Page 42 of Obsession

AnitaCharles

Age: 18

Taken August 1, found dead August 4th.

Clear victim of repeated rape. Bruises found along inner thighs and anus, lesions throughout the body.

Note: Sources say she received bouquets left at her door several days before she was taken.

MargaretSellier

Age: 19

Taken August 5th, found dead August 7th

Raped multiple times. Bruised and subjected to beatings. Broken bones and teeth.

Note: Sources say there were fresh flowers at her residence when she was taken.

Clair Boyd

Age: 18

Taken August 8th. Survivor.

Has no memory of abuse but shows signs of repeated rape and abuse. Trauma amnesia.

Note: No flowers on record

I spendthe next two hours scrolling through every bit of social media involving the girls that I can, as well as every report I can get my hands on.

Anita left home at the age of sixteen and was estranged from her parents as well as her siblings. She came from a religious home and had nine brothers and sisters. “She left us for the occult,” her mother’s on record as saying. “I knew things would end like this. I knew she’d be taken by the Devil for her sins.”

A lump rises in my throat, reminding me of the minister’s wife who rejected me. I don’t know how some people live with themselves in the name of something that should be good.

Anita has a mere twelve followers online, and the news said no one came to her funeral.

Strange.

I flip through her pictures, not surprised to see she classifies herself as Wiccan, but has very few friends. There are patterns like the pieces to a puzzle scattered on a table, beginning to take form but still just a jumble of cardboard. I need to fit more pieces into place before I can see the whole picture.

Margaret Sellier has a similar story. Left home at eighteen, got a double associates degree from a local community college. But reports say she was “strange” and “odd.” Further investigation shows she was known for resisting mainstream culture, publicly and vocally.

I pace my apartment. Thinking.

If I were someone looking to take advantage of women… I would want to take someone no one would miss. It would cover my tracks if I took someone who might be involved with things their family didn’t approve of, so said family might blame their social groups or behavior on their disappearance…

It’s after midnight when I close my laptop and go to shower. I strip my clothes off halfway down the hall and toss them into the hamper just before I get to the bathroom. I wish I could cleanse what I’ve read from my mind, but I’m determined now. I will find the person responsible for these crimes.

A pang of guilt hits me.

I haven’t thought about finding my parents’ murderers in hours. I haven’t gone that long without thinking about them in… God, years.

I tell myself this is only a means to an end. Help him, and he’ll help me. I’m only working with him for this one reason, so I can leverage his power and connections.

I put the water on to scalding and glance down at myself. God, I’m a mess. Between the stupid accident and bruising my shins all to hell today on Cain’s car, I’m covered in bruises and lacerations and smudges of dirt. How could that guy hit on me?

Didhe hit on me?

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