Chapter One: The Body
Melissa Pearson,21, used to live in a scrumptious and pensive farm, Sugar roots farm,in a village, near New Orleans.She was seemingly a fragile girl,too afraid to even cross the road on her own. But, there were more aspects to her personality that defined her differently.She had a fine face with freckles, rosey cheeks and splendid stream of blonde hair that fell down her back.She used to live with her grandpa,Mr. Adam, in a 1361.25 square feet house.Her Dad left her mom when she was born and her mother died after her freshman year.So in the name of family, she only had her grandpa. Her grandpa was a weary man so all the responsibilities related to farm fell on Melissa.
It was sumptuous morning of 1993.The Glorious streaks of sun rays were spreading the green fields of Sugar Roots Farm. Melissa woke up at 7am,her usual. She was wearing a long white Skirt with plain brown apron that ties or buttons at the back, and a pair of black lace-up women's boots.
"Morning!" she said as grandpa walked in the dining room.
"Morning sweet buns!" he replied.
"Breakfast?"she asked.
"Umm..No, sorry sweetie! I've got some errands to run in New Orleans, might get late"he answered.
"Well..no biggie! how 'bout some packed breakfast for you? Moreover what's so important?"she asked with her arms crossed.
"Huh"
"I've got to meet new dealers for our corn supply" he stammered.
"Okay very well then.. when's the return?"
"I don't know honey, but I guess someone can wait if I buy someone's favorite Nutella bagels"he winked.
Melissa understood the gesture and started smirking.
"I guess we are settled here so I'm good to go" said he.
"Okay!bye grandpa! don't forget to keep your word" she said as grandpa walked past the door.
The door closed with a thud. Melissa went to fields to check on the corn,then she went to shed to feed two cows they had and a shinny brown horse named Josie. Around quarter past eight,Matt arrived.
Matt was a young boy of age about 13. He helped the Pearson's with their work.
"Atta boy!get to work! you're late" she said to matt.The day went normally as it was supposed to.
The sun had set.Darkness surrounded Sugar Roots.It was not the first time Melissa was home alone. She was valorous enough to stay alone, unlike her appearance.
She was going upstairs to sleep when all of sudden she heard a loud scream.She felt a strong shiver down her spine.She muster up her courage and reached for the door. Holding the door knob she inquired:
"Who's there?"
No reply.
"I'm asking again who's there?"now with a louder tone.
Not even a single sigh.
"Look I'm armed! I'll call 911!"
Of course she was not armed. She lighten up the lamp and with a gulp, opened the door.There was no one. She walked down the door stairs. Then she gave the whole the farm a quick eye, there was not a single soul.She realized that there was no one but her.She thought it must be an illusion.
She turned her back to get back into her house when she realized that a watery substance was coming from the back of shed.She lowered the lamp to examine it.She clenched her face when she came to know that it was BLOOD!
Melissa was vivacious but sensitive.Her body began to tremble.Tears started falling down her innocent eyes out of fright. Adrenaline rushed her body.She took a deep breath and stepped closer to see the source of blood.She was shocked to see a corpse of an old man,age 56-60, lying there.
The man was shooted two times on his chest and his throat had a cut on it.Her
throat was burning by the idea that it could be her grandpa.She walked closer, not feeling her feet,to the body.She gently turned the corpse around, to her relief it was not her grandpa.The corpse was of a man she had never seen her entire life.
When she came back to her senses,she started screaming, loud enough to grasp someone's attention.But there was no one to be seen.She ran round in circles to get a man or woman to help her with this situation. She tried to call 911 but network was dead.She started crying like a baby whose candy got stolen.She had never been so afraid in her entire life.In a short time of absolute screaming and crying, she saw a man advancing toward her.It was Mr. Heckle.
"I heard you screaming"he said from a distance.
"Mist..mister..heck…heckle..mr heckle!" She couldn't gather her words.
Mr.Heckle got a sense that something was off.He lowered his lamp in Melissa's direction.When he got a clear view he yelled:
"Murderer! Murderer! Murderer! Miss . Melissa Pearson is a Murderer"