Chapter 45 Chapter 45
“ Sometimes survival doesn’t come from hiding the truth, it comes from watching it breathe when you thought it was dead. ”
Trinity let out a sudden laugh, sharp and almost theatrical, clearly someone was trying to pull their legs.
The wrapping was identical but certainly, a body left for barely over a day will not be rotting already.
“ Oh ,” she said, glancing between the officers, “is this really about our Halloween decor?”
"Yes Ma'am, it's about your "halloween decor" that's making your neighbors uncomfortable "
"Halloween decors are not meant to make people comfortable " She laughed
The sound of her own laughter felt foreign in her ears, brittle and strained, but she kept her shoulders relaxed, her face light. Beside her, Clara stood frozen, fingers clenched so tightly together her knuckles had gone white.
One of the officers turned slightly, leaning toward his partner. He muttered something in a low voice, eyes never leaving the wrapped shape on the driveway. The other officer nodded, then turned back to them.
“We got a call from your neighbors,” he said evenly. “They reported a strong smell of decay. Said it was unbearable. They believe this is a wrapped body.”
He gestured toward the white bundle.
“We arrived barely a minute ago,” he added. “So we haven’t drawn any conclusions yet.”
Trinity scoffed softly. “Come on. You really think we’re stupid enough to leave a rotting body in plain sight?”
The officer’s expression didn’t change. “Ma’am, we still have to check and confirm.”
Clara swallowed, her throat felt dry, raw. “Why would you want to ruin our Halloween setup over baseless talk?” she asked nervously. “It’s supposed to be disturbing..... that’s the whole point.”
The second officer stepped forward, voice suddenly harder. “Step away from the object.”
Trinity’s heart slammed violently against her ribs. Maybe it wasn’t Peterson, maybe it was him. She still couldn't take her chances.
“Officer....” she began.
“Step away,” he repeated.
His partner pulled on a pair of gloves, the soft snap of latex sounding far too loud in the quiet street. Neighbors had gone silent now, watching openly, phones half-raised, curiosity sharp and hungry.
Clara and Trinity locked eyes, fear passed between them in a single look... raw, unfiltered terror. If the police found Peterson’s body, it was over. There would be no explanations. No justifications. No "self defense" narrative strong enough to survive the name Mayor’s son.
Trinity stepped forward instinctively. “Listen,” she said, forcing a smile, forcing calm. “You don’t need to unwrap it. It’s just props, expensive ones by the way.”
“Ma’am,” the officer warned, “comply or we will use force.”
Her stomach dropped and slowly, she stepped back while Clara clasped her hands together, silently praying to God, to fate, to anything listening as the officer crouched and began peeling back the wrapping.
The first layer came off, nothing. The second, still nothing recognizable. By the time the final wrap fell away, both girls were holding their breath.
It wasn’t Peterson, It was a sculpture. A grotesquely detailed, human-sized form. molded limbs, hollow chest, stiff features and unsettlingly realistic, but unmistakably artificial once exposed.
Clara’s knees nearly buckled and Trinity exhaled sharply, air burning her lungs as relief crashed through her like a wave.
The officer leaned closer, inspecting it. He tapped it, then nodded. “Props,” he said. “High effort.”
His partner frowned. “Why does it smell like rotting flesh though?"
Clara answered immediately, voice a little too fast. “ We got creative but you can r..run a test just to put your minds at ease "
The officer considered her for a moment, then shrugged. “Nah. It's fine, we dont want to waste our times with halloween shenanigans.”
" Alright Officer " Trinity smiled
He straightened. “Still, move it, It’s disturbing the peace of the neighbourhood.”
“Of course,” Trinity said quickly. “We’ll call someone to take it away immediately .”
Satisfied, the officers turned back to their vehicles, the crowd dispersing in disappointed murmurs.
The moment the door shut behind them, Trinity’s legs gave out
Inside the apartment, they collapsed onto the couch in silence.
Clara finally spoke. “Do you know who could’ve done that?”
Trinity stared at the wall. “Probably a psycho neighbor, It’s Halloween so its normal for people to pull stunts like this.”
Clara shook her head slowly. “What if it wasn’t? What if someone saw us… saw what happened to Peterson?”
Trinity groaned, rubbing her temples. “We didn’t kill Peterson. We defended ourselves and we’re the only ones living in here, so no one knows what we did Clara. "
“I know,” Clara whispered. “I’m just scared.”
Trinity softened. “The best way to get caught is to be scared after committing the crime."
A long silence stretched then Trinity spoke again, quieter. “I really don't want him to die, that'll shatter my heart in a thousand pieces.”
Clara looked at her with glossy and worried eyes
“But if he lives,” Trinity continued, voice cracking, “he’ll kill me for betraying him, I know it and I don’t want to die.”
"You won't die Tri, you won't" Clara went over to her comforting her with a pat on the back, " We're the main characters okay?, and main characters don't die"
"Okay " Trinity chuckled, it was small but that was enough to put a smile on Clara's face.
"Yeah. Let's get something to drink first " Trinity said smiling, even though her eyes were vacant
They stood and went to the kitchen for water, that’s when they saw him. Peterson lay on the floor, not wrapped and still breathing; shallow, ragged and skin as white as snow.
He was still alive, barely and Trinity’s heart shattered as she watched him through blurry eyes. She wished things didn't turn out like this.
"He's still alive " Clara whispered, more to herself than anyone
" He's barely alive " Trinity replied, her heart pounding so hard she could hear it
Clara moved closer but Trinity blocked her path
Trinity inhaled "Don't worry about it, I know what to do"
Then she reached for a knife.