BlackOut Killer

1 AM. A phone rang.

“Your phone’s ringing! Can’t you hear it?” Liam asked.

“No. It’s just Mia, again!” Sam sighed.

“Whoa! Isn’t she your ex? What does she want? Does she want to get back together?” Liam was excited.

The phone stops ringing.

“I don’t know man. She has been calling me since three nights around this time and says that the power’s out at her place and that she is scared. So, the first night, I went to her place. She was standing on the porch. I checked the fuse and I told her it’s all fine. There was no black out when I was there. She said that she was scared and felt like someone was there. So I went around her house, checked every room. All the windows are locked. Even the back door is securely locked.

I assured her that it is ok. But she asked me to stay back so I did. Nothing happened. She called me again the next night and the night after. Finally last night, I asked her if she was doing this to get back together or something. But she insisted that there was really something wrong and that she’s not making this up. So I stayed back. And it was as usual. I don’t know what to make of it.

This is the fourth night man! At this point she’s either lying or has gone crazy. Because I was there too and there was nothing out of place at all,” Sam recounted.

“Whoa! It is weird. But are you really going to ignore her?” Liam asked.

“Whatever, I’m just too tired today. I don’t want to go. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

Next morning, Sam woke up to a knock on his door. Liam and policemen are outside his door.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Sam, Mia died,” Liam answered.

The words woke him up.

The policeman said that Mia was murdered and the last person Mia called was Sam. So he asked Sam’s whereabouts that night.

“Maybe she would’ve still lived if I picked up her call. I should have picked up her call. I should have gone to her place,” Sam was guilt-ridden.

Liam consoled him as he told the officers about what happened on the previous nights.

The police did not buy it. Liam who was his alibi was also his best friend, so they didn’t think it was reliable. But they let him go because there was no evidence.

Mia’s parents still think that he is the murderer. In college, gossips begin. Rumours spread. Sam, who was already ridden with guilt, was now being painted as a murderer and a psychopath.

Liam was the only one who believed him. But this was only making Liam an outcast. He didn’t want that. So he moved out despite Liam’s protests. He ignored Liam’s calls. He even changed his major to Psychology to avoid Liam. Sam stayed by himself most of the time.

It had been a month since the incident. The police couldn’t convict anyone for Mia’s murder. Slowly people were moving on. But then it happened again.

The police visited Sam’s place to check his alibi for last night. He told them that he was at home. But since he was alone there was no one to verify it. He asked them what it was all about.

“Another student died, Liam Woods, got murdered in his own dorm. He was found stabbed in the abdomen. Just like Mia. He also called you before he died. But you didn’t pick up, just like in Mia’s case. You are the prime suspect,” the policeman said.

Sam was dumbfounded. He was taken to the police station but couldn’t process what was happening. He became numb to everything. His parents came down with a lawyer.

“My son and Liam were best friends. Why would he do that? What evidence do you have that my son did it?” his father was screaming.

“Your son’s ex-girlfriend and his best friend die the same way. Both of them call your son an hour before they’re killed and he doesn’t pick up. Both the times his alibi is not reliable. Do you think this is all just a coincidence?” the policeman argued back.

“Where is the physical evidence or any witness?” the lawyer countered.

Sam was acquitted by court due to lack of evidence. But the rumours only got worse. His parents wanted to take him away from the college, but David Williams, Sam’s professor and a psychiatrist, convinced them otherwise.

Prof Williams counselled him from time to time. Although Sam didn’t completely open up to him, he was glad that someone actually believes that he is innocent.

A new semester, a new class, Sam is sitting in the back row by himself. A guy comes in from behind and sits beside Sam.

Sam looks at him, but does’nt say anything,

After class, Sam is about to leave when he is stopped by the guy, “Hey, I am Ethan Kins. Nice to meet you,” he offers his hand.

Sam is aware of people’s stares around him. He doesn’t take his hand. “I know who you are. Everyone already thinks that you are a weird guy and if they see you talk to me, it’s going to be permanent. So stay away –

“The same way that they think you murdered your ex and your best friend? Yes, let them think what they want. I just want to be your friend,” says Ethan.

“Do you know me?” Sam asks.

“I knew Liam. And from what I’ve heard from him, you’re not a killer. So, are we friends now?” Ethan asks brightly.

“You really are weird. Leave me alone for your own sake,” Sam walked away.

But this didn’t stop Ethan. He followed Sam everywhere. And eventually, Ethan was also out casted by others. Sam had to let him hang out with him.

Ethan even met Prof Williams, but he didn’t like Ethan, “He’s a bad influence on you.”

“Prof, I actually like hanging out with him, he reminds of Liam too. And he doesn’t have any other friends because of me.”

One day, after class, a girl walked up to Sam.

“You are Sam Ridley. You are the murderer, right? I just wanted to know –

“I am not a murderer. I have nothing else to say,” Sam was annoyed. He walked away.

“Whoa girl, you don’t just walk up to people and call them murderers! That’s just rude,” Ethan said and left before she could respond.

“Are you okay?” Ethan sounded concerned.

“Yea, I’m fine. Nothing unusual I guess,” Sam looked down.

“I know her. She is Ava Martins. She is very famous for her weirdness,” Ethan said.

Sam slightly smiled, “Weirder than you?”

Ethan says, “Yes”, with a straight face.

Sam and Ethan were having lunch in the cafeteria when Ava sits beside Sam.

Both of them look at her.

“Look I’m sorry. I know we got off the wrong foot. I just wanted to talk to you,” Ava said.

“Sam took a deep sigh and asked, “Ok. What did you want to talk to me about?”

“There is a serial killer in this college. He had been killing students. He killed you friends too,” Ava said.

Sam looked at Ethan. Both were silent. “Ok. I have to go now,” Sam was leaving when Ethan asked, “Then who is it?”

“She’s not weird, she’s crazy and so is he. Where am I stuck?” Sam thought but he stayed back to know what she would say.

“I don’t know. That’s why I need Sam’s help,” Ava said.

Sam was about to leave when Ava stopped him.

“No wait. Just listen to what I have to say, okay? There’s no harm in listening, right?”

“OK,” Sam waited.

Ava took out a bunch of news articles about different murders and gave it to Sam and Ethan.

“Ok. I am interested in criminal psychology and there was one right in my class – You! Um.. no offence.. Anyway, so I was obviously interested in you and started digging your file. You talked about the power cut, right? Whether you’re a criminal or not, lying about power cut is pointless. So you must be telling the truth. And that is where I got my first clue. I looked up for any previous cases that happened here and I found similar cases. The first victims were not Mia and Liam, they were Noah Telmen and Justin Carles, 7 years ago. Every winter, two students have been murdered. In all the cases, the victims lived alone. And all of them have complained about power outage, roughly 3 days before their deaths. But the MO is different every year. Like, in Noah and Justin’s case the murderer strangled them, but he stabbed Mia and Liam. There were a total of 10 murders that happened in this campus” Ava explained.

“Why didn’t you go to the police?” Ethan asked.

“I did. They laughed at me,” Ava looked down.

“Then what do you want from me?” Sam asked.

“Please give me an interview of what has actually happened then. I am trying to collect and record all the evidence to prove that there is a serial killer among us,” Ava said.

“I got a better idea,” Ethan said.

Sam and Ava look at him. “Let’s catch him!” Ethan was excited.

“OK enough, before you both get any other crazy ideas! This is a real murderer we are talking about. Serial killer or not, we should let the police handle it,” Sam said.

“And look where it got you. Don’t you even think it’s unfair? Don’t you think we owe it to Liam and Mia? I say we get the evidence and hand it over to the police. No dangerous stuff okay?” Ethan said.

“I agree,” Ava said.

Sam thought about it and said, “Let’s do it.”

“Since we draw too much attention in here, let’s meet tonight at my place. We can discuss it further”, Sam said and left.

That evening Sam realised that he had an appointment with Prof Williams. He called the prof to cancel his session. He told him that his friends are coming over. Prof was not happy but agreed to postpone the session

 “So, what’s the plan?” Ava asked.

“Since the first case was 7 years ago, it must be someone who is here for so long. So it can’t be a student. Unless the student had become a teacher here after graduating,” Ethan said.

 “So, there is a possibility that the killer is a professor. Let’s look for professors and other staff who have joined around that time. If we don’t find anything, then let’s look for someone who was here longer than that. But don’t act recklessly. We have to find the proof that suspect is indeed the killer that’s all,” Sam said.

“But how do we get the list of all the professors and the staff? We won’t have access to it,” asked Ethan.

“I know someone who can help us, Prof Williams,” said Sam.

The next day Sam told Prof Williams about what happened with Ava and Ethan. Williams didn’t like the idea, but Sam insisted. So William agreed to it. He asked Sam to wait for the list.

After a few days, Sam’s phone rang. It was Williams.

“I have the list. But I will give it to you only if you continue the session you cancelled last time. Come to my house,” Williams said.

Sam agreed.

Sam went to Williams’ place. Williams gave him the list, which he shared with Ethan and Ava. There were 3 lecturers and 5 TAs who joined this campus 7 years ago.

Ava and Ethan went around the campus trying to find out about the TAs and lecturers. Both met at Sam’s place.

“I think we have a suspect,” Ava said as soon as she came in, “Look here, Kevin Claus, David Williams and Martin James are the three lecturers. I know it can’t be Prof Claus because I saw him at a party the night of Liam’s murder. We all know Prof Williams is not the culprit. And none of the TAs is still working here. So it has to be Prof James. Let’s go tell Sam.”

“Wait. First, let’s gather all the information we have on him. Do you know when he’ll be back?”

“Well, that’s also one of the reasons I suspected him in the first place. Apparently, Prof James left the campus without any notice. He vanished the day Sam was acquitted. He called both of them just a day before their murders. Since Sam was acquitted, the police are also looking for him.” Ava said.

“And you’re telling me this now?” Ethan asked.

“I didn’t know too. I got to know this only when I was asking around about Prof James,” Ava said.

“So, Williams knew about this and didn’t tell us? Don’t you think that’s suspicious?” asked Ethan.

“Stop suspecting someone who is actually helping us. He might not have known,” said Ava.

“Ava, can’t you see it? A serial killer who has been hiding for 7 years is caught by us in a matter of days, with just one list? And he is conveniently ‘missing’ when the police are looking for him? Can’t you see it? Sam was framed exactly the same way: the phone call and an unreliable alibi. And when the police are looking for James, then Prof Williams, who is one of the most senior professors in the college, does not know about it?”

Just when he is done, the power goes out.

Sam wakes up confused. He can’t move his body.

“Where am I? Why is it so dark? Is there a power outage?” Sam realizes that something is wrong.

His eyes start adjusting to the dark and he realizes that he’s at his own place.

“Ethan, Ava! Are you here?” Sam yells.

“Sam! Prof Williams is the killer!” Ethan’s voice is heard from somewhere in the house.

“Ethan! Where are you? Are you alright?” Sam yells back.

“Be careful, he’s still here!” Ava yells back.

Before Sam could respond another voice is heard.

“Ugh you kids are so noisy! Just quiet down will you? I have to talk to Sam,” Prof Williams says.

This time Sam knew where the voice was coming from. It was right behind him. Sam freezes.

“Why did you do it? Why did you have to find my secret so early? You were supposed to be my prodigy but you had to go ahead and ruin it!” Williams was angry, “I found you after Liam’s murder. When the police took you away, you were all alone in the world. So you will understand what I do. Let me explain. I did not kill them I rescued them. They were all lonely Sam, just like how you were when you lost your friend.”

Williams was in frenzy, “Just like me, when my father used to beat me up. You know, my father would drink and then come home only to thrash me. And my mother looked away. I was all alone. One night while he was beating me up, my mother ran away. I saw her leave. Then my father hit me so hard, I fell down the stairs. When I woke up there was no one in the house. The power was cut, it was cold. But I couldn’t get up, because I hurt my back. No one came looking for me. I just lay at the foot of the stairs. I was cold, starving, thirsty and in pain. Oh the pain! After 3 nights, the cops discovered me.”

As Williams kept speaking, Sam has manged to loosen his ropes.

 “You see, Sam, I never prayed to be rescued; I just wished someone would kill me. So, when I first saw Noah, he was being bullied. He was always alone so I rescued him. Then, I realized the true purpose of my life. I have to find and rescue lonely people. This is the reason I survived that day. So, I cut the power off to see if they really have someone in case of a crisis. If there is no one who comes for them then they are lonely and need to be rescued. I wanted you to continue my noble cause, because you would understand. I wanted to teach you all this. But your weird friends just had to ruin everything. Now I have to kill you and your friends! You leave me no choice.” Williams switched the power back on.

Sam, Ava and Ethan were all tied up to chairs in the same room. Sam loosened the ropes on his legs he heard footsteps. He pulled back.

“Wait,” Ethan said, “Do you know where Prof James is? Do you have something to do with his leave?”

“James? He was being nosy just like you! Going on about serial killing, he also tried to warn my targets about it. He was just too dangerous to be left alone. Just like you. Now die!” Williams pulled out his knife. Ava screamed.

He was about to stab Ethan, when Sam lunged on Williams. They wrestled as Ethan and Ava tried to wriggle out of the ropes. Soon there were police sirens ringing outside. While Williams was distracted, Sam knocked him out. He freed Ethan and Ava. All three escaped the house, while the police arrest Prof Williams.

“But how did the cops know? Ethan asked.

“Actually, I was so sure that Prof James was the killer, I thought everyone should know about it. So I switched on the webcam before I told you about Prof James. But we got attacked and everything that happened in there was streamed live,” Ava revealed slowly.

“Good Job!” Sam smiled.

After the incident, Prof Williams was arrested and received a life sentence.

Sam cleared his name and Williams was called Blackout Killer.

Sam, Ethan and Ava became local heroes.