all residents stay in their homes until law enforcement can detain the serial killer.”

My hand lifts, and I turn the TV off, tossing the remote against the wall. The plastic back breaks off the body, and they clamor to the ground noisily.

I take another sip of my beer before setting it on the nightstand, and I slouch down, my head hitting the pillow.

I need to talk to her. I need to explain, but it’s impossible with the streets so hot right now. I need to let shit cool off, and when I do, I’ll make things right.

With Lakyn, it’ll happen.

I just doubt any of my other friends will ever forgive me.

If I’m being honest, I think they’ll try to kill me.

I’ll do whatever I have to do to get Lakyn back, even if it means more death to get to her. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do.

Chapter Three

LAKYN

My chin slips from my palm, and I jerk awake, gasping in a quick breath before I settle my chin back into my palm and glance beyond the tree line.

Where is he?

I can’t let him die.

I don’t know how long I’ve been sitting here. Long enough that the sun is now up, and what was impossible to see into the trees is now clear. It’s no longer Halloween. Creed’s body no longer lays at the bottom of the lighthouse. It’s cleared now, only a red stain of blood painting the rocky sand.

I’ve long past left there, then gone back after some time.

Whether I’d hoped it had all been a dream, or maybe I was hoping Reign would have gone back there, looking for me.

Neither wish came true.

I’d unfortunately gone back to a depressing and sad lighthouse which has now been the home to multiple deaths. Footprints and blood and police tape litter the premises, along with broken Halloween decorations which make it end up looking like the aftermath of a horror movie.

I wanted it to be a lie. A nightmare I would wake up from. But it wasn’t. Somehow, Halloween has become its own nightmare.

A place where only death rises and life falls.

I should hate him. I should fucking despise him for what he’s done for me. And I do.

I don’t regret putting the knife in his stomach.

He deserved the pain he caused me, our friends, and everyone around us. Out of all the people in our group, Creed was the most loyal, the most genuine and nicest person, yet he’s the one that picks the shortest stick.

He never deserved his ending to be this way.

Though, where do I go now? What does life entail for the rest of my days? Do I walk away from my heart that beats in my chest, or do I take the pain and rub it into my veins, and allow myself true love, knowing the pain may always be existent?

There will always be pain in my heart when it comes to Reign.

But without him, it’s agony.