Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Die Softly ❯ Chapter 1
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: DreamRoze 
"The past always comes back to haunt you." Is that the limit? Or can the past kill you?
Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Suspense / Romance / Mystery | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 11.04.2003 | Updated On: 11.04.2003 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.6K | Visits: 427 | Status: Completed
"The past always comes back to haunt you." Is that the limit? Or can the past kill you?
Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Suspense / Romance / Mystery | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 11.04.2003 | Updated On: 11.04.2003 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.6K | Visits: 427 | Status: Completed
Disclaimer- If I owned Smoon, 'Disclaimer' wouldn't be the first word I typed. *nods*
AN: Welps, another story, and two others I have yet to finish. *grins* Well, anyway, thanks to Lilli, Ash, Greddy, and Tendie [lubs you] for being my sounding board for this fic. XD
* * * * *
The crunching of leaves could be heard as a shadow moved across an empty park. The town was eerie with darkness as midnight slipped over the brick path and through the trees, then over town, covering everything in darkness. Not a single sliver of moonlight shone upon this quaint city, as the clouds had blocked off the moon's light.
Near the park, a video selling and rental store was being closed up. A young woman came out of the double doors, locking them. She turned to head for her car, the only one left in the lot. She got into her car, and turned the key in the ignition. She cursed the night as the car stalled. It wasn't turning on.
Sighing, she climbed out and decided to just walk home. She could cut through the park and would probably be home in about twenty to thirty minutes.
Damn Melvin, she thought. He just had to go on that date with Molly, tonight. She rolled her eyes heavenward as she entered the park and followed the main path.
Masked eyes and a smirk followed the woman's figure. Stealthily, the shadow followed. He neared upon her, grabbed her wrist, and enveloped her into a tight hold. His other hand flew from his leather jacket's pocket to cover the woman's shrieks of terror. Balled into his hand was a rag stained with chloroform, a sweet smell wafting from it in invisible waves. Blackness seeped into the woman's consciousness as she inhaled the deceiving aroma. Her struggles grew weaker and she finally gave up.
* * * *
Damn it, get out of my way! Serena Lee shrieked frustratingly, in her mind as she honked at the car in front of her. She'd been driving her convertible for the past fourteen hours. Ugh, does everyone drive slow on highways around here?
She snorted and stifled the urge to scream when a car cut in front of her and began to slow down. Serena just muttered more obscenities. She'd been driving for what seemed like ever, was running on only two cups of espresso and seven hours of sleep in the last two days. She was cranky. She was slightly bitchy. She wanted to get to her new hometown and just lie out on her aunt's patio, next to the pool and forget this hectic week.
Serena praised the gods when she saw her exit. Slipping in a CD into her CD player, she unclipped her long, blonde hair and let it loose in the wind as her mood lifted. She was on her way to a new life, and right now she decided that even slow drivers wouldn't get her down.
She veered left when she got to the stop sign, following the directions that she'd scribbled out earlier on Thursday morning. It was Saturday.
Serena sighed as her stomach growled for, what must have been, the tenth time that early morning.
All right, she thought, first thing on the To Do list. EAT.
Scanning both sides of the road she was on, she looked for a place, anywhere, where she could stop to appease her hunger. Going down the street, she finally found something. It was a fairly large sized restaurant with a bright green neon sign that was lit. It said Joy's Diner. She turned right and pulled into the parking lot. She parked her car, brought the hood back down, grabbed her keys and got out of her vehicle.
Serena walked towards the diner and opened the door that had an 'Enter' sign hanging crookedly, at the top. A jingling sound from the bell atop the door followed and announced her presence.
The number of people that were seated in the diner surprised her. She had expected a few customers, not a dozen or so. The majority of them were men and they were huddled around a TV at one end of the main paying counter, watching a rerun of a past football game. The few women that were in the diner were at a corner booth discussing what looked like quilts and fabrics. Serena checked her watch. 7:17 AM.
People started early, in this town. That was for sure, she mused.
Serena waved to one of the two waitresses, then went to a side booth with a window view, and sat down. The diner was very comfortable and homey, set in the oldies with the waitresses in blue and white pinstriped collared shirts and skirts, and a baby blue apron. Feeling like she'd been dumped into the sixties, she opened the menu that was already there and scanned the breakfasts. A waitress went by her table, dropped a number on the colored glass, and introduced herself.
"Hey there, sugar. I'm Molly Anders," she greeted warmly, chewing bubble gum between her sentences. "I've never seen you 'round, before. You're new to town, ain't ya?"
Serena grinned, "I'm Serena Lee. Is it that easy to tell I'm new?"
Molly smiled back and replied, "Nah. Just a small town, is all. Well, you tell me what you want to drink and eat, go freshen up and don't worry about anyone takin' your booth. The number," she gestured to the number she'd placed on the table earlier, "marks this as a taken booth."
Serena smiled inwardly. She'd already made a new friend. She told Molly that she'd have the pancakes, bacon 'n' cheese omelet, and a glass of chilled water. Molly nodded, wrote down the order, and then walked off to finish her rounds at the other tables. Serena took her purse and headed to the restroom.
She went to the sinks to freshen her appearance. Using her fingers, she combed them through her blonde tresses. She used a hair tie she found in her purse and tied her hair back to the nape of her neck, the ends of her hair just reaching her hips. Straightening out some of the wrinkles in her tank top, and brushing off some lint on her jeans, she guessed that was the best she'd be able to do. Looking back at the mirror, she thought she looked like she was in her early twenties, rather than twenty-seven.
The mirror showed a young woman at around five feet six, honey-blonde hair, and creamy white skin. Sapphire-colored eyes were set in a pixie-shaped face with elegantly arched eyebrows, pert nose, and full rosy lips. Toned muscles were firm and lean, used to exercise.
Serena washed her hands and dried them, remembering the first time she'd been in this city.
She had helped her aunt, Deanna James, move in, just before going off to university with her cousin, Mina. They'd stayed for a month, repairing an old mansion and decorating it, time Aunt Dee wanted to spend with her daughter and niece, before seeing them off to the airport. The year that followed had been fun-filled.
Then Serena's aunt had gotten into a car accident that had left Deanna with a shattered ankle. Mina had come back to the town to help with her mother, met a man along the way, and gotten married soon after. That was almost four years ago.
But then Mina and Malachi Sethridge had come upon misfortune. Mina had been doing banking work and was a sales clerk. Both were part time, for her college tuition. Malachi was vice president of his father's company. Sethridge Jewlers Co.
Mina and Malachi had a son, Cole, soon after their honeymoon at the Bahamas. On their four year anniversary, Malachi had taken his wife on a sailing trip, knowing of her love for the ocean. They'd left their son home with Malachi's parents, and left early in the morning. But, later in the afternoon, a freak storm caused their boat to capsize, leaving both dead, and a four year old son, orphaned with no parents.
Serena cut off her train of thought before she became depressed again. Serena's eyes misted slightly as she thought about her cousin and smiled bitterly.
Well, Serena thought, depressed. They couldn't spend that cousin-quality time, now. Mina wouldn't ever be able to do so, again.
She stared at the reflection that was cast back at her and shrugging her shoulders with feigned nonchalance, she walked back into the main part of the diner.
Serena's cerulean eyes landed on the food on her table. Her earlier thoughts faded as she nearly swooned from the delicious aroma drifting to her. She sat down and hastily began to eat, burning her tongue as she did so. She winced, but kept on eating hungrily. Savoring the mix of flavors, she felt almost disappointed when she was done. Putting her fork down, she sat back and looked out the window. She sipped on her sprite and chewed on its straw. The sun had warmed everything by now, and the dew that was left from the early morning had dried.
Serena asked for the bill, put down the correct change along with a tip for Molly and strolled outside. She breathed in deeply and stretched before getting back into her car. She turned on the engine and pulled out, going with her directions to her new home.
Serena grinned as she passed Kendale and turned onto Arthur, looking for the fourth house. She parked her car in a spacious driveway with trees on either side of the house she now faced. She turned off her car, took her keys and purse and climbed out of the car again. She smiled as she turned her face towards the sun and her earlier depressing thoughts dissipated. She was getting another chance to start over.
A bit of a distance off, a figure watched Serena and her movements. Serena didn't see the hidden man that watched her from the trees, nor did she see the glare of glass that came from the binoculars.
She walked up to her new home, making a mental note to repaint the house and have the first step of the porch fixed. She opened the door with the key copy her aunt had sent her, and stepped into the main corridor with the wall and stairs to her right and the living room to her left. She slipped off her shoes and thanked the U-Haul gods. All of her belongings were here. She smiled as she went up the stairs, gliding her hand over the smooth wooden banister. She turned right at the top, and with the memory of the house and its creaks, she went to the master's bedroom and peeked in.
Stifling the soft giggles she was making, she crept to the four-poster bed that was situated in the center, lined against the back wall, and pulled back the covers. She grinned as she gazed at her aunts' figure, and almost laughed when a soft snore escaped the sleeper's lips. Poking her aunt, and shouting at the top of her lungs for her aunt to waken, Deanna woke up with a start.
An angry retort ready, Deanna turned and the words died before they left her. With a girlish squeal, Deanna embraced Serena in a bone-crushing hug. Serena beamed happily as her aunt got out of her bed and changed from her nightgown into a loose top and form-fitting jeans to begin helping Serena move things into the correct areas. She rubbed her eyes tiredly, then beamed and looked ten years younger than her actual forty-nine years of age.
"Darling, the U-haul men brought in all of your belongings to the garage and the front corridor. I'll help you get things ready and move things around. Have you had breakfast, m'dear?" asked Deanna, excited her niece had agreed to come live with her.
"Yes, Aunt Dee, I saw them and I ate breakfast at a place called Joy's Diner. Quite delicious, the food they have." Serena grinned and hugged her aunt, then took a step back to look at how her aunt had fared the past years.
Deanna's gray-blue eyes sparkled as she looked over Serena, as well. Serena laughed and was happy to see that aside from a couple wrinkles around her aunt's eyes and some wisps of gray in the ash blonde hair, she was still the same as always. Petite and full-figured. That was Deanna James, thought Serena.
Smiling softly, Deanna said, "Now, dear, since you've had your look at me, let me see what you've done to yourself these past five years."
Looking at Serena with a critical eye, Deanna saw that Serena had gotten thinner. She looked a bit pale, too. With a movement of her hand, Deanna told Serena to move closer.
'Well, she doesn't look like she's changed much. Still has that molten gold hair, blue eyes, and slim figure. A couple more shadows in the eyes, though,' Deanna thought. The latter worried Deanna, but she pushed it aside in her mind to ask Serena about later.
"While you're here, you're going to get a bit fatter, y'hear? You're too skinny for my liking. What'd you do, Sere? Starve yourself?" With an exasperated sigh, Deanna hugged Serena again. "Now, let's get downstairs and start unpacking your things. But first, I want my coffee. I'll drop dead if I don't."
Serena grinned at her aunt. Always fussing, she thought. "I'm fine, Aunt Dee. Just had an extremely hectic week."
"Well, you've no need to stress while you're with me. You just relax and forget everything. Now, shall we?" She linked arms with her niece and walked out of the room, fairly dragging Serena with her. "So, dear, when do you begin working? Do you have any idea what you'd like to do?"
"Yes," laughed Serena. "Don't worry, I've already sent in letters and telephone calls and have a job, right in the middle of town. I have an appointment to go in to check things out at eleven, though."
Looking at the grandfather clock on the wall, Deanna said, "Well, you have two hours and a half. Let's get going, then."
Deanna got her coffee. No sugar or cream. She drank it, and with a slow smile, she crossed to her niece and hugged her, again.
"It's good to have you here, Serena. Now, we'll have those things of yours out and about."
With brisk progression, the two ladies began to unpack Serena's possessions. They started with her clothes and toiletry. The two hoisted a single box upstairs with the letters CT on it.
Putting the box down and wiping her brow, Deanna asked, "Dear, there are three extra rooms. Which one did you want?"
"The largest one!" Grinning at one another, they hefted the box again, albeit with a little difficulty.
"Christ, Serena. You need a man to help you with these. I'm afraid my bones aren't the best." Or my muscles, Deanna thought, with a half-smile.
Deanna headed towards the end of the hall and opened the door to her right, balancing the box on her hip. They dropped the box onto the floor and sat down on the bed, wiping the sweat off their faces.
"You've got a connecting bathroom, in this room. But, it connects with another room. The other room is slightly smaller. You can do anything you like with this room, since I haven't had any urge to really change it since I moved in. Is this room okay, Sere?"
The room was fairly large. A queen-sized bed was in the left corner, farthest from the door, a vanity placed to the entrance's left, and a TV across from the bed. Serena walked to the closet, and opened the door. She smiled as she walked into the closet and laughed at the size of it. It was huge! Her clothing would have no problem fitting into it. There was also a computer desk where she'd be able to set up her own, and a nightstand next to her bed. The walls of the room were a rich cream color, sponged over with a golden paint. Two windows let sunlight filter into the room, and gold-colored drapes kept the harshes of the beams out. The plush cream carpet under her feet made her giddy as she scanned the room again. It was a beautiful room, she thought.
Twirling in a circle, Serena replied, "This is a great room, Aunt Dee." She smiled tenderly at her aunt and grabbed her hand. "Come on, we need to put everything in order here, at least."
They removed Serena's clothing from the box, hanging up spring and summer dresses, blouses and shirts, and lined the bottom of Serena's new closet with various shoes. They had fold jeans, slacks, and skirts into the drawers of her vanity, then moved into the bathroom and took out Serena's bathrobe, her toothbrush and other bathroom items, then set up a clock on the nightstand. Glancing at her watch, Serena set the clock to nine twenty five.
"Wow, okay. Now, I didn't bring too much stuff, but I do have a few things left over from after my yard sale. It's just a few pieces of art and things. I can do those. Go shower, Aunt Dee. I'll make us a light brunch."
Deanna went off to shower as Serena went back to the bathroom connected with her room and washed her hands and face.
She went back downstairs and opened a box labeled 'Household Items.' She took out a few art figurines and placed them around the living room and dining room, running up the stairs to place some glass crystals, shaped into hummingbirds, on her vanity.
Back downstairs, she went into the kitchen, opened up the fridge door and looked to see what was edible. Grabbing some things from the fridge and then rummaging through her aunt's cupboards, Serena found some pancake mix and orange juice. She set them on the table when the telephone rang, then picked up the portable and turned it on.
"Hello?"
Serena opened up the box of pancake mix and took out a frying pan from the bottom cupboard.
"Hi, is Deanna there?" a deep voice asked.
"Good morning. Sorry, she's unavailable right now. May I ask who's speaking?"
"This is Shields. I'm just calling to see if everything is okay, and if her niece got in. You wouldn't happen to be her, would you?"
Grinning, she answered teasingly, "No, this is her hairy abductor. I've kidnapped her and her niece. Now who are you to Mrs. James? Are you her lover, perhaps? Should I call my men to get you, too?"
"Serena!" said a new voice, from behind Serena.
The voice on the telephone line chuckled as Serena turned around, stared at her aunt with unbelievably innocent eyes and asked, "Yes aunt dearest?"
"Give me that phone, you silly child." Taking the phone, Deanna pointed back at the forgotten pancakes. Mouthing the words, 'I'm hungry,' she turned to sit on a high-stool next to the kitchen counter.
Making up some pancakes and setting them on a plate she found earlier, she grabbed the honey syrup she'd seen in the fridge and set them in front of her aunt. She poured tall glasses of orange juice and wondered whom her aunt was talking to. She made another pancake for herself, then sat down to eat.
Deanna was just finishing the conversation on the phone when Serena sat down. She said goodbye to the man on the phone and hung up the line.
"Mm.. Pancakes," stated Deanna. "Thanks, Sere."
Deanna looked over to Serena and the lone pancake and a single eyebrow lifted in question. Serena glanced at her aunt then said defensively, "I ate at Joy's, remember?"
"So, who's Shields, Aunt Dee?" asked Serena.
"Just a friend. Not a lover, Sere." Deanna's eyebrow lifted as if to ask what in the world gave Sere that idea. "He's one of the first friends I made while I was here, after you and Mina left. He has a son, too. Quite the looker, Darien is." Grinning at Serena, Deanna's mind went into a whirl. She made a mental note to call Logan, and ask if Darien was seeing anyone. "Anyway, the family owns the only banking business here, so you'll be seeing the Shields family quite a bit," she finished.
"Oh? So, his name isn't Shields?" asked Serena, slightly confused.
"No, his real name is Logan Shields, but everyone just calls him Shields. Now, finish your pancake and lets finish up those things and get you out of here to see the rest of town. I don't recall you actually staying here long enough, last time, to get to meet too many people."
"All right," said Serena as she finished off the last bite of her pancake. She finished her orange juice then put her dishes in the sink. "I'll wash those later; let me go upstairs to shower and change."
Deanna nodded and Serena went back upstairs to her room. She grabbed a pair of jean shorts, a t-shirt, and her underwear. Walking into her bathroom, she turned on the taps, undressed and got in underneath the showerhead.
Half an hour later Serena walked out of her bathroom feeling rejuvenated and sat at her vanity to comb out the wet strands of hair. She combed her hair and blow-dried it, then tied it up and out of her face. Satisfied, she went downstairs where her aunt was watching TV.
"Done," Serena said as she sat down next to her aunt. "Want to go now? It's already ten forty."
"Sure, dear. Let me go get my purse and we can leave." Deanna got up and put on her shoes then went upstairs to grab her purse. She came back down, purse, blouse, and floral-printed skirt.
Serena felt happy that she came to live with her aunt. She smiled at her aunt, grabbed her car keys then opened the house door. The two women walked down the porch steps and went around to Serena's car. Slipping in, Serena asked her aunt where the police station was. Amused at the concept of her niece working at a police station, Deanna gave the directions to Serena.
They arrived at the station, a small building in the center of the town. It was two stories and it was a grim looking building.
They stepped into the front office, and Serena spoke with the secretary, a short black-haired petite woman with intelligent dark blue eyes Deanna knew to be Amy. She wore spectacles and made small gestures as she spoke with Serena. Deanna smiled easily at Amy and grinned inwardly. She moved to a group of chairs that were set out to allow people to wait comfortably.
'How perfect,' she thought. 'Serena's going to be in for a surprise.'
After a short while, Serena came and sat down next to her aunt.
"Well, what're we waiting for, Sere?"
"Amy, the girl at the desk, said that the man I needed to speak with was just finishing up some papers and would be able to see us. soon. She asked us if we'd like any coffee in the meantime and I said no, it was fine."
"Ah, I see."
A few minutes later, Serena was called into an office. A crown of ebony black hair was all that Serena and Deanna saw as the man's face was bent down, looking at some files, when they came in. Glancing up, the man nodded to two chairs in front of his desk, mumbled something along the lines of 'one moment,' then went back to his papers.
Serena saw a man in his early to mid thirties, striking blue eyes, a shade of blue that seemed almost surreal, in that glance. Hardly able to take her eyes off of this man, she thought with a sinking feeling that he'd be the greatest obstacle to get around in this work place. His face was truly a masterpiece, in a woman's mind. Thick black hair that looked soft to the touch, a lean and angular face with broad cheekbones and an aquiline nose. His eyes were thickly lashed with dark eyebrows that slanted above to make his face look vaguely exotic. He wore a collared shirt with sleeves rolled to the elbows, showing off the tanned skin and well-muscled forearms.
Beside Serena, Deanna glanced occasionally at Serena and the man across them, a wide smile on her face.
'My, handsome indeed. Shields, this will indeed be a perfect match! My niece and his son; this ought to be interesting. Let's see how this plays out,' mused Deanna to herself.
The man finished scribbling something on the papers and looked back at the two women. His eyes were grim as he finished up with the papers, his mouth set in a firm line, the muscle at his jaw indicating his irritation with the file.
He stood and extended his hand towards Serena, forcing his features to relax. "Hey, I'm Darien Shields. I'm the sheriff here, and I received your fax with your resume." He paused, looking at the younger woman and asked, "Serena Lee, isn't it?"
Serena had glanced over at her aunt when the man's name came up and heard her aunt's voice ringing in her mind, 'Quite the looker' she'd said.
Standing up, she looked back to Darien and wondered if she should buy an encyclopedia. Maybe his picture is next to mind-melter. The corners of her mouth lifted as she said that she was Serena Lee. They shook hands, then sat back down.
A quick grin flashed across his face, turning up his lips, and making Serena's heart skip a beat in the process. Whoa, back up there. Secret weapon, she thought.
"Anyway, Serena, for now you'll be doing paperwork until you get used to the city. After, you can start going around the city with either Alan, our deputy, or me. In the meantime, come in at eight in the morning, lunch at one to two, then off at four. Is that okay? Anything you need to do with your moving in before you can start here?"
"That's fine, Mr. Shields. And no, I can start tomorrow, if you'd like."
"Ah, call me Darien, please. I feel like I'm my father, or someone around that age if you call me 'Mr. Shields.'" His eyes were slightly amused as they looked into Serena's. "By the way, Sundays you get off. Monday through Saturday, eight to four."
"Got it. I'll come in tomorrow, even though it's Sunday, to get used to the setup in here." Shaking hands with Darien, Serena walked to the doorway with her aunt, then turned around. "Thanks for the job, too."
"No problem, call me if you need any help around the area or the house you live in, since your aunt is too stubborn to accept help." Darien half-joked. "Your aunt has my number, anyway."
"All right. Thanks, Darien. See you tomorrow, or Monday."
"Bye," was his mumbled reply as he'd bent over his desk to continue studying the papers he'd been working on, glad that another pair of hands would be able to help.
Happy with the exchange going on between Darien and Serena, it took a while for Deanna to hear Darien's quirk about her stubbornness. Walking to his desk, Deanna swatted Darien over the head with her purse, sniffed and walked out with a giggling Serena falling behind her.
Deanna smiled secretively. She'd no longer be stubborn. He could come over all he liked, as far as she was concerned. As long as Serena was there, when he was. Deanna was already making plans to play Cupid.
Darien watched a golden haired woman leave his office. With a sigh, he read more about the string of murders that had left his town, and the other towns in his state, women shaken.
Holding his hands over his face, he rubbed his eyes and looked at his watch. Almost twelve thirty, and nothing on this guy.
Darien stared at the papers in front of him and tried to find another link amongst the women who'd been murdered. Everything was always the same, one of the townspeople would find a Caucasian female victim, aged twenty to thirty, slim, with a thin 24 karat golden wire wrapped around their necks. They hadn't been raped, hadn't been sexually harassed in any form, just strangled and murdered in the dead of night. Five women had been murdered in the past three weeks. And each had been killed in the exact same fashion. No clues were left behind. Not a single strand of hair or finger print to lead the men on the case in any direction. Skin cells weren't even found under the women's finger nails to show a struggle. Currently, the case was on pause. They needed more clues, but how many deaths would that take?
This guy is smooth. Very smooth, Darien thought as he pored over the files.
The killings had gone from the southwestern part of the state to the middle. The last found woman was also the first one in his town. With a sigh, Darien brushed his fingers through his hair and sat back in his chair to think.
* * * *
After Deanna and Serena left the station, Deanna took Serena around town, pointing out the movie theatre, a small antique-selling shop, along with a handful of other stores and small shops. When it was around two pm, Serena drove Deanna home after Deanna mentioned being slightly tired.
"Are you sure you don't want me to accompany you? What happens if you get lost?" Deanna worried.
"Don't fret, Aunt Dee, I'll be fine. And, if I get lost, I have money and I have gas. Even better, I have a map." Laughing, she parked the car in front of their house and told her aunt to go sleep.
"All right, well, I'll be calling your cell phone if you're not home by at least five. Bye, dear." Deanna walked up the porch steps and went into the house.
Serena backed the car up and out of the driveway and made her way back to the cute bakery shop she had seen earlier when she was with her aunt.
****
Across town, a dark figure sharpened a knife then set it on a desk and opened up a small booklet. In it were pockets filled with various shades of blonde locks of hair. Cackling, the shadowed figure shut it and cut off a foot in length of golden wire and put it next to the knife.
Finally, all shall be mine, he cried in thought, to himself.
* * * *
Okae, there. Anyway, hope you enjoyed it! Tell me your thoughts, ne? *points to the review button* ^~ Gotta make sure I know what my readers like, and don't like. ^^;
AN: Welps, another story, and two others I have yet to finish. *grins* Well, anyway, thanks to Lilli, Ash, Greddy, and Tendie [lubs you] for being my sounding board for this fic. XD
* * * * *
The crunching of leaves could be heard as a shadow moved across an empty park. The town was eerie with darkness as midnight slipped over the brick path and through the trees, then over town, covering everything in darkness. Not a single sliver of moonlight shone upon this quaint city, as the clouds had blocked off the moon's light.
Near the park, a video selling and rental store was being closed up. A young woman came out of the double doors, locking them. She turned to head for her car, the only one left in the lot. She got into her car, and turned the key in the ignition. She cursed the night as the car stalled. It wasn't turning on.
Sighing, she climbed out and decided to just walk home. She could cut through the park and would probably be home in about twenty to thirty minutes.
Damn Melvin, she thought. He just had to go on that date with Molly, tonight. She rolled her eyes heavenward as she entered the park and followed the main path.
Masked eyes and a smirk followed the woman's figure. Stealthily, the shadow followed. He neared upon her, grabbed her wrist, and enveloped her into a tight hold. His other hand flew from his leather jacket's pocket to cover the woman's shrieks of terror. Balled into his hand was a rag stained with chloroform, a sweet smell wafting from it in invisible waves. Blackness seeped into the woman's consciousness as she inhaled the deceiving aroma. Her struggles grew weaker and she finally gave up.
* * * *
Damn it, get out of my way! Serena Lee shrieked frustratingly, in her mind as she honked at the car in front of her. She'd been driving her convertible for the past fourteen hours. Ugh, does everyone drive slow on highways around here?
She snorted and stifled the urge to scream when a car cut in front of her and began to slow down. Serena just muttered more obscenities. She'd been driving for what seemed like ever, was running on only two cups of espresso and seven hours of sleep in the last two days. She was cranky. She was slightly bitchy. She wanted to get to her new hometown and just lie out on her aunt's patio, next to the pool and forget this hectic week.
Serena praised the gods when she saw her exit. Slipping in a CD into her CD player, she unclipped her long, blonde hair and let it loose in the wind as her mood lifted. She was on her way to a new life, and right now she decided that even slow drivers wouldn't get her down.
She veered left when she got to the stop sign, following the directions that she'd scribbled out earlier on Thursday morning. It was Saturday.
Serena sighed as her stomach growled for, what must have been, the tenth time that early morning.
All right, she thought, first thing on the To Do list. EAT.
Scanning both sides of the road she was on, she looked for a place, anywhere, where she could stop to appease her hunger. Going down the street, she finally found something. It was a fairly large sized restaurant with a bright green neon sign that was lit. It said Joy's Diner. She turned right and pulled into the parking lot. She parked her car, brought the hood back down, grabbed her keys and got out of her vehicle.
Serena walked towards the diner and opened the door that had an 'Enter' sign hanging crookedly, at the top. A jingling sound from the bell atop the door followed and announced her presence.
The number of people that were seated in the diner surprised her. She had expected a few customers, not a dozen or so. The majority of them were men and they were huddled around a TV at one end of the main paying counter, watching a rerun of a past football game. The few women that were in the diner were at a corner booth discussing what looked like quilts and fabrics. Serena checked her watch. 7:17 AM.
People started early, in this town. That was for sure, she mused.
Serena waved to one of the two waitresses, then went to a side booth with a window view, and sat down. The diner was very comfortable and homey, set in the oldies with the waitresses in blue and white pinstriped collared shirts and skirts, and a baby blue apron. Feeling like she'd been dumped into the sixties, she opened the menu that was already there and scanned the breakfasts. A waitress went by her table, dropped a number on the colored glass, and introduced herself.
"Hey there, sugar. I'm Molly Anders," she greeted warmly, chewing bubble gum between her sentences. "I've never seen you 'round, before. You're new to town, ain't ya?"
Serena grinned, "I'm Serena Lee. Is it that easy to tell I'm new?"
Molly smiled back and replied, "Nah. Just a small town, is all. Well, you tell me what you want to drink and eat, go freshen up and don't worry about anyone takin' your booth. The number," she gestured to the number she'd placed on the table earlier, "marks this as a taken booth."
Serena smiled inwardly. She'd already made a new friend. She told Molly that she'd have the pancakes, bacon 'n' cheese omelet, and a glass of chilled water. Molly nodded, wrote down the order, and then walked off to finish her rounds at the other tables. Serena took her purse and headed to the restroom.
She went to the sinks to freshen her appearance. Using her fingers, she combed them through her blonde tresses. She used a hair tie she found in her purse and tied her hair back to the nape of her neck, the ends of her hair just reaching her hips. Straightening out some of the wrinkles in her tank top, and brushing off some lint on her jeans, she guessed that was the best she'd be able to do. Looking back at the mirror, she thought she looked like she was in her early twenties, rather than twenty-seven.
The mirror showed a young woman at around five feet six, honey-blonde hair, and creamy white skin. Sapphire-colored eyes were set in a pixie-shaped face with elegantly arched eyebrows, pert nose, and full rosy lips. Toned muscles were firm and lean, used to exercise.
Serena washed her hands and dried them, remembering the first time she'd been in this city.
She had helped her aunt, Deanna James, move in, just before going off to university with her cousin, Mina. They'd stayed for a month, repairing an old mansion and decorating it, time Aunt Dee wanted to spend with her daughter and niece, before seeing them off to the airport. The year that followed had been fun-filled.
Then Serena's aunt had gotten into a car accident that had left Deanna with a shattered ankle. Mina had come back to the town to help with her mother, met a man along the way, and gotten married soon after. That was almost four years ago.
But then Mina and Malachi Sethridge had come upon misfortune. Mina had been doing banking work and was a sales clerk. Both were part time, for her college tuition. Malachi was vice president of his father's company. Sethridge Jewlers Co.
Mina and Malachi had a son, Cole, soon after their honeymoon at the Bahamas. On their four year anniversary, Malachi had taken his wife on a sailing trip, knowing of her love for the ocean. They'd left their son home with Malachi's parents, and left early in the morning. But, later in the afternoon, a freak storm caused their boat to capsize, leaving both dead, and a four year old son, orphaned with no parents.
Serena cut off her train of thought before she became depressed again. Serena's eyes misted slightly as she thought about her cousin and smiled bitterly.
Well, Serena thought, depressed. They couldn't spend that cousin-quality time, now. Mina wouldn't ever be able to do so, again.
She stared at the reflection that was cast back at her and shrugging her shoulders with feigned nonchalance, she walked back into the main part of the diner.
Serena's cerulean eyes landed on the food on her table. Her earlier thoughts faded as she nearly swooned from the delicious aroma drifting to her. She sat down and hastily began to eat, burning her tongue as she did so. She winced, but kept on eating hungrily. Savoring the mix of flavors, she felt almost disappointed when she was done. Putting her fork down, she sat back and looked out the window. She sipped on her sprite and chewed on its straw. The sun had warmed everything by now, and the dew that was left from the early morning had dried.
Serena asked for the bill, put down the correct change along with a tip for Molly and strolled outside. She breathed in deeply and stretched before getting back into her car. She turned on the engine and pulled out, going with her directions to her new home.
Serena grinned as she passed Kendale and turned onto Arthur, looking for the fourth house. She parked her car in a spacious driveway with trees on either side of the house she now faced. She turned off her car, took her keys and purse and climbed out of the car again. She smiled as she turned her face towards the sun and her earlier depressing thoughts dissipated. She was getting another chance to start over.
A bit of a distance off, a figure watched Serena and her movements. Serena didn't see the hidden man that watched her from the trees, nor did she see the glare of glass that came from the binoculars.
She walked up to her new home, making a mental note to repaint the house and have the first step of the porch fixed. She opened the door with the key copy her aunt had sent her, and stepped into the main corridor with the wall and stairs to her right and the living room to her left. She slipped off her shoes and thanked the U-Haul gods. All of her belongings were here. She smiled as she went up the stairs, gliding her hand over the smooth wooden banister. She turned right at the top, and with the memory of the house and its creaks, she went to the master's bedroom and peeked in.
Stifling the soft giggles she was making, she crept to the four-poster bed that was situated in the center, lined against the back wall, and pulled back the covers. She grinned as she gazed at her aunts' figure, and almost laughed when a soft snore escaped the sleeper's lips. Poking her aunt, and shouting at the top of her lungs for her aunt to waken, Deanna woke up with a start.
An angry retort ready, Deanna turned and the words died before they left her. With a girlish squeal, Deanna embraced Serena in a bone-crushing hug. Serena beamed happily as her aunt got out of her bed and changed from her nightgown into a loose top and form-fitting jeans to begin helping Serena move things into the correct areas. She rubbed her eyes tiredly, then beamed and looked ten years younger than her actual forty-nine years of age.
"Darling, the U-haul men brought in all of your belongings to the garage and the front corridor. I'll help you get things ready and move things around. Have you had breakfast, m'dear?" asked Deanna, excited her niece had agreed to come live with her.
"Yes, Aunt Dee, I saw them and I ate breakfast at a place called Joy's Diner. Quite delicious, the food they have." Serena grinned and hugged her aunt, then took a step back to look at how her aunt had fared the past years.
Deanna's gray-blue eyes sparkled as she looked over Serena, as well. Serena laughed and was happy to see that aside from a couple wrinkles around her aunt's eyes and some wisps of gray in the ash blonde hair, she was still the same as always. Petite and full-figured. That was Deanna James, thought Serena.
Smiling softly, Deanna said, "Now, dear, since you've had your look at me, let me see what you've done to yourself these past five years."
Looking at Serena with a critical eye, Deanna saw that Serena had gotten thinner. She looked a bit pale, too. With a movement of her hand, Deanna told Serena to move closer.
'Well, she doesn't look like she's changed much. Still has that molten gold hair, blue eyes, and slim figure. A couple more shadows in the eyes, though,' Deanna thought. The latter worried Deanna, but she pushed it aside in her mind to ask Serena about later.
"While you're here, you're going to get a bit fatter, y'hear? You're too skinny for my liking. What'd you do, Sere? Starve yourself?" With an exasperated sigh, Deanna hugged Serena again. "Now, let's get downstairs and start unpacking your things. But first, I want my coffee. I'll drop dead if I don't."
Serena grinned at her aunt. Always fussing, she thought. "I'm fine, Aunt Dee. Just had an extremely hectic week."
"Well, you've no need to stress while you're with me. You just relax and forget everything. Now, shall we?" She linked arms with her niece and walked out of the room, fairly dragging Serena with her. "So, dear, when do you begin working? Do you have any idea what you'd like to do?"
"Yes," laughed Serena. "Don't worry, I've already sent in letters and telephone calls and have a job, right in the middle of town. I have an appointment to go in to check things out at eleven, though."
Looking at the grandfather clock on the wall, Deanna said, "Well, you have two hours and a half. Let's get going, then."
Deanna got her coffee. No sugar or cream. She drank it, and with a slow smile, she crossed to her niece and hugged her, again.
"It's good to have you here, Serena. Now, we'll have those things of yours out and about."
With brisk progression, the two ladies began to unpack Serena's possessions. They started with her clothes and toiletry. The two hoisted a single box upstairs with the letters CT on it.
Putting the box down and wiping her brow, Deanna asked, "Dear, there are three extra rooms. Which one did you want?"
"The largest one!" Grinning at one another, they hefted the box again, albeit with a little difficulty.
"Christ, Serena. You need a man to help you with these. I'm afraid my bones aren't the best." Or my muscles, Deanna thought, with a half-smile.
Deanna headed towards the end of the hall and opened the door to her right, balancing the box on her hip. They dropped the box onto the floor and sat down on the bed, wiping the sweat off their faces.
"You've got a connecting bathroom, in this room. But, it connects with another room. The other room is slightly smaller. You can do anything you like with this room, since I haven't had any urge to really change it since I moved in. Is this room okay, Sere?"
The room was fairly large. A queen-sized bed was in the left corner, farthest from the door, a vanity placed to the entrance's left, and a TV across from the bed. Serena walked to the closet, and opened the door. She smiled as she walked into the closet and laughed at the size of it. It was huge! Her clothing would have no problem fitting into it. There was also a computer desk where she'd be able to set up her own, and a nightstand next to her bed. The walls of the room were a rich cream color, sponged over with a golden paint. Two windows let sunlight filter into the room, and gold-colored drapes kept the harshes of the beams out. The plush cream carpet under her feet made her giddy as she scanned the room again. It was a beautiful room, she thought.
Twirling in a circle, Serena replied, "This is a great room, Aunt Dee." She smiled tenderly at her aunt and grabbed her hand. "Come on, we need to put everything in order here, at least."
They removed Serena's clothing from the box, hanging up spring and summer dresses, blouses and shirts, and lined the bottom of Serena's new closet with various shoes. They had fold jeans, slacks, and skirts into the drawers of her vanity, then moved into the bathroom and took out Serena's bathrobe, her toothbrush and other bathroom items, then set up a clock on the nightstand. Glancing at her watch, Serena set the clock to nine twenty five.
"Wow, okay. Now, I didn't bring too much stuff, but I do have a few things left over from after my yard sale. It's just a few pieces of art and things. I can do those. Go shower, Aunt Dee. I'll make us a light brunch."
Deanna went off to shower as Serena went back to the bathroom connected with her room and washed her hands and face.
She went back downstairs and opened a box labeled 'Household Items.' She took out a few art figurines and placed them around the living room and dining room, running up the stairs to place some glass crystals, shaped into hummingbirds, on her vanity.
Back downstairs, she went into the kitchen, opened up the fridge door and looked to see what was edible. Grabbing some things from the fridge and then rummaging through her aunt's cupboards, Serena found some pancake mix and orange juice. She set them on the table when the telephone rang, then picked up the portable and turned it on.
"Hello?"
Serena opened up the box of pancake mix and took out a frying pan from the bottom cupboard.
"Hi, is Deanna there?" a deep voice asked.
"Good morning. Sorry, she's unavailable right now. May I ask who's speaking?"
"This is Shields. I'm just calling to see if everything is okay, and if her niece got in. You wouldn't happen to be her, would you?"
Grinning, she answered teasingly, "No, this is her hairy abductor. I've kidnapped her and her niece. Now who are you to Mrs. James? Are you her lover, perhaps? Should I call my men to get you, too?"
"Serena!" said a new voice, from behind Serena.
The voice on the telephone line chuckled as Serena turned around, stared at her aunt with unbelievably innocent eyes and asked, "Yes aunt dearest?"
"Give me that phone, you silly child." Taking the phone, Deanna pointed back at the forgotten pancakes. Mouthing the words, 'I'm hungry,' she turned to sit on a high-stool next to the kitchen counter.
Making up some pancakes and setting them on a plate she found earlier, she grabbed the honey syrup she'd seen in the fridge and set them in front of her aunt. She poured tall glasses of orange juice and wondered whom her aunt was talking to. She made another pancake for herself, then sat down to eat.
Deanna was just finishing the conversation on the phone when Serena sat down. She said goodbye to the man on the phone and hung up the line.
"Mm.. Pancakes," stated Deanna. "Thanks, Sere."
Deanna looked over to Serena and the lone pancake and a single eyebrow lifted in question. Serena glanced at her aunt then said defensively, "I ate at Joy's, remember?"
"So, who's Shields, Aunt Dee?" asked Serena.
"Just a friend. Not a lover, Sere." Deanna's eyebrow lifted as if to ask what in the world gave Sere that idea. "He's one of the first friends I made while I was here, after you and Mina left. He has a son, too. Quite the looker, Darien is." Grinning at Serena, Deanna's mind went into a whirl. She made a mental note to call Logan, and ask if Darien was seeing anyone. "Anyway, the family owns the only banking business here, so you'll be seeing the Shields family quite a bit," she finished.
"Oh? So, his name isn't Shields?" asked Serena, slightly confused.
"No, his real name is Logan Shields, but everyone just calls him Shields. Now, finish your pancake and lets finish up those things and get you out of here to see the rest of town. I don't recall you actually staying here long enough, last time, to get to meet too many people."
"All right," said Serena as she finished off the last bite of her pancake. She finished her orange juice then put her dishes in the sink. "I'll wash those later; let me go upstairs to shower and change."
Deanna nodded and Serena went back upstairs to her room. She grabbed a pair of jean shorts, a t-shirt, and her underwear. Walking into her bathroom, she turned on the taps, undressed and got in underneath the showerhead.
Half an hour later Serena walked out of her bathroom feeling rejuvenated and sat at her vanity to comb out the wet strands of hair. She combed her hair and blow-dried it, then tied it up and out of her face. Satisfied, she went downstairs where her aunt was watching TV.
"Done," Serena said as she sat down next to her aunt. "Want to go now? It's already ten forty."
"Sure, dear. Let me go get my purse and we can leave." Deanna got up and put on her shoes then went upstairs to grab her purse. She came back down, purse, blouse, and floral-printed skirt.
Serena felt happy that she came to live with her aunt. She smiled at her aunt, grabbed her car keys then opened the house door. The two women walked down the porch steps and went around to Serena's car. Slipping in, Serena asked her aunt where the police station was. Amused at the concept of her niece working at a police station, Deanna gave the directions to Serena.
They arrived at the station, a small building in the center of the town. It was two stories and it was a grim looking building.
They stepped into the front office, and Serena spoke with the secretary, a short black-haired petite woman with intelligent dark blue eyes Deanna knew to be Amy. She wore spectacles and made small gestures as she spoke with Serena. Deanna smiled easily at Amy and grinned inwardly. She moved to a group of chairs that were set out to allow people to wait comfortably.
'How perfect,' she thought. 'Serena's going to be in for a surprise.'
After a short while, Serena came and sat down next to her aunt.
"Well, what're we waiting for, Sere?"
"Amy, the girl at the desk, said that the man I needed to speak with was just finishing up some papers and would be able to see us. soon. She asked us if we'd like any coffee in the meantime and I said no, it was fine."
"Ah, I see."
A few minutes later, Serena was called into an office. A crown of ebony black hair was all that Serena and Deanna saw as the man's face was bent down, looking at some files, when they came in. Glancing up, the man nodded to two chairs in front of his desk, mumbled something along the lines of 'one moment,' then went back to his papers.
Serena saw a man in his early to mid thirties, striking blue eyes, a shade of blue that seemed almost surreal, in that glance. Hardly able to take her eyes off of this man, she thought with a sinking feeling that he'd be the greatest obstacle to get around in this work place. His face was truly a masterpiece, in a woman's mind. Thick black hair that looked soft to the touch, a lean and angular face with broad cheekbones and an aquiline nose. His eyes were thickly lashed with dark eyebrows that slanted above to make his face look vaguely exotic. He wore a collared shirt with sleeves rolled to the elbows, showing off the tanned skin and well-muscled forearms.
Beside Serena, Deanna glanced occasionally at Serena and the man across them, a wide smile on her face.
'My, handsome indeed. Shields, this will indeed be a perfect match! My niece and his son; this ought to be interesting. Let's see how this plays out,' mused Deanna to herself.
The man finished scribbling something on the papers and looked back at the two women. His eyes were grim as he finished up with the papers, his mouth set in a firm line, the muscle at his jaw indicating his irritation with the file.
He stood and extended his hand towards Serena, forcing his features to relax. "Hey, I'm Darien Shields. I'm the sheriff here, and I received your fax with your resume." He paused, looking at the younger woman and asked, "Serena Lee, isn't it?"
Serena had glanced over at her aunt when the man's name came up and heard her aunt's voice ringing in her mind, 'Quite the looker' she'd said.
Standing up, she looked back to Darien and wondered if she should buy an encyclopedia. Maybe his picture is next to mind-melter. The corners of her mouth lifted as she said that she was Serena Lee. They shook hands, then sat back down.
A quick grin flashed across his face, turning up his lips, and making Serena's heart skip a beat in the process. Whoa, back up there. Secret weapon, she thought.
"Anyway, Serena, for now you'll be doing paperwork until you get used to the city. After, you can start going around the city with either Alan, our deputy, or me. In the meantime, come in at eight in the morning, lunch at one to two, then off at four. Is that okay? Anything you need to do with your moving in before you can start here?"
"That's fine, Mr. Shields. And no, I can start tomorrow, if you'd like."
"Ah, call me Darien, please. I feel like I'm my father, or someone around that age if you call me 'Mr. Shields.'" His eyes were slightly amused as they looked into Serena's. "By the way, Sundays you get off. Monday through Saturday, eight to four."
"Got it. I'll come in tomorrow, even though it's Sunday, to get used to the setup in here." Shaking hands with Darien, Serena walked to the doorway with her aunt, then turned around. "Thanks for the job, too."
"No problem, call me if you need any help around the area or the house you live in, since your aunt is too stubborn to accept help." Darien half-joked. "Your aunt has my number, anyway."
"All right. Thanks, Darien. See you tomorrow, or Monday."
"Bye," was his mumbled reply as he'd bent over his desk to continue studying the papers he'd been working on, glad that another pair of hands would be able to help.
Happy with the exchange going on between Darien and Serena, it took a while for Deanna to hear Darien's quirk about her stubbornness. Walking to his desk, Deanna swatted Darien over the head with her purse, sniffed and walked out with a giggling Serena falling behind her.
Deanna smiled secretively. She'd no longer be stubborn. He could come over all he liked, as far as she was concerned. As long as Serena was there, when he was. Deanna was already making plans to play Cupid.
Darien watched a golden haired woman leave his office. With a sigh, he read more about the string of murders that had left his town, and the other towns in his state, women shaken.
Holding his hands over his face, he rubbed his eyes and looked at his watch. Almost twelve thirty, and nothing on this guy.
Darien stared at the papers in front of him and tried to find another link amongst the women who'd been murdered. Everything was always the same, one of the townspeople would find a Caucasian female victim, aged twenty to thirty, slim, with a thin 24 karat golden wire wrapped around their necks. They hadn't been raped, hadn't been sexually harassed in any form, just strangled and murdered in the dead of night. Five women had been murdered in the past three weeks. And each had been killed in the exact same fashion. No clues were left behind. Not a single strand of hair or finger print to lead the men on the case in any direction. Skin cells weren't even found under the women's finger nails to show a struggle. Currently, the case was on pause. They needed more clues, but how many deaths would that take?
This guy is smooth. Very smooth, Darien thought as he pored over the files.
The killings had gone from the southwestern part of the state to the middle. The last found woman was also the first one in his town. With a sigh, Darien brushed his fingers through his hair and sat back in his chair to think.
* * * *
After Deanna and Serena left the station, Deanna took Serena around town, pointing out the movie theatre, a small antique-selling shop, along with a handful of other stores and small shops. When it was around two pm, Serena drove Deanna home after Deanna mentioned being slightly tired.
"Are you sure you don't want me to accompany you? What happens if you get lost?" Deanna worried.
"Don't fret, Aunt Dee, I'll be fine. And, if I get lost, I have money and I have gas. Even better, I have a map." Laughing, she parked the car in front of their house and told her aunt to go sleep.
"All right, well, I'll be calling your cell phone if you're not home by at least five. Bye, dear." Deanna walked up the porch steps and went into the house.
Serena backed the car up and out of the driveway and made her way back to the cute bakery shop she had seen earlier when she was with her aunt.
****
Across town, a dark figure sharpened a knife then set it on a desk and opened up a small booklet. In it were pockets filled with various shades of blonde locks of hair. Cackling, the shadowed figure shut it and cut off a foot in length of golden wire and put it next to the knife.
Finally, all shall be mine, he cried in thought, to himself.
* * * *
Okae, there. Anyway, hope you enjoyed it! Tell me your thoughts, ne? *points to the review button* ^~ Gotta make sure I know what my readers like, and don't like. ^^;