The small, remote town of Steinfield had always prided itself on its reputation for safety and tranquility. Crime was virtually non-existent, and the townspeople felt secure in their peaceful little haven. At least, that was Mayor Guevarra's main campaign promise.
A paradise, they called it. But no such place truly exists.
That illusion of security was shattered when the mutilated body of a young woman was discovered in the woods. The gruesome scene sent shockwaves through the town, leaving residents horrified and struggling to comprehend how such a heinous crime could occur in their quiet community.
At first, people speculated it was an act of cruel vengeance. But then another body appeared. And another. And another.
In a short span, eight young women had been brutally murdered.
Steinfield was a small town, but catching the psychopath responsible was proving to be an impossible task. The murders were clean. Traceless. No clues, no patterns, nothing to follow.
No one knew who could have done such a thing. No one could even guess.
I wish I didn’t know either.
"Hi, babe!"
Kurtis's voice pulled me back to reality. I blinked, realizing I had been staring blankly ahead, lost in my thoughts. He stood in front of me, smiling warmly, freshly changed from his jersey into a black shirt, his duffel bag slung over one shoulder—ready to go.
"You're lost in thought again. Are you okay?" He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his touch gentle.
I forced a smile and nodded quickly. "Yeah, just thinking about where to eat. I'm starving."
He chuckled, adjusting the grip on his bag. "The practice game took longer than I expected. Sorry for keeping you waiting. Let's get something good."
He intertwined our fingers, his warmth sending an eerie chill down my spine. I let him lead me away from the gym, my heartbeat hammering against my ribs as if it were trying to warn me.
We reached his car, parked just a short distance from the school gym. The sun is already setting, the streetlights flickered dimly above us, casting elongated shadows that seemed to stretch toward me like grasping hands. I swallowed the lump forming in my throat, forcing myself to play along.
"Before I forget, I'll be gone this weekend," Kurtis said as he unlocked the car. "My father wants me to accompany him to meet his business partner from Switzerland."
"When?" I asked, barely keeping my voice steady.
"This coming Friday. We’ll leave right after school and be back Monday morning before my first class. I might be busy, so I can't promise to keep in touch, but I'll call when I can."
I nodded absently, offering him a small smile. My mind was everywhere, my fingers trembling as I reached for the seatbelt. How the hell could I even sit still here, casually having a conversation with him, acting all normal?
The image of him in his crisp white polo, the sleeves partially soaked in blood, flashed in my mind. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to shake off the horrifying memory.
That night changed everything.
After I found out who he really was, fear had taken root in my bones. It coiled around me like a vice, tightening every time he so much as looked at me. Anxiety clung to my thoughts, making every moment with him feel like walking on the edge of a knife.
How could someone so sweet, kind, and loving - someone I had trusted for over a year - be the monster everyone was terrified of? The mayor's son. A top student. The guy who always held the door open for me. Who kissed my forehead and texted me goodnight.
Or maybe I never really knew him at all.
"Tammy."
I jolted when his fingers brushed against my cheek. His brows furrowed, concern flashing in his eyes.
"You've been acting weird lately," he murmured, his voice soft but laced with something unreadable. "Everything okay?"
I forced out a laugh, hoping it didn’t sound as brittle as I felt. "Yeah. Just tired from school, I guess."
He studied me for a long moment before nodding. "You sure? You know you can tell me anything, right?"
Anything.
Like how I saw him standing over a woman tied to a chair in his 'secret little room', her face swollen and bloodied. How his voice had been eerily calm when he leaned close to her ear and whispered:
'Such a nosy bitch.'
The words echoed in my skull, sending a fresh wave of nausea through me. I gripped my thighs, willing my hands to stop shaking. That night played in my mind like a horror film stuck on loop—an inescapable nightmare. I had only wanted to surprise him after spending our long school break away with my family outside Steinfeld. Instead, I was the one left in shock.
I wish I had never gone to his place in secret. I wish I could turn back time to before we ever met. I wish I had known the truth from the start. I regret loving him fully, I regret everything about you.
I inhaled slowly, forcing the memory down.
"So, where do you want to eat?" I asked, feigning normalcy.
Kurtis smiled as he started the engine. "How about that diner you like?"
I nodded, watching the city lights blur past the window as we drove away. He reached for my hand again, fingers lacing together like they always did.
And all I could think about was how that same hand had once gripped a knife, killing like it was a sport.