The Devil's Trap

MAN FOUND DECAPITATED AT FRANKLIN CANYON PARK BY RUNNER My eyes skim through the article, a cup of green tea in my hand, the hot liquid warming my esophagus with each sip I took.  For the past three months, California has been traumatized by the unknown killer, each victim always being decapitated or missing a body part whether it was the arm or leg, the victim was always found with something missing.  The police departments in California have no leads on who the murder nor do they have any evidence that could point fingers towards them either.  Newspapers and radio stations, as well as news reporters, were saying that it was like the Zodiac killer all over again, which is true to an extent. Of course, the Zodiac killer shot his victims while this unnamed killer dismembered his victims. If you ask me these two murders were completely different. One reason is that the Zodiac killer played with the police and gave insight on what he would do to his next victim and where it would take place, whereas this new murder doesn't do any of that instead they do it silently and places the bodies in a place where no one would care to look. The only thing they have in common is California.  "Of course, you're reading that article," Chyler Hudson, my best friend, and roommate said walking into the kitchen rolling her eyes pouring herself a cup of coffee. "It's interesting," I replied shrugging my shoulders flipping the page to read the rest of the article. "According to police the man looked like to be dead for almost a month, said he had magots eating the flesh where his head once was,"  Chyler's nose crinkles up in disgust as she pours coffee creamer into the coffee mug she got from Disneyland. "That man is disgusting doing that to poor innocent people." "The killer may be a woman, you may never know." I point out.  "You know normal people read the comics or the sports section or won't read the newspaper in general," Chyler says ignoring my last comment in general as she moves her spoon around the mug.  I shrug my shoulders finishing the article and going straight to the obituaries. "Yes, and I also know that people only look at the obituaries unless they made one for a loved one or want to find their loved one," I knew that it wasn't completely normal for a twenty-year-old woman to read about a serial killer or read the obituaries because she found them interesting, but growing up I wasn't allowed to watch Nickelodeon or Disney Channel because my parents didn't want me rotting my brain with that nonsense. Yes, I did watch Disney movies I just wasn't allowed to watch TV unless it was the news or the Investigation Discovery Channel.  You could say that I didn't have a great childhood growing up but watching those sorts of things never really bothered me. Sure when my friends would talk about the newest Hannah Montana or iCarly episode I had no idea who the hell Gibby or Jackson were but that didn't stop me from being apart of the conversation even if I did just listen. Kids didn't judge me that I wasn't allowed to watch the things they were allowed to. I was watching scary movies by the age of seven whereas most parents didn't allow their children to and maybe that looks bad on my parent's end but that was the way I was raised and I think people shouldn't judge me for that.  "I just find these sorts of things interesting," I said shutting the newspaper and giving Chyler a soft smile.  Chyler just nods her head setting her mug down on the table while her hands still cup the mug, a soft smile on her face. "When do you start Mr. Mikalson's class?" She asked steering the conversation away from that and to something new.  "Next quarter I just can't wait to get math done and over with." I groan leaning back into my chair with a sigh.  When high school teachers tell you that what they are teaching you isn't as hard as it is in college they weren't lying. College math was hard and horrible. I've always hated math and always found myself getting stuck and not understanding the concept and I find myself struggling with this to this day.  "Well, I can do your tutoring if you'd like." Chyler offers to which I give her a pleading look nodding my head.  "Will you please?" Chyler laughs nodding her head. "Of course, but you have to score me a date with Corrie Hutchinson."  Corrie Hutchinson was the typical boy next door with dazzling blue eyes that went well with his mixed nationality. Corrie was a sweet boy and super charming as well as handsome that I can't blame Chyler for liking him, and to top it off he worked at the same restaurant as me meaning Chyler always comes and eats there to see Corrie even if it means she practically had to spend almost twenty dollars on a dish.  I swear Chyler purposely tells her dates to take her to the Cheesecake Factory and requests Corrie to wait on them in hopes of getting some sort of reaction from him, and quite frantically I find it hilarious every time she comes in with a new guy only to go home empty-handed it always put a smile on my face and made me laugh.  "What if Corrie doesn't want to date you?"  I asked pulling my chestnut brown hair into a high ponytail.  Chyler shoulders a smirk on her face making her look like the Grinch when he came up with the idea of stealing Christmas. "Easy, you don't get my help in math."  I roll my eyes at her stupid offer of helping me pass the only class that I struggle with and shake my head knowing that what she was asking was unreasonable and unfair but of course my dumbass self agreed because I wasn't going to lose my career because I couldn't pass my math class on my own.  "Perfect! Make sure you show him my headshots that would immediately get him going. " Chyler replied licking her lips.  "Show him your mug shots? Okay, sounds like a plan." I replied nodding my head standing up from the table pushing my chair back.  Chyler's eyes widen as she takes in my serious facial expression and starts shaking her head in disapproval. "Lia, no. Corrie can't know that I went to jail." Chyler whines still shaking her head. "Even if it was for only a night, he wouldn't find me attractive."  "Chyler drop the 'you won't get my help if he says no' thing then."  "But if he says no you won't be helping me out like I am with you!" Chyler whined her black hair falling into her eyes.  "Then I guess I also have to add your details as well. Do you think the police could give me the report?" "You wouldn't dare," Chyler says shooting me a glare. "Why not? I think Corrie would love to see that you got arrested for flashing a cop in Vegas."' Chyler's face grows red either from anger or embarrassment, I can't tell, but the death glare that she was giving me made the situation funnier as she thinks she is scaring me with the look that she was giving me but in all honesty, the look wasn't scaring me at all.  "Fuck you," Spatted Chyler as she crossed her arms over her chest with a pout on her face. "Fine, I'll drop that part of the deal, but you do have to help me score a date."  "Deal," I say holding my hand out for her to shake.  Chyler stares at my hand for a while before sighing and shaking it sealing the deal. I smile in satisfaction. "Great, I'm going to go to the gym, do you want to go?" Chyler's face scrunches up in disgust as she shakes her head. "I don't work out, that's way too much work on my body. Plus, I don't run you know that."  Chyler doesn't say anything as she walked out of the kitchen and into the bathroom. I take that as my cue to leave especially if I wanted to get my daily work out in before I had to go to work at six.  "I'm going!" I scream grabbing my gym bag from the closet by the front door.  Chyler doesn't reply probably because she was too busy shiting out the worm in her body she keeps to help her lose weight, something that I try telling her is unhealthy but does she listen to me? Fuck no.  Stepping outside of the apartment I grab my keys from around my neck unlocking my car and throw my bag in the back seat before climbing into the driver's seat. Once I was safely inside my car I take my phone out and link it to the Bluetooth before pulling out of my assigned parking spot.                                                                                                                   ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───