Not Alone

[Mithra]

It took two days for the police to come. During that time, Katherine Lynne Sawyer had never moved from the bedroom floor where she sat, knees hugged to her chest, softly rocking back and forth. A knock sounded at the front door.

Hello? This is Sergeant David Ferris. Are you alright? The man was of slightly taller than average, medium build. Dark close-cropped hair, blue eyes, and a disarming smile. David Ferris had been a popular school liaison officer just a few short months back.

She started to sing quietly, a song from years ago. ...So hold me when I'm here, love me when I'm gone, you can hold me when I'm scared, I won't always be there, so love me when I'm gone...

"Ma'am? May I come in? Mr. Sawyer's place of employment is concerned because you have not returned their calls." He was not used to this. At the schools, there was always someone who gave a direct answer. Here, though, the only person he could identify was not forthcoming.

She continued to sing and rock.

"Ma'am, I'm going to get the master key for this door, and then I'm coming in. I think you might need help." Footsteps sounded outside in the corridor and receded swiftly as the man went to find the manager.

Katherine glanced down at her hands, and faltered in her singing. Not all of the blood covering the knife and floor was her parents'. She stopped singing and loosed her grip on the blade, dispassionately noting the gash in her palm. She closed her hands again, not so tightly as to cut herself again, and waited for Sergeant Ferris to return. He did so shortly, and with the manager and paramedic crew. The manager fumbled the keys, caught them. He flipped through them until he reached the master, unlocked the door, opened it, walked in slowly and stepped aside for the officer to pass.

"Everything looks alright out here, nothing is missing or broken." It was the manager's job to know what was inside an apartment. If he said nothing was missing, nothing was.

Ferris was unconvinced. "Mr. Sawyer has missed two full working days, has not called his place of employment as to why, and neither his wife nor daughter have left the apartment in that same duration. Something isn't right."

They moved quickly through the rooms, checking for any sign of its inhabitants. Katherine didn't look up from her hands as the door opened to show the men a scene from Hell.

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