Chapter 8

It was like a race, getting to Ancient Hill Woods. Esty mentioned going camping with Alex, but never where. She had the paper in her car cup holder, Arrow insisted she not go alone, but this was for her to finish.

Arrow had left to get backup and once her car was out of view Iris left. She knew they would be behind her at any moment, knew they would catch up, but for now she sped alone to the place she knew Esty was.

She saw his truck first, parked at the edge of the forest like a call to her, like a confirmation that he did it. She slammed her car in park before it was fully stopped, got out, and raced into the woods. She didn't know exactly what she was looking for but she would know once she saw it, or heard it.

She went over it, heard the metallic clank and circled back. She opened the door, her hands and legs trembling, slowly she lowered herself down and pulled out her phone for a flashlight. Her breathing was shaking as she turned on the light, a hand flew to her mouth to muffle her scream.

There was no light allowed to enter this place, no windows to see out. There were bones littering the floor, some animal, and some, to her horror, human. But there in the midst of it all, was a fresh body.

It hadn't begun to stink just yet, her body was dirty, along with her clothes that were also torn. Her hair, her beautiful brunette hair, lay over her shoulders waist length and matted. Iris knew she was alive, knew that if they found her it wouldn't be too late, but now here she was, found but found too late.

She turned off the flashlight and snapped a picture, why? She didn't know, but she had a feeling something was about to happen. She heard that metallic clank and knew Alex was around, waiting, watching, she propped up her phone on a ledge by Esty to record anything that might happen as the creak of the trap door sounded.

He dropped down beside her, through the sliver of light the open door gave she could see he was grinning.

"What a happy reunion." He drew something from his pocket. "Now you're going to be laid to rest with her."

"Why would you do this?" She repeated in her mind the one thing that would get her through this, she needed to stall, the police would be here soon.

"She found out, it wasn't just cheating I was guilty of."

"What were you guilty of then?"

"What a silly question." He gestured to the floor. "She's not my first kill, and you certainly won't be my last."

"They're going to find me."

"Silly girl, they didn't find Esty."

"So what? You're going to keep me here, trapped?"

"No, no, I've waited too long for you." He licked his lips and twirled something that shone silver in the light. "You're going to be my most rewarding kill yet."

"Keep thinking that."

"I will, now to the fun part."

He lunged forward, the blade raised high, she dodged which sent him into the wall, she knelt down, acting hurt, and pulled the dagger she kept out of her sock. She stood in the corner waiting for him to make his next move, he lunged again, this time his fist made contact with her face.

"You wouldn't believe how good that felt." His tone was dark and cold.

"I would." She lunged this time, planting her knee in his groin, her fist in his stomach.

"You are going to regret that."

He made a slashing motion in the air, the blade he had made a deep cut on her cheek. It burned, every single time he was able to land one on her it hurt, but she wasn't going to let him know or slow her down. But she was slowed down, she was on the ground and he was on top of her, landing blow after blow on her. She felt the stinging cold of the knife every time it cut into her and felt her body and mind slip into the endless abyss that would cause her defeat.

She was able to land another punch, by this time she knew she was covered in bruises and cuts. He was down, and she was crazy. She kicked him and was able to get a knee on his chest so he couldn't move.

"No, please, please." He begged, but she didn't care, how many of his victims begged and pleaded before he killed them?

"Look at that, taking after your victims. Unfortunately, I don't care, what goes around comes around." And she plunged the knife into his chest, twisted, and saw the light leave his eyes.

She sat back, knees to chest, and felt the aching of her body. She sobbed quietly, she found her best friend and the man who claimed to love her had killed her, just as she had thought. All hope was lost, she thought before a familiar voice carried through the woods close to where she sat sobbing.

"Down here!" She called after picking the phone off the ledge, evidence.

She heard a soft thud and knew Arrow had landed there, a click sound and light filled the underground room.

"Oh, Iris!" She said, moving quickly to Iris's side. "I told you not to go alone."

"I know, I should've listened."

It was quiet as Arrow looked around, taking in the gruesome scene. "Iris, what happened?"

"He did it." She whispered, as sirens and yells sounded outside. "He did it."