Chapter 18: A Buttons Connection

(Trigger warning: Talks of murder, serial killings.)

Hue

Why did June need to know about that house? He wasn't even alive when the murders took place.

"She said he left abruptly yesterday after making copies of several articles. She wasn't at the service desk that day. She doesn't know exactly what he took." Cas whispered urgently as if she were scared of something.

"You can't find out?"

"No, it's against their policy. Only the one at the desk who approved it for him knows. You don't think this has anything to do with his mom, right? I can't really think of any other reason, though. Was his mom also a serial killer? Oh my god, what if his mom was a psychopath?"

"Don't talk about his mother like that. Besides..." I trailed off. I started to doubt everything again. The murders happened after June Sekin died. When April moved, nobody knew where she went. It could've been possible she had done it.

I continued. "Don't just theorize that because it is convenient for you. You don't know why he was reading that story, but I won't let you make up a story in your head just because you like to believe he's crazy. Do you just need some excitement in your life? Is that it?"

"I'm telling you, Hue. If his mom really did that, what kind of monster do you think he is? Raised by a murder? He could be lying right to your face." Cas's words angered me.

"How can say that about someone? I think you are the one whos a monster, you ugly two-faced bitch." I didn't need to see her face as I walked away; I was just happy to have gotten that off my chest. I heard her stomping away down the alley.

When I walked back into the gym, I saw June sitting on the stage, contently watching the freshman struggle to get a shot off.

"Why were you back there? Are you sure you're okay?" June quickly quizzed me once I reached him.

"I just wanted fresh air."

"Are you sure?"

"Mm"

I couldn't tell him that I was talking to Cas. As much as I hated what she said about June, I was a little uneasy. If he knew I knew, he would get more and more distant from me. I didn't know how he would react.

"Let's go home."

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June

The snacks didn't get stuck in the machine that time. Maybe it was luck, or may it was the world tell me I need to be in the gym. When I returned, Hue wasn't anywhere to be seen. I saw some girls looking over by the back entrance and whispering, so that told me that was probably where he was. As I got closer, I could hear him. He was talking to Cas. Apparently Cas's mom worked at the library; she was probably the same one who was nosy about what I was reading. I guess the apple didn't fall far from the tree.

I heard Cas was calling my mom a serial killer, like she knew anything. Just when I thought Hue was going to defend me, he went silent. I thought about last week, what he said.

Right.

Of course he wouldn't defend me, I guess I was just being hopeful that I had at least Hue on my side.

He didn't have to know I heard the conversation, so I went to stage acting as if nothing was wrong. But in reality, everything was wrong. When he came back, I asked him what he was doing back there and if he was alright.

"I just wanted so fresh air," He quickly lied. I figured I should give him another shot to tell the truth.

"Are you sure?"

"Mm"

He lied to me again.

"Lets go home."

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Why would he lie? I gave him a chance to tell the truth, but he still lied to my face. And Cas. All of this over newspaper articles? It wasn't her business anyways, why does she care so much? Why is Cas so convinced that i am sick in the head? Maybe she was trying to make me look bad, trying to get rid of me. Maybe she was the crazy one.

Article after article, page after page i searched for more on the case but the case was quickly ruled as suicide with no real investigation. I guess that would explain the diary still being in his house. The police just didn't care to look. Since it was closed quickly, there wasn't anything more I could find out that I didn't already know.

I went there early in the morning, which I guess is when Cas's mom saw me. Walking through piles of old newspapers and books, I looked for anything that could even slightly be related, but nothing caught my eye until I saw a story I've heard before. Something I've seen before and something that I wish I hadn't found that morning.

June 1st, 2016

"Murder of family under investigation"

I knew the story already, everyone had. A family of five found dead in their home, the suspect was a serial killer that had been running lose. It was something I heard about when I was a kid but I never thought much about it. Just a poor family that fell victims to a deranged killer.

But something else caught my eye. It was a picture of a button on the newspaper article.

I read it slowly. Apparently it had been found at the scene, but it didn't match with any of the victim's clothes.

But what it did match was my mother dress.

One she brought out frequently but never wore.

Because it was missing a button