"Stop it Leo." you mentally chide yourself, "Nothing bad is going to happen today. It's just another Saturday." You keep grumbling to yourself as you enter the main building. It's not that you want to keep yourself paranoid or in a rut, just that your feelings of uncertainty have been getting stronger recently. Then again, in the past week you've slept a total of twenty hours. Those three really have been going all out when it comes to activities. Max dragged you through some rally's on Monday and Wednesday, Terry managed to get you to help him do some of his law homework (even if nearly all of it went over your head) when you got back on Monday and nearly all day Tuesday and Justin took all of us to the gym on Thursday to work out.
Now that was a disaster. Three relatively 'buff' people doing weights while you slept in the corner when they took their eyes off of you. That was actually the first day of the week you got a solid four hours of continuous sleep. It still pretty humiliating that you fell asleep when they were trying to help you get more fit, since you were the one who originally suggested going out on Thursdays to get more in shape. Then again, finals was last week. It's something of a minor miracle that you got in study time for your classes.
English, Math, Literature, Performance, History, Law, Economics, Automotive, Creative Writing and German. Holy god above, you took way to many classes. Looking at your normal schedule you run anywhere from 7:30 am to 9:00 pm. You do get some breaks within your day, but one of the three always seems to snag you in your down time. It can be quite infuriating. Still, you are passing most of your classes with a B or better but you rarely have time to yourself. Last night was really the only time that you had solely for you. How was that spent? Dragging the three drunks back home.
"That's enough me. Focus on what's important right now, the play." you mentally berate yourself again as you turn the corner to the main office. That's what's important right now. It's the only final you haven't done yet, since the play will be debuting in two weeks. This is going to be a full rehearsal, the next full rehearsal will be on Wednesday, the final one on Friday and then Saturday onward will be the dress rehearsals on the same schedule. Then on Saturday the show goes live at 7:00 pm. All of your practice will be worth it when-
"Leonard Matthews!" a voice cuts into your thoughts as a firm paw grips your shoulder.
"Wha?" You instinctive take a few steps back and blink rapidly.
"Have I gotten through to you now?" a gruff police dog growls, hands resting on her hips as she taps her foot..
You recognize her after a few seconds. You shake your head in apology as you say, "Sorry Madi, didn't realize you were there." Standing in front of you was Madison Trainer, the Golden retriever police officer slash model. She stood at an exact six feet, further proving that out of all of your friends, you were the smallest. Speaking of small, she was anything but small. She's a very attractive person when everything came right down to it. Then again, one would not be a model if she was unappealing. That's irrelevant however.
Madison folds her arms under her chest as she addresses you in a curt manner, "What are you doing here? The Auditorium is closed."
"Closed?" you echo dumbly. "What do you mean closed? I need to-"
"Didn't you get the e-mail notification or read the message board Leonard?" Madison cuts you off, her stare locked onto your eyes while you blinked a few times.
"Well, no I guess." You sheepishly scratch the back of your head. "I don't have internet at my apartment and I was concerned I wouldn't be able to open the Auditorium on time. It's supposed to be open and ready in about..." you check your watch, "seven minutes, a quarter to nine." You shift slightly and add, "Sorry I was running late, but I had to...you know." you mumbled as you put your hands together.
Madison's expression softens a bit. "I see." Madison began, "They..?"
You nod in acknowledgement as you answer the unspoken question. "Yeah, they're out."
Madison lets her arms fall back to her sides as she continues, "Well, even with that, the Auditorium is off limits. You are not allowed in there Leonard." with a curt nod, she sits in a chair in front of the door, her expression passive and guarded.
...that was quite abrupt. Normally she's a bit more chatty and more...relaxed. She only gets likes this when...
Suddenly the feeling from the bus comes back, this time twice as strong. You uneasily slid next to Madison and sat down on the floor. "So, why are you so formal today? Normally you wouldn't call me by my full name."
"I know that you have been very busy lately." Madison begins. I didn't need to look at her face to know she closed her eyes. "But have you been keeping up with the news lately?"
"Not particularly I'm afraid." you reply, uncertain with the line of questioning. "With all my classes I've barely had time enough to sleep these days." That's true. You barely need to remind yourself of that.
"You were in Law class correct? One of the requirements of the class was that you would need to keep up on daily news." Madison softly spoke. You began to say something when she continues, "That doesn't matter I suppose." Madison rises from her chair then sits next to you. "You remember what department I work for, yes?"
You nodded. Madison works for two departments, the local police department and within a branch of government, a homicide detective. Something like that.
"Then you should know why I'm guarding the door."
Madison's words were simple, but the earlier unease that came back was now threatening to wash over you. A murder? In the Auditorium? The very same room that you and 14 other people will be using to host the play?
A hand is gently placed on your right shoulder. "Leo, as your friend and not as a professional, I want you to be honest. Where were you last night?" Madison's voice was not accusatory, just curious. "You say that you were dragging your friends back to your place, but are you telling me the truth?"
Immediately you responded, "Of course I was carrying then back! Where else could I have..." you voice trailed off as her question hit you. "I...I'm..." you couldn't bring yourself to finish the statement. As you went on you began to shake slightly "I'm not the only one who has keys to the Auditorium you know." Man, your voice was so low, if Madison wasn't a species of dog she wouldn't have heard you.
Madison brought you closer to her as she calmly began speaking again, "This will be revealed in the papers tomorrow, but I feel you should know some of the circumstances." Madison leaned her head onto your numb head. Madison began quietly, "Last night the police were called to a house that was having a party." Madison bemusedly began caressing your shoulder as she continued, "I was called to go there and quiet the place down. Standard night these days with all of the final parties." Madison then stopped caressing your shoulder. "On the way back I received a message. A phone call was made at 2:24 am about the hearing of what was described as screams and gunshots coming from the College. I was to investigate immediately. When I arrived I was forced to lock-pick the door." Madison grew quiet.
The silence was suffocating.
Madison gripped your sides and pulled you into her lap, with your head resting between her breasts. "I want to make sure you know that you are not...suspected of killing them."
One would think that being told that they are a suspect of a killing is unsettling. "Them?" you didn't want to say that. You didn't want to hear what was coming after it either. You wanted to stop listening to the whole conversation.
"Yes Leo. Them." Madison gently takes your wrists and puts them behind your back. "You are currently the prime suspect for the suspected involvement of the death of the entire cast of the play, 'Underworld'."
There were no words you could speak, not for the longest of times. The whole cast? Dead? They're all...but...
"Why?" your voice asked, just barely audible. "Why would...why would anyone..." you stood up shakily and went to the garbage can near the Auditorium's entrance. Madison knew you. She knows that you wouldn't...you would never want anyone dead. Ever. The prime suspect is you? Well, technically that is the logical choice. If there was only one liv-
You vomited into the can. Ugh, there went the reason you couldn't become a doctor. Death was not something you minded, but blood was another story. You could see everyone's faces all doing their parts and- urk. The trash can looks very appealing right now as you loose another retch down into it.
You weren't paying attention to what Madison was doing and as such you jumped a bit when you felt her hands wrap around you and gently pat you on the back. It was soothing. It was one of Madison's best qualities in your opinion. She was a very nice motherly sort of person, one who wouldn't rest if she knew that one of her friends were in danger. She was also very vicious since she's shewed you out more than three dozen times about various things. She is also one of the few people who knew about the constant shenanigans your three friends did. "There is nothing wrong with them staying at your place." Madison had said. "Just keep the drinking down and there should be no problems."
Madison whispered to you soothingly "Listen Leo, I know you didn't do it, but there are two pieces of evidence against you right now, your phone and...
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
More by this author
