A Beautiful Life

He walked through the woods on a crisp autumn day. The dried leaves crunched with each step under his large boots as he departed from the wood. His sheathed blade dangled from his hip and danced with each subsequent step. Each breathe could be seen in the air as a fine mist was expelled from his mouth as he trekked away through the muddy ground. Finally, he reached his rusty, worse for wear, and weather-beaten red truck. He gazed around without the sight of a single soul. He paused for a moment before unlocking the door as he took the instant in with a smile on his face as he glanced back from where he emerged from the wood. He entered his vehicle and proceeded to drive away. The sun could be seen setting in the distance with an array of expressive colors as he made his way to the main road.

Eventually, the man reached his home and departed from his truck as the stars could now be seen in the sky. The large tires had mud caked deep inside the tread. He walked to the door of his abode and pulled out a key as the light near the front door was already on with moths buzzing around it. He opened the door and walked inside the small, dilapidated building. He set down his rucksack and removed his coat that he ever so gently hung up on a homemade wooden coat rack with deer antlers for hooks. Truly, it was a masterpiece in itself. The craftsmanship was impeccable. The man released a big sigh as he pulled his suspenders from his shoulders, one by one, left then right. They draped down from his trousers to form a large ‘X’ on the back of his legs as he calmly walked over to his work bench. He reached for a glass bottle that he had stored within a wood cupboard above the workbench. He uncorked it and poured out a hearty glass of the amber liquid. He then proceeded to take a large gulp of the liquid as it had a burning rush when it cascaded down his throat. He removed the glass from his lips as a single drop rushed down his cheek and fell to the floor with a singular striking point that then expanded as it hit the ground. The man wiped his cheek with the back of his dry and burly hand as he set the glass down with the other. He looked down at his shirt to see where he may have spilled the amber liquid and saw that he had avoided making a mess on himself and had hit the floor. He knelt down to take a closer look of the floor to see two very different and very distinct drops on the floor. One, was the amber liquid, clear and camouflaged with the wooden floor. The other, was of a dark maroon color that was thick and hid the stain-colored wood beneath it. The man then stood up and removed his belt which holstered his blade in its leather casing. The leather was tinted dark and wet at the bottom where the blade tip rested. The man set the holster down on the workbench and went to start a fire.

After a few minutes had elapsed, the man had a warm, inviting fire burning as the smoke billowed up the intricate brick chimney and out of his home into the night sky. He walked back to his work bench to tend to his blade. He removed his blade from the sheath and set it down on the worn wooden bench. The handle was made of deer antler. Inscribed upon the base of the blade were 3 small notches, somewhat like tally marks. Upon inspection of his blade, he could see the deep red streaks dried on the blade along with a few drops of red that cascaded off as he lifted the blade out of its holster. Caused by the dark maroon fluid that dripped on the floor and subsequently also the fluid that made his leather sheath dark and wet, the man gave a rather subtle smirk. Somewhat of a slight smile with a rather sinister feeling associated with it. He lifted the blade and examined it with different movements and turns to bask in its elegance. He cleaned the leather sheath and then proceeded to wipe the blade clean with an old cloth so that once again the blade glimmered in the light. The man reached into a drawer and pulled out a small knife. He examined the butt of his blade and carved a 4th small notch into it. He smiled, admiring his blade after doing this. He put the blade back in the sheath and went to sit in a large comfortable leather chair by the fireplace. Before sitting down, the man took the old cloth used to wipe the blade and put it in the fire. Smiling as the fire engulfed the cloth and the flames resonated in his eyes as he watched it burn.

The man sat in the chair and turned on an old tv with a remote sitting on a small end table with a dimly lit lamp upon it. The tv slowly illuminated with light as the man's eyes gazed upon it. A slight static of black and white came in and out of focus on the tv as the man stood up and adjusted one of the antennae on the top of the box and then proceeded to hit the side of the old box shaped tv. He began to flip through channels. He had the remote resting in his left hand as he finally reached the news channel. His right hand could be found thumbing at something in his pocket.

The male news anchor began to speak, “Another perfect evening tonight in Earnest as the sky is clear with only a 5% chance of rain. It is a cool 50 degrees with winds as high as 3 mph. A perfect evening in the small mountain town.” The news anchor said this and smiled. Then, he put his finger up to his ear as to listen to something very important coming from his earbud.

The headline ‘BREAKING NEWS’ could be seen on the bottom of the screen. The news anchor began to speak, “This just in. The search for 12-year-old Missy Stitz has come to an end. The body of Stitz was found in Brockville State Park just outside of our beloved small town of Earnest. We are going live to news reporter Becky Chase on the scene. Becky?”

“Thank you, Brad. It is with deep sorrow that I must report that the body of missing 12-year-old Missy Stitz has been found. While this is good news that the search for her is over, first reports are not looking good. The body of the beautiful 12-year-old girl was found mutilated in Brockville State Park just 30 minutes ago. Initial reports say that there are numerous stab wounds and cuts on the body. The blonde hair of the victim was severed in the rear as she was left in a pool of her own blood that coated the fallen leaves where she was eventually found. As of this time there is no apparent suspect, but police are examining the scene to figure out all they can to find the perpetrator responsible for such a heinous crime. This marks the 4th young girl to be found within the past 5 months near Earnest. This is truly a tragic and very saddening story to come to the town of Earnest. Our hearts and prayers go out to the loved ones of the victim. We will keep you updated with new evidence as it becomes available to us. Back to you Brad.”

“Thank you, Becky. Such saddening and tragic news from out in Brockville State Park. If anyone has any leads that can help police to find the person or persons who did this, please call into the hotline below on your screen or call any local law enforcement so that we can bring justice to these young girls. This is the 4th beautiful young girl found in the past few months near Earnest. Any leads at all leading to the capture of the individual or individuals tormenting the families of Earnest and making them feel unsafe will be met with a cash reward I am being told.”

The news anchor puts his finger back up to his ear. “Right now, I am being told there is new developing evidence at the scene. We go back to Becky on the scene to hear more. Becky.”

“Thank you, Brad. We are now being told that there are large tire tracks found nearby in the mud. This could be an indication of the type of vehicle used to transport the victim. We are also being told there are large boot prints found leaving the woods just 100 yards from the tire tracks. Police will be analyzing the tracks for a possible make on the vehicle and for a size of the boot tracks found. Again, as my colleague has already stated, any tips at all to helping find the person or persons responsible for this horrible act, please contact local authorities or the hotline at the bottom of your screen. Back to you, Brad.”

“Thank you, Becky. A sad and tragic story. Our hearts and prayers go out to the loved ones of the victim. A beautiful life taken far before its natural time. On your screen you should be able to see pictures of the 4 young girls that police are suspecting are all linked together. We have not located the first 3 girls yet, but police are still searching and working tirelessly to bring them home to their families safe and sound. The victims are as follows from left to right on your screen: Rachel Beaty, age 8 with brunette hair. Seen here with a picture she drew in class. Miley Rochelle, age 11 with blonde hair. Last seen wearing the pictured outfit, a summer dress with a red bow in her hair. Elizabeth Harden, age 10 with brunette hair. Pictured here in a summer dress smiling missing her 2 front teeth. And finally, Missy Stitz, age 12. Pictured here with her blonde hair tied in a ponytail. Stitz is the first young girl to be found of the 4. If you have anything to help police find the perpetrator or perpetrators for these heinous acts, please call the hotline below or local law enforce…”

The tv clicked off as the light diminished into a singular dot in the center of the screen and then went to black. The man sat in his chair with his hand in his pocket as he continued to thumb at something held within. He set down the remote on the side table and then stood up and walked over to the workbench. He opened the cupboard above it to find a small metal toolbox, slightly rusted at the corners with an old leather handle at the top. He set the toolbox on the counter and opened it. Stored within were small teeth in a very tiny old glass jar, a small red bow, a crudely hand drawn picture of a princess in a pink dress riding a horse approaching a castle, and a few polaroid photos of young girls, cut and sliced, covered in blood, and lifeless. The man removed a lock of blonde hair held together with a hair tie from his pocket. He caressed the lock of hair as he carefully placed it within the toolbox. He then pulled a picture out from his back pocket. It was taken earlier that day in the woods. He then returned the toolbox to its home in the cupboard and closed it before walking away to his bedroom to go to sleep for the night.

The End