Editor’s Note: This story is a work of fiction published in the fun spirit of Halloween. This story is on the opinion page and is a work of fiction, not a factual account of events in Cibola County.
It is difficult to hold a proper funeral for fellow officers when a killer, or even two, are still on the loose. Many people are leaving their homes, as they did the year before, to stay with relatives, where it is safe. But there is still prey left. Not a day goes by where fear isn’t the main mood. Black dahlia’s have appeared in many places, much gloomier and alarming than the moonflowers from the year before. The towns dilemma has once again received very much attention from the media, being a main story on the news. Families of victims have appeared on it, as well as police officers. The families of the young adults that had died were at the mortuary when Mortimer lit in in flames. Every single one of them burned. Dozens of theories have come up such as Mortimer isn’t human, he gets a special power in October, he didn’t get help escaping, he has a twin, and much more. Some even believe it is a stunt to bring more attention to the small city.
But their obviously false theories doesn’t matter. What matters is that innocent people are dying and no one knows how to stop it. The daytime no longer feels safe, for people still die. The night is even more terrifying. Every time a dog barks one can imagine Mortimer coming for them. Every time the clouds cover the moon, one can imagine death isn’t far. Fear is a constant, even for the attention craving teenagers. They stopped messing around after several more incidents, resulting in nearly twenty-five deaths. A black dahlia was left at each and each had a note.
More shall burn Revenge is Mine Foolish are those who stay Death seeks its prey No one is safe from death A citizen has an idea and goes to the police department to tell them about it. “So we know Mortimer is like, impossible to catch, so what if we leave a letter asking about why he does this and what he wants. Then, if he responds, we might have a decent amount of information to be able to figure out how to nab him.”
The officers decide to give it a chance, as ridiculous as it sounds. For the fifth time that month, they go the Morthill and search it, finding nothing. They then leave the note in the mailbox.
The officers on the nightshift are extra cautious. The watch the many cameras they had set up around the city, as well as patrols, with two others.
An officer reviews the video taken when Mortimer was sentenced to a lifetime in a confined asylum. Mortimer’s face was neutral, only when he spoke could you hear the true fury he held within. The officer replays it over and over again, hoping to find something new.
The power goes out for a few seconds. But those few seconds were enough time for someone to open the door and slip in. A dagger hits one officer, than another from a different direction, soon only two officer are left, back to back, in the center of the office. Not a single sound could be heard, other than their racing hearts.
Suddenly a feminine voice whispers “Know that your death will not be at the hands of Mortimer, but of mine.”
When he dayshift officer arrive to the horrific scene, they find flowers and a note “Death is inevitable, so why prolong it? Humans are fools, so why let them live? The only things humans are reliable in is dying, so why not make them reliable? For if you can find a valid answer to these questions, I will cease my terror on this small city. But know, death will find its way, if not through me, than through another…”