Brad picked Sue up at seven, just like he’d promised. They drove to town for dinner and a movie.
“So what brings you back, Brad?” Sue asked.
“Mom’s not doing so good. I thought I’d come and help her out for a few days while the sawmill’s getting some reconstruction done. What about you?”
“I just got a bad case of artist’s block. I couldn’t concentrate so I thought a change of scene might help. And then…” Sue thought, ‘His mom’s not ill, I just saw her in the market. She looked perfectly healthy to me. Hadn’t he also said that he worked in a steel mill? Why would he lie to me?’
“Sue? And then what? Are you sure you’re okay? You seem a little out of it tonight.”
“Uh, and then I got that letter.”
“What’d it say?”
“I don’t know if I should tell anyone. John said I shouldn’t talk to anyone about it.”
“Come on, Sue, it’s me.”
“You’re right. It’s from a guy calling himself Endymion. He murdered two girls and he keeps writing me these notes, like he’s taunting me.” ‘How did he know about the letters?’
“Do the police have any suspects?”
“Not really, but they questioned Curtis Melville.”
“Melville? He’s harmless.”
“I don’t know who it could be. I mean, why kill other people to get at me? Why doesn’t he just come after me?”
“I don’t know.”
There were a few moments of silence in the car when Brad pulled off the road leading from The Pier, and onto the one leading to lover’s leap, a wooded area a few miles outside of town where they used to go.
“What are you doing?” Sue glanced at the cigarette holder and noticed a hunter’s knife. She tensed up as Brad pulled in the driveway of the hidden abandoned cabin that they had visited many tiems.
“I’m sorry Sue, I can’t lie to you anymore.”
————————————————————————
Curtis and John had been driving for five minutes when they came to the path way that lead to lover’s leap.
“I don’t see why we don’t take the main way, Curtis.”
“Because you have to see the evidence. I can tell you don’t believe a word I’ve said, John. I know he’s got someone in the cabin. No one was home when we checked Sue’s house, he may have her.”
“I thought you didn’t like her.”
“That doesn’t mean she deserves to die. Jesus Christ, what do you think I am, John? A monster?”
The lights were on in the cabin. They could see a black bronco parked some ways in the woods, and a jeep cherokee parked in front of the house.
“What’s up with the two vehicles? Surely not an accomplice.”
“I don’t know, but let’s move slowly. I don’t want to provoke him. He’s very irrational at this point.”
John and Curtis drew their guns as they approached the cabin. John didn’t realize that Curtis had moved ever so slowly towards the front of the house until he was neared the back door. He paused a moment to listen.
————————————————————————
Brad and Sue approached the house. “I wonder who’s inside. The lights are on.”
“Brad, I know your mom’s not sick. And I know you don’t work at a steel mill or a sawmill. Now tell me the truth.”
“Yes, Sue, I have been lying to you. I was hoping you’d figure it out. But, I’ll come clean. I don’t work at a sawmill or a steel mill. And you’re right; my mom isn’t sick. I work for a paper up in New York. This is a big case and a small town. It would make headline news, but the cops out here aren’t giving any information. I thought that if I got this story it’d get me a job at the Times.”
“So you’re a reporter.”
“Yes.”
“Why’d you lie to me?”
“I thought that if I told you, I wouldn’t get the story.”
“Why do you have that knife in your car?”
“The hunter’s knife? To photograph as an example of the murder weapon. Besides, I could use some protection.” Brad said pulling it out of his pocket. “You can hold it if it’ll make you feel safer.”
“No, I’ll be fine.” Sue said as she and Brad stepped onto the front porch.
They walked into the house and froze.
“Well, well, well, what a pleasant surprise.” A masked Endymion said. “I wasn’t expecting company, but it great that you two could join us. Especially you Sue.”
“What…” Brad started.
Endymion shot Brad as he started to speak. “You, however, are unwanted here.”
Sue saw her mother tied up and huddled in a corner. Sue was speechless as Endymion over powered her and tied her up. Why wasn’t dad home to protect her? Why did he have to work late? If he was home than maybe he could have… “Oh, God…”
“Oh, Sue, did you finally figure out who I am? Well I guess there’s no need for a mask anymore, is there?” Endymion pulled off his mask.
“But…why?”
“Daddy couldn’t handle being daddy. When he found out that your mom was pregnant, it shattered his world. He had dreams of traveling the world. Except, his youth was spent trying to find a job in hicksville to support your mom and you. He never had the balls to confront you or leave you. It was always; I can’t leave her. What would they think of me.” Endymion paced in front of the two huddled up women. “He couldn’t be a man. He tried to fight me. Oh, he tried. But finally he realized that I was what he wanted. I would be his savior. So finally, he let me out.”
“Mom,” Sue’s voice quivered, “What’s he talking about.”
Mrs. Collins just shook her head in disbelief.
“I’ve got multiple personality disorder. It’s how I learned to cope with things all those many years ago when my father abused me.” Mr. Collins said. “When I was little I used to have these black outs when my father started beating me. I could never feel the pain. He took it. He took the beatings for me. I promised that one day he could have fun. This is his day.” Mr. Collins seemed to space out for a few seconds. Then an evil grin broke out on his face.
“This is my day.” Endymion raised the gun to shoot Mrs. Collins. “You’ll die first bitch.”
————————————————————————
“Don’t move.” John shouted as he kicked in the door, weapon drawn.
“Good to see you John as always. Just not here.” Endymion moved his arm and shot John’s shooting arm.
John dropped the gun and grabbed his arm.
Endymion kicked the gun away from all of them. He then raised the gun to shoot John again when everyone heard a shot. Endymion grimaced and fell to his knees. He turned towards the front door. “Curtis… How could you?”
“Put the gun down Endymion.” Curtis said, holding the gun towards him.
Endymion raised the gun to shoot Curtis, but not before Curtis shot him. Endymion slumped over, dead.
Brad moaned as Curtis checked his pulse. He then grabbed Brad’s cell phone and called the police.
The end.