37. Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Hydessa

W aving goodbye to Allegra, I start walking towards the police station, determined to follow Dad's advice. If there's any chance that the Sheriff or Deputy are involved or complicit, I need to know, and this is the best way to find out.

The beachfront is now buzzing with activity, tourists are everywhere as I make my way through them toward my destination. It doesn't take long until I'm pushing open the front door to the station. It's a small building, just big enough for the two of them. They don't even seem to have anyone looking after the front desk.

I'm surprised when I see the Sheriff inside a glass walled meeting room having what looks like a tense conversation with Chester. While the Sheriff looks calm and composed, Chester appears frustrated and uses his hands in an exaggerated way to convey whatever he's trying to say. Whatever it is, the glass walls are keeping their conversation private and I have to assume there is some sort of soundproofing in that room for interview purposes.

Eli looks up, scowling from his desk close by. Perhaps he is expecting trouble this morning, but the snarl vanishes from his face when he sees that it's me standing at the counter.

Without hesitation, he gets up and starts moving toward me. "Hey, Taylor," he greets, but his steps are interrupted when Chester starts storming out of the station with angry steps and his face twisted in rage. But just like Eli, the look disappears when he sees me standing there. I smile in greeting at all of them.

"I'd say good morning, but it's almost lunch already," Chester says. "And I didn't see you at the bakery earlier, sooo… have a late night?"

I laugh. The police station is not going to be where I admit that, yes, I had a late night killing a man who preyed on innocent women. "Something like that," I say in response.

"Then maybe I should take you to lunch," he suggests.

"Uh, I actually came to talk to the Sheriff," I say, glancing over at Sheriff Brooks, who is now observing us.

"Well, don't let me keep you," Chester says with a wink, but there's a seriousness behind his eyes. "Maybe later?"

"Maybe," I reply noncommittally, my attention shifting to the man I need to see.

He gives Chester a narrow-eyed look. "Chester, didn't you need to go sort those permits? Wasn't that what you were just complaining about?" he says pointedly, making Chester grind his teeth in frustration..

Chester sighs, clearly annoyed. "Yeah, yeah, I'm going," he mutters, giving me a quick nod before heading out of the station.

Eli watches Chester leave, then turns back to me. "What brings you in today, Taylor?"

"I need to report a missing person," I say, my tone serious.

Sheriff Brooks gestures for me to follow him to his office. "Let's talk in here," he says.

Once we're inside, he leaves the door open behind us, and I know Eli is listening in as he returns to his desk. "Who's missing?" he asks, getting straight to the point.

"A tourist I met a couple of days ago. Her name is Beth," I explain. "We were supposed to meet this morning, but she never showed up, and I haven't heard from her since."

The Sheriff listens attentively, jotting down notes. "When was the last time you saw her?"

"Yesterday, when we made plans to meet for coffee," I reply. "She seemed fine, excited even."

He nods. "Did she mention any plans? Anyone she was going to meet?"

"No, she didn't," I say, shaking my head. "She was taking one of the art classes but nothing else. She said she's met a lot of people since arriving here and she did hint at some issues back in the city she was trying to escape from. She was renting a place through Maddie."

Sheriff Brooks leans back in his chair, contemplating. "We'll look into it. But you know, sometimes tourists get caught up in the excitement and lose track of time. She might just show up later."

I appreciate his attempt to reassure me, but I already know differently. "I hope you're right."

"We will need to wait another day but I'll have Eli put out an alert as soon as he can and keep an eye out for her," he says, standing up. "In the meantime, if you hear anything, let us know."

"Of course," I say, getting up to leave. "Thank you, Sheriff."

At least I will be able to have Uncle Max see if they do create the missing person report. If they do, then it will eliminate them from my suspects at least, and it will have more people looking into it.

Sheriff Brooks walks me out of the station, his expression softening slightly as he tries to reassure me. "I'm sure she's just fine," he says. "Tourists here can be unpredictable. We'll find her."

"Thanks, Sheriff," I reply, trying to sound hopeful.

As we reach the front of the station, Eli calls out a goodbye from his desk. "Take care, Taylor."

"You too, Eli," I respond, waving back at him.

Sheriff Brooks gives me a final nod at the door. "If you need anything else, don't hesitate to come by."

"Will do," I say before stepping out into the bright midday sun. The bustle of the beachfront and the throngs of tourists suddenly feel overwhelming. The noise and activity are too much today.

Deciding to head back to the house, I make my way through the crowded street, my mind racing. When I finally reach the house, I let out a sigh of relief as I step inside. I feel so frustrated with everything today, my mind and body on edge.

I head to the kitchen, brewing myself a strong cup of coffee. As I sip it, I think about my next steps as I head toward the office. I decide to give Seanna a call, maybe hearing her voice will help and then I can be assured that at least she is okay.

I plop down in my chair, the warmth of the coffee soothing my frayed nerves. I dial Seanna's number and wait for her to pick up, tapping my fingers on the desk in a rhythmic pattern. The phone rings a few times before I hear the click on the line.

"If I hide…" I whisper into the phone.

"Then I'll seek…" comes her instant reply.

Her sigh down the line is an echo to mine, maybe we both needed to hear from each other today.

"You okay?" I ask, concerned.

"I was about to ask you the same thing," she responds, giving what can only be a self deprecating laugh. But she doesn't answer the question, and neither do I. We really are a matching pair after all.

We sit in silence for a moment, the weight of our mutual concern hanging in the air. Finally, Seanna speaks.

"Please make sure you're being careful, look after yourself first. What you're doing there comes second remember."

Her words have my concern rising. She has always been the one to throw herself headlong into an investigation. She isn't one to tell me to be careful, she's the one who tells me to seek adventure. Just as I go to press, try to make her tell me what is going on, she clears her throat.

"I'm sorry, I have to go, I love you," she says softly. We say a brief goodbye before the line goes dead.

I take a deep breath, trying to shake off the unease. Seanna is as capable as I am, and we have our own code words if we need to raise an alarm. She didn't say any of them. Maybe she's just as stressed with her investigation as I am with mine.

Pushing the thoughts away since it's not something I can solve right away, I place my phone on the desk and look over at the wall filled with my notes and the photographs of the victims. The list at the center catches my attention, twelve names, though I know I can cross at least one off the list now.

Now that I know that Cain and Abel aren't the ones killing the tourists, I wonder if the questions I asked them previously related to them, or the case I'm investigating. Picking up the phone I bring the messages up again. One of them stands out in particular, so I type a new message and press send.

You said there was a catalyst in our messages, were you talking about you two, or the serial killer?

As usual, I only have to wait a moment before a response comes through.

PSYCHO MASKED STALKERS

Both would be accurate. But unlike the others, ours didn't specifically cause us to kill. There were events that set this in motion, but it's our DNA that predetermined the darkness inside us.

Are we playing twenty questions again, little shadow? You know a question comes with a price.

I huff at the reminder, I should have known I wouldn't get the information for free. But at this point, maybe any price they offer will be worth it for answers.

I'll pay it.

PSYCHO MASKED STALKERS

Are you sure, darling girl? Remember, it won't always be as simple as a question.

I hesitate for a moment, my heart speeding up. I would bet by the wording that it's Cain on the other end of the phone. Is Abel there too? Could they potentially ask for something I wasn't able to give? Was I agreeing to something I potentially wouldn't agree to normally?

I guess that's their whole point. They want me to embrace a part of myself that until now I locked away inside.

They already claim that I'm theirs, I even have what I can only assume is their brand burned into my arm. How much fucking deeper could I possible get into their twisted web? Would they even let me return home once I have this solved? Do I want them to?

I'm sure.

PSYCHO MASKED STALKERS

Good girl. That mark on your arm needs caring for. Clean it and leave it uncovered. There are supplies in the bathroom.

I huff in annoyance. That isn't what I thought they would respond with and it means taking the time to do what they requested, instead of being able to ask more questions. But I know if I don't, they won't keep playing either. It's a test again, to see if I will pay the price as asked.

Yes, sir.

PSYCHO MASKED STALKERS

Don't play that game, Hydessa. Or that brand on your arm will be the least of your issues.

I shake my head, frustrated by Cain's cryptic warnings and commands. Cleaning and tending to the branded mark on my arm becomes my immediate task, though my mind churns with questions and uncertainties.

As I follow Cain's instructions begrudgingly, the feeling of being watched prickles at my skin again. I've combed this place for cameras a hundred times by now, how can they see me? It's like I can feel them watching at all times. Waiting.

Once the brand is cleaned I return to the office, leaving my shirt off so that the wound is left uncovered. I glance at my phone, wanting desperately to ask more details about the men beneath the masks. But as much as I want to know more about them, I need to find the serial killer first.

Why is the killer targeting tourists?

PSYCHO MASKED STALKERS

The tourist part isn't as important as the homeless part, or more specifically having no one who will care that they disappear. No one to walk into the police station and lodge missing persons reports…

My heart races at their reference to me doing exactly that this morning.

You know why I did it though, right?

PSYCHO MASKED STALKERS

We know.

Why were you so resistant to embracing a part of who you are?

Sadness threatens to overwhelm me as I think about the answer to their question. I had hoped for simple questions, simple tasks, but I should have heeded their warning. Nothing about the answer they are asking for is simple. But perhaps I can make my answer simple.

Embracing it doesn't always end well. Not everyone is able to handle the darkness inside me, they haven't in the past. Why risk it when I know how it will inevitably end?

PSYCHO MASKED STALKERS

Why not risk it for the chance of happiness? For the chance of the love you're afraid you will never find?

Because I've seen what embracing it does. It's not about risking happiness; it's about avoiding the pain it causes.

PSYCHO MASKED STALKERS

But what if that pain is just the start of something beautiful? A love greater than you've ever known, a connection deeper than any other?

That kind of love is a fairytale. My parents were lucky to have found it. But owning and embracing my darkness just led to pain.

PSYCHO MASKED STALKERS

Then you've seen only part of the story. Darkness can lead to light, pain can lead to healing. It's all about balance, little shadow.

I don't know if I believe in that balance anymore. It feels like darkness just consumes everything.

PSYCHO MASKED STALKERS

Then maybe it's time to change your perspective. Look beyond what you've seen and imagine what could be.

I huff out a breath. When did this turn into a debate about my life?

Easier said than done.

PSYCHO MASKED STALKERS

True, but sometimes the hardest paths lead to the greatest rewards. You've already embarked on a journey; why stop now?

I sigh heavily. They already asked this but in a different way, avoiding it this time isn't an option.

Because I'm afraid of where it might lead.

PSYCHO MASKED STALKERS

Fear is natural. It keeps us safe, but it also holds us back. Only you can decide if the risk is worth the reward.

I wish it were that simple.

PSYCHO MASKED STALKERS

Life is rarely simple, Hydessa. But the choices we make define who we are. Embrace your darkness or fight against it—it's your choice, but it won't simply disappear. And you know which side of that choice we will be on.

Did I not make that choice with what happened last night?

PSYCHO MASKED STALKERS

Think of it like a fork in the road. You want to think that you can turn back and take the other road. That not all choices are permanent unless you let it be.

Frustration fills me momentarily, my fingers clenching around the phone until I'm surprised the screen doesn't crack. Some choices are definitely permanent. Death is absolutely permanent. Losing my best friend as a child, also permanent.

Taking deep breaths, I try not to let that frustration out as I type my response.

Really? Because this brand on my arm feels awfully fucking permanent.

Oops.

PSYCHO MASKED STALKERS

Maybe you should have asked if that step would have been taken if you hadn't taken the one in the cave. If you hadn't taken many of the steps you have taken since stepping foot on this island. Each step you took was a choice, including coming here.

I've gotten the impression that even if I had chosen not to come here, you would have come after me.

PSYCHO MASKED STALKERS

And now you're learning, little shadow. Everyone gets to make their own choices in life, and you can't control them all. You chose to stop this serial killer, you chose to kill in that cave, you chose to start this game with us.

And we chose to never let you go.