Dark Light (The Dark Light Series)(104)

I spot a young looking security guard who looks almost green with disgust. His face is familiar and I realize that we graduated together.

“Hey, what happened here?” I ask him as he shakily sets up plastic cone barriers several storefronts down from the scene. His horrified eyes fall on Morgan and me, registering familiarity.

“Someone was killed in the dressing room,” he says with a quivering voice. “More like slaughtered. I’ve never seen that much blood in my life! It’s like someone ripped her fucking neck out!” he cries. Tears stream down his face and he’s hyperventilating. The poor guy is in shock.

Though there are paramedics on the scene, a frantic security guard is the least of their worries. Morgan and I usher the young man to a nearby bench. I take one of the smaller bags I’m holding and combine its contents with another purchase.

“Here, breathe deep and slow,” I say handing him the bag.

The guard, whose nametag says Paul, takes the thin paper bag with a shaky hand and begins to breathe in and out in it. After a few moments, he begins to calm down, and the shudders have ceased.

“Paul, can you tell us what happened?” Morgan says with a calm voice once he begins to get his breathing under control.

“I...I...I don’t think I should be talking to you two,” he stutters.

I reach my hand out and rest it on Paul’s bare forearm, and give him a reassuring pat. Instantly, almost magically, Paul begins to relax. Apprehension and fear roll right off his shoulders and his breathing has returned to normal. Holy shit!

“It’s ok,” I coo. “You can trust us.”

Paul’s once terror-stricken brown eyes meet mine and he nods his head robotically. “Yes. I can.”

“Now why don’t you tell us what you saw,” I say with a level, soothing voice. Morgan is looking on questioningly, unsure of what to make of this odd exchange and the sudden shift in Paul’s resolve.

“I heard the screams as I was patrolling. I was the first one there. Screaming girls were running around everywhere, crying that someone was hurt. They were pointing towards the dressing room. I hurried, expecting to find a minor injury. But what I saw was….inhumane.” Paul swallows loudly but remains calm. “Someone ripped her neck right out. There was a big hole where her throat used to be. And her eyes… They were so big and wide open.”

Hearing enough, I release my hold on Paul’s arm. He is still relaxed, though his eyes dance wildly, unsure of what just occurred. Even I don’t know what happened.

“I better get back to work, ladies. Thanks,” he says rising and jogging towards the other security officers.

“I think it’s safe to say you’re off early,” Morgan remarks as we make our way back to the quiet corner of the food court. “I’ve parked right out here. Walk me to my car and I’ll drive you to yours?” I can tell this whole ordeal has really shaken Morgan, as it should. I have to admit that even I’m freaked out.

“At least tomorrow we’ll be gone and will get a break from all this,” I mutter, as we make our way to the other side of the mall complex. Emergency response vehicles, police checkpoints and frantic onlookers have made it a time consuming feat. I would just leave my Honda here if it weren’t for us leaving in the morning.

“Yeah. That was insane.” Morgan looks at me with fear and question in her big brown eyes. I can tell she wants to ask me what happened between Paul and I but just can’t find the words. How would I even explain it to her? How could I?

Once we’ve made it to my car, we say our uneasy goodbyes, confirming our plans for the morning. Morgan looks as if she’s on the brink of tears, and I reach over to hug my forlorn friend before exiting her Mustang. This incident will forever change her, and my heart aches at the thought of knowing that her once carefree spirit will be hindered.

**********

“Oh goodness, Gabriella, I’m so glad you’re home! Are you ok?” my mom cries when I enter our home. Chris is right by her side and it looks as if he has been out.

“Yes, I’m fine,” I say nodding frantically to assure her. It’s late and I’m sure they’ve heard about what happened at the mall.

“Oh thank goodness! We thought…,” she sobs, holding me tight. Chris ushers us to the kitchen and puts on a pot of water to boil for tea.

“What happened over there, Kiddo? I went by to search for you but there were police barriers everywhere,” my dad says from the stove. He’s calm yet the sweat on his brow tells me that he was really ruffled. Donna gets up to help him with the tea, breaking out her container of secret herbs.