People talked about the incident from the night before but Kensworth was a big city and murders happened with some regularity. The fact that it might have been an animal attack was what most people and news agencies seemed to fixate on.

There was no mention of Kelly at all and the police didn’t release any more information on the attack. Names or otherwise.

All told, Conrad was oddly confident that he’d gotten away with it. The news tried to cover it from all angles but after a week or two they were back to covering regular stories and had moved on.

Up until Nick’s name was released.

“After the extensive efforts of Kensworth’s Police department we have positively identified the individual that was found in the parking lot of Lenny’s pizzeria. Nicholas Craigdale died that night in what we now believe was not an animal attack but a murder.” An older man in a police uniform said on the TV.

“Hey looky there! We made the news again, Conny.” The apparition whispered into his ear.

He was currently sitting in the campus cafeteria eating lunch after class and there were televisions sprinkled around the large room broadcasting the news and some random sports games.

He didn’t bother looking around to see if anyone had heard her whispers, it was loud enough in the large room to cover her soft voice. Instead he looked up at the TV.

“From what we can gather Craigdale was there to abduct an employee of the restaurant but was murdered before he could do so.” The stern looking police officer said, standing at a podium in front of a crowd.

People in the cafeteria were starting to point at the TV’s and shushing their friends. Lenny’s had already been popular with the students and since the incident had only become moreso.

“KPD’s concern is that this is the work of a vigilante.” His words ignited the reasonably calm crowd of reporters into a frenzy. Questions were shouted and cameras flashed.

The stern man raised his hand and the crowd gradually quieted.

“There will be no questions as this is an ongoing investigation but I would ask the citizens of Kensworth, if you have any information pertaining to this event to come forward. Vigilante’s, despite their intentions, are a danger to themselves and to the public and need to be stopped.” “Is the victim okay? And could this have been the Rootwell murderer?” A man yelled as soon as the police spokesperson was finished and before the others started yelling again.

The spokesperson paused and seemed to consider the question for a moment. “The intended victim is fine but will remain anonymous. And no, at this time we don’t think this is related to the Rootwell case in any way.” He said before leaving the podium and the crowd of yelling reporters.

At his words a weight Conrad didn’t know he had been carrying was lifted from his shoulders. He happily picked up his sandwich and took a large bite as another man in a police uniform stepped up and closed the press conference with platitudes of justice and the law being upheld.

“Sorry Conny, I didn’t know you were so worried about her. I coulda checked on her, probably.”

She whispered into his ear.

I thought you were, I dunno, in my head or something? How could you not know?

“You didn’t even know! How am I supposed to know?” Her breath tickled his ear, making him scratch at it.

He just smiled and kept eating. He wasn’t mad, in fact he was the happiest he’d been in a long time.

“Ass.” She whispered before blowing air into his ear, making him flinch, much to her amusement.

After that the week went by harmlessly, the news agencies pecked relentlessly at the story and at Nick’s backstory. Bringing in experts on vigilantes and serial killers, spinning up theories by the handful and just generally beating the dead horse to a pulp. Conrad continued to work and attend class but more than once he caught himself humming when no one was around. Even a few of his classmates commented on how much happier he seemed.

Before that night he could have been charitably described as stoic or the strong and silent type but he knew that most people thought he was just an angry and irritable person that didn’t socialize and certainly never smiled.

In his defense it was hard to smile or laugh at someone’s jokes when you’re constantly being told to kill them and eat their kidneys. But now the shadow seemed placated and calm, often laughing along with him at some joke his classmate had made or poking fun at Conrad in general.

Which was quickly becoming her favorite pastime.

Part of him worried that it was temporary, that she would eventually go back to the way she was but when he asked about it she seemed to think her current state was permanent.

“I can’t tell you why I feel that way, I just kinda know? I still want to kill again because it feels oh so good but it’s not the same as before.” She had said.

He was still slightly worried that she was somehow lying but, for whatever reason, he felt that she was telling him the truth.

What worried him more was the fact that he also wanted to kill again. The desire to do it all again was deceptively strong.

During his downtime he would often revisit the memories of killing Nick, replaying them over and over as he restocked shelves or while his professor lectured.

The draw of it was almost physical and the longer he went without it the harder it was to resist.

His thoughts often revolved around spilt blood and splintered bones, not anyone in particular but just violence in general.

It was two more weeks before he did kill again. It wasn’t planned and no forethought went into it.

The opportunity fell straight into his lap.

“Alright so we have a situation here Conny.” She whispered into his ear while he walked down the sidewalk to his next class.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

A situation? He asked, keeping his eyes on the darkening walkway, the sun was beginning to set and the evening temperatures were dropping.

“Yeah, so the Rootwell murderer is here, on campus.” She said, causing Conrad to nearly stumble. “He’s over there, on the bench.” She said while tapping on his left shoulder.

Oh shit, uh ok. Really?

The Rootwell murders were a string of recent serial murders in the neighboring city of Rootwell, about an hour's drive away. The killer always targeted young men, always tortured them and then dumped their bodies in the surrounding woods. So far the killings had all been local to Rootwell but if she was right, he was branching out.

“Yeah, really. He’s a real piece of work too. He’s visiting his nephew here on campus but right now he’s hunting.”

Is he looking our way?

“Nah, he’s watching that kid going the other way.”

Conrad tried to look inconspicuously over to the man in question, letting his eyes brush over the man relaxing on the bench.

He was older, maybe in his late fifties, with mostly white hair and a matching mustache, goatee combination. He was handsome in a distinguished way and he sat watching the foot traffic with a slight smile on his face.

Conrad kept walking and shifted his backpack higher on his back as he let his gaze settle forward again.

You sure that’s him? He seems so, I dunno, normal?

“Oh yeah, that’s him. One hundred percent.”

Okay, so what do you want me to do about it?

“Isn’t it kinda obvious? Let's kill him!” She said excitedly.

What? No, no no no. No way. We can’t. Conrad said, trying to sound convincing even as her words sent his heart racing in excitement.

“Come on, this is the perfect circumstance. He’s going to kill someone tonight, he just hasn’t picked who yet. Let’s kill the killer! Just like last time.”

He kept walking, leaving the man on the bench behind.

I can’t just go around killing whoever just because you say they’re a serial killer. He thought, clinging to his own words like a lifeline.

“I’ve never lied to you once. Asshole.” She hissed bitterly in his ear. “I don’t think I can and I think somehow it’s your fault.”

I…What? Really?

“Yeah! I tried the other day and it was like my voice stopped working.”

That was news to him. He walked off the paved path to let a group of students walk past as they chatted amongst themselves.

I’m sorry I guess. I didn’t know that. I didn’t do anything to you I swear.

“S’okay, I know you didn’t. But I’m still gonna blame you. Asshole.” She said, blowing air into his ear and making him flinch.

“Haha! Ah, that never gets old. So what’re we gonna do? I say we kill him, bash that colonel Sanders mustache right off his face with a bikelock or something.” She said happily, her earlier frustration apparently gone.

I don’t know, I guess I can’t just let him go and it’s not like the police can do anything. He’s just sitting and watching. Nothing illegal about that. He thought as he turned off the path and entered the library.

You’re sure he’s going to do it tonight?

“Oh yeah, I’m sure. He’s just waiting for a male that’s by himself that suits his tastes.”

I’m a male by myself. Would he pick me?

“Nah, you’re too big. He glanced right over you. He wants someone smaller, easier to overpower that way.”

Conrad went to the tables and sat at an unoccupied one where he pulled books from his bag.

Can you keep an eye on him from here?

“Uh yeah I can, are we gonna do it then?” She asked in disbelief.

Yeah, I think so. He said with a sigh, pulling a pen and notebook out.

I’m tired of fighting it and if he truly is the killer then I don’t see why we shouldn’t.

“Wow, really? That easy? I didn’t think you’d cave so quick, I’m almost insulted.” She said with a smile in her voice.

What can I say? I’m pretty easy. Now keep an eye on him, I have actual studying to do. He said as he opened his books and pulled his notebook out.

About an hour into studying Conrad was pulled from his book by someone standing on the other side of the table.

“Can I sit here? All the other tables are full.” A young woman said. She had brown hair that hung to her shoulders and green eyes, in her arms was a laptop and several books along with an open spiral notebook. Flowing handwriting neatly covered nearly every inch of the lined paper that he could see.

“Uh, sure.” He said, gesturing to the chair she was standing over.

The library had filled without him noticing and all the tables were indeed full, although he noticed that several of them also only had single occupants and unoccupied chairs.

His paranoia flared and he was immediately wary of her, thinking she somehow knew what he was planning or that she somehow knew about Nick.

“She thinks you’re cute, dumbass.” The apparition whispered in his ear.

Oh. Was all he could think in response as the girl sat down and arranged her books.

I need to work on my social cues I guess.

“Are you going full paramedic or EMT basic?” She asked while she sorted through her binder.

“Oh uh, paramedic. I want to work in the field for a bit, gain some experience and then contract with the military.” He said, immediately regretting sharing so much about himself.

“Oh that’s cool, I’m getting my BSN.” She said with a smile.

BSN?

“Bachelor of science in nursing.” She murmured into his ear.

“Oh cool, which hospital do you want to work at?” He asked as he turned the page in his book.

The girl likewise opened her book and laptop. “Hopefully Fairmont but I’d take Peak View.”

“Not Riverside?” He asked, naming the hospital that was closest to his apartment.

“Ha! No way, that hospital is the worst. That’s where all the addicts go. You’ll be going there a lot as an EMT. They see a lot of gang violence too.”

Conrad shrugged. It wasn’t exactly news to him but it also didn’t matter either.

The sound of her laptop starting up and books being shuffled filled the silence.

“Alright Conny, the colonel picked someone. Better get a leg on.” The apparition whispered into his ear excitedly.

“Just leave your stuff with Katy, she won’t mind and this won’t take long.”

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. Riverside is a good hospital I’m sure.” The girl said quickly, suddenly sounding like she was worried.

“Huh? Oh yeah, I’m sure it’s fine.” Conrad said, waving his hand dismissively.

“Er look, can I ask you a favor?” He said, stacking his books in a single pile, the excitement of the upcoming violence was starting to make his heart race and he very much wanted out of the library all of the sudden.

“I gotta go run an errand here on campus, it shouldn't take long, would you mind watching my stuff?” He said, smiling widely at her.

Her eyes darted to his lips and back while a blush slowly crept up her neck. “Uh yeah, I guess I could do that.” She said with a shy smile.

“Come on Conny, quit flirting! The colonel is on the move!” The shadow hissed into his ear urgently.

“Great! Thanks a lot Katy, be right back!” Conrad said as he left the slightly dazed girl behind. Completely missing her shy smile turn to a thoughtful pout as she watched him hustle out of the library.