Limpton is a town not so far away from civilization, humbled for its few population and the peace within its community where all neighbors are very much adorned with friendliness and hospitality.
The De Guzman family--a single mother and her only child--is preferably the known person to all folks within community, always helping others in need, participating in community services and donations, doing everything they can to spread positivity.
Her daughter Isabelle is probably equally envied and praised for her well known kindness throughout the town. always polite and mannered as taught by her parent since childhood.
On a busy Monday morning, Isabelle, as usual the first one to be present in the classroom of 11th grade--pass this additional 2 years and she’ll be entering college!
While alone, she kept herself busy by doodling on her notebook while waiting for the teachers and students to finally arrive and start the class.
This past few days, she has been waking up too early than usual. Took her to realize that maybe her body clock shifted by the time she entered her Senior High School years. Although, it help her get things done earlier, she can’t deny that she felt slightly drowsy everyday.
Isabelle was drawn into perfecting the doodle of her name until she heard a deafened shriek that deciphered the quiteness of the room.
Her head jerk from the notebook towards the direction of the loud noise, a series of students were running and pushing each other to witness what had happened. Due to the curiosity, she joined the crowd and pushed herself throughout the sea of people who were murmuring and some with gasps.
Then Isabelle, saw a glimpse of Fiona, the cheerleader, with a terror face looking directly inside her locker. Every person who took a close up look, also shriek in fright. Some chose to stay out terrified of what they’ll see. No one dared to touch Fiona and get her out of the daze in disbelief and terror, until the school faculties cut through the crowd and snatch Fiona who seemed to immobile from the shock. Isabelle, trailed behind them to get through the waves of people.
Mrs White their principal, and every authorities then shrieked and cursed when the view was opened before them.
Isabelle’s eyes was wide opened and in disbelief. She couldn’t believe what she is seeing. It is their school government president, Lorna Williams with her mutilated body, eyes missing, fresh blood dripping, one of her arm was cut and fit through the mouth. Absolutely gruesome that Isabelle almost puked at the sight, stomach was churning in, hearts racing too fast, blood slowly draining, until she black out.
Isabelle woke up to pink and purple linens realizing that she was in her bed at home. The door opened revealing her mom in her usual favorite orange stack Victorian dress. The conversation between them went to a warning of a killer on the loose in the town of Limpton. Isabelle heeded her mother’s warning--for she herself, is scared for her life. From the night before her slumber, she wished that her family, relatives and friends be kept safe from any of the trouble.
In the morning, she was waken up by a loud screech from the neighborhood and recognized Aunt Melanie’s high pitched timber voice. On the sudden deafening sound, she rush into the window next to her bed and looked down, only to see the people pooling outside the dwelling of Aunt Melanie.
She got in the living room and ask her mom what was the ruckus about. Then her Mom dropped the news that her uncle Malfin was found dead on his coffee table just this early morning at 4o’clock. The death was gruesome, his stomach was mutilated and was beheaded while his heart was missing. Not a few hours of range searching, they found it scattered in front of his farm.
Isabelle was so shocked, for Uncle Malfin was a friendly neighbor who would talk with them kids on the legends of corns, (he was very passionate about his cornfield). she remembered him talking about how nutrient corn is and giving her some processed corns with condensed milk on top.
After the heartbreaking news, the death toll did not stop there. Everyday, lives were taken and were slaughtered like some pigs and cows.
The killer on the loose was ill to the bits, for the death of the victims were speculated as not a sudden death but a pure pain killing torture. Way worse than killing animals for their meat. The officers and investigators had to witness deteriorated faces, decapitated limbs, torn skin, missing bones,half eaten soft tissues (eyes,lips, ears), hanged head in the most random places once a week.
The government issued a full swing quarantine on the town as the search for the killer went strict. On hold jobs, online classes and staying at home with emergency hot lines open 24/7.
On one unfortunate twilight, Isabelle was caught between the afternoon and night as she rush back to her home getting goosebumps as she passed deserted light stand in each paralleled streets. It was very reckless of hers to suddenly rest by her visit on the riverbanks. Every house she passed by had their lights off and security doubled by puncturing woods unto every opening like doors and windows, in fear for the suspect. It did not use to be like this, people would party or binge watch and have fun until the midnight.
As the view of their front yard gets clearer, she was getting calmed, and she run for it disregarding the fast beating of her heart from the anxiousness of the killer who maybe in sight.
As she opened the multi locked door with rush and immediately closed it behind, she huffed in relief.
When the lights turned on by hers, the shock overflowed her and the anxious feeling came back. Everything was a mess, like a hurricane passed by their house. Blood, blood--it was everywhere.
With a quaky voice Isabelle chanted her mom’s name wishing she was safe. Little by little, reluctant steps, she move forward into every corner of the house with a baseball bat on her hand for defense she found at the living room display.
On her way to the kitchen, she saw a woman’s silhouette sitting on the floor and holding a knife. Was ready to swing the bat but was abruptly stopped when the woman’s face came to view.
It was her mother, Isabelle notice the knife snuck deep on her mom’s flesh left to her heart. The fresh crimson liquid was dripping out from her agape lips.
Isabelle broke down at the sight, she rapidly cooed her mother in her arms. How monstrous the killer was for all people, it chose the nicest. Isabelle was wailing, her heart felt dead and time have stopped as if she felt apathy towards the killer who might still be on the scene.
The huge slits on her face was so visible, her opened abdomen was disturbing, and her dilated eyes was more than emotion clenching.
“my beautiful daughter, I did everything to protect you. But why? Why do you have to kill us Marie Claire De Guzman?” her mom uttered softly before her breathe was taken.
She was stopped from the wailing and was completely taken aback from the last statement of her dead parent. She had all emotions mixed up but confusion outweighed them all, BECAUSE HER NAME IS ISABELLE.
