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THE OVERHEAD LIGHTS bathed the jazz band performing on the small stage in a hazy glow. Hutch found Mike’s hand on her elbow comforting as the waiter showed them to their table. Hutch took the time to look at the servers working tonight. Everyone was dressed as if they were starring in an old gangster film.
She and Mike had followed this local jazz band these last few months; trying to take in as many of their live performances as possible. They both found this new and upcoming band enjoyable. Hutch saw them making a name for themselves and doubted it would be long before someone discovered them.
Mike ordered a pale ale made by one of the local breweries and Hutch ordered a strawberry daiquiri. She needed something to help cool the heat from the hot wings Mike ordered. The wings lived up to their name of Cajun Fire Wings, but they were so good. There was a hint of something sweet used in the sauce that made them totally addictive.
Just as they began to relax, the food and drinks arrived. Without waiting for the wings to cool off, Mike picked one up, “Hot. Hot. Hot.”
Hutch let out a sexy little laugh, “You could wait for them to cool down.”
“What and have you eat most of them before I do?”
She just shook her head as she picked up one of the fiery drumettes, “Mmmm, I will regret this later on, but damn, these things are so good.”
As her mouth turned into a volcano, she reached for her strawberry daiquiri. Mike just laughed at her watering eyes as he threw down another naked chicken bone. Licking the thick sauce off his fingers, he stated, “You are such a wuss.”
She smiled over at him, “These things are so hot, but delicious at the same time. I just can’t stop myself from torturing my mouth. I don’t know how you put away so many without having to drink something in between.”
Mike just smiled, “It’s because if I slow down you will eat them all.”
“There may be some truth in that.”
As the night wore on, Mike saw Hutch’s mood change, “Dare I ask what’s wrong? Did you have another vision?”
“No, not really. I was thinking about these women. What is my connection to them? Why do I suddenly see this killer and their murders? This never happened to me before. I read scenes before, but nothing like this. It is something entirely different.”
Mike stood up from his side of the table and pulled Hutch onto the dance floor. She melted into his body as they swayed to the sound of the music. This may be just what she needed to take her mind off these visions for a while, that and a few more strawberry daiquiris.
As soon as her head hit the pillow, she found herself being transported to another place. An unnatural quiet filled her mind as if the sound had been sucked out. Suddenly, she heard a cacophony of sounds fill the air. There was a chorus of crickets serenading to the moonlight and frogs calling out for their mate. Flashes of lightning snaked across the sky, and angry clouds rolled in from the south.
Thunder boomed throughout the night sky as raindrops freed themselves from their heavy confines. Ignoring the rain, her gaze focused on the bayou. The moonlight was cloaked in a misty haze. An ephemeral glow of light hung over the murky water.
The hoot of an owl echoed in the night as she made her way past the boat dock to the water’s edge. Fog rolled off the water’s surface as she stopped beside a pile of branches caught along the edge of the water. Rain continued to fall, and she watched as the drops danced off the bayou. An alligator’s head appeared a few feet away from her, watching her every move.
The apparition moved to where she was, surrounding her in a mist of chilly air. Hutch took in the apparition’s translucent skin and lifeless hair. She stared at Hutch with nothing but hollow eye sockets. “Please help us.”
As Hutch reached out to touch the young woman in front of her, the image waned. A flash of lightning lit up the sky and chased away the shadows. When Hutch looked down at the bayou once more, she saw the young woman’s body entangled in the maze of branches and vines at the water’s edge. Her long black hair flowed in the water like seaweed. Another flash of lightning startled fish in the gaping wound they were nibbling on. Now, she knew why she was here. Dread washed over her. Another body would be found.
As the images flashed through her mind, she had a sense of déjà vu. The previous visions were almost identical to this one.
A noise from behind caught her attention. Was that an echo of a scream uttered in the past? Could it be the sudden hush of the bayou holding its breath while waiting to see what was about to happen?
A thread of light moved through the dense thicket of trees. She crouched behind a cypress trunk and watched as the killer made his way to his car. She kept to the shadows as she continued to follow him. Perhaps, this time, she would catch a glimpse of his face.
Before she could witness anything else, her vision was cut short. She eased herself out of the bed and took special care not to wake Mike. In the bathroom, she turned on the cold water and splashed it over her heated face. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she winced at the image staring back at her. She looked tired, and the bags under her eyes were more pronounced today than they were yesterday.
As she curled back up in bed, she prayed she could fall back asleep. Utter exhaustion consumed her as her head hit the pillow.
Hutch heard the alarm go off but didn’t have the energy to lift her head off the pillow. Mike reached over and turned the blasted thing off before heading toward the bathroom.
Instead of getting out of bed, she snuggled under the covers and hoped to get in a few more minutes of sleep. Mike looked back at the bed and watched as Hutch tossed and turned. He was concerned what affect these visions were having on her. The dreams were becoming more frequent.
***
THE STREET HE PLANNED to hunt on was devoid of life. An occasional car passed by, but that was it. Maybe he was too far from the crowds and excitement tonight. He drove for a couple of hours, searching for the perfect one. He feared that he wouldn’t be able to satisfy his hunger.
This was a terrible unfamiliarity for him. As the clock reached three o’clock in the morning, he contemplated calling it a night. He should have chosen a different place to hunt. As he drove down the street, the cobblestone glistened in the rain. The moonlight bathed the area in a demonic glow. Despair grew deep inside of him as he drove away.
The night was going all wrong. Even though a storm hadn’t been predicted, the weather had turned nasty. Rain beat down on the windshield as the wipers attempted to keep up with the rhythm. Up ahead, the gray skies turned black.
A movement caught his attention. He slowed down. Maybe, just maybe, this was her. He pulled the car over and hurried to where he had seen her. Not wanting to kill her here in the rain, he used his fists to knock her out cold. Acting quickly, he threw her into the trunk and drove off into the night.
He found a secluded spot along the bayou to kill her, submerging the body in the water. He must make sure no fibers remained on her for discovery.
It was close to morning by the time he arrived home. As soon as his head hit the pillow, he fell into a deep sleep. Several hours later, he bolted upright in bed as a cold chill ran over his body. He found himself covered in sweat and wrapped in soaking wet sheets. Peering through the darkness, he found the source of what had so rudely awakened him.
He was having such a good dream too before his mother’s harping pierced through his dream. She had become incessant lately. He thought locking her up at the back of the cabinet would silence her, but she just grew louder.
As he tried to tune his mother out and return to his dream, he wondered if he had let his obsession for vengeance control his life? He shook his head at just how ridiculous he was being. Killing gave him a purpose; besides, it was too late to stop now. The evil lurking inside of him wanted out. It wouldn’t fade away. He knew how this could end, but couldn’t stop. Besides, he wanted to play some more with Detective Hutcherson.
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