Chapter 21: To be on alert

"I can't believe that happened. I mean for it to happen so close by, it's scary." Said Tasha

"Scary? It's soul wrecking! Emily, how come you look so refreshed and calm?" Asked Kat. I just shrugged. 

"I may look calm on the outside, but I'm a nervous wreck. I keep seeing the woman looking burnt and bloody."

"So what really happened? Normally they show up that way, but this woman literally flung herself in front of you guys. And she turned up like that. That's very strange."

"Yeah, the police still haven't said anything yet. How did you guys even find out?"

"Shawn told Mike and he told Carl and you know how it goes." I took a sip of my cappuccino. We were at a small cafe downtown, seated at a round table.

"Oh Emily, I'm so sorry you have to witness our city like this. This has never happened before." Karla said to me.

"Whoever is doing this is a full fledged psychopath. We can't move around without being afraid now." Kat said. She seemed to be fidgeting a little.

"I'm sorry too. I feel like running back to San Francisco right now. At least I never witnessed a murder there."

"Technically she was dead." 

"Then how did she get in front of them Kat?" Asked Tasha.

"I don't know, don't judge me." 

"Hello, ladies." I heard a male voice say. I saw Karla smile widely.

"Hi Scott." 

"Haven't seen you guys for a while. Whose your new friend?" The guy asked. I looked up to see him properly.

"Emily, this is Scott. Scott, Emily's new here."

"Hi." I said.

"Hey, you guys know how to scoop the pretty faces for yourselves." I curled my eyebrows. 'What does he mean by that?'

"And what do you mean by that?" Kat asked.

"You know what I mean. Well, I have to get going. Hope I'll see you around Emily." I gave him a smile, although it didn't reach my eyes.

"Yeah sure." I muttered and took a big gulp out of my coffee. He left and chattering once again filled our table.

"What is he doing back here? I thought he moved away?" Asked Kat.

"You're asking us? I mean, we just saw the guy too. It could be change of plans." Tasha reasoned 

"Whatever it is we'll find out later." They all looked towards me. I frowned slightly at this.

"What?"

"Nothing, you were just kind of rude to him."

"Yeah Emily, and you're never mean to someone. What happened?"

I sighed reluctantly. "I guess I was a little rude. But you can't blame me! Anyone will be on the edge after what happened three days ago." I reasoned.

"Completely understandable." Kat said with a bubbly smile. We finished our drinks, paid and left.

"Do you think the murderer is walking on this very road right now?" Kat asked. I snapped my head towards her.

"Kat!"

"It's very possible! I literally cannot look at someone right now without thinking that they might be a psychopath acting like a normal human being." 

"So right now you think that one of us are psychopaths?" Asked Tasha.

"Not you guys, just new people." Kat was absolutely right. I couldn't see or meet someone without thinking that they might know something about all of these crazy deaths. It was terrifying. 

My parents kept talking about the woman's death, which was all over the news as usual. I avoided the conversation, trying not to remember it.

I just kept praying that nothing makes them find out that I was at the scene of the crime. That I even made a statement to the police. They'd be furious! For risking my life and for avoiding my punishment. For sure I'd be grounded for weeks.

"Come on Emily, I'm taking you home." I bade the girls goodbye and we started our journey to my house. 

Karla reminded me of Courtney. A mother hen protecting her chicks. Courtney would always chase people away from me, especially the toxic girls from school. I can't count how many times she has almost pulled out a girl's hair all because she tried to bully me even though she knows I won't stand for it.

I might seclude myself from other people, but I will never let them bully me. Sure I might be nervous about large crowds or crazy teenagers, but when I get in front of them, I'll try not to show my fear. That way, they can never beat me down.

"Thanks Karla." I said when we arrived at my house.

"No problem. I'm just glad we didn't run into anyone." She said with a serious face. The thought of that made me shiver.

"Yeah, I'm very glad. Bye." I stepped down from her car. She reversed and drove off. I shrugged off my backpack to look for my house keys. 

"Hey!" I shrieked at the foreign person's voice. But then I realised that it was the same guy from the cafe 

"Hey....you." I said with gritted teeth. He then had a look of remorse.

"Sorry, did I scare you?"

"Yes you did! Why are you here? Are you following me?!"

"No, no! I was just here to see a friend."

"Hmhm." I seriously didn't believe him. 

"Seriously." He gave me a smile and I let out a sigh. This guy was friends with Karla and the girls. Why am I treating him like this?

"Is this your house?"

"Yes, obviously." He nodded slightly. 

"Cool, I knew the person who used to live here."

"Of course you did." He gave me a weird look. I then rephrased my words.

"Karla also knew them and you two are friends right?" 

"Yes, yes. Of course." I realised that he was staring at me weirdly. This made me buzz weirdly. Like a warning sign.

"I know you don't like me and you're wondering why I'm here."

"I never said I didn't like you, I just don't know you yet."

"Yeah. I just wanted to apologise for what I said at the cafe. It was quite crude. I shouldn't have said that." He said with a sorry tone. I nodded in approval.

"You truly shouldn't have. But don't worry about that."

"So we're good?" He had a hopeful look in his eyes.

"Yeah." I gave him a real smile this time. A full blown grin spread on his face.

"Thank you. We should start over, I'm Scott Williams." He held out his hand.

"Emily Hernandez." I took his hand in a firm grasp. I then unclasped our hands.

"I'll see you later, Scott Williams." He smiled wistfully.

"I hope so, Emily." I watched him leave and I sighed. I unlocked the door. When I checked the streets, I saw that Scott had disappeared.

But it wasn't up to ten seconds I saw him. Or was his house closeby? And even if that was so, he couldn't have gotten there within ten seconds, could he?

'That's spooky, very spooky.'