40. Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Hydessa

T oday is the day.

The day the carnival opens and all of the rides, lights, foods, and games will be on display. Since the moment I saw the flyer in the bakery the day I arrived, I've felt an undercurrent of energy every time it's mentioned.

It has absolutely nothing to do with Cain fucking me in the house of mirrors.

But first, I needed to spend the day working on the investigation. I feel like I'm getting somewhere now.

When I finally dragged myself from the bed, I decided that I was going to go back to basics. I will clear everything from the drawing board and start with a clean slate. There are no masked stalkers, no twin with her own issues, no weird kinky sex clubs in random houses down the street.

I shudder at the memory. Honestly, this island should really come with a warning label.

All of the cuts and bruises on my body are healing nicely. Even the brand has started to heal as well, though I know it's a lot more permanent than the other marks. I trace the edges of it lightly with my fingertips, feeling the raised skin. It reminds me that I need to call and cancel the tattoo appointment with Ty, though somehow I doubt that Seanna and I will be able to still get away with changing places now that I've been marked like this.

Dressing in casual leggings and a loose shirt, I make myself a strong coffee, grab some of the cherry cookies I never ended up throwing out and proceed to the office. Putting my treats on the desk I turn to look at the investigation wall. It's a mess of notes, photographs and printouts.

Taking a deep breath, I proceed to take everything down.

The empty wall feels both daunting and liberating. I sit down with my coffee, taking a long sip as I let the caffeine fuel my resolve. I pull out my notebook and start from scratch, jotting down everything I know, everything I've learned, and the questions that still linger.

I need to focus on the facts, to strip away the distractions and the noise. I start with the basics: the victims, the locations, the timelines. Slowly, methodically, I begin to piece together a clearer picture, looking for connections I might have missed before.

Hours pass and before I know it, the sun starts to set. My third coffee is long gone, and the rest of the cookies have been reduced to crumbs. Remnants of a sandwich sit on a plate on the desk, but I've made progress. The wall is starting to take shape again, this time more organized, more coherent.

The puzzle is being filled in, and there's just a few more pieces to go before the picture is clear in front of me.

As I step back to review my work, a sense of accomplishment washes over me. I'm far from done, but I feel like I'm on the right track. And for the first time in days, I feel a glimmer of hope that I might actually crack this case.

Checking the time, I realize the carnival is already well underway and I missed the grand opening. I think after working all day I deserve a night out to just enjoy myself.

I quickly clean up, changing into a flowy black skirt and a bright blue sleeveless top. After locking the house, I walk down the darkened street toward the beachfront.

As I approach the carnival, the atmosphere envelops me. The air is filled with the smell of popcorn and cotton candy, the sounds of laughter, and the distant roar of rides. The bright lights reflect off the ocean, creating a magical scene.

Wandering through the array of people and flurry of excitement, I take in the night and all it has to offer. Children run past me squealing in excitement and I find myself smiling, the stress of the investigation momentarily forgotten.

As I walk, I notice familiar faces in the crowd. Near the house of mirrors, I pause, feeling a rush of memories from my encounter with Cain. Shaking my head, I push the thoughts aside and move on. This is a night for fun, for escaping the heaviness of my current reality.

I see Maddie and Allegra walking toward me, both of them grinning and waving enthusiastically.

"Hey, you made it!" Maddie calls out as they reach me.

"Of course," I reply, smiling. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."

We spend the next hour wandering the carnival together, laughing and enjoying the various attractions. And it's the first time in years, besides the moments with Cain and Abel, that I have felt truly alive in my own skin. I have my own friends and I'm actually enjoying my life.

At one point, I see Dr Lachlan Hughes in the distance and he grins and waves at me. My face flames at the memory of what I saw the previous night so I turn away from him quickly. When I do, I'm met with the curious faces of Allegra and Maddie.

"Ummm, I may have stumbled across a secret kink party last night," I confess to them.

They both laugh so hard that tears start streaming down their faces and my cheeks are on fire.

"Oh, babe, that is not secret at all. Lachlan has been the host since he arrived on the island, we're a bunch of kinky fuckers here," Maddie says between giggles.

"I believe we did try to tell you, this island is fucking twisted. Well, the locals are anyway. Now I'm sad I missed it last night, I could have given you a show," Allegra points out with a smile.

I stare at them both wide eyed. Jesus fucking Christ, is everyone here as dark and twisted as I am on the inside?

"Are you about to tell me you kill people in your spare time?" I jokingly say, and then almost stumble with the look they give each other. "Are you fucking kidding me?"

"Ummm, we kinda thought that was why you moved here to be honest. I mean you and your family aren't exactly unknown in certain circles of our community. But when you introduced yourself as Taylor, we figured you just wanted to hide for a bit, no pun intended," Maddie says with a grimace as we edge away from the crowds and toward a quieter area of the carnival.

My heart is officially racing in my chest. They have known who I am since the start? "Does everyone know?" I ask in astonishment.

They glance at each other again and I'm already dreading the answer. "Well, no, only some of us. And also just to clarify, Maddie hasn't killed anyone at all, her hands are totally clean, well murder clean anyway," Allegra responds quickly.

I slump against a wall at the edge of the carnival. Does this mean my investigation is tainted? Does the serial killer already know who I am? No, I think Cain and Abel would have told me if my cover was completely blown, right?

"But you have?" I ask Allegra, and a look crosses her face. I see it instantly, the darkness lurking beneath the face of the pretty baker.

"Let's call it self defense," she says with a shrug. "My ex-boyfriend chose the wrong woman to try to rape. The fact that I found out I wasn't the first one may have also had something to do with it too."

The revelation hits me like a freight train. Allegra's admission is both shocking and oddly comforting. In a twisted way, knowing that the people I've come to trust and care about have their own dark pasts makes me feel less alone in mine.

"Right, self-defense," I repeat, more to myself than to her. "That's... understandable. Even encouraged in those circumstances."

Allegra nods, her eyes softening as she looks at me. "We all have our skeletons. The island just seems to attract people with... complicated histories."

Maddie steps closer, her usual light-hearted demeanor replaced with a rare seriousness. "We may have our secrets, but we're here for you. Whatever you need, we've got your back."

I feel a warmth spreading through me, despite the chill in the evening air. This island, with all its quirks and secrets, is starting to feel like a place where I can belong and be accepted for who I really am. Hydessa, and not the mask of Taylor that I hide behind.

"Thanks," I say, my voice a little shaky. "I appreciate that. More than you know."

We stand there for a moment, a silent understanding passing between us. The noise and lights of the carnival fade into the background as I process everything.

After a few minutes, Maddie breaks the silence with a grin. "Come on, let's go find something fun to do. Enough heavy stuff for one night."

"Umm, I think I'm going to go for a walk. I have a lot to think about," I say, the weight of my reality pressing down on me. I need to know how many people know who I am, and then I might need to start over on the whole investigation. Maybe Sheriff Brooks will team up with me and we can figure it out together?

They both smile in understanding and give me hugs before returning to the main part of the carnival. As they leave, I take my time to wander alone. It feels like a curtain has parted, and now I'm looking at everyone in a different light. I knew Rye killed innocent people for his own pleasure, but the way the girls talked, the others had reasons or did things that were justified. They know who my family is, and our whole mission is to protect and save innocent lives.

Lost in my thoughts, I wander into a quiet room. It's empty in this part of the carnival, and the dim lighting gives it an almost eerie feel. I stand in the center of the room, trying to clear all the doubt and uncertainty from my mind. I sigh heavily, unsure of where to go with my investigation from here.

Glancing up, I notice a series of frames around the room. The dim light is due to the walls being painted black to match the content of the frames. Each piece is done in blacks, reds, and golds, and they look breathtaking. I'm surprised no one else is in here looking at them, but I suppose the main attractions at carnivals are rides and sideshows.

The frame directly in front of me is of a heart, so I move toward it. There are cracks throughout the piece, tiny lines that at first almost look like veins until I get closer. There's a little sign beneath it, and I glance at what it says: "Bethany's Beating Heart."

I frown, wondering how long the piece has been around if it's cracking like this. I reach out, touching one of the cracks and a tiny part of the picture comes away with my finger. I try to look at it closer but the lights are dim making it hard. Rubbing my fingers together, it feels like the paint has become powdery so I bring it to my nose. The scent of copper assaults my senses.

I hear someone enter the hallway behind me. ‘Can I ask who did this art piece?' I ask, assuming it's the attendant for the attraction, but only silence answers me.

Turning to look behind me, I'm surprised by the neon green mask. Abel, why are you here, now?

I smile as he moves toward me silently, and I'm half anticipating his touch already. The flash of his knife catches my attention and I step back, my back pressing to the art piece. Abel has never played with me using a knife, it's always been Cain's thing. But there is no mistaking the sharp edge of the blade when he holds it under my jaw.

My heart rate picks up as the cool metal presses against my skin, my lips part on a silent gasp. He still hasn't said anything, and now something feels off. He tilts his head as he presses the sharp edge harder until I feel the sting of it, a whimper escaping me. I feel the warm trickle of blood, running down my throat and into the valley between my breasts.

Something still doesn't feel right though.

When he pulls the knife away, holding the blade up to the limited light of the room, I see crimson droplets drip from it. His posture almost looks like he's entranced as he stares at it. My stomach drops, and I shove hard against his chest, but he's immovable.

When I try again, he brings the knife back down sharply. Pain explodes at the side of my head and the last thing I see before everything goes black is the neon green of his mask.