"Any last words?" Alma whispered, her voice a silken caress.
"Please Alma … don't, we're cousins " Lily managed, her voice barely a whisper.
Alma chuckled softly, the sound chilling. "Too late for that, my dear." And with a swift motion, she plunged the knife into Lily's stomach, twisting it cruelly as she watched blood drip from her mouth which whispered a word before the light faded from her eyes.
Blood splattered against the wall, painting the bricks in a gruesome tribute to the horror that had unfolded. Alma stepped back, admiring her work, the satisfaction of power coursing through her.
As she turned and left, the moon shone brightly overhead, illuminating the scene of carnage.
**LIVING ROOM, LATE NIGHT***
The living room exuded opulence, its grandeur tempered by an undercurrent of tension. Golden bulbs, like miniature suns, cast a warm glow over the plush furnishings, but the atmosphere was heavy with unease. The clock on the wall ticked away with deliberate slowness, each tick echoing through the silence like a warning. Outside, a soft drizzle whispered against the windows, its gentle patter a stark contrast to the turmoil that seemed to seep from the very walls.
Martha sat rigidly on the couch, her hands clenched around her phone like a lifeline. Her face was deathly pale, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and anxiety. Despite the room's luxurious trappings, she looked fragile and vulnerable, her usual composure frayed by some unseen force.
Cathy, her 18 year old daughter, paces back and forth glancing at the window every few seconds. The sound of rain pattering against the glass adds to the tension.
Martha glancing at the clock sighed deeply "It's almost ten, Catherine, she should have been back hours ago, it's not like Lily to stay out this long without calling" .
Cathy stopped near the window, looking out into the dark street "I know mom, she's never done this before, I've called a hundred times but it just goes straight to voicemail". Martha leaned forward, her voice trembling "What could be taking her so long, she's usually so punctual, what if... what if something happened to .... She trailed off.
Cathy turned sharply interrupting her "Don't say that mom, we don't know anything yet". Martha shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks "I can't just sit here, we need to do something "
Cathy sighed before turning back to the window.
"Tell me the truth Catherine, where was Lily when you last saw her at school?" Martha asked, her voice laced with worry.
"She told me she wanted to accompany her friend, Jake to his house , then she'll take the bus home" Cathy answered looking down.
"Who's Jake?" Martha asked. Before Cathy could answer, the phone on the coffee table suddenly vibrates startling them both. Martha immediately grabs it, her hands shaking as she answers it frantically "Hello? Yes, this is Martha Barker..... what?! ... No... that can't be, are you sure...yes, yes , we'll come right away". She hangs up her face ashen, Cathy rushes to her side
"What is it? Who was that?" Cathy asked, her voice laced with panic , Martha barely able to speak replied "The police. They found a girl... a girl who looks like Lily".
Cathy's eyes went wide "Looks like her? What does that mean?"
Martha stood up, grabbing her coat "They didn't say much. Just that we need to come and identify her."
Cathy grabs her jacket, her voice shaking "No. No, it's not her. It can't be her."
The two rush out into the stormy night, the rain soaking them as they get into the car. The drive is tense and silent, except for the sound of the windshield wipers and Matha's shallow breathing.
---
★ A DARK ALLEY NEAR THE STREETS ★*
Police lights flash red and blue, illuminating the rain-soaked alley. The area is cordoned off with yellow tape. Officers mill about, their faces grim. Cathy and Martha pull up and park hastily. They get out and are met by a police officer.
"Mrs. Barker?" The officer asks , his voice gentle
Martha nodded quickly " Yes. Where is she?"
The officer looking hesitant replied "This way. But I need to warn you... it's not easy to see."
Cathy clutched her mother's arm "We just need to know if it's her."
The officer leads them to a spot where two bodies lie under sheets, partially illuminated by the flashing lights. Martha gasps, covering her mouth, and Cathy freezes, her eyes wide with horror.
"We found these two about an hour ago. A passerby reported seeing the bodies." The officer said.
He kneels and carefully lifts the sheet off the first body. It's a young girl with long brown hair, blood staining her shirt where she was stabbed in the stomach. Her face is bruised, and her arm lies at an unnatural angle.
Martha began sobbing as she clutched Cathy "Oh my God."
"That's... that's Lily." Cathy whispered, her voice breaking
Martha collapses to her knees, crying uncontrollably. Cathy stands frozen, staring at her sister's lifeless face.
The officer gently lowers the sheet back over Lily "I'm so sorry for your loss".
Barely able to speak Cathy asks "Who's the other body?"
The officer moving to the second sheet replies "It's a young man. We believe he was with her."
He lifts the sheet to reveal Jake, Lily's boyfriend. His face is bloodied, and there are deep gashes across his torso. His neck shows signs of strangulation.
Cathy backs away, her voice shaking "Oh my God. That's Jake".
Martha who was still sobbing her cried amidst muffled words "Why? Why would someone do this?"
" We don't know yet" The officer said "Both victims appear to have been attacked with a knife, and there are signs of a struggle."
" You have to find who did this. You have to find them!" Cathy yelled angrily
" We're doing everything we can" The officer tried to assure her "Do you know if Lily and Jake had any enemies? Anyone who might want to harm them?". Martha sook her head, still crying "No they were just kids"
Cathy spoke through gritted teeth "They stayed late at school sometimes. They might've been alone when—" she trailed off.
The officer nodded "We'll investigate further. I'm so sorry for your loss".