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Realistic or Modern Gone
- Thread starter KingofAesir
- Start date
KingofAesir
Ghostly Presence
Salem Archer
It was impossible to grieve very long in a town like Winter Creek. Everyone just kind of expected you to move on, to be sad at the funeral and then get on with your life because the town needed you to be functional. The town needed Salem Archer to be functional because Friday was game day and the Kingbirds didn’t lose. They didn’t lose because now their jerseys had Mckenna Reed's name played across their backs and you couldn’t lose because you were playing for the dead girl. Except that they did lose. None of them had the heart to play basketball when Mckenna’s body was barely cold. The minute Salem had stepped onto that floor it felt like she was sinking and she played the entire game just going through the motions. Everything was muted, muffled like her head was under water. Coach Williams’ screams were unintelligible and the crowd was mumbling for all Salem knew. She hadn’t slept for days. The school had been closed for an entire week but they were still standing here on the same court that a girl had died on. Everytime she looked at the fucking basketball hoop all she saw was Mckenna hanging there by her feet like some kind of animal, eyes open and staring forever. The school tried making them go to counseling, but every session all Salem could do was hold her head in her hands and cry or simply stare out the window unresponsive to the world around her. It had just been a normal Monday morning. God, it was so fucking normal and boring that Salem had been excited to get to basketball practice at 7 am. One of her teammates, Leah, had been walking next to her as they stepped into the gym before everyone else. They were talking about something stupid that Salem didn’t care to remember but Leah was laughing at her when all of the sudden her laugh just dropped away abruptly. The basketball in Leah’s hands had fallen to the floor, the only audible sound for the next few seconds was it rolling away. And then Leah screamed. Salem’s head had whipped around only to be greeted by a sight that made her stomach turn several times on itself. Like an animal. Fucking hell.
~~~~~~~
There was supposed to be a vigil tonight but Salem didn’t know if she could ever bring herself to actually go. To look at a nicely set up little shrine full up with pictures and other bobbles that belonged to Mckenna. Pictures that would no doubt have Salem herself in them, pictures that would bring back memories that she didn’t know if she could handle right now.
It had been sluggish getting to school, and even more sluggish going through basketball practice. All she wanted to do was get the day over with so she could go home and pretend the world didn’t exist until she fell asleep. But, Coach Williams seemed to have other plans for her. The stern-faced woman grabbed Salem by the arm as she walked down the hall away from the locker room and pulled her into the classroom that she taught History in. Coach Williams was a vet and always seemed to be very proud of that, taking opportunities wherever she could to make sure people remembered that she served their country. It was annoying sometimes, but Salem’s dad had served too so it was hard for her to think anything about it. The hulking mass of a woman sat down at her desk and motioned Salem over. The teenager followed, taking root in front of it and waiting patiently for her to speak.
“I know you’re having a hard time right now,” Here we go, “but I need you to start taking the counseling seriously and get your head back into the game, Archer.” Get your head back in the game, Archer. We need you to play well, Archer. You have to get it together, Archer. Archer, Archer, Archer. Salem couldn’t take this shit any more. One of her best friends had literally been murdered a week ago and no one fucking cared.
“I remember when one of my battle buddies was taken down-Salem, where are you going?” Salem didn’t turn back, she walked clean out the door and let it slam shut behind her. She could hear Coach Williams getting up to follow her so she just started running. Salem ran until she found herself outside next to the school greenhouse and only then did she stop to breathe. She turned and kicked the brick of the wall in frustration. None of this was right. The police weren’t doing shit. Her dad didn’t care, her friends didn’t care, the school didn’t care. It was like no one in this damn town gave a shit that Mckenna was dead other than Salem. She felt so immeasurably alone and all anyone cared about was basketball.
Fuck. This. Shit.
goodbyeskyharbor
grace.
Nothing ever happened in Winter Creek. The same minor dramas played over and over, so state that they could barely raise eyebrows anymore, the same people lived the same lives generation after generation, the same people visited the same places that had stood for decades on end, and, worst of all, at least in her opinion, barely anyone left… for good, at least. Mina Jones was determined to be the person to break that cycle. She’d been counting down the days on her calendar since the ninth grade until she could finally leave Winter Creek behind and go to college, where she hoped to meet more people that would actually get her. She could spread her wings and fight for the causes she believed in, and hoped to become a journalist someday.
To put it simply, it was a lot of a waiting until things would at last start for her. It was tiring. In the mean time, she hoped that something interesting would happen. When she’d begun to wish for that, she’d been thinking of something small. A cheating scandal between the mayor and his wife, or it coming out that there wasn’t real food in some of the cafeteria dishes, something like that. She definitely hadn’t been counting on one of the school’s beloved cheerleaders being found hung from a fucking basketball hoop. While she knew it was bullshit, a part of her felt somewhat responsible. She was the one who had been wishing for something to happen.
A murder. In a town like Winter Creek, it was bound to be a big deal, but after awhile, at least in their school, people seemed to be… desperate to forget. What had been the hottest story the town had seen in decades was rapidly becoming background noise. Even from a journalism standpoint, it didn’t sit right with Mina. A girl was murdered in their gym, and everyone was expected to go on like normal? Attend classes and do homework and play basketball? It was absolute bullshit, even to someone that didn’t really know Mckenna. Something had to be done… and she was starting to think that it would have to be her.
She never liked going home. Her parents were always on her case about something or other, so she decided to take a seat in the school greenhouse and brainstorm. With a frown, she was buried in her sketchbook, but instead of drawing, she was writing out notes. Would it really stop at just Mckenna? The killer had to be from their town… and it felt like it was just a matter of time before that happened.
The sound of a thud made Mina jump. Her sketchbook and pen clattered to the floor, and she swore under her breath as she scrambled to grab it. It was probably nothing, but she caught sight of Salem and the pieces began to click together in her head. Interesting… and this felt like a bit of an opportunity.
“Hey. You look rough,” Mina said, leaning against the wall of the greenhouse. “Thought you and your type would be at basketball practice… or are you one of the few other people in this town with sense?”
To put it simply, it was a lot of a waiting until things would at last start for her. It was tiring. In the mean time, she hoped that something interesting would happen. When she’d begun to wish for that, she’d been thinking of something small. A cheating scandal between the mayor and his wife, or it coming out that there wasn’t real food in some of the cafeteria dishes, something like that. She definitely hadn’t been counting on one of the school’s beloved cheerleaders being found hung from a fucking basketball hoop. While she knew it was bullshit, a part of her felt somewhat responsible. She was the one who had been wishing for something to happen.
A murder. In a town like Winter Creek, it was bound to be a big deal, but after awhile, at least in their school, people seemed to be… desperate to forget. What had been the hottest story the town had seen in decades was rapidly becoming background noise. Even from a journalism standpoint, it didn’t sit right with Mina. A girl was murdered in their gym, and everyone was expected to go on like normal? Attend classes and do homework and play basketball? It was absolute bullshit, even to someone that didn’t really know Mckenna. Something had to be done… and she was starting to think that it would have to be her.
She never liked going home. Her parents were always on her case about something or other, so she decided to take a seat in the school greenhouse and brainstorm. With a frown, she was buried in her sketchbook, but instead of drawing, she was writing out notes. Would it really stop at just Mckenna? The killer had to be from their town… and it felt like it was just a matter of time before that happened.
The sound of a thud made Mina jump. Her sketchbook and pen clattered to the floor, and she swore under her breath as she scrambled to grab it. It was probably nothing, but she caught sight of Salem and the pieces began to click together in her head. Interesting… and this felt like a bit of an opportunity.
“Hey. You look rough,” Mina said, leaning against the wall of the greenhouse. “Thought you and your type would be at basketball practice… or are you one of the few other people in this town with sense?”
KingofAesir
Ghostly Presence
Salem
The outside air was nice, refreshing, compared to the interior of the school that just felt claustrophobic and suffocating. It was quiet and quiet was good. She needed to think and everywhere else was just too loud. Salem heaved another heavy breath, evening out her breathing from the borderline hyperventilation it had been before. The peace was broken almost instantly though. Something slapped against the concrete floor of the greenhouse and then there was a girl standing against the greenhouse wall. “Hey. You look rough.” The girl spoke, it took Salem a moment to recognize who she was. It was hard not to know everyone in a school like this. Everything was so small and most of them had been in school together since they could talk, so you kind of got to know everyone. Mina Jones stood in front of her, all poise and with a curious edge to her that made Salem nervous. She had to fight to keep from rolling her eyes at Mina’s introduction.
“Gee, thanks, Jones.” But Mina didn’t seem done. If she remembered correctly, Mina was a journalist type, one of those people that had endless questions and wasn’t afraid to ask them. And ask, she did.
“Thought you and your type would be at basketball practice… or are you one of the few other people in this town with sense?” You and your type. Salem had always hated being lumped in with the rest of the bull-headed assholes that made up the athletically inclined part of their school. There weren’t a whole lot of them that she got along with, even among her teammates. There were probably like three, Leah, Parker and McKenna...well maybe it was only two now. So, it felt off to be associated with the rest of them.
“Well, seeing as people just keep telling me to get over it, maybe I am.” The anger that had coiled tight in her gut with Coach Williams earlier flared back up with a vicious attitude. Salem groaned in exasperation and slumped down the side of the school to the sidewalk that lined it, knees to her chest.
“I want to hit something, someone, like really fucking hard.”
goodbyeskyharbor
grace.
"You certainly sound like you're over it," Mina said back. It wasn't wise to prove someone so obviously not over it, but she didn't see it as provoking, really. She was just... trying to guide Salem along so she could get what she wanted. To be honest, the thought of working with one of the jocks gave her a headache, but working with someone that barely knew shit about Mckenna felt like a recipe to get nowhere. She'd just have to deal. And who knows. Maybe they wouldn't last the whole investigation... but she couldn't think like that, could she? She'd probably watched a few too many slasher movies. There was no evidence that what happened to Mckenna was a sign of more to come, but she was still stuck on the theory. She couldn't see why someone in their small town would just stop, especially when things were going back to normal already.
She didn't say anything at first. Instead, she laughed a little, but it wasn't meant with malice. Salem's desire was one that Mina was familiar with herself, but she didn't want to give in. It was a principle she believed in strongly - violence was never the answer... unless it was absolute life of death. All it would create was a vicious cycle of violence with no end in sight - exactly what they needed with a potential killer on the lose. "Yeah, that should solve the problem. Hitting something really hard is the answer to everything. Can't believe anyone didn't think of that before."
Perhaps it was a dangerous idea, but Mina threw down her backpack and slid down next to Salem. She'd find out soon enough if she was making a bad choice. "Do you want anything to be done about this, or do you want to hit things until they break?" She asked honestly, the sarcasm finally removed from her tone completely. "Only one of those answers will stop this from happening again, you know."
KingofAesir
Ghostly Presence
“You certainly sound like you’re over it.”
Salem swore that she could’ve gotten up and taken a swing at the other girl right then and there. She was so far from over it and she knew that she definitely didn’t act like she was otherwise people wouldn’t be jumping down her fucking throat about it. But, the last thing she needed was to get in a fight with a random girl right now. So, she swallowed the annoyance that bubbled up in her gut and let a beat of silence pass. That silence didn’t last very long though before Mina was grating on her nerves again.
"Yeah, that should solve the problem. Hitting something really hard is the answer to everything. Can't believe anyone didn't think of that before."
Salem’s eyes rolled back so far in her head that she thought they might stick there. She didn’t come out here for sarcasm hour. She didn’t need anyone being all condescending at her right now. Salem felt herself moving to get up and just get the fuck away from this school and this girl who seemed intent on chipping away at the last bit of sanity that she had left. But then Mina was throwing down her backpack and was suddenly sitting down next to her. Salem settled back down against the wall, legs splayed out in front of her. She said nothing but offered an eyebrow raise as the other girl began speaking again.
"Do you want anything to be done about this, or do you want to hit things until they break?”
Did she want anything to be done about this? What kind of fucking question was that supposed to be? Of course she wanted something fucking done about it. Her friend was dead. Salem’s eyebrows drew together and her posture straightened up. Her mouth opened to ask just what exactly Mina was getting at but she was cut off.
"Only one of those answers will stop this from happening again, you know."
What did she want Salem to do? She wasn’t a police officer or fucking Nancy Drew. Salem Archer hadn’t the foggiest idea how she was supposed to do anything about a murdered girl. She was about to ask just that when a light bulb went off, Salem herself might not know what to do but maybe Mina did. She was a journalist after all, she was supposed to be all investigative-y. Is that why she was asking that?
“So what, you want me to go listen to some shit true crime podcast and solve a murder?” It was Salem’s turn to be sarcastic now, “What the fuck am I supposed to do? This isn’t a TV show, Mina. I don’t know how to catch a fucking killer.” She stared for a second.
“But I’m guessing you do, huh, Nancy Drew?”
Salem swore that she could’ve gotten up and taken a swing at the other girl right then and there. She was so far from over it and she knew that she definitely didn’t act like she was otherwise people wouldn’t be jumping down her fucking throat about it. But, the last thing she needed was to get in a fight with a random girl right now. So, she swallowed the annoyance that bubbled up in her gut and let a beat of silence pass. That silence didn’t last very long though before Mina was grating on her nerves again.
"Yeah, that should solve the problem. Hitting something really hard is the answer to everything. Can't believe anyone didn't think of that before."
Salem’s eyes rolled back so far in her head that she thought they might stick there. She didn’t come out here for sarcasm hour. She didn’t need anyone being all condescending at her right now. Salem felt herself moving to get up and just get the fuck away from this school and this girl who seemed intent on chipping away at the last bit of sanity that she had left. But then Mina was throwing down her backpack and was suddenly sitting down next to her. Salem settled back down against the wall, legs splayed out in front of her. She said nothing but offered an eyebrow raise as the other girl began speaking again.
"Do you want anything to be done about this, or do you want to hit things until they break?”
Did she want anything to be done about this? What kind of fucking question was that supposed to be? Of course she wanted something fucking done about it. Her friend was dead. Salem’s eyebrows drew together and her posture straightened up. Her mouth opened to ask just what exactly Mina was getting at but she was cut off.
"Only one of those answers will stop this from happening again, you know."
What did she want Salem to do? She wasn’t a police officer or fucking Nancy Drew. Salem Archer hadn’t the foggiest idea how she was supposed to do anything about a murdered girl. She was about to ask just that when a light bulb went off, Salem herself might not know what to do but maybe Mina did. She was a journalist after all, she was supposed to be all investigative-y. Is that why she was asking that?
“So what, you want me to go listen to some shit true crime podcast and solve a murder?” It was Salem’s turn to be sarcastic now, “What the fuck am I supposed to do? This isn’t a TV show, Mina. I don’t know how to catch a fucking killer.” She stared for a second.
“But I’m guessing you do, huh, Nancy Drew?”
goodbyeskyharbor
grace.
Well, her head hadn’t been bashed into the wall just yet, so Mina thought that she may just have a chance of getting through to Salem. She’d never claim to have all the answers, but this was an opportunity she couldn’t pass up. They couldn’t sit there and do nothing… and, well, despite the fact that she knew it was a much more selfish reason for trying to do something, this was good practice. Solving a murder at the age of eighteen would be a good start to a hopefully long career, but now she was getting ahead of herself. She wasn’t even sure if Salem would truly give her the time of day yet or not.
“Hey. I never claimed how to know how to catch the killer. I’m not one of those true crime podcast freaks if that’s what you’re going for either,” Mina said back. She wanted to be casual, but she couldn’t help how some defensiveness seeped into her words. Yes, she was being an opportunist, but she wasn’t being a complete weirdo. She just wasn’t too sure how to see things.
After taking a look behind her to ensure there was no gum or anything else gross there, Mina leaned her head against the wall. “I see it this way… the cops seem to have fucking given up. And what, Mckenna’s barely cold in her grave. That’s bullshit.” Maybe that was too far, but she wanted to ignite some anger in the other… that hopefully wouldn’t be directed at her. “We at least have a chance of finding something.”
Now, the hard part. The true proposal. “I want to look into this, okay? But in case you haven’t noticed… I’m not exactly the most popular girl around.” That was the way she liked it too - she had no time for silly high school shit, but being on the outs for the most part could be rather inconvenient at times like these. “I need your help looking into these people. What they like, what they hate, who they hate… what they’d have to gain from Mckenna being gone, all that sort of stuff. You give me your time and your knowledge, and we hopefully get this case closed. Sounds sweet to me.”
“Hey. I never claimed how to know how to catch the killer. I’m not one of those true crime podcast freaks if that’s what you’re going for either,” Mina said back. She wanted to be casual, but she couldn’t help how some defensiveness seeped into her words. Yes, she was being an opportunist, but she wasn’t being a complete weirdo. She just wasn’t too sure how to see things.
After taking a look behind her to ensure there was no gum or anything else gross there, Mina leaned her head against the wall. “I see it this way… the cops seem to have fucking given up. And what, Mckenna’s barely cold in her grave. That’s bullshit.” Maybe that was too far, but she wanted to ignite some anger in the other… that hopefully wouldn’t be directed at her. “We at least have a chance of finding something.”
Now, the hard part. The true proposal. “I want to look into this, okay? But in case you haven’t noticed… I’m not exactly the most popular girl around.” That was the way she liked it too - she had no time for silly high school shit, but being on the outs for the most part could be rather inconvenient at times like these. “I need your help looking into these people. What they like, what they hate, who they hate… what they’d have to gain from Mckenna being gone, all that sort of stuff. You give me your time and your knowledge, and we hopefully get this case closed. Sounds sweet to me.”
