“Today’s Breaking News is the discovery this morning of a barely decomposed body that was found washed up along the shore of the Hudson River near Central Park,” Howard Mandela, announced in a bleak voice the shocking, latest news.

The dim glow of the television flashed through the room. Alexander Winter-Meyer, his girlfriend of three years, Helen Aprilsohn, and their best friend Juliet Peron, all stared in a trance at the changing colors being projected out to them. They were watching the news instead of all of the other shows and movies that they could be watching, because they were wondering what the star reporter would say next.

“Authorities that had been investigating the scene reported just hours ago that the body was that of 16 year-old Caitlyn Roswell, one of the promising young journalists for New York University’s Newspaper, NYU Today. She had disappeared for 3 weeks until sadly, her body was discovered. This most likely is another in the series of drowning murders that have been committed near the Hudson River and Central Park by a serial killer known only as the Hudson River Strangler. For now the police urge the Manhattan community to avoid the areas near the Hudson River and Central Park. We will inform you of any possible suspects,” Mandela said, before Alex cut the television off.

The reporter’s voice still seemed to echo off the luxurious floral-themed wallpaper of the Winter-Meyer’s second-floor of their 5 acre, 45-room summer estate in the small village of Tarrytown, New York. This village had the distinguished reputation of being right next to Sleepy Hollow¾ the town that¾ of course¾ Washington Irving named the famous short story, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” after.

“Well, you two girls may have nightmares about the “crazy killers” around town, but I’m going to sleep effortlessly with the security of knowing that I’ll still be alive tomorrow,” Alex jokingly said.

“That’s easy for you to say, we are right next to the Hudson,” Juliet glumly announced.

“Yeah, but we’re right next to the Hudson in my high-security summer mansion,” said Alex.

“Yeah, your high-security mansion with no parents around or security guards.”

“At least we have security guards. Everyone is only gone for today and tomorrow. Besides, I don’t see you with any security guards.”

“You’re forgetting as usual that not all of us are born rich.”

“Well, I guess not everyone can have the life…ok. Seriously, sorry…”

“Whatever, goodnight.”

The next day Alex, Helen, and Juliet all awoke to the peaceful sunlight that shined through their window in a marvelous bliss. A dream-like feeling seemed to hang over the air, like there was a kind of strange beauty about the day.

It was officially the first day of summer. They were free at last. Free from the burden of grades and books and teachers. There was a kind of reassurance in the atmosphere that everything was going to be fine. It seemed that as soon as they wiped the sleep from their eyes, all of their worries were being wiped away with it.

“Summer has got to be the most heavenly blessing bestowed upon us soon-to-be Seniors,” said Alex serenely.

“You make it sound like Senior year is tomorrow. We have two and a half months of freedom until then. Either way, I can’t wait until I’m eighteen,” said Helen.

“You’re right. Tomorrow we still won’t be Seniors…But you will still be so beautiful.”

Alex was still lying in his king-sized bed with his red comforter pushed to his side. Helen was still lying in her cot with purple satin sheets that lied right next to Juliet’s cot, making it look like it was one bed. She pushed her covers aside and left her cot to go over to Alex’s bed, leaving Juliet to herself. Helen sat in Alex’s lap, her eyes as bright blue as the sky, and her blond hair shining as golden as the sun. She kissed his lips with a deliberate smile. Alex looked back up at her, his blue eyes bright with childish wonder, and then he looked over to notice that Juliet was staring disapprovingly at them.

“That’s for calling me beautiful,” she said playfully.

“You’re very, very much welcome,” Alex said flirtatiously, yet slightly embarrassed with himself.

“Well what should we get for breakfast,” Alex asked Juliet in particular. “What have you got?” Juliet asked.

“Almost anything that you can think of.”

“Then how about chocolate chip pancakes with lots of syrup. I’m starved.”

Alex and Helen laughed together. “Pancakes it is,” Alex cheerfully announced.

They all had a huge breakfast that Helen gladly cooked downstairs, and ate for a little over 20 minutes before they were full. When they were done, the girls excused themselves to go get ready for the day. Helen left without a second glance, but Juliet lingered for a moment and glanced at Alex, who glanced back up at her and gave her a crooked smile. Then they were gone, and Alex was left by himself.

He energetically strode over to the gigantic nineteenth-century couch that inhabited only a small part of the Winter-Meyer’s enormous living room. Across from the couch was another, smaller couch, and to his left was the TV. A small crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling that had been frescoed with interpretations of paintings by Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. Two large windows surrounded the massive fireplace that had a deer’s head lurking oddly above it. The largest window was in the shape of an oval, and lied across from him. All around him were the antique furniture and luxuriant objects typically casual of the rich.

He grabbed the remote off the television and turned it on to find the news. Howard Mandela was reporting more about the Hudson River Strangler, “This just in…evidence has been found that the murder of Caitlyn Roswell was connected to the Hudson River Strangler. The Strangler has killed twice before: first in the unsolved case of 15-year-old Jennifer Hudson, who the police strongly believed was a chosen victim simply because of her last name, but didn’t have any suspects to find out more about the reasons she was the first victim of the Strangler. The second unsolved case was that of Miranda Perry, a 30-year-old waitress that was driving home one night in her car and when she stopped at the light, she was robed and killed by asphyxiation with her own stocking by the Strangler. All of these women had brown hair and brown eyes, but were in no particular age group other than that known of between 15 and 30, which the police believe may be partially mathematical killings, since it is a fact that 15 is half of 30, and all of the victims’ ages have been steadily increasing. Unfortunately, there is no other word on any definite suspects other than the family and friends of the victims.”

Throughout the rest of the news report there was one thing on Alex’s mind: All of these women had brown hair and brown eyes. It suddenly occurred to him more so than ever that Juliet fit the profile of brown hair and brown eyes, and not to mention, she was between 15 and 30: 17, actually.

What if the strangler was trying to kill by age after all? First it was 15, then 16, and then maybe the next victim would be 17, and it would go on…

Alex reassured himself that he was worrying for nothing. So what if all of the victims of the Strangler had brown hair and brown eyes, and their ages were a coincidence. That didn’t mean anything. Billions of people had brown hair and brown eyes, and billions of people¾ no matter the age¾ could be killed. How could the killer have even known what age they were? The next victim was one in a billion.

Besides, thought Alex, how did anybody know that the Hudson River Strangler was going to have a next victim? For all Alex knew, there was no next victim.

Alex figured that the Strangler can’t have many more victims. He can’t get away with it forever. With all of today’s forensic advances, the Strangler is bound to get caught.

He happily turned off the TV and went back upstairs to get dressed.

After five minutes Alex had thrown on his old navy blue polo shirt and some khaki shorts, along with his old Nike shoes, and was ready to go. He stood at his mirror for a moment to see how he looked. His black hair was casually ruffled. He thought that his lean shaped looked great in his clothes. Thinking about what he was wearing, he figured that he could wear a more expensive looking attire, but he settled for what he had on. All together his outfit added up to be a total of $751.35, but Alex just thought his clothes were worth the equivalent of pocket change.

Alex opened the door to find Juliet standing there. Her slightly plump figure was wearing a light blue Hollister shirt that showed her ample chest, and a short, white jean-skirt, with her brown Rainbow flip-flops.

“I have to talk to you,” she said

“What about?”

“You know what about.”

“Alright, come in.”

Alex lead her to his bed and they both sat down. Juliet was staring at his hand while she held it in her lap. She was trying not to look in his eyes as she spoke. “What happened between us last month¾ ”
“Was the best thing that happened between us,” Alex happily finished her sentence.

“No…It was the worst thing. We had sex, Alex, and Peter¾ who should be coming over any minute¾ is my boyfriend. And you’ve been Helen’s boyfriend for two years now. I cannot do that to Peter and Helen ever again. We can’t be together.”

Juliet was on the verge of tears now, and she spoke with a frightfully shaky voice. “But I can do this, Juliet,” he tried to comfort her by gently stroking her hair.

Alex picked up her hand into his lap now and held it there. His eyes were on fire with determination. He grasped her hand tightly.

“Helen doesn’t have to know. I love her, but I love you so much more. I will break up with Helen in a heartbeat if it means being with you.”

“How can you sit there and say that. We have to do the right thing here, Alex. The right thing is not to hurt Helen or Peter. I can’t do this anymore. I refuse to do this anymore. I’ve changed.”

“Like hell you’ve changed. You were the one who got drunk at my birthday party and seduced me. I remember how bad you wanted me. How you flirted relentlessly with me. How you said that you didn’t want to be with Peter anymore, and how you said that you had always had a crush on me. You know they say alcohol is like truth serum.

“I’ve seen how Peter is around you. He doesn’t love you like how I do. He doesn’t even look at you, Juliet. He’s always had his eyes set on Helen, but she was always too busy looking at me. Well, I don’t want her anymore, and Peter doesn’t want you, so it’s about time that you face up to that, because I know you know it’s true. I’ve seen it in your eyes; they’re always sad around Peter when you think no one is looking. But I’m looking. I’m always looking at you when you don’t realize it. I always will be…”

Alex was leaning closer and closer to her now. He spoke irritably, possessively, and above all, seductively. He had a determination to have his reason rub off on her.

Juliet was crying hysterically and shaking her head back and forth in denial. Her mind was made up to not believe anything that Alex was saying. But she knew that it was true. She did love Alex, and she knew that she did. But she couldn’t accept it.

She rushed off of the bed and flung toward the closed door. Alex pined her to the doorway and forced his lips onto hers. His kiss was filled with passion.

He let her go with a satisfied smirk on his lips. She slapped Alex’s face. Before he could remove his hand from his sore face, she had escaped from the room without a trace.

Alex impulsively leaped through the door and ran after her. “Juliet, wait! I’m sorry! ” He cried. He stopped at the top of the stairs and looked down the stairway. But it was too late. Juliet was already making her way onto the bottom floor.

He heard the sound of a door closing. Alex turned around to see Helen coming out of the guest bedroom. Her model-slim figure was covered by her blue shorts with her red chemise, that showed a hint of cleavage worn loosely around her waist, her pearl earrings, and her black flip-flops. She gracefully stood in front of the window at the end of the hall. She looked every bit of the actress that she was. She had been one of the best performers in all of the school plays. Alex loved her best as Helena in A Midsummer’s Night Dream. For the moment, her face elegantly expressed a sympathetic bewilderment.

“Alex, are you okay? You look sad.”

Her hair, tied up in a ponytail with her long white ribbon, was illuminated around her face like a halo as the sun from the window shined down on her. Alex couldn’t help but pause from answering her question to stare in awe at how beautiful she looked in the light. At the same time though, he felt that her charm was slowly failing to please him anymore.

“I’m fine,” he decided to lie quickly, “I was just rushing to get dressed is all.”

“Where’s Julie?”

“Downstairs. We don’t want to keep her waiting. Let’s go,” he said with a fake smile.

“Oh. Okay.”

They held hands as they walked downstairs. Helen was fumbling with one of her pearl earrings; it was crooked, and she couldn’t get it to fasten.

Alex paid no attention to her, but instead couldn’t get his mind off of Juliet. He didn’t want to stop thinking about her.

When they made it downstairs, Juliet was no where to be found.

“I thought you said Juliet was here?” Asked Helen.

“I did. She’s probably outside.”

They went out through the double doors in the living room. Juliet was there. She was on the patio that overlooked the woods, and their friend Peter was standing beside her, holding her hand.

“Peter! So good to see you, dude!” Alex embraced him like a long-lost-brother with open arms. “Good to see you, too. I missed you, man.”

Peter Gosling was tall, with long legs, and slightly more muscular that Alex. He had short, blond hair, and large, piercing blue eyes. His eyes tended to have the effect of making it seem like he was always looking at you, but they always had an air of kindness about them that only Peter could have.

Peter went over to hug Helen. She was still fumbling with her pearl earring. She

dropped it by accident just as Peter caught it. “I always thought you were a pearl of a girl,” Peter said as he handed Helen her pearl earring, “It’s been such a long time for a year. I missed you too, Helen. Let me tell you, boarding school sucks.” Helen hugged him back and laughed serenely at his last remark, “Good to see you, Peter.”

Peter had been expelled from their school the previous year for getting caught selling Oregano that was inconspicuously (or so Peter thought) disguised as Marijuana. Peter was middle-class along with Juliet. His family used to be rich, but Peter’s father was cut off from his fortune for marrying his mother, who was the daughter of one of his grandfather’s many enemies.

“Juliet’s family’s business almost went bankrupt. The only reason for why they could still go to Alex and Helen’s school was because of Alex and Helen’s family’s charity to their children’s friends. They could relate with each other for being one of the few non-rich kids at their school. When Peter was expelled, they always kept in touch, calling each other multiple times every week, with Peter visiting for much of the summer, holidays, and some weekends.

“Hey Peter, why couldn’t Justin come for the bloodbath?” Alex asked.

“Bloodbath?”

“It’s a retarded joke I heard from Justin about how school yesterday was a bloodbath.”

“Oh! Justin had some other bloodbath to attend to, and by that I mean Jake’s little soiree.”

“I didn’t know Jake was having a party!”

“Of course you didn’t. Jake hated you ever since you stole Helen from him.”

“Oh yeah, right…”

“Awe, it’s okay, man. So what are we doing today?” Peter chuckled.

“Well, I don’t really know. Any suggestions?”

They all replied no. Everyone was silent for a long time. “I know! Why don’t we play Hide-and-Seek! I haven’t played that game in ages!” Exclaimed Peter.

“Of course you haven’t played that game in ages. Hide-and-Seek is a child’s game,” replied Helen.

“Of course it is…Well, I don’t know about you guys, but I feel like being a child today.”

“Then it’s settled, Hide-and-Seek it is. But who is going to be “It” ?” Asked Alex.

“You are, Alex!” Helen said banally.

“But where will we play?” Asked Juliet.

“How about the woods?” Peter asked Alex in particular.

“Sure, the woods are gated, so its safe. But we could always get lost, so we have to stay close to the house.”

“Alright then,” said Peter.

They all made their way into the woods. Each of them hid in various places that they figured they wouldn’t get found at.

Alex rushed through the forest, eagerly searching with the enthusiasm and curiosity of an energetic child. He was smiling, and on the verge of laughing from the anticipation of finding his friends. After a while, he had spent 10 minutes frantically searching with all of his five senses to find everyone. He stopped next to large tree surrounded by shrubs. Noticing a large shadow in the clearing that looked like it had long hair, he slyly realized that one, or even both of the girls were behind it.

He swiftly and silently edged his way toward the tree and hid against its side. Springing in front of the tree, he tagged the girl in front of it with a relaxed hug. “Gotcha, Helen!” Alex exclaimed.

Alex realized the girl in his arms was not Helen, but Juliet as she shrieked from surprise. His smile slowly faded as he realized who it was. Juliet stared unsurely back up at him. Their faces were close and their lips only inches apart. Alex slowly bended forward and gently placed his lips upon hers. She didn’t struggle, but instead wrapped her arms around Alex as they embraced. Juliet was the one who ended the kiss.

“I’m sorry I can’t,” Juliet blurted out.

“Why not? Juliet, I want to be with you. I can’t wait any longer,” Alex asked her. He was clearly irritated.

“I just don’t want Helen and Peter to find out. I don’t know what I would do if they ever did.”

“We can keep a secret,” he urged.

“What’s the point of being together, if we have to spend every moment in secrecy, trying not to get caught. I don’t want it to be like that. It’s wrong…”

Alex exhaled an exhausted breath, and looked Juliet straight in her eyes. He paused in thought, as he stared at her, and raised his hand to gently cup her cheek. He ran his fingers gently over her hair, slicked back into a ponytail by her blue ribbon. She waited unsurely for his answer.

“Whether it’s wrong or not, I would rather spend every moment with you in secret, than none at all.”

Leaning forward to her lips, he met them passionately. She did not stop him. They kissed without thought or worry of ever being caught. When he released her, he said his good-bye, and slowly backed away from her to wonder off into the woods. As he left, she stood and waved him good-bye in an almost embarrassed, infatuated fashion.

Alex had gone, and Juliet was left by herself. As she idly leaned against the tree, plucking the leaves off a small branch while she said, “He loves me. He loves me not,” for every leaf that fell to the ground. The last leaf was plucked as she said, “He loves me.” Juliet noticed that the woods were quiet and peaceful. There were birds chirping, and she could hear the sound of the small creek. Even with her tranquil surroundings, she did not feel any peace¾ as she couldn’t take Alex off her mind.

“Of course I love you,” a voice chuckled behind her.

Turning around, she was surprised to find Peter approaching her. She nervously faced him, and failed to make a convincing smile.

“Are you alright?” He asked her.

“I’m fine. I just bruised my leg a little. It doesn’t hurt anymore,” she quickly lied to him.

“You and the woods. I’ll have to be sure to keep my eyes on you more often. I forgot how clumsy you can be sometimes. Are you sure you’re alright?”

“Yes, of course,” she managed to smile without showing her nerves.

Peter wrapped his arms around her. “Are you sure?” He asked her still unsatisfied. “Yes, I’m sure,” she said smiling more convincingly than ever now. Leaning into him, she gave him a quick kiss. “Why don’t you go on ahead and finish the game. Afterwards, you can meet me in the guest bedroom. Its completely unoccupied, if you know what I mean.”

At this Peter gave her an even shorter kiss on her cheek. Juliet was slightly annoyed, but hid it, and kept on smiling. He had never shown enough affection towards her. “Alright. I’ll meet you later,” he replied.

Peter went off into the woods as Juliet stared at his turned back in deep sadness. She turned around again and immediately began to worry that Peter might one day find out about she and Alex. The woods suddenly seemed to become unnaturally quiet, with the bird’s chirping as the only audible sound.

Helen had hid behind a large oak tree. Smiling to herself for finding such an excellent hiding place, she peaked over the tree to see if anyone was coming.

A black-gloved hand appeared from her behind and grabbed her by the hair. She turned around to see a dark figure standing silently there. The figure had a large rock raised high above her head in their hand. Before she knew it, the rock came down on her head. She fell to the ground.

Alex froze where he was walking. He heard the high, spine-tingling scream echo all around him. The birds’ chirps had been so peaceful earlier. Now there was just a riot of violent crying, as if they were in pain. They gathered in flocks, and flew away, leaving behind them an unsettling fear pollute the air from their grotesque cries.

When the scream was suddenly cut short, it still seemed to haunt the air around Alex like an invisible ghost. He stood motionless in horror for an endless moment.

After regaining his awareness of what had just happened, he realized that there was an eeriness about the scream that made him wonder if it wasn’t just from playing around. The scream sounded almost ominous, as if there was a horrified urgency being translated through it.

It suddenly came to him that there truly was something very disturbing happening. Alex began to walk again¾ slowly at first¾ then faster and faster, until he was running and his heart was pounding like a time-bomb ready to explode. He had to see if there really was something wrong after all.

“Helen! Juliet!” He desperately cried. He was rushing to save them from any harm. The forest was beginning to have a strange influence on him. As he became dizzy, the trees seemed to twist and contort.

He began to sweat from fear¾ fear that he was too late. The thought of something bad happening to any of his loved ones sent a shudder down his spine. That was a thought that he could not bear if it came to realization.

As he ran, he realized that he had passed the same tree before and was almost about to pass it again. He had gone too far. Neither of the girls were within his sight.

Exhaustion made him stop. Everything began to spin. His legs had gone numb and his throat was dry, making it hurt to swallow. Once more he wrapped his hands around his mouth and called, “Helen! Juliet!”

Sliding down the base of the tree, he sat on the ground to catch his breath. He couldn’t go on any longer. His worry began to fade. Why would anything be wrong? Alex thought. After all, the woods were gated. He figured that Peter had scarred Helen or Juliet as a prank. Peter was after all, known as a huge prankster.

Alex looked up at the tree. It was a large, old oak with moss growing on it. He noticed that the sky was getting dark. He realized that the ground he was sitting on was moist when he felt his pants were getting wet, and he stood up.

He brushed the dirt off his pants and as he did so, a thin, coiling white ribbon caught his eyesight. He realized immediately that this was the same ribbon that Helen had worn earlier. He remembered how lovely she looked with it on her golden hair. As he bent down to pick it up, he observed the ribbon more closely.

A mist of small red stains had blotted together, and covered the ribbon. Alex stood¾ frozen¾ as he realized that the ribbon was covered with Helen’s blood. He forgot to breath, and stared in horror at it. When he became aware of the bloody ribbon, he caught his breath in deep inhalations through his chest. Soon he began to hyperventilate. He could feel his heart pounding like it would cave in at any moment. Alex felt helpless and scarred more than he had ever been in his life. He tried to scream, but his voice was trapped in his throat.

It seemed to take all of his energy to move his frozen muscles, but he managed to put the ribbon in his pocket, as he stood up.

Standing there for a moment, he worried frantically about what he should do. Alex decided to find the rest of his friends, and he prayed that Helen was with them. He didn’t know what he would do if something happened to her on his watch.

Alex was about to run and find them, when a hard blow struck the back of his head. He felt the air rush out of his body. Before he knew it, the ground was in his face, and he could taste the dirt in his mouth, as he lied there. His surroundings faded fast to black. Then he passed out.

When he awoke, the faint smell of green tea filled his nose like a rush of air. He heard only the muffled sound of voices. The voices quickly became more clear, until he could hear exactly what they were saying.

“How do we even know we can trust him?” Asked Juliet.

“We can’t. The only people who know what happened in those woods are Alex and Helen. There was no one else. No one could get in past the security. The gates surrounding the woods are electrical.”

“I know. But how could Alex ever do something like this?”

“I don’t know. But if there’s one thing I learned from boarding school, it’s that you can’t trust anyone…Goddammit, what the hell happened in those woods?”

Alex fully regained his consciousness. He sat up to find that he had been lying on the same nineteenth-century couch that he had watched the news on earlier. Juliet and Peter rushed over and sat down on the couch in front of him.

“What happened?” Alex nervously asked.

“You passed out. Are you feeling okay?” Peter asked him almost inquiringly.

“My head hurts¾ my head hurts a lot,” Alex said as he rubbed the back of his head.

“Have some tea,” Juliet said as she pointed to the cup of green tea in front of him. “Alex what do you remember about what happened in the woods?” Juliet gently asked him.

“I’m not sure. There was a scream¾ a loud, horrible scream. I was so scarred. I remember running. I was running¾ very fast. My legs were getting numb. I¾ I think I remember now… I stopped at a tree. It was an oak. And when I looked down on the ground I saw…I saw…oh, my god!” Alex suddenly grew frantic.

Alex began breathing heavily. He felt like he could cry. He impulsively put his hand on his pocket, and the other on his forehead, in defeat.

“Alex, what did you see?” Juliet had gotten up and both of her hands were on Alex’s shoulder. She didn’t seem inquiring, but more motherly to him.

“I found this,” Alex slipped his hand inside of his pocket. He pulled out a long white ribbon with blood stains on it. His hand was shaking as he held the ribbon, before adding, “Helen’s ribbon.”

Juliet had long released her hands from Alex in fear when he put his hand in his pocket. For a moment, she stood rigid with her hand over her mouth. Then she had both her hands at her side in silence.

Peter looked murderous. His mouth and head were almost shaking. He was breathing very hard with his mouth open. He looked like he would yell at any minute, but he didn’t say a word.

“Is that¾ are those stains¾ ” Juliet began to look uneasy.

“Blood. I know. It’s true, isn’t it? Oh god…I know it’s true. Helen really is gone…I was trying to find her. I wanted to find her…” Neither of them had ever seen Alex sad like this. He was usually always so happy. But now he was in a bottomless pit of despair.

“YOU ******* LIER! WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER! DID YOU HURT HER? I SWEAR TO GOD IF YOU DON’T TELL ME WHAT SICK ******* THING YOU DID TO HELEN, I WILL ******* KILL YOU. DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?” When Alex didn’t answer right away, he began to yell again, “DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?” Peter had his face almost nose to nose against Alex’s. He was full of rage, like raving like a monster in rage. His perceptive blue eyes were burning a look of disturbing anger into Alex’s terrified eyes.

Alex was shaking from the shock of Peter’s blatant anger, but still, he remained silent. Then he finally spoke…

“I didn’t hurt Helen,” he said with a shaky voice.

Peter backed away incredulously, and sat down on the couch laughing nervously to himself. Juliet remained standing.

“Alex, I don’t know who to believe anymore. Do you remember anything about what happened to Helen?”

“Of course I don’t remember! I was passed out for God’s sake!” Alex was nervously irritated.

“Oh, How can you sit there and lie! No one can get onto this estate! There are gates around this entire ******* place. You said so yourself! And as for passing out…I don’t believe you for a second. You could have made yourself pass out!”

“I can’t believe this. I thought you two were my friends! You don’t even believe me…”

Juliet sat down next to Peter. They all sat in silence, staring away from each other. A strange, fearful thought began to take shape in Alex’s mind .

“Wait a minute…where were you two?”

Peter looked like he couldn’t believe the words coming out of Alex’s mouth. “We were looking for you and Helen separately. What the hell do you think? If we had been together, then it wouldn’t have been Hide-and-Seek.”

“Exactly, how do I know that I can believe either of you? How do you even know that you can believe each other? Like I said, no one person could get onto this estate. The woods are safe. If anyone is guilty here, its one of you. The only person who could have taken Helen is one of us. You would have to be a code-breaking genius to get in here. We’re the only ones with the code!” Alex still couldn’t believe this was happening. He was impassioned with an energy born out of titillating nervousness.

Juliet backed away from both boys, and stood in the middle of the two couches.

“Alex, you’re right. I can’t trust either of you,” she suspiciously accused them.

“Juliet, you don’t actually believe him! He’s obviously lying, for Christ’s sake!” Peter almost yelled. He was on the verge of having his temper erupt.

“Peter, you always had a crush on Helen. I know it. You always had eyes for her…not me. And Alex, what about all of the things you said about how you wanted to be with me, and that you would break up with Helen?” Juliet suddenly was cowering with fear after realizing what she had just told Peter.

“Oh, Peter. I¾ ” She could barely get the words to escape from her mouth.

“So that’s the thing with you two…You know, I think I always suspected it. But now I know. And you know what, I don’t care. You two might as well have been in on this whole thing together,” Peter now harshly accused both of them.

“That’s it! I am not going to stand here, and let this fucking insanity go on any longer!” Alex shouted before saying more calmly, “There’s only one way to resolve this whole thing. I’m calling the police,” Alex was now gravely serious. He would not take any more of their arguments.

Alex got up from the couch and went to the phone behind the couch on the table against the wall. It was a cream colored antique phone from the 1940s, with pure gold lining the rim, and the edges and bottom of the base. He was about to pick it up, when it rang. Alex stood in confusion for a moment, before he resolved to pick up the phone. Its cool touch was soft against her ears, as he tried to remain calm enough to speak to whomever was on the other line.

“Hello.”

“Hello. Am I speaking to Alexander Winter-Meyer?” A collected, and business-sounding person answered.

“Yes, who are you?”

“This is the Hudson River Strangler speaking.”

Alex forgot to breathe, and his eyes popped open in fear. Just hearing the name penetrate his ear drum and pass through his brain with a nauseous coherency, made the voice seem suddenly darker that it was. For the voice on the line was calm, and even. But Alex was even more frightened to think about how confident, and indifferent the voice was.

His hand was shaking as he held the phone, “I’ll make this short and sweet. I have Helen. Deliver me your father’s large 20 karat diamond, at 1400 Olympia Avenue, on the West Side, at 10 o’clock , or I’ll kill your girlfriend. If you call the cops, I’ll kill her before they get to me. Sweet dreams...”

The person on the other line abruptly hung up. Alex slammed the phone to the receiver, and ran over to the others.

“What’s wrong?” Asked Juliet.

“The Hudson River Strangler has Helen! The Strangler was on the phone, and he says he’ll kill her if we call the police!” Alex was frantic, and on the verge of tears.

“Oh, my God! What do we do?” Juliet began to whimper nervously.

“Don’t listen to him! He’s obviously lying!” Peter remained unconvinced.

“Does he look like he’s lying, Peter? We have to do something.”

“If we go, he’ll probably kill us and Helen too. If we call the police…then maybe we have a chance. We have to call the police. There’s nothing we can do,” Alex desperately tried to persuade them.

“I hope you’re right,” said Juliet.

Peter remained silent. He was looking at them slyly. Without a sound, he stealthy stood up and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a gun. It was a Smith and Wesson 610 Classic double-action revolver with a 10mm caliber. The gun, made of stainless steal, shined brightly in the light of the crystal chandelier, and made the impression of being an indestructible force of power.

“Peter, don’t shoot! What are you doing?” Alex shrieked.

“Don’t worry, I won’t shoot you yet…Let me ask you something, what do you think it feels like, knowing that you go to a school where you’re considered scum because you don’t wear thousands of dollars of clothes to school every ******* day? What do you think it feels like to see that everyone around you has 10 cars, while you can barely afford one? It wasn’t even just that. It was that the only girl that I ever loved¾ ever could love¾ wouldn’t even look at me because I wasn’t rich. Well look at me now! No one could ever believe that someone like me, who wasn’t one of your own¾ could pretend to be¾ and beat you all at your own stupid game. I was Peter-the-class-clown to you, but you haven’t been introduced to the real me. The Peter that hated you both, and only stuck around you so that I could be with Helen. The Peter that likes a little murder. ‘Cause that’s what I’m planning to do with you two…I’m going to kill you both.”

Alex and Juliet tried to wake themselves up, for they figured they must be dreaming. Peter was their friend, not a killer. Yet, every word that came out of Peter’s mouth seemed as lethal as psychopathic killers that they had only seen on TV.

“I took Helen, of course. She finally told me the truth, that I was always the only one for her. I always knew that she loved me. Ever since we first met, I loved her. She said that she couldn’t tell me because everyone would keep us apart. But I found a way that we could always be together. It took years of planning and patience to keep myself from killing you and running away with her. Then the idea struck me. So I kidnapped her. We’re going to get away with the money we’ll make from that diamond, which I happen to know for a fact is in your father’s glass display in his study upstairs. Thanks for giving me a tour of your house all those years ago. Thanks to you, by tomorrow morning you’ll never see us again. We’ll go away someplace where its always warm and sunny, and we’ll love each other until we die. Nothing can keep us apart…”

Alex and Juliet realized that the person who they thought had been their friend, and lover; the person that they trusted for years; the person that they loved; had been a cold, calculating psychopath all along. Peter spoke with mesmerizing confidence, but yet unsettling despondence. He seemed so happy, and at the same time, so pained. It was as if he was oblivious to the degree of his madness.

“Peter, what are you doing?” Juliet frighteningly asked Peter.

“I’m holding you two hostage, babe. You’re both coming with me. I want Helen to be able to say a proper good-bye before I kill you. I was thinking about shooting you…but I realized that it would be way more fun to stab you to death. It is messy, but I’d just love to cut out your rich-snob-guts.”

“Peter, why are you doing this? Why didn’t you just hold us hostage right away?” Alex tried to remain as calm as he could. But he was still shaking with fear all along his body.

“I thought about it. But then I decided that it would be so funny to see you two suspect each other! But that’s enough talk. Alex, old pal, you’re going to drive your daddy’s Mercedes down to the address Justin told you.”

“That was Justin on the phone?”

“Well, I couldn’t do this all on my own. Even killers need help sometimes.”

“Are you saying that you are the Strangler?” Alex was frighteningly mystified.

“That Strangler…no. I’m not the Strangler. I simply admired his work. You could say that they’re someone close to me though…the point is, I admire them so much, that I just had to have Justin pretend to be him on the phone. Yes him, a man he is. It had to be the funniest prank phone call I’ve ever heard!”

“You’re insane!” Juliet horrifyingly marveled.

“Like Norman Bates said, ‘We all go a little crazy sometimes’,” he thrillingly quoted, “…Now let’s go.”

He pointed the gun steadily toward them. Alex and Juliet stood there stunned for a moment. Peter shot the gun at the wall as the bullet barely missed Alex’s head. It left a small hole on the wall.

“HOLY ****!” Alex shrieked as he scrambled toward Juliet and grabbed her roughly by the arm to lead the way outside. Peter just aimed his gun at his targets and laughed.

The Mercedes was brand new. It still had the shine and fresh smell of a new car as they hurriedly got inside. Alex sat at the wheel, Juliet by his side in the passenger seat, and Peter, lurked like how a nightmare sometimes lingers to one during the day, as he sat with the gun firmly held low in his lap, and pointed toward the back of Alex and Juliet’s seats.

Alex cranked up the car, and practically stepped on the ignition. The car rushed off with a squeal. He drove with the knowledge that his nerves might make them crash. “You don’t want to kill somebody,” Peter smirked.

They drove on and on. Peter told Alex the directions in a mocking voice as he laughed at them both. After about 20 minutes, they made it to their destination.

Fourteen-hundred Olympia Avenue was a rundown neighborhood with a cracked street on the outskirts of Tarrytown. The time was 9:52. It was an almost starless night. The ghost-street was deserted, and it was painfully quite.

Realizing that there was no one around to see or hear them, Alex and Juliet lost what little hope they had. They were not ready to die. But death sat like an evil spirit, and the spirit was Peter standing behind them both, steadily pointing his gun at them.

Alexander Winter-Meyer and Juliet Peron stumbled out of the car door. Peter was as silent as a snake. They all walked down the sidewalk, until they came upon an abandoned warehouse. The warehouse had two towers on either side of the building. One was a clock tower that had a huge, circular clock with numbers that were Roman Numerals. It was a brick building that was in good shape. The windows were cracked and broken. A dim light shown out from four of the windows at the top of the building.

“Hard part’s over. Now I want you two to go inside, and follow my directions to the top floor.”

“Peter, please¾ ,” Juliet’s begging was harshly cut short.

“Keep you mouth shut, *****. Or I’ll shoot it off.”

Juliet whimpered to herself, and remained silent. As they walked closer to the gloomy building, their time to live became shorter every second. When they made it to the doors, Alex and Juliet saw that the lock to the door had been broken. Peter removed the broken lock with one hand, while still pointing his gun toward his hostages. When the door was open, Peter held it for them as they stepped inside.

Inside it was dark and silent. The only sound heard was the echo of their footsteps as they walked on the hard wood floor. Peter bent over and quickly picked up a flashlight. He turned it on.

The warehouse had been shut down 20 years ago. It was previously used to age wine when it opened in the early 1940s. Now as they looked around, there was nothing but a large, empty room, with cobwebs of spiders, thick layers of dust and dirt all around. There were broken pieces of bricks and glass from the windows shattered all over the floor. They heard a squeaking sound, and looked down to see three rats scurrying away.

There was a stair well to their far right. Peter told them to go the stairs. They unwillingly obeyed, quickly making their way up to the second floor. Alex and Juliet’s only comfort was each other, and the thunder of their footsteps as they stomped up to the approaching third floor. They tightly held each others hands. Juliet silently cried. She was twisting and turning against the wall, almost as if she was in pain, and she shook her head back and forth. Alex began to shake nervously at her side.

Their tortuous journey finally ended, and now they had made it to their destination. The third floor was as empty as the other floors, except even dirtier. There was even more dirt and dust, and cobwebs. They walked forward and saw that a corridor surrounded the entrance to the stair-well. The moonlight was shinning ominously through the broken window. Alex and Juliet looked at their shadows for what might be the last time. Looking around the corridor, they saw a door to their right, and turned, walking toward it.

Facing the door now, they saw light shining from underneath it. Peter stopped and starred at Alex and Juliet. He was excited and smiled creepily at them.

“Okay, Alex. It’s been a fun trip. Now, open the door, and step inside,” Peter said in a calm, even voice that contradicted his amused smile.

Alex’s hand was shaking as he reached for the door knob, and pushed the door open. The inside of the room was dimly lit, and was just as plain and dirty as all of the other rooms.

But sitting in the middle of the room was Helen, tied up with tape over her mouth, and blood on the side of her head. Tears were streaming down her face, and her once beautiful blond hair was rugged around her face.

Standing beside her was a boy dressed in a black jumpsuit, who had pale skin, black hair that was slicked back tight with hair gel, and dark brown eyes. He had a sly smile on his face.

“Finally, you’re here. And you brought your friends here alright, too.”

Alex turned his head back toward Peter, who was more excited than ever now. Even with her distressed appearance, at the sight of Helen, his face and eyes lit up as bright as the sun. He had a huge smile that showed all of his teeth, almost as if he was laughing. His face had the expression of a boy lost in consummate love.

Ignoring his friend, Peter gently said, “I’m so glad that we are together again, Helen. I can’t wait to be with you for the rest of my life. I’m so sorry that Justin had to hit you with that rock. There wasn’t any other way for me to help you escape from Alex. Justin, take the tape off of her beautiful mouth, and you better not hurt her anymore,” he said in a gentlemanly fashion.

“Sure. I won’t hurt her,” Justin suspiciously said as he removed the tape from her mouth.

Helen gasped in a deep suspiration of air. Her chest heaved up and down as she breathed heavily. When she had caught her breath, she sat back calmly in her chair. A smile formed on her lips as she looked up at Peter, now standing in front of her. Alex and Juliet stood motionlessly to her side.

Peter lent out both of his hands to Helen. She happily grabbed them as she stood up from the chair. Peter kept holding her hands, and began to kiss them all over. He kissed the back of her hands and her palms as he rested her hands against his cheek.

“Oh, Helen. I love you so much,” Peter said embracing her now in a hug.

“I love you too,” Helen told him.

At Helen’s expression of love, tears formed in Peter’s eyes. He leaned into her, and they kissed as if they were long-lost lovers that had not seen each other for years. Their kiss seemed endless, as they lost all reality. It seemed like they were aware only of each other, and no one else.

When Peter finally released her he said, “It’s time. Say good-bye to Alex and Juliet before I kill them. It’s all for you…just remember that.”

“I know…But let me kill them.”

“No, it’s too risky. ”

“Please, for me…”

“Oh, how can I refuse you after everything I’ve done for you…Alright . Just be careful not to get too much blood on you. I don’t want their blood on such beauty,” he reached into his pocket and held out a sharp, chef’s knife.

“No darling. I don’t want to use the knife. I want the gun,” Helen persuaded him.

“But angel, you know how I would love to see their life be drained from them slowly in blood, not a quick death from a simple bullet.”

“I know. But the faster we kill them, the faster we can leave, and forget about them. The knife will take far too long. I can’t wait to be with you.”

“Alright. Anything for my angel.”

Peter gently held out the gun to her. He had a trusting smile on his face. Helen gave him her trademark graceful smile, and carefully took the gun, holding it in her hands as she stared at it for a moment.

“Be careful,” Peter warned her.

“Oh, don’t worry. I will,” Helen said turning toward Alex and Juliet. She raised the gun towards her old friends, and aimed at them. She wore an expression of steel. But then her determination quickly faded to sympathy. A tear began to run down her blushing cheeks.

“I’m sorry, Peter.”

“Sorry for what?”

“This.”

Helen quickly turned to her left and shot Justin, who had been standing near a window. There was a loud crash, before anyone realized that the impact of the bullet caused him to fall backwards out of the window, down to the hard cement three, high floors below them.

Peter lunged at Helen with the chef’s knife. He struggled to grab the gun from her. Alex attempted to stop him from hurting Helen, but before he could even move, the booming sound of a bullet flying through the air echoed all around them.

Helen had pulled the trigger while Peter was against her. He laid in her arms, having lost all strength from the shot. A subtle look of triumph was expressed across his dying face.

She was always a great actress.

“I know you didn’t mean it. I still love you, Helen,” he whispered to her his last, devoting words.

Helen’s mouth was still open from shock as she stared, mesmerized at Peter, his lifeless body sitting up against the wall. His eyes were wide open, staring back at her even in death. She dropped the gun and it clunked when it landed on the floor. Her eyes closed, and tears fell from the corners of her eyes. She passed out, and fell backwards. Alex was the one that caught her.

The New York City Police had left an hour ago. It was now 4 O’clock in the morning. Alex, Juliet, and Helen, all sat silently on the couch, their despondence was unmistakably shown. Alex held Helen’s hand as she leaned on his shoulder crying. He had combed her hair, and watched her change her clothes in silence. Alex was heartbroken as he looked at her now sitting solemnly on the couch. What ever happened to the lively and graceful Helen he knew? He wondered how long that she would be like this, and he began to get sickened with worry.

Nothing could make them feel any better. Alex knew this, but he still tried to liven things up.

He turned on the TV. Neither Helen or Juliet protested. The news came up on the screen. Howard Mandela was reporting more about the Hudson River Strangler.

“The race is over everyone. After 2 years of chaos, the Hudson River Strangler’s identity is finally revealed. A 45 year-old man by the name of Jeremy Gosling, who is the husband of Meredith Gosling, and who is also amazingly, the father of Peter Gosling; the 17 year-old that was recently killed from an attack of self-defense exhibited by the well-known socialite Helen Aprilsohn, who had been staying there for the first day of summer with her best friend Juliet Peron when she was kidnapped by Peter Gosling.

“Jeremy Gosling killed himself the other night about 35 minutes after his son was killed. Apparently he had been unaware of his son’s intentions, and when he found out he immediately tried to come over to Alexander Winter-Meyer’s house, in order to kill Helen Aprilsohn for being the cause of his death.

“When Gosling arrived, he saw that the police had already arrived, and he immediately pulled out a gun. Peter was an accomplice in all of Jeremy’s three murders. His job was to pick, and find the victims. They all had brown hair and brown eyes for a reason after all. Peter’s obsession with Helen Aprilsohn led him to adore all women with blonde hair and blue eyes. He is quoted as writing that, “They are the image of love to me. They all have the same graceful spirit as my angelic love, Helen. Every time I see their blond hair that shines like the sun, and their blue eyes that look like miniature oceans, I am reminded of Helen. But all of those girls with brown hair and brown eyes, I hate them for not having the light that Helen has. The world would be so much more beautiful if every girl had that light…”

“If this isn’t shocking enough, apparently Jeremy and his son, Peter, had made a suicide pact that if one of them should die, the other would follow in death. They also made a pact that if one of them should get arrested, then the other should escape to an unknown hiding place, and never return. All of this information was found in the late Peter Gosling’s diary, which is now in the possession of the New York City Police Department’s Major Case Squad.

“Jeremy’s wife, Meredith, says that she didn’t have a clue about the terrible murders that her husband and son committed. This all unfortunately, seems to be the perverse and horrifying case of a father and son, who were partners in crime. It has been a traumatic time for all of New York, so once again everyone, you can rest easy that the search is finally over.”

It was true. Alex, Helen, and Juliet had all watched through the large kitchen window as the drunk, and miserable man shot himself in his head, and fell to the ground, making a puddle of blood spill down the Winter-Meyer’s high-quality granite driveway, and abruptly staining it.

They didn’t even know who he was until he was dead. The police had to tell them.

All of the time that they knew Peter, he always refused for them to meet his parents, saying that they were depressingly boring, and that meeting them would only make them wish they hadn’t. Alex half wanted to have met this poor man, but his other half told him that he was nothing more than a terrible person that killed innocent girls. He couldn’t decide which side he should take, and tried to forget all together about everything that had happened to them the other day.

Though Alex tried, he knew that he would always find them deep in his heart for the rest of his life…no matter what their crimes were.

“Helen, baby, are you going to be alright while I talk for a second to Juliet,” Alex gently asked her. He glanced over at Juliet, and turned back toward Helen again. She was silent when she looked at him with saddened eyes and only nodded solemnly in approval.

Alex gently got up from the couch, carefully trying not to shake her. He was afraid that the slightest surprise would frighten her. Juliet seemed to feel the same way because she slowly got up from the couch, inch by inch, moving almost mechanically. When she finally got up, she slowly followed him out to the patio.

He turned and faced her. His eyes looked tired, and his hair was messy. A genial smile creased across his face.

“We’ve been through a lot,” he said, exhausted.

“We have…” Juliet sounded weary.

“I brought you out here because there’s something I have to tell you.”

Juliet was silent. She was wide-eyed with curiosity, but yet sickened from the anticipation of what he would say next.

“I love Helen. I know this is so sudden for me to change my mind like this about who I love, but I know that I love her. And it isn’t because I feel sorry for her. I guess that I realized now that I love her, because I almost lost her the other day.”

Juliet turned pale. She looked like she was both sickened and surprised, and she was on the verge of tears.

“Please…I didn’t mean to hurt you. I want you to understand that I love you too, Juliet. I just love you as my friend, and as Helen’s friend. I can tell you that I give you my honest and complete word on this: you will always have a special and loving place in my heart. I want you to know that.”

“I understand, Alex. Believe me, I understand.”

“Juliet¾ ”

“No…I’m happy about this. I have felt so much guilt over us being together. I’m still hurt, and I know that I will always love you in the way that you were my first great love. But I believe that someday, I’ll probably fall in love again. And when I do, it will be with the right person. I understand that you and I can’t be together. But if being with Helen will make you happy, then I will honestly be happy for you.”

“I’m so glad that you’re okay with this. You don’t know how happy that I feel right now.”

“In some way, I think I do.”

They hugged and made it last longer than it normally would, as they stood in each other’s arms. When they released from each other, they walked hand-in-hand. They were not holding hands as a couple, but as close friends who had overcome all the odds. Walking through the door and into the house, they made their way back into the living room where Helen was still sitting there, and crying as she watched a Grey’s Anatomy re-run.

Alex and Juliet sat on either side of Helen. They each took her hand into theirs. She looked at Alex with her distressed eyes, and he looked happily into hers.

On Grey’s Anatomy, Izzie fixed a deer’s arm back on. Alex looked at the screen and made a big, heartfelt laugh. Helen smiled up at him and began to gently laugh through her tears. Juliet’s eyes twinkled while she laughed along with both of them.

“I guess I can laugh again,” Helen contently said.

Alex jovially smiled. He leaned into her and kissed her cheek like how a mother does to her sleeping child. Helen leaned onto his shoulder, and Juliet in turn, leaned onto Helen’s shoulder. They sat there like that, trying to find the beauty of the new day.

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Posted by Terry Collett 2008-01-01 01:55:09 .... Yes, good Hannah. Enjoyed. + Report this comment
Posted by tarhead 2008-01-11 02:29:19 nice takes me a while to get around to the squishy genre. i am an extreme "short" story nut, the shorter the better. that was definately a lot words, but very well written. looking forward to your next. + Report this comment

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