How on earth was Channel 4 News supposed to know that releasing
an expose on the history of the town’s foreclosed mental institute would cause
such a panic? The place had been closed for half a decade- why all the fuss
now? Okay… so maybe Kira could have edited out the part about that one escaped
patient but how were we supposed to know that the town would start a riot? Gosh,
for being a town of weather-hardened farm hands, these people were all so
jumpy.
There’s
supposed to be a town meeting that starts in five minutes about the whole affair.
After the article was released, some of the women and town have claimed that
they’ve seen the “insane escapee” over recent years, and the mayor hopes to
refute their allegations. The mayor has actually done a fairly good job at
handling the whole situation. I think the only reason the whole town isn’t in
anarchy is because of is exceptional leadership.
…
So far
the meeting is a bore. The witnesses of the “insane escapee” have nothing more than
porous stories about unprovable events. The mayor seems to quickly be calming
the crowd down and the meeting might actually be over fairly soon. The mayor is
just about to give a closing statement when…
“Ladies
and Gentleman, I am going to have to request a ten minute recess. We will
return in a moment.” Murmurs ripple through the crowd as the mayor and his
assistant walk out of the room. I dart out after them, hoping this is my chance
to get an exclusive for Channel 4.
The air’s
cooler in the hallway and the lights ominously flicker. There is the loud thud
from down the hall and I nearly jump out of my skin. I must look ridiculous,
terrified out of my wits over normal noises. It almost makes my laugh. I continue
down the hallway until I hear the mayor’s voice behind one of the doors.
I start
my introduction before I walk through the door. “Hello, Mayor Hindan- my name
is Ja-“
The
sight on the other side of the door freezes me to the core.
Ms.
Thimbaum, the mayor’s assistant, is splayed out on the floor drenched in blood.
I kneel down the floor next to her, trying to find a pulse. As I examine her
face closer, I see strange symbols carved into her forehead. In fact, all down
her neck and arms are carved the same symbols. Around her elbow, the symbols
turn into words.
I’m done hiding
I’m done hiding
I’m down hiding
Trying
to shove down the scream in my throat, I slowly get up off the floor. My khaki
pants are stained crimson and the sight makes my stomach roll. I have to get
out of here.
That
was until I heard him.
“Whose
there?” a voice echoes from shadows in the corner. It’s the mayor.
“Mister
Mayor? Is that you? Are you all right?” I start to walk over to the corner
before I hesitate.
The
only response is faint whispering.
“I’m
done hiding.”
“I’m done
hiding.”
“I’m
done hiding.”
And
then it dawns on me.
“Everyone’s
terrified that the insane escapee is still in their midst.” The mayor starts to
step out of the corner. Blood drips from the knife glinting in his hand. “They
never thought he was leading them.”
He
looks down at Ms. Thimbaum’s corpse.
“Do you
want to be next?”
No comments:
Post a Comment