The night the Rhymer went whack

73

She had just turned twelve, slight for her age, freckled with big blue eyes set upon her pale face. Beach-like both physically and literally as calmness had set upon her mangled non-existence.

“There’s word that a young girl was killed a couple of days ago.”

These words altered Nick as he had just finished a performance and was given this news. He seemed visibly shaken as he wiped his brow and searched for a snack to eat. The messenger just stood there, waiting for a response, but Nick just silently slumped into his chair and peeled his orange.

Nick knew that murder had a frequency and he consciously chose to avoid it. He never revealed this knowledge as he finally rose, thanked the messenger and walked down the hall. Everyone eyed his demeanor, searching for a sign, hoping they’d see sadness or concern, but Nick exhibited neither. Maybe subtly, but in that moment after receiving the news, Nick had reverted back to his earlier intriguing self. His younger self, the scientist, taking in this news as if it were a problem that needed to be solved. No empathy, no emotion.

He had another show planned across the ocean, it was nowhere near the murder but he wanted to stop by the town where it occurred. He wanted to observe and find out what went wrong. He knew rumors and speculations would arise, so he wanted the truth firsthand. The hard facts.

Because of his popularity, the town was excited for his arrival and they preserved the crime scene in hopes that he could provide some insight. She had been repeatedly stabbed and nearly decapitated. A young pre-teen, the terror in her eyes was too great for her juvenile soul. He searched and found nothing out of whack. The woods around the shack where she was found was in perfect tune, the harmony idyllic. In fact, too peaceful, he thought, as he ventured further into the bush. With each step he felt stronger, as if his energy doubled, almost weightless as he merged with the forest. He had been there before, this very town and very spot a few years back during one of his concerts and now, having returned, he allowed the new found energy to wash over him—disappointed, intrigued and eager.