seacosmos
Notable Member
- Apr 22, 2017
- 8,829
- 62,649
WARNING: Slightly graphic depictions of murder. Don’t say I didn’t tell you!
➳
➳
Prologue
Melanie Kurez POV
My eyes were beginning to falter, as I stayed up later into the night. Surrounded by only darkness and shadows, I focused on my computer screen. Now’s not the time to scare the crap out of yourself, Mel.
Slithering over my keyboard went my fingers, typing as fast as they could. Slowly, I was starting to develop a headache from looking at my computer’s screen for so long, at the glaring blue light. Yet, I kept typing. This report needed to be done by tomorrow, or else I might as well say goodbye to my job.
There was a sound of the wheels of an office chair screeching across the floor. It didn’t go far, but it happened, and that was enough for me to start taking deep breaths and telling myself that it wasn’t real.
How wrong I was.
My eyes flickered from my computer screen to the left and right of my vision every so often. My skin was crawling with terror and anticipation. As fast as a cheetah, I finished up the report and clicked on, “send”.
Then, my vision darkened, as my breathing was blocked by a knife being shoved right in and out the other side of my throat. My neck felt like it wanted to just snap, and have my head roll across the ground; it felt too heavy. However, it didn’t, and my attacker pulled out the knife. My eyes were already shut by now, a lack of energy and oxygen starting to tug at my soul.
I felt the person push me off the chair, face first onto the ground. For what I assume was simply good measure, they stabbed my back repeatedly. Red liquid poured out, and stained my clothing, the ground, and the stupid knife.
I turned to my side, and although the darkness prevented me from seeing my attacker’s face, I got see their long, brown curls surround their face.
I recognised them immediately.
My eyes went wide. My soul tried to stay in my body, for just a bit more, and I tried to scream.
Instead, I choked on my own blood.
Then, everything faded to black, and I was no longer Melanie Kurez of Cameo town, the cheerful accountant at the front desk to help people with financial problems. In lieu, I was now the soul of a deceased woman.
Darkness was what surrounded me during my death. Now, it will surround be for eternity.
➳
Chapter 1 * A Sudden Death
Anthony Fustian’s POV
Anthony Fustian’s POV
Sheldon Haze’s screams were ear piercing. Quickly, as soon as I was out the elevator, I ran to where he was. I checked for a pulse, and thankfully there was one. Then I looked around, searching for what had shaken him up to the point of screaming and fainting.
My eyes were quick to spot it - a dead body. I could recognise who it was almost immediately, thanks to the red flames of hair that curled around her face and neck. Only one person had red hair in the whole of the Cameo Insurance Bankers company - Melanie Kurez. I gulped back a shriek, and took out my phone. Visibly, I was shaking. It took me nearly a whole minute just to dial 911.
“Hello? This is Cameo Town local police. How may I help you?” an officer answered.
“T-there’s been a murder…” I mumbled. Stumbling over my words, I tried to give my location to the officer, but they came as rushed and unclear statements. I had to repeat it.
“Okay. Stay calm, and whatever you do, do not under any circumstances touch or disturb the victim’s body. Police will be there in approximately 3 minutes. Stay calm,” the officer told me solemnly. Stupidly, I nodded, before realising they couldn’t see me.
“Y-yes ma’am…” I swallowed the bile that had risen up from my stomach to my throat. I felt unsettled, and sick. Very sick. I wanted to go to the bathroom, vomit until my body was left with nothing inside, but I didn’t. The police were coming, they would need me to show them where the body was, ask me questions…
“Hello? Sir? Are you still there? The police are at the building, they are coming up,” the police officer said. Slowly, I took 3 deep breaths, just as the officers came from the elevator.
“Um..hi,” I say. “Th-there…” I point toward Melanie Kurez’s lifeless body, and the police rush to it. One, a female with dashing midnight black hair and sparkling emerald green eyes, comes toward me.
“Detective Gusto. Who is this, and are they alive? What is the victim’s name? What is yours?” The questions spilled from her mouth quickly, like a drink that was toppled over accidentally.
“I’m Anthony Fustian. This is Sheldon Haze, he screamed and then fainted when he saw Miss Melanie Kurez, the victim. Mr Haze has a slight...fear of blood,” I reply. “I’m the janitor, Mr Haze and Miss Kurez however are accountants.”
Detective Gusto scribbles all I say on a notepad. She then asks me questions, like “Do you know anyone who might’ve wanted to do this?”, “Do you think you can pinpoint a time of death?” and “What motive do you think the murderer could’ve had?”
Answers bubbled in my head, like a cauldron of ideas, about to be used in a witch’s potion. Yet, for some reason, my gut told me not to tell Detective Gusto. She seemed...off. So, I just gave simple answers, like, “I don’t know” or “Maybe between 10 and 12”.
Gusto simply nodded, then gave me her number. She told me to contact her if need be, and also to tell Sheldon to go to the police station for questioning. Once she was gone, I let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding.
Behind me, Sheldon was starting to come to. I offered him a ride home, and Sheldon nodded, his head bobbing up and down fast. I lead him down to the parking lot, where my car was in a secluded corner. Yes, it was old and beat up, but it did the job of getting me around, so to me, it was perfect.
The ride was quiet, and slightly awkward, but mostly it was fine. One good thing was that Sheldon lived next door to me, so I didn’t need to ask for directions. As we get there, Sheldon asks me a question.
“Who do you think did it?” he whispers, as if he was talking to himself, but I knew, somehow, that it was for me.
“Honestly? Well, Kurez broke it off with Lucas recently, he has a high chance of having been the perpetrator,” I reply. Sheldon nods slowly.
“Well, anyway, thanks for the ride. I appreciate it. I guess I’ll see you around,” Sheldon says. He gets out the car, and then I park it and get out too.
I don’t tell Sheldon that Kurez was recently in a fight with Rose, my wife.
➳
It’s been quiet lately. There have been speculations, about who might’ve killed the lovely Melanie Kurez, who was loved by pretty much everyone. Her cheerful attitude and flaming red hair made a beautiful mix, accompanied by her humour and kindness, it was a recipe for perfection.
The autopsy results had come up with nothing, except that Melanie was stabbed. Which was quite obvious, but they said so anyway. Oh, and estimated time of death was between 11 PM and 1 AM. 111. Huh.
On the day of her funeral, almost half of everyone in town came. Cameo is a small town, surrounded by forest. Our population is barely 5,000. It was sad, to say the least. Kurez’s mom cried a river, but she was still strong enough to say a small speech, about how Kurez had turned out as the best daughter she could’ve ever wished for.
They buried the body near the edge of the cemetery, where a river ran. “The fishes will be great company to her…” the man who was burying her had said.
Work continued still, and as always it was still tiring. The only changes were that I need not clean the table at which Kurez had sat.
However some names are very obvious and if they’re shipped and you are that person I am sorry XD Well...not completely. 
