14 Part 13

[Present-Lara]

Lara didn't know why she lied to the police when they asked her once again if she had any suspects. She knew who was behind all this. She knew who was hurting the students. She wanted to but something within her knew she would be in a lot of trouble if she confessed. The fact that the killer was right outside the door listening when she was being talked to by Officer Andrews didn't help at all.

She remained calm and composed throughout the entire session. Now that the police knew Lara was the one this person wanted they began to monitor her. She didn't get a chance to talk to him and ask what he wanted from her and she knew it was only the matter of a time before he came for her and she had no idea what she would do then.

She sometimes wished she had Lucien's intelligence. He had taught her how to cope with the strangest of situations but she still had a long way to go. She didn't mind dying. She had nothing to live for. She had things she wanted to do but living was tough. She wished she could go back to the way things were before any of this happened – before her father died and before those police officers...

"What are you thinking about?" She looked up and saw Michael standing by her desk. It was lunch time and she was chewing on a bagel even though she had no appetite.

"Just who your next target might be," she replied with a short, fake icy cold smile.

"Oh come on, I only killed him to make a point. Plus you do know I would never hurt you right?" he took a chair from the back and sat close to her. The hair at the back of her neck stood up but she didn't show any signs of fear or discomfort otherwise.

Most of the students had left and the others were busy in their own world, some using phones – others talking to their friends. "I didn't want to hurt him that bad. He just wanted to shout is why I stabbed him."

"Doesn't it bother you? People fighting for their life when you stab them?" she asked him with a surprisingly calm voice though her insides were shaking. She knew how to mask her emotions well for sure, Michael noted.

"How did you know?" he leaned forward so nobody else could hear and the police officer patrolling outside seemed to be distracted. "You know I have hurt people before, don't you?"

"Yes, I do. I had to find out."

She had always been good at finding things out. This talent had proved to be deadly to her once but she couldn't help herself. She needed to know who she was dealing with. She had had her suspicions from the very beginning and when they got confirmed she had dedicated all her time into finding out more about Michael. When internet didn't do the trick like it had previously she resorted to other way. She had asked the teachers and found out as much as she could from his friends. Michael wasn't able to keep an eye on her all the time – he had his own classes to attend.

He looked completely sane but his behavior terrified her.

He had reportedly stabbed his sister when he was seven and was sent to a mental institution. Officer Andrews had told her this himself and even they suspected him and had begun to keep an eye on him. So basically they both were being followed. But for the last week Michael had not attacked or hurt anybody knowing fully well it was a risk.

Some of the students had refused to come after hearing about what had happened on campus while others continued their classes.

"Forget about that," he smiled and pulled her close. "You will become my girlfriend, won't you? I can spend the night at your place, right?"

"What will happen if I say no?" she asked.

"You know Maya lives in the opposite apartment from mine?" he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "It would be easy to sneak out at night and kill her and come back, she lives alone after all. The blood will be on your hands, Lara. The police don't follow me around like a puppy at night. So would you refuse?"

"I don't want another death on my hands," she said. "I will be your girlfriend. Just don't hurt people anymore. You wanted to make a point and I have taken the hint. Leave everyone else alone."

"Ooh bossy, I like it," he smiled like an innocent child. "Another death you say? Does that mean, you kill too? See, we are a perfect match!"

"Lara."

"Officer?" she looked up at the sound of his voice.

"I just wanted to know if you guys have been able to find out anything," he said. "The case is running rather slow without any potential leads."

"Who do you think is behind all this, Parker?" Michael turned to him. "By the way, she is my girlfriend now."

"Congratulations," Parker eyed him. "Do you think it was a good idea to propose to her now though? I mean this stalker she has seems to want her – if it's just a romantic obsession we are yet to know but I don't think this was the smartest of moves."

"I will take on anyone who comes our way."

Oh really?

Her phone ringed. The text made her face go pale. Michael was sitting right in front of her so who was this person who was texting her? The number was private.

"Who is it?" Michael snatched the phone out of her hand and Officer Andrews left to take a call. "Who is this?"

"I would like to know the same thing," Lara answered. "You were the only one who texted me from unknown numbers."

"Could it be Lucien, your childhood sweetheart?"

Her heart stopped. What the fuck was he saying? As if he understood her unspoken question he explained. "Parker told me about this crazy stalker you had back in high school and you were in a relationship with him but he died or something."

"They did suspect him but little do they know the murderer is right in front of me," Lara grinned displaying all her teeth. To anyone from outside it would look like they were happy and discussing something funny when the reality was far from that. "Maya is too traumatized to come, ain't she?"

"I guess I did hurt her a little," he said, shrugging nonchalantly.

"A little?" Lara raised an eyebrow. She could not believe herself. She was sitting in front of a killer and having a calm conversation. If anything, she should be panicking her guts out now but she couldn't do that even if she wanted to.

Guess dating a murderer did that to her.

"So can I come, babe?" he asked softly. She realized how wrong she had been when she thought he was just so shy and innocent to the point she even started having feelings for him. He did nothing but disgust her now.

He killed his best friend without a thought. This man had no sympathy.

"Sure," she found herself saying, knowing fully well that she didn't have the privilege to say 'no'.

After classes ended for the day they started walking towards the general direction of her home. "Do you usually walk?"

"Its close by," she answered. She didn't want to talk much and instead tried to focus on a plan to get him out of his life. She had to go to the police and tell them about him but she had no time. She couldn't call them because Michael was tracing all her calls and probably had bugged her clothes. She had very few options left which made everything riskier. The last thing she wanted was to have blood on her hands but she promised herself she wouldn't let it go that far. She wasn't going to sleep with him even if that meant he would kill her otherwise.

She decided she would just stab him while making out and then run to the police. But could she do it in time? Was he really that weak? He certainly didn't look the part.

"You're thinking so hard, are you trying to defy me?" he chuckled. "I won't let you go, ever. You are mine and mine alone to have."

The sky was a deep red and yellow. The sun was setting and the sight was beautiful. She wished she could stand and appreciate nature more but she had more important things to attend to at hand.

"Would you kill anyone who gets in the way of our relationship?" she said the word with as much disgust as she could master.

"Yes I will," He replied within a heartbeat. "I love you."

She stopped walking. They were in the middle of a deserted road, not even a car was in sight. She knew she had one shot at this. It was an 'either die or be dead' situation. She would prefer to be dead than hand herself over to someone who kills without any hesitation. She didn't like him. He wasn't Lucien. She would do anything for Lucien but she refused to take the blame for someone like Michael. She promised herself she would not let him shed more blood because of her.

"But I don't." She pulled out a gun from the back of her jeans and a gunshot echoed in the silence of the afternoon.

Michael's eyes went wide as he realized what had just happened. He had been shot. The bullet had gone through his heart, tearing through his skin. He didn't even get enough time to scream as he dropped down to the ground.

Lara looked down at him in distaste, not even batting an eyelash. As Michael's body went limp she looked up at the person standing a few inches away from them.

He had messy dark hair and brilliant grey eyes. Her eyes were fixated on the man's form, drinking every inch of his appearance in. He was wearing a loose white shirt with an oversized black coat on top. She realized she still had her gun pointed at him so she lowered it.

"Said I would be back."

The gun from his hand reflected back the dying sunlight of the afternoon. An empty bullet shell laid on the ground in front of him.

She suddenly knew she had not dreamed her encounter with Lucien the night Nora died.

For even in this broad daylight she couldn't miss the fact that he was right here and he had just shot Michael seconds ago with a broad grin on his face. 

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