Simon Death High (7 page)

Michael froze in place, trying to understand
her last words. “Watch my back?” he whispered to himself. “What
does that mean?”

Still wondering about Hannah, Michael ran
over to the men restroom as he could feel is stomach cramping up.
He always hated public restrooms, not for the hygiene, but because
he thought there were hidden cameras in the stalls.

He ran into the shockingly empty restroom
and checked to see if anyone else was in there. He spotted ripped
tennis shoes who he recognized to be Tyler's feet. Michael didn't
say anything, and went to sit on the toilet. His heart sped up as
he heard Tyler dialing on a cell phone—a phone he said he didn't
have.

“Hey,” Tyler said to someone over the phone.
“I can't do it yet. Every time I see her, she is with someone. I
have to get her alone.”

Michael gasped as he knew Tyler was talking
about Linda. He put his feet on the toilet, afraid Tyler would come
after him.

“...Once I get her, it will be over. She
knows too much already. She needs to be on my side. I need her. If
I don't tell her tonight then it will keep happening...I can't
control it!”

Oh my gosh...he's going to kill Linda. He
can't control it. I need to run,
Michael
thought.

Without second guessing, Michael wiped his
behind and ran out the restroom without washing his hands. He
continued to walk quickly out the mall, not going back to
Linda.

It seemed like it would be his best option
to tell Linda what Tyler's intentions were—but fear was his master.
He didn't want to get involved but he already was.

Michael stopped on the corner of the street
where the town's police station was at. That police station was his
enemy. The police of Simon were either lazy, overweight, and they
would let crime slide by. It wasn't like Simon was a bad town to
begin with, but when all the murders began to happen the mayor of
Idaho sent top notch detectives from out-of-state. There was a
rumor that there were over eighty detectives in town, but the only
ones seen were the few at school—and they were just as lazy.

With his hands clutched, Michael walked into
the police station looking for the head officer that he knew very
well. He waved his hands for someone to talk to, and as expected an
out-of-town detective approached him.

“What do you want?” said a sheriff, whose
name badge read “Jacky.”

“Um? Jacky?” Michael said.

He began to laugh, and put his arm around
Michael. “Oh, the story of my life. I have a girl's name. Big
deal!”

“Ha, that's an icebreaker,” he nervously
laughed. “I'm hear to know if you guys have any leads on the high
school deaths?”

He sighed, “I wish we can say we do. But, we
don't. It seems like we should have the killer by now. There are no
more than two-thousand people in this town, someone knows
something.”

“I agree, but you guys have no clues?”

Jacky pulled out his cigarette, “Do you know
anything, son?”

“Well...” Michael froze in place as he saw
Tyler enter the police station. “Tyler?”

Tyler jumped in place and dropped his
notepad. “Um, Michael? What are you doing here?”

“Uh...”

Tyler walked closer to them, “I'm here
to...um...um...I'm a runaway kid. They feed me here,” he mumbled.
“Right, sheriff, you guys feed me here.”

“Um, yup,” Jacky said. “We were just
discussing the deaths. Go sit down and eat a brownie!” he laughed.
“You know...um...what's your name?” he asked Michael.

“Michael Rose.”

“Well, you know Michael, detectives want to
interview all the seniors of your high school. They believe someone
has to know. A girl can't just get murdered at a school dance and
no one notices. Not only that but all those girls were either
cheerleaders or on the dance team.”

“Do you have a paper I could use?” Michael
said as he stared at Tyler from the corner of his eye, trying to
see what he was doing.

Jacky searched his uniform that was two
sizes too small. He pulled out a paper from his pocket and handed
it to Michael. Knowing he most likely didn't have a pen, Jacky gave
him one.

Michael thought about writing Tyler's name
on the paper, but he didn't want to be the next victim. He knew if
he wrote down anyone's name from his group, they all would be
interviewed. So, he wrote down Hannah's name and stuffed the paper
into Jacky's tight pocket.

“I have to go now,” Michael said. “I have
homework.”

“Alright, I'll see you on Tuesday. However,
let's keep it a secret that we will be at the school Tuesday for
questioning. We don't want the real suspects leaving town.”

“My lips are sealed.”

As Michael left the police station, he
noticed Hannah getting inside of an expensive Mercedes Benz. He
narrowed his eyes to get a closer look. He noticed that a man was
driving the car, but he could not tell who it was because of his
dark sunglasses. He gasped as he noticed the tanned skin, and wavy
hair that looked like Dr. Smith.

Michael was confused.
What if there was
one murderer but then there were copycats? I need to mind my own
business. I’m going home!

7| South Simon

Linda stopped kissing Adam as she could hear
a car door opening. She peaked outside her bedroom window and
realized it was Tyler. She left the room, telling Adam to stay put.
With busy eyes, she tried to spot where her dad was passed out
at—like usual he was asleep on the porch.

“
Tyler, what do you want?
I’m busy,” she shouted through her screen door.

“
We need to talk,” Tyler
said.

“
Talk, about
what?”

“
About what I was going to
tell you—”

Linda opened the door, “Adam is over here. I
think we can talk on Tuesday.”

“
Tuesday?” Tyler stared at
Linda who was dressed in a long sweatshirt and leggins with furry
boots. “Where are you going?”

“
Yeah, I’m leaving town
for the weekend.”

“
Michael didn't say you
guys were all leaving—”

“
That's because I’m not
going with them, I’m going with Adam. We are going to South
Simon.”

Tyler shivered because he knew that South
Simon was nothing but woods and no street lights. “I think I should
go too. We all should go! You guys shouldn't be alone, especially
when a murderer is loose—”

Adam came to the door, waving at Tyler.
“What's up?”

“
I heard you guys are
leaving for the weekend. I was telling Linda we should all tag
along. It could be like our last trip together as
seniors.”

“
That would be awesome,”
Adam beamed.

“
No!” Linda snapped. “We
need alone time!”

“
I think it would be fun,”
Adam said. “We are leaving at eight tonight. We can meet here if
Linda doesn't mind.”

Linda rolled her eyes, “Fine, whatever.”

Tyler smirked and hugged Linda. “I promise
it will be a night to remember.”

“
Oh, I couldn't agree
more,” Adam said.

Linda sighed and stomped back into her room.
She jumped on her bed as Tyler and Adam continued to plan the trip.
She dialed Michael’s number, knowing he would answer on the last
ring. He would always do that—pick up right before the voicemail
came on.

“
Hello?” Michael answered.
“What's up, boo!”

“
Hold on, let me dial
Lucy,” Linda said as she joined the conversation with the three of
them.

“
Hello?” Lucy answered.
“Hey!”

“
Hey!” Michael said. “It's
me, Michael!”

“
Oh, really? I thought you
were Tyler,” she said sarcastically. “Of course I know it's
you.”

Linda sighed, “So, you guys pack your crap.
We are having a road trip tonight and apparently you're
invited.”

“
You don't seem too
cheerful about us coming,” Lucy said. “What is wrong?”

“
Oh nothing.”

“
Was it just going to be
you and Tyler. We can stay here, I wouldn't mind,” Lucy
said.

“
No, actually Adam was
going to go with me—”

“
ADAM?” Lucy snapped. “Why
are you hanging out with him now!”

“
What's the big deal.
You're not with him anymore,” Linda said. “Well, you're
invited.”

“
And Adam is going to be
there?” Lucy asked. “But...”

“
Maybe you guys can
rekindle your love,” Michael teased. “Just come along.”

“
But, Adam hates me,” Lucy
said. “I did some stuff that he won't forgive me for.”

“
And? This will be a
weekend to remember. What happens in South Simon—”

“
Gets you put in Simon
prison. Nothing ever stays in South Simon,” Michael said. “And you
know that.”

“
I have to go,” Linda said
as she heard Tyler leaving. “I'll see you guys at seven at my
place.”

“
Should I invite Hannah?”
Lucy asked.

“
Ew, so she can invite Dr.
Smith. I don't think so!” Michael said.

“
Yeah, I agree. I don't
want her to come. She might kill us all,” Linda said.

“
Okay, bye!”

***

A
dam shook his head, as he
tried to figure out how they were all going to fit into Linda’s
jeep. He began to unload all the suitcases, deciding he would drive
his SUV instead.

Linda leaned onto to
Michael, still angry that everyone was coming. “So, who invited
Hannah? Don't you think it's weird that Hannah decided to come. She
hates nature, so why is she coming along?”

Michael yawned as he kept
his eyes on Tyler, “So, you said it was Tyler's idea to invite us
all?”

“Yeah, he
insisted.
”

Lucy playfully hit Linda with her hip, “What
are you guys gossiping about?”

“I'm just wondering why we are going to
South Simon. That town is so empty and has too many trees,” Michael
whined. “It's creepy.”

Hannah walked over holding a beer, “I think
it will be fun,” she winked.

Lucy snatched the beer from Hannah and threw
it into the grass, “You'll get fat and won't be able to fit into
your new uniform. I don't know why you bought it in a size
two!”

“That's my size,” Hannah said. “Just calm
down, honey.”

“So, is your new man coming along?” Linda
teased Hannah.

“Um...he will tag along...well, he will meet
us there. He doesn't like being seen much. It's too much of a
hassle,” Hannah said.

“So, how long have you guys been together?”
Michael said.

“About two years now—”

Linda spit, “Two years?”

“I know; it's so embarrassing!” she
playfully cried. “But, I think he's hot, a lot of people think he's
hot.”

Linda looked at Michael as if Hannah were
crazy. “Um, sure.”

“I think he's gorgeous!” Lucy beamed. “He's
so different outside of work.”

“I'm sure he is,” Linda laughed. “But, don't
you think it will be weird if
he
tags along?”

“I told you; you'll like him. I swear he
isn't as uptight as he seems,” Hannah said and walked to the car.
“I think we are ready to go!”

Linda ran over to her porch and kissed her
father's cheek. “Bye daddy.”

All of them gathered into the SUV—Adam
driving, Lucy was shotgun—then, in the next row was Tyler, Linda,
and Hannah. Then, in the back was Michael, who stretched his legs
across all the pillows and baggage.

“I'm glad I have the backseat to myself.
This ride is going to be like two hours long,” Michael said as he
pretended to sleep.

“I might come back there,” Hannah said.

“Oh, no...it's okay. Stay over there,”
Michael said.

“Are you guys ready now?” Adam said as he
started the car. “We didn't forget anything did we?”

“Nope!”

The ride to South Simon was the opposite
than their last ride. For the first time in a long time, they were
all getting along again—singing to the radio, laughing at jokes,
and gossiping. But, little did they know they wouldn't come back
home the same—a murderer was loose—and the person was in the
vehicle with them.

Awkward would be an understatement for Lucy
and Adam. He tried not to make eye contact with her as she sat next
to him. It seemed like it would have been easier to communicate—to
get the elephant out the room (car), but they stayed silent.

Lucy tried to find her flash light as they
entered South Simon and all the street lights were gone. Little did
the gang know, that she was a little afraid of the dark. She turned
on her flashlight, searching the now quiet backseats.

“Are you guys sleep?” Lucy said as she put
the flashlight on all their faces. “We should be at the cabin in an
hour.”

“Crap!” Adam said. “I'm getting low on
gas.”

“Are you serious?” Linda snapped as she
opened her eyes. “We cannot get stranded!”

“But, I think we can make it to the next gas
station,” Adam said. “No worries.”

Hannah pulled out her cell phone, that let
up the entire car. “Wow, it's nine thirty,” she gasped and looked
back at Michael who looked ill. “Are you car sick again?”

“Eh, I hate this. I should have sat in the
front,” Michael said. “Are we almost there?”

Tyler snapped his head up, “Turn off the
stupid bright lights!” he shouted at Hannah who was flashing her
cell phone around and to Lucy whose flashlight was flickering.

“Sorry,” they both said and turned it off,
leaving the car pitch black.