Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

“Sawyer, we’re running out of time. I thought you said--”

“Dude chill,” He stammered, fingers locked around several other bags. “It’s just the essentials. Besides, we’re going to need a decent amount of clothes if were going to be traveling around Colorado, and then some.” Sawyer grunted quickly as he struggled to shove a rugged sack in the small corner of the car. He exhaled smoothly feeling large plots of sweat collect across his forehead. Unlatching the hook for the trunk he slammed the old door shut and flashed Edgar a keen look. Edgar raised a hand to protest but refused to open his mouth. His tongue brushed against the inside of his lips slowly as he suppressed a thought. He took his hands and entwined them behind his neck, elbows bent he rested them behind his head. Not caring enough to adjust himself he left his hair dangle in strands in front of his eyes as he and Sawyer began to march back inside their apartment building.

Sawyer, a bit more rushed than Edgar, quickly made his way up the stairs of the building until he was on the fourth floor. The hallway was dead and quiet, each door closed and undisturbed. He calmed himself and marched boldly down the hallway and entered through his door. Kicking around the cluttered that swept across the entire house he maneuvered into the kitchen and started filling bottle after bottle with water. Edgar sat at the counter silently running his slender worn fingers around the countertop anxiously. He listened to the rustling of the water stream into the sink, and the pained grunts of irritation Sawyer released each time he twisted a cap onto a bottle.

“So where are we off to first..?” he urged. Sawyer shrugged and pointed his chin into the other room. “There’s a few maps in there. Grab them.” he said as he began filling up another bottle. Edgar obliged and twisted the chair around. Loudly marching across the floor he turned into the main living room and started through the piles of trash.

“It has been two weeks since suspect Sawyer Lytham disappeared from Breckenridge. Police say they are close to discovering his whereabouts, but no further information had been released. . .” the news anchor spoke fluently looking at her cue cards here and there. Edgar shook his head briefly, letting one hand scratch at the back of his neck he turned his attention away from the broadcast. Finding a few missed dollars as he rummaged through the mess he stuffed them in his pockets. Gripping the laminate cover of a few books he tugged them roughly until they broke through the mass of clothes and papers.

“You find them yet?” Sawyer shouted from the other room. Edgar peered at the covers momentarily before flipping through the one on top. The pages were stained with some type of liquid and completely useless to anyone who needed to look for roads quickly. He tossed it aside and exhaled boredly opening the cover of the next one. Sawyer, with bottles tucked securely underneath his armpits, slowly waddled into the room and looked across the destroyed floor. “Damn…” he chuckled lightly catching the attention of Edgar.

“You need some updated maps man, these are all tarnished and useless for the most part.” Edgar briefed him on how the pages were torn and ruined but Sawyer paid no attention. Fixated on the new story he dropped the bottles of water - one of which busted- and went over to the Tv to turn it up. He shoved a hand into his front pocket and stared at the lady speaking on his behalf.

“Reporters say Sawyer Lytham is responsible for the murders of several employees within the building at which he worked. Each one either choked or stabbed to death. One witness claims she remembers seeing him leave early one day, with a box of latex gloves tucked away in his bag. According to the police, Sawyer is to be--” before the lady finished her words Sawyers foot met the screen of the Tv. He completely managed to pull the cord out of the wall and crack the screen, leaving it to spark on the floor. Edgar flinched hearing the glass shatter as the Tv hit the floor and moved back a few paces.

“That whole entire story is bullshit… Whoever that witness was, deserves to get her throat slit. What a b***h..” he snorted. He turned and began collecting his bottles. Edgar sighed, giving Sawyer a long look over before gripping the only suitable map he had.

“Alright well, control yourself a bit better next time then.” Sawyer straightened his back and shrugged off Edgars words as he strutted into the kitchen. He threw the bottles into a bag and quickly knotted it shut, waiting for Edgar to say something else. He instead paused his movements and stared directly towards the door.

“Edgar what the hell are you-”

“Shut up.” Edgar swatted at the air and motioned for him to be quiet. He slowly exhaled and stepped towards the door, lowering his figure defensively he gripped a hand into a fist briefly before searching around the room. Sawyer nodded understandingly and grabbed a knife from the wrack, hands trembling already he waited for Edgar to move. Edgar grinned for a short moment, throwing his eyes  the floor and twisted the knob around slowly hearing the gears grind and latch before pulling the door completely open. He straightened his figure and looked down at a small cleaning lady.

“Oh hi! I’m here to… to-to” her voice started to trail off until she was completely petrified. She stared past Edgar quickly. Her vision briefly jumping from him to Sawyer, whom had the knife in gripped hard within his trembling fingers. She attempted to back up a few steps, dropping her basket of towels and cleaning supplies in the doorway.

Kill her. I’m not going to kill her. Killer.

“Like hell are you leaving!” Edgar snapped grabbing her arms he threw her into the room. She started to shriek and scream as he began pinning her against the floor. Sawyer sighed for a brief moment, before setting the knife atop the counter. Edgar grabbed the woman and wrapped his arm around her throat, then lifted her to a standing position cutting of most of her airflow. She started to wheeze and wiggle in his grasp but there was no use.

“Edgar, are we going to kill her?” he grunted lowly. Edgar side stepped over to the counter within a questionable look and reached for the open knife, as the lady kicked and screamed.

“Would you shut the hell up!” Sawyer snapped. Without thinking he took his fist and bashed it into the face of the now crying woman twice leaving her with a bloody nose. Shaking his pained hand he glared at her intensely, gripping the sides of her cheeks with one hand he narrowed his vision and watched her squirm.

“You deserve this… I bet it was you who told the news I killed those people.” he muttered under his breath. Edgar kicked one of the womans legs out from underneath her and grabbed the knife. She released a pained shriek and soon started to cough, a more gurgled tone of voice setting in as she jerked around in their grasp. Edgar had taken the knife and shoved it against her skin; breaking the thin lining he drove the knife deep within her neck and down her back. Her movements ceased down to mere twitched of the body, bloody starting to collect within the back of her throat and spue from her lips. Sawyer released her face and pulled away in shock. Edgar removed the knife and exhaled roughly, releasing her completely she hit the floor with a dense “thud”.

“Well that was certainly… pleasant.” Sawyer mustered, hearing his own voice crack. He stared at the dead female and kicked her face a bit with his shoe wondering if she really was dead or not while Edgar stared around for a moment.

“We have to get going. Paying off the people in this building doesn’t mean s**t if someone gets killed I’m sure… So let’s just leave her here. No harm no foul.” Edgar jokingly let the words roll past his tongue. He flashed Sawyer a look of gratitude before Sawyer gestured down the hall. Edgars joyous attitude folded into a deep scorn as he spotted another woman. She gripped a notepad and pen against her chest, one hand covering her mouth a look of pure horror rolled across her face. She stared directly at the mangle body of the female maid that was at their feet. She stumbled backwards a bit, her stomach ready to jump out of her throat if she moved. Sawyer saw her look of pure distress and stepped over the woman on the floor and threw himself towards the other woman, who to is surprised hadn’t moved at all. She stared at him horrifically trying not to put up much of a struggle.

Edgar simply grabbed the bags of water from atop the sink and brushed past the bloody body. He gestured for Sawyer to take the woman through the elevator to ensure she wouldn’t run while he ran over to the stairs. Sawyer clenched her arms roughly and shoved her against the wall for a second, before throwing her into the opening elevator. She screamed, putting up a better struggle then. Kicking and screaming Sawyer dodged her attempts to wound him. Grabbing her hair he knocked her face against the side of the wall.

“Wait wait wait!” she coughed hard, already shaking in his grasp. “Wait… wait don’t hurt me.. please.” she started to cry. “I’ll do whatever you want, Sawyer.” he flinched away from her a bit, hearing her speak his name as calmly as she did he bit his tongue and released her. The elevator doors had already closed, and the silence was only broken by her scared breathing. “I’m not going to hurt you or turn you in or anything I swear!” she choked out. “I’m just a writing… I just wanted to get to know your side of the story. I wasn’t going to turn you in! I swear… I swear. Just please let me go..” she began to cry a bit, the tears streaming down her perfectly rounded cheeks. He exhaled roughly, rubbing his hands down his face a few times before kicking his foot against one of the walls. She flinched and tried to crawl over to the corner of the elevator.

He pressed the button for the first floor and stood in complete silence as the elevator began to lower itself. “My name is Emma Piper… I’m nothing more than an author and editor. I like to interview people.. That’s all.” she gasped through her tears, gripping her own throat she started to rub her skin lightly looking him over. “I don’t think you killed those people if that means anything to you… I-”

“Shut up.” Sawyer shot out his words quickly. They didn’t sound as threatening as he had hoped, but still got the point across well enough for her to stay quiet until the elevator had stopped moving. The doors rolled open and screeched as the old metals touched one another. Sawyer stepped out of the elevator and scanned the surrounding hall extensively before taking another look at Emma. She fixed her skirt and brushed the dirt off lightly with her trembling hands as she managed to stand.

“Come on..” Sawyer released a strained exhale and walked quickly past the rooms. Making sure Emma was with him to the fullest he gripped her arm tightly and shoved her as they walked. Edgar was sitting in the car already, the engine roaring Sawyer threw Emma into the back seat and then took his own in the passenger side. Without questioning anything Edgar pushed the stick into drive and the can began moving out of the dull parking lot. The only real noise was the car itself as the tension only rose higher and higher as the three of them sat in the car. Emma had sat straight up, in the middle of the seat with her hands balled into fist. She rested them against her legs and started only at her feet. Edgar chewed at a toothpick slowly twirling the small wooden object around between his lips as he tried to steady his breathing.

“Where do you live?” Sawyer said pedantically towards Emma. He was gripping his cell phone in one hand, the other was brushing back his hair neatly. Hair fairly short and locks out of order he tried to somewhat distract his nerves and focus more on what their original plans were. Straightening his figure he turned himself just enough to catch a glimpse of her startled face.

“Why?”

“Did she really just ask you why?” Edgar barked aggressively spinning the wheel of the car. He pulled over on the side of the road and stopped the engine. “Are you kidding me? Look, girl, I don’t--”

“Edgar, shut the hell up.” Sawyer said sternly. Edgar stared directly at Sawyer and rolled his eyes. “Alright, whatever..” he grumbled and twitched around to stared out his own window.

“Tell me where you live. We’re taking you home. We don’t need anymore distractions right now and I’m not about to kill anyone just yet…” he sneered. Edgar released a playful chuckle to himself and started the engine once more, pulling onto the road. Emma flashed them both a look of sheer doubt, but obliged and told them her address.

“Please just let me go…” she started off, her attention on her hands this time. Sawyer watched her, his eyes tracing each detail of her face. Her rounded facial features, worn hands, the tension of her muscles as she balled her fingers into fist, and her hair. It was short and choppy, a dark blonde, and was brushed neatly. Her lips were pressed together roughly, a bit chapped and dry he noticed. Her eyes were tired and strained from all the cry, her face puffy and red he could only wonder why he chose to not kill the woman. From her physique she probably could have put up a better struggle, if not escape. Taking off his coat he grunted and threw it in her direction, before looking out the front windshield. “Put that on, and quit with the tears. You’re fine.” Sawyer snapped. Emma nodded slowly and shoved her shakings arms through the sleeves. She winced a little, rubbing her nose at the smell of cigarettes and cologne. Terrified, she decided to stay quiet the entire ride.

***

“Why the hell are you keeping that girl around? Edgar passed Sawyer a look of discontent before slipping on his latex gloves and flashing Sawyer a look of utter disgust. He swung open the front door and stepped inside slowly examining the nearly empty foyer. Various vases and paintings hung around the entree way of the home as he stood, eyes locked directly on Sawyer. Sawyer gave a short shrug for the time being and dismissed the question as if he hadn’t spoken to him at all. Arguably Sawyer kept his peace and walked further down the hall and entered the kitchen.

“Nice place for a reporter.”

Edgar surveyed the other rooms for a short moment and then followed behind, Emma of course trailing the two at a slower pace. She was wiggling and struggling herself to escape but there was no hope. Her hands were securely tied around her back in handcuffs, and her mouth taped over with multiple layers of thick gray duct tape. Sawyer started opening the drawers and rummaging through the cups and the spoons, looking for any sort of hidden object.

“Sawyer, what do you want me to do with her?” Edgar exhaled bitterly and tugged on Emmas shirt, giving her a fair look over before directing his attention to the oblivious Sawyer. He twitched the side of his lip for a moment, purse his lips and let his eyes collectively squint. He twisted his left shoulder and then the rest of him systematically until he was facing them both. He gave Emma a sharp glare and placed a toothpick securely between his lips.

“Hmmmm..” he started, rubbing the scruff that lined his face he looked down at his feet and spoke sternly. “Take her upstairs, and pack a bag. Running clothes, the types of things I’ve-”

“There’s no way in hell we’re taking this girl with us.” Edgar stopped him and threw his arms up, giving Emma a hard shove into the nearby wall in the process. She started to muster something fierce but the two ignored her.

“Look, just f*****g do it for me alright? We can take care of her later… We just need her. She’s valuable in a sense that I’m sure someone out there will want her back right? If I’m going to be framed might as well give them something to talk about.” Sawyer gave him a smug grin of approval and bit his tongue. Musing through the rest of the kitchen he left Edgar to be and listened to him disappear down the hall and up the stairs. He exhaled and dipped into another room, which he presumed to be an office space. Papers lined almost every inch of the floor with different cliche titles such as “The Murder Mystery”, “The Killing Spree” “Cautionary Murder” and all sorts. Sawyer skimmed through the papers and the stories and deduced Emma, was in fact, masochistic to a fair degree. Horror and death were her carnality.

“What a freak…” he smirked to himself hearing the words slip past his lips. Gnawing at the small wooden toothpick he had collected he tried to press back the memory of  killing the maid and how they had left her with no ultimatum. Peering at something resting in freshly in the printer he picked up a piece and stared fervently at the heading. Printed in big bold letters was “SAWYER LYTHAM: THE MISTAKE”. He released a snort of disgust and started to read through the words printed one by one knowing his stomach was only going to knott even more in outrage.

“Suspect said to have murdered--”

“S**t! Sawyer! Get the f**k out of the house!” Edgar hollered from up the stairs. Sawyer gripped the paper with his gritty hands and turned to face the noise. Jogging towards the foyer he met Edgar at the bottom of the stairs with Emma underneath his arm and pushed her out the front door.

“What the hell is the problem” A bit panicked he marched outside and hobbled over to Emma, who unluckily landed on her face after Edgar have forced her out of the house. She started cursing up a storm as edgar tried to quickly explain the situation. Hopping over the two he hurried himself to the car and unlocked the doors.

“That f*****g c**t you decided to savagely kidnap? She has a security system!” Edgar snapped as the engine of the car started to roar. Rolling over she looked up at Sawyer, whose face was already grim and started to speak.

“I tried to tell you this! You sealed my damn mouth! How was I supposed to warn you-”

“Shut it.” Sawyer spat, throwing her back against the ground. Leaving her there for the moment he quickly jogged over to the car, but stopped dead in his tracks once.

“You’re not serious--”

“Edgar…” he stared but decided it’d be best to not finish. He twisted around and watched Emma struggled to her feet, her face a bit busted and her lips swollen. Tears swelling in her eyes she stood awkwardly, debating her chances of escaping if she ran. She stiffened her limbs and began tugging at the tape around her sore wrist but saw no sign of escape. Reluctantly she lowered his eyes and stood, legs ready to bolt if he tried to attack.

“Get in the car..”

Author's Note

Reviews much appreciated.