JewellMoreno

SaraIslas
Humanities-Sector19
10-16-15

ThePerfectStory
Walkingintoajournalistsoffice,Iexpectedittobecolorfulandfilledwithcreativepeople,
butitwasdullandboring.Thewallsweregreyandfullofstainsandnotonepersonintheroom
wassmiling.ThebosshadcalledformethatmorningandIshiveredinfear.Nobodyeverreally
talksaboutthebossandIhadonlymethimonce.Hewasapparentlyveryintimidating.Iwalked
intothebossroom.Itwasextremelybigandluxurious.Itwasntsurprising.Thiscompanyis
famousandwellknownforallthemysteriestheycover.
Goodmorning.Hesaidwithawickedsmile.
Goodmorning,sir.Youwantedtoseeme?Iaskednervously.
Ah,yes,Emma.Youretheintern,correct?Iseeyouhavepotentialhere.Iwanttogiveyou
achance.Achancetoprovethatyouareindeedskilled.Iwantyoutoreportandwriteabout
something.Somethingworthmytime.IfIlikeit,youllbepayed.
MyeyesgrewwideandIgrinned.Atthesametime,Iwasconfused.Ihadonlyevermetthis
manonceandhewassayingheseespotentialinme?Althoughitseemedoddandalmosteveryinch
ofmybodytoldmetorunoutinstantly,Itooktheoffer.ThiswaswhatIvebeenworkingtowards
myentirelife.
Ofcoursesir,Illbemorethanhappytodoit.Ialreadyhaveafewideasinmind.
Imgladtohearthat.Wouldyoumindsharing?Heleanedincloserandgaveamenacing
smile.
Welltheressomanypeoplewhowevereportedmissingthesepastfewmonthsandsince
thepoliceneversolvedthemystery,Imthinking,whynotgoexploreabit?
Hisfacewaspaleandserious.HestartedlaughingandIwascompletelybaffled.
Ifthepolicehaventfoundanythinguseful,whatmakesyouthinkyoucould?
Mysmileslowlydisappeared.ImnottryingtosolvethecaseIwasjust-
Imsorry,butifyouwon'tbeabletosolvethecasethenIdontseehowthiscouldbea
storyworthmytime.HecutmeoffbeforeIcouldevenfinishmysentence.
Afterthetalkwehad,Iwentbackhomeandimmediatelystartedresearching.Ididntcare
ifmybossthoughtotherwise,butthiswasagreatstory.Ifoundthatthehousewheretheyfound
oneofthebodyswasonly20minutesawayfromme.Igrabbedafewsnacks,mycamera,my
journal,andputtheminmybag.Igotinmycaranddrovetothehouse.AsIdrove,Ithoughtabout
howIdidntonlywanttohaveagoodstory,butIreallywantedtotrytofindsomecluesastowhat
happenedtoallthesepeople.Iwantedtogivethosewholosttheirlovedonessomepeace.Itwas
fairlyeasytodistinguishwhichhouseIwaslookingfor.Theneighborhoodwaspitchblackand

silent.Almostallthehouseswerevacant,buttherewasoneparticularhousesurroundedincaution
tape.OnceIparkedmycarandgotout,Istoodtherestaringatthebuilding.
Thehousewasextremelyworndown,asifagustofwindcouldknockitrightoffitsfeet.
Thewoodwasoldandrottenandtheweedslatchedontothehouse.Themoonsglowalmostmade
thehouseseemmoreappealing,butnolightwasbrightenoughtooverpowerthefeelingof
darknessthehousegaveaway.IknewitwasdangerousandtobehonestIwasscared,butIalso
wantedtodothis.Iwalkeduptothedoorandreachedfortheknob.Thedoorsuddenlyswung
openbeforeIeventouchedit.IcoveredmymouthtostopmyselffromyellingandIcouldfeelmy
heartabouttojumpoutofmychest.
Hello?IsaidasIslowlyleanedintoseewhowasinside.Tomysurprise,therewasno
onethere.Awaveoffearcameovermeandproceededwithcaution.Theairwascold.Itookout
myphoneanduseditasaflashlight.Afinelayerofdusthuggedagainstthewalls,leavingacleartrail
whenIranmyfingersalongit.Ishinedmylightinfrontofmyfeet,toilluminatethepathIwanted
totaketoexplorethismonstrosityofahouse.MylightreflectedoffofanobjectandIstepped
towardsittogetacloserlook.
Itwasalargeportraitofamarriedcoupleandtheiryoungdaughter.Onthebottomright
cornerwasadateinblacksmudgedmarker.1986.Ishinedmylightclosertotheirfacesandnoticed
thedaughter'sfacewasgone.Instead,itwaswhiteandblank.Itookastepbacktogiveitasecond
lookandtookapicture.Itwasn'tscratchedofforpaintedover,itwaspartofthepicture.Isuddenly
noticedsomethinginthereflectionoftheglass.Therewasagirlstandingbehindme.Iinstantly
turnedaroundandflashedmylightinherdirection.Iwasbreathingheavilyandcouldseemyown
breath.Itookastepinherdirectionandshegesturedmetofollowher.Sheworeadirtywhitegown
andherhairwasinmessedupbraids.Thesamedresswasusedinthepicture,althoughthegirlin
frontofmelookedaboutthreeyearsolderthantheoneinthepictureandherdresshadbloodon
herchest.Sheleftwetfootprintsasshewalked.
Hey!Littlegirl,areyouok?Istoodtherewaitingtoseewhatshewoulddonext.She
enteredthestudyandstoodinside,watchingme.Isnappedanotherphoto.Whatareyoudoing
here?Ishiveredinfear,Iknewshewasn'tactuallythere,shewasdead.
Shelaughedeagerlyandstoodtherelikeatree.Iwasdeterminedtogetastoryfromthis,so
Idecidedtofollowherinside.WhenIenteredshedisappeared,asifshewasanillusion.Thedoor
slammedbehindmeandgotstuck.Afterseveralminutesofpanic,Inoticedagapintheground
underthedesk.Idecidedtomovethefurniturearound.Imovedthelargeantiquebookshelftothe
leftandnoticedsomefloorboardsweremisplaced,makingsmallgapinthewood.Igrabbedthefirst
objectIsaw,ahockeytrophy,andbashedtherottingwooduntilitsnapped.Thegapwasbarely
largeenoughformetofit.Iknewnothinggoodcouldcomefromthis,butmycuriosityand
determinationgotthebestofme.Ijumpeddownandstaredinaweattheundergroundtunnel
systemthishousehad.
Theairreekedthesmellofsewerwater.Myphonestartledmewithitsloudbuzzingnoise,
remindingmeoflowbattery.Iwalkeddownthelonganddarkhallwayandfoundmyselfinalarge

room.Iturnedonmyphonesflashlightandlookedaround.Therewasaman,around30,sittingin
thecornereatingsomething.ItriedmybestnottomakeasoundasItookoutmycamera.Myheart
waspoundingandIbreathingheavily.Icouldfeelmysweatrunningdownmyforehead.Ifrozeas
myphonebuzzedandfellontheground.Themanturnedandbegantolaugh.Hislaughwasvery
loud.Hewasalmostscreaming.IlookedaroundwithmyflashlightandrealizedIwasinaroom
usedfortorture.Therewerebloodytoolseverywhere,atorturetable,bags.Hisscreechinglaugh
echoedthroughthetunnels.ThehorridsmellofrottingfleshfilledmynoseandIcoveredmy
mouthwithmyhand.MyphoneslightslowlygotdimmeruntilfinallyitturnedoffandIslowly
backedaway.Iquicklytookoutmycameraandusedtheflashtoilluminatetheroom.ThenI
bumpedintosomebodybags.Myheartstoppedandtearsfilledmyeyes.
Iunzippedthebagandtookapicture,JamesCook,age17,wentmissingonApril12,
1998.Iunzippedanother,EllenShaw,age29,wentmissingNovember3,2008.Theman
jumpedonmeandIyelledforhelp,butnobodywasaround.IshovedashardasIcouldbut
couldntgethimoffofme.Hestrappedmyarmtoachairandcontinuedtochuckle.
Thankyousomuchforvisitingme.Nowitsmyturntoplay,hesaidwithwithhis
monotonevoice.Ihadmycamerainmyotherhandanduseditaslighttoseeinthedark.The
cameraflashedinhisfaceandIcouldseehisbeatup,scratchedface.Hehadadeepcutandwas
missinganeye.
Thesearemytoys,hesaid,wavingascalpelinmyface.ItriedasbestIcouldtoletmy
handloosebutthestrapwassecuredtight.Hestabbedme,ontheshoulder.Icouldfeelthesharp
toolpiercemyskinasitslicedthrough.IkickedhisstomachashardasIcouldandhestumbled
back.Itookthescalpelfrommyshoulderandstabbedhisknee.IsprintedtotheexitasIheard
screamsandcriesechoedthroughthetunnels.IfinallyreachedtheopeningIcrawledthroughtoget
herebutitseemedsmallerthanIremember.IpulledmyselfupandIfeltsomethinggrabmyleg.I
ScreameduntilIsawthelight.
Afterthat,Ijustwaitedtheretillthecopsarrived,Iexplained.
ThankyousomuchforyourtimeMs.Waters.Wellgiveyouacallifwehaveanynew
information,saidtheOfficer,withhercoffeeinherhand.Shelefttheroomandmyeyeswandered
theroom.Inoticedmybossatthewindow,givingmehishorridsmile.Theguninhishandcaught
myattentionandIsuddenlygrewanxious.HewalkedawayandIsatinmychair,waitingnervously
forwhatwouldcomenext.Isatthereforwhatfeltlikehours,butinrealityitwasonlyminutes.The
doorswungopen.Hecasuallywalkedinandclosedthedoorbehindhim.
YoureatoughpersontofollowMs.Waters.hesaidashesatdowninfrontofme.
W-what..?Iresponded.
Itriedtostopyou.WhenIfailed,Icoveredmytracks.Thepolicewillneverbelieveyou.
Whydidyoufollowme?
YouremorestupidthanIthought.
Suddenly,everythingcametogether,....you.ITWASYOU?

Ah,soyoufigureditout.hechuckled.Itwasageniusplan,untilyouhadtocomeand
ruinitall.Nobodywillbelieveyou.
Hetookoutthegunandpointeditstraightatme.Istaredwithshock.Wasthistheend?I
closedmyeyes.Theloudbangoftheshotechoedthroughmyears.Iwasstillbreathing.Iopened
myeyesandfoundhimlyingthere,bloodgushingfromthewoundinhishead,lifeless.