CHAPTER ELEVEN; A LETTER FROM A STRANGER.

I have not been sleeping well lately. I end up staying awake, thinking all sorts of things. No matter how hard I try I can't seem to shut my mind off. Tonight after trying for almost three hours, I decide to go for a walk. It is quiet than I had thought it would be. That is the downside of living in a small town, almost nothing is operational after ten p.m. There are few people on the streets, mostly couples and teenagers who have snuck out of their homes. I go to the only mini mart that runs for twenty-four hours. I mumble a quick hello to the cashier and head inside. I am not entirely sure what to get but I feel like I have to buy something after coming in so late. I decide to get more coffee. I pay and say goodnight which she answers enthusiastically.

I decide to take the long way back home, having my earphones as company. I am almost half way there when I hear something move. I look behind me but see no one. I continue walking but hear a noise again. This time I pause the music. It's silent, no noise. I look around and sure there's no one there. I am about to continue listening to music when I hear another noise this time like a bang. I see a silhouette of a person moving towards me. I quicken my pace which seems to make him quicken his. I break into a full run and make the last corner before my apartment. I am tempted to see how far he is so I look back, he is right behind me. I trip and fall. He leans towards me and I feel my heart racing, my ears throbbing and I can even taste blood. He is in a hoodie and just as I am about to look at his face, a car comes screeching and blinds us with its headlights. I take the opportunity and run to my apartment, this time without looking back.

I don't stop until I am inside the house. I don't know where but along the road I dropped the coffee. I throw myself on the bed and try to calm myself. My phone starts ringing which makes me jump in shock. It's Kerrick, "hey, hello," I say trying not to sound startled. "Hey, you good?" He asks. "Yeah, why?" I ask sitting up. "Because you didn't look too good," he says in a concerned tone. "When?" I ask. "Just right now. When the guy was chasing you," that gains my full attention. "Wait, how did you know? Do you guys like monitor the cctvs every minute and wait for crime to occur?" I ask perplexed. He laughs at the thought of himself doing that. "No, I was the one in the car. I thought you'd recognize my car but I seemed to have freaked you out even more," he says sounding apologetic.

"It's okay. You actually gave me a way to escape," I tell him not wanting to admit that he was actually right. "Anyway, what are you doing around here at this time of the night?" I ask. "There was a murder around here at some hotel and I live close by so I decided to come see the scene when it's still fresh," he says. "Oh, so that's why you're around," I say going to the kitchen. "I swear if I didn't know any better I'd think you're dissapointed you're not the reason I am around here." I scoff a little too loud which makes him laugh. "By the way did you catch the guy who was chasing me?" He is silent and I can imagine his furrowed eyebrows all serious. "No, I am sorry," I feel a new wave of fear creeping in after his answer. "Hey, don't worry the chances of there being two criminals at the same place, at the same time is highly unlikely," he says in an attempt to comfort me. "What does that mean then?" "It means that the person who chased you was probably the same person who commited the murder," he explains. "How is that supposed to make me feel any better? You're saying that there's a high chance that the guy who chased me is a murderer."

I check the alarm and make sure it's on. "I am just saying we'll catch him." If it was happening to someone else I would be rational but it wasn't and rational wasn't an option. "What if he finds me and kills me too? Do you know how long it takes to die when you cut the right arteries? Not as long as you'd think. I'll be dead before the security company even calls the police." I hadn't realise my hands were shaking until I notice the water from the glass I was holding was slowly pouring to the floor. "I am coming by. Just stay locked in and calm until I get there," I hear rustling on the other side of the phone. "How will I know it's you?" I ask feeling a bit better after that proposition. "I'll call you before ringing the door bell." "Okay, try to hurry," I hate how dependant I sound but I can't help it. "I am on my way."

It feels like forever since I hang up but it's only been ten minutes. Why is he not here yet? It's not like he is on foot and the hotel where the murder took place is not very far from here. I start thinking of all the things that could go wrong that would make him late. Maybe the murderer went after him and he is already dead. I am about to call another detective when my phone starts ringing. It's him, I relax. "Open up," he says before hanging up. I am waiting by the door and open it on the first ring. It's not him though. It's the hooded guy. I am about to scream but he covers my mouth with his hand and pushes his way inside. 

He pushes me against the wall. He has a mask on and the only distinctive mark on his face is a scar shaped like a seven on top of his left eyebrow. He moves his hand to his trouser pocket. I am sure he is about to take out a knife or a gun and I try to wiggle out of his hold. But even using just one arm he manages to keep me pressed against the wall. He takes out a folded piece of paper and puts it in my pocket. He opens the door and gets out leaving me standing pressed against the wall. I don't move until I feel someone tap my shoulder. It's Kerrick with a confused look on his face. "Why are you just standing there?" he asks before locking the door behiind him. I slide to the floor, unable to find appropriate words to describe what just happened. "Hey, what's wrong?" He asks squatting beside me. I remove the crumpled paper from my pocket and with trembling hands open it. It is written in black and in all capital letters. FIND AVAN. HE IS THE KILLER.