COLDER

= FIVE =

The clothes got burnt in the backyard, smoke wreathing into the sky. 

Tensen Truce dashed back to his house and flew up the stairs to his bedroom. He loved the new house. He had saved a couple of bucks to buy this beautiful home and start afresh…

He planned to live a clean life after serving his jail sentence and gaining back his freedom. He had done a number of jobs but decided to settle on the job at The Factory… 

He didn't plan on hurting that kid… 

He was an innocent little boy… 

He shouldn't have… 

But he'd done it. 

And now he had to clean up his mess because there was no way he was going back to jail… 

But that stupid female Detective was so much on her case… 

The boastful b***h had the nerve to show up at his work place, asking questions about the disappearance and death of two boys… 

Two boys that he knew… 

Two boys that had played with him… 

Trusted him… 

He gave into his temptations and now the boys were dead. 

He had not wanted to kill them… But there was just something extremely evil… Extremely cold… Extremely dark… 

And what was even worse, he couldn't control it… 

It controlled him… 

Made him do things… Really really bad things…

He tried to stop it but he couldn't. 

It had power over him. 

He swiftly packed up some clothes and other necessities in a suitcase. He took the gun from the drawer and packed it under the clothes. 

Done with packing, he pulled on a buggy t-shirt over the white vest he'd been wearing. Wore denim pants and put on a pair of brown, leather boots. 

He fixed a black cap on his bald head, grabbed his suitcase and he was ready to leave this town for a couple of days till everything was still again. 

He opened the front door and was shocked to death. 

The bitchy Detective was strutting toward her. 

This time, she was not alone. She had a cop walking beside her. 

Tensen froze to the ground, blankly staring at the unwelcome visitors. She glanced at his suitcase then at him, a cocky grin breaking across her face. 

"Going somewhere Tensen?" 

===

The kids were still chirpy and chattering, extremely excited to see their mother's once-upon-a-time schoolmate, Jerome Mead. 

Who was now 'Jerry' to the kids. 

He looked nothing like the typical college Jerome. 

He had dumped his glasses. He had no headphones hanging around his neck. His long, shoulder-length hair was no more. His brown hair was trimmed and spiky. For some reason, he had grown much taller. His shoulders broader and his chest wider. He was dressed in a pair of navy blue tracksuits and he seemed to be into fitness. 

It was kind of startling how the years had changed him… 

He looked more… Attractive… 

Jerome was not as surprised as she was to see her. 

A happy smile crossed his face. 

"Heard you're back in town with your family," he said casually. "Beautiful kids by the way…" 

He knew she was back? 

He knew these were her kids? 

She found that a little odd…

"Thanks. I didn't even know you're still in town," said Nina. 

"I've been living here… Came back years ago," he said. "Guess you can't run away from this town huh!" 

If her mother's illness deteriorated and she got much better, Nina was planning to leave the town immediately. She hated this town and all its memories. 

"Just staying for a little while… Family matters…" 

"Sorry about that…" 

"About what?" 

"Your mom… Heard her cancer is back and it's getting worse." 

In small towns, news spread like wild fire and everybody knew everybody's business. 

"Thanks," she faked a smile. "I'm surprised to see you at this school. You have kids here?" 

He chuckled. "Zero kids… Still scared to be called a dad…"

She glanced at the wedding ring on his finger. "I can see you're married…"

"Yeah… She's a lovely human," he gushed. "You should meet her some time…" 

The conversation was kind of awkward since they had not talked for a whole decade. They were friends in college but they were clearly not the same people they were years ago. They were different and completely changed. 

Jerome glanced behind her. 

Her daughter, Emilia, caught his eye as she cackled in the arms of her teacher, Ms. Candice. 

"She looks so much like you…" 

"You should see her dad… She's like a photocopy of him…" 

"Your husband looks that beautiful? Can he give me kids too?" 

She suppressed a laugh. "On a serious note, what are you doing here though? You said you don't have kids so…" 

"I'm a P.E teacher. I'm also head of Sports Department in the school," he said. "I'm training kids for the upcoming Olympics competition which will be held in the school." 

Screams and wails interrupted their conversation. 

Derek had Daryl pinned to the ground, his hands on his neck. 

Nina gasped in horror. "God! Derek! You're hurting your brother." 

But the little boy ignored him and grinned at Jerome. 

"Jerry! See! I am strong and I can do wrestling!" Derek bragged. 

He smiled at the kid. "Okay. That's enough. Get off your brother…" 

Derek obediently let go of Daryl, which came as a surprise to Nina. 

"The kids must love you." 

He grinned proudly. "They adore me." 

"You must be working charms on them. Derek doesn't listen to anyone…" 

"Well, I'm not just anyone…" 

She couldn't clearly figure out if he was being boastful and full of himself or he was just trying to be… Humorous... 

"Was nice seeing you, Jerome…" she said flatly. 

He winked at her. "We should definitely catch up some time…" 

They were both married. Catching up sounded like something unmarried people would do. Something she definitely wouldn't do. 

"Kids!" Nina clapped. "Time to go home!" 

"Oh…" Jerome stopped her. "Did you hear about Ray Ripper? Freya's little step - brother?" 

"Yeah… Poor thing…" 

"Take care of your sons or they might be next…" 

===

Being a Detective, Megan was used to visiting homes and the suspects would be friendly and warm, making her tea or coffee. 

So it was no surprise when Tensen Truce insisted on making the two detectives coffee, to which they had politely declined. 

"We are here to ask you a few questions if you don't mind," Darren said gently. 

He plastered a smile. "I thought I answered all your questions at the factory yesterday, Pretty…" 

"You did. But more questions seem to arise," said Megan. 

"My bad…" 

"You were leaving town?" 

"Yeah…" 

"For good?" 

"No… Just a little while…" 

"Why?" 

"To see a relative that lives a few miles away from this town." 

"Mh. Interesting," Megan retorted. 

"You know Ray Ripper?" asked Darren. 

"Ray? The kid next door?" he was surprised. 

"Yeah… The kid next door…" 

"What about him?" 

"He disappeared yesterday. No one seems to know where he is. Could you perhaps know where he could have gone?" 

He let out a bark of laughter and scowled at the two detectives. 

"You think I have something to do with his disappearance!" 

"We didn't say-" 

"Yes you did!" he barked. "That's why you two are here! You think I killed Ray! And you're here to pin the murder on me!" 

A cold chill slithered up her spine as she raised her eyebrows. "Did you just say murder?" 

Tensen Truce froze. 

"We just asked about Ray's disappearance," Darren stated. "No one said anything about murder… Why would you think it's a murder?" 

For a moment, he was completely still and shook to the core. He could not utter a single word. 

Abruptly, he flew from the sofa and held the door for them. 

"I think it's time you leave my house, detectives." 

They both stood primly and headed for the door. 

"Don't leave town," Megan adviced him. "If you do, it will look pretty ugly for you. And no matter where you run to, we'll hunt you down to whatever deep dark hole you hide in. Trust me." 

Darren patted his chest with a small smile on his face. 

"She's just telling you to be a good boy." 

Tensen didn't hesitate to slam the door on them. 

"We have to get a search warrant! I can smell guilt allover him!" Megan spat. 

Darren sniffed. "Can you smell smoke or is my nose just acting up?" 

Megan sniffed. 

"Something is burning in the backyard…" she suggested. 

"Probably evidence…" 

"Probably a dead body…"

She had to get a search warrant. 

Fast. 

===

Dinner was great. 

Not only had her husband saved her the labor of cooking but also, her bestfriend had set the table and served everyone. 

They had shared laughs the whole time as they enjoyed the tantalizing meal. 

Nina had even forgotten how horrible her day had been and how scared she had been at the thought of losing her sons when she got that eerie letter earlier in her office. 

But then her bestfriend, Scarlett, was here. 

And everything kind of felt better… 

Scarlett had that vibe… That energy that drew people close to her… She was like the sun in a storm… A light in the darkness… She ways knew how to make people laugh at their lowest moments… That was just the kind of person she was, Atleast to Nina… 

Fortunately for her, She would be here the whole of this weekend. She had her best friend all to herself! 

The kids loved her. 

Caleb had never complained about her. 

"Maybe you should move here too," Nina suggested as they washed the dishes that night in the kitchen. 

"Naaah," Scarlett rinsed the dishes. "I love it too much in Hayden…" 

She frowned. "More than you love me?" 

She splashed some water to Nina. "Shut up. I don't even love you!" 

"You suck at lying," Nina retorted. "I'm serious though… You could move here… You're an online writer so you'll just be fine coz you won't struggle looking for a job. You and I could be much closer. The kids will be so happy to have you here… "

Scarlett seemed reluctant but Nina was being even more persuasive. 

" Plus, this town is beautiful… There's a lot of places I would love to show you! We could do coffee more frequently. Movie nights could be every weekend and maybe just maybe! You'll meet the man of your dreams here!" 

The door sprung open. 

Caleb. 

He had brought the dirty icecream bowls and dumped them in the sink. 

Nina dried her hands with the kitchen cloth and clung on to him so tightly. She rested her hands on his chest, kissing him lightly on the lips. 

" Baby," she said sweetly. "I'm trying to convince my stupid best friend here to move to Kingsville… She might find the man of her dreams here and finally get married…" 

Scarlett flipped her red hair, shooting Nina a sharp stare. 

"I don't need a man…" 

Because I already have him… 

"Trust me." 

===

The kids chattered chirpily as they played at the front backyard with their dad, Caleb. 

Their dad was playing as the horse, Derek and Daryl were the riders with whips. 

Emilia was in her little own world, doing a teaparty with her cute dolls. It was funny how she was even laughing with the dolls like they were real. 

Nina was washing utensils in her kitchen, watching her little family through the big glassy window as they played. She was happy to see all of them this happy… 

This was true happiness. 

A big black car pulled over in the compound, making everyone stop to look who it was. 

The stranger in a black hood alighted the car. 

The kids ran to him blissfully. 

He took off the hood. 

Her heart dropped when she saw his face. 

Tyler!!!! 

===