Secrets

   The year was 1987 in what is known as Chatterbox Kansas. Despite the name it was predominantly quiet and peaceful. I was the detective for the local police department though, we never had much crime. But something has changed recently. 6 girls from the Chatterbox local high school went missing and it left the town on edge. It had already been 2 months since the girls were reported missing with not a single lead but I knew that I was going to solve the case. I just had to for the town. That month I had hired an intern, Jacob, to help with the case. He was a little odd but any help was good enough. Late in the afternoon of September 16th he walked into my office with an envelope. I had asked him what it was and he said “A strange man walked in. Said to give it to you.” I thanked him to which he nodded and left closing the door behind him. I opened the envelope and took out its contents. There was a small rusted key with a swirled design on the end. I examined the key before putting it down and picking up the letter that was inside the envelope. The letter read “1615 Baubery Lane, Is where I may or may not be. Who knows? You will. Come and you might find me.” Confused, I get up and look out the window behind my desk to see if the person who left the envelope was there. But there was nobody. The streets and parking lot were empty. I turned back around and looked at the letter deciding I would go there first thing in the morning. 

                            I woke up that morning after getting little sleep thinking about the case. I got dressed in my small bedroom, went and got my coffee and left. I was so out of it caused by my adrenaline that I forgot to grab my gun in case the person who left the envelope was there. I hadn’t realized this until after the fact. I arrived at the address 20 minutes later on the outskirts of Chatterbox. The address was a 2 story, lime green house that appeared to be vacant. Cautiously I walked up the porch stairs and knocked on the door. With no answer I began to open the door noticing that it was unlocked. The house was almost entirely empty besides a few pieces of old newspaper on the floor. I looked around the first floor and after examining the first floor and finding nothing, I headed upstairs. The stairs were a dark brown with chips in the wood. They creaked loudly but I ignored them and went into the hallway and into the first bedroom. The room was a plain tan color with tape on the wall from decorations. The room was also empty with the exception of the small, old cardboard box in the center of the room. Carefully, I walked up to the box and opened the small flaps. I examined the contents of the small box. Pictures of the missing girls, An old jewelry box, and an old cassette tape. The pictures had no writing on them to help indicate who put them there so I put them down. The jewelry box was a light weighted box with a cool, faded pink. I began to try to open it but it was locked. I set it aside and picked up the cassette tape, rewinded it, and pressed play. “For you to find what is now lost, you must first unlock the small pink box.” said the tape in a taunting voice. “Once you find my great, big secret, even you, my dear, will have to keep it” It said finally. The voice sounded familiar but I ignored my sense of familiarity. I remembered the small key that came inside the envelope and took it out of my pocket. Hopefully, I put the key inside the keyhole of the jewelry box and turned the key. I heard a click and opened the box. Another letter. I opened it and read aloud. “To find what you seek, Here we must meet. Go down to the river bed, turn the corner, There lies a cabin ahead. But beware once inside the blood you hold will have been bled.” I put the items back inside the box and began to pick it up. As I turn to leave I hear a creak coming from behind me. Not sure what to do and realizing I have no defense, I turn and sprint toward the door. I made it down the stairs, managing not to fall, when I turned to see a man in all black at the top of the stairs. He was smiling. He had yellow, crooked teeth filling his mouth. I ran for the door, swung it open and ran to my car. I pulled out of the driveway and sped off looking for any indication of someone following me. Taking a cautious detour and finding that nobody is following me, I make it back to the police station, grab my gun and head straight to the cabin.

  When I arrive I carefully head towards the cabin with a gun in my hand, cautious of every step I take. When I reach the door, I grab the handle to determine if the door is unlocked or not. It was unlocked so I opened the door slowly and there they were. All 6 of them. Sitting in the corner of the room. Smiling. Realization set in that these weren’t actually the girls at all. In fact it was a trap. I turned to leave but the next moments happened quickly. My head was throbbing and the ground was getting closer and closer. When I hit the ground I reached back and touched the back of my head and saw a dark crimson color. Blood. I had been hit. The last thing I saw was a familiar man standing over me. It was Jacob. The intern I hired. Then slowly but all at once everything went black...