Maybe If I Blink Then Maybe You Will Look Different

Chapter 1: The Fourth Kidnapping

"Breaking news, earlier this morning in Lakeshore Creek, 25 year old Dana Williams, daughter of Lakeshore Creek's former Mayor, Gale Williams, has been kidnapped by who appears to be the infamous "Hog Stalker." Police reports inform that there was the signature calling card of a hog's head painted in blood on the wall where the kidnapping took place. Unfortunately, all security cameras were offline by some mysterious force. Neighbors of the Williams family reported that they did not hear nor see anything strange coming from the house. It was until Abigail Williams, mother of Dana, noticed that her daughter had not come down when she had to be at school. Mrs. Williams went to check up on her daughter when she found evidence of a struggle, a bloody calling card, and no trace of Dana. Police suspect that the kidnapping took place between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.. If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of Dana Williams or who could possibly be causing this chaos, please call the local police station at..."
"Jesus fucking christ! Not another one!"
"Lilly, we should be careful out there, have you noticed that it's all been girls so far?"
"Of all cities it had to be this one."

For once, the mess hall was filled with reverberated voices of students and staff of University of Lakeshore Creek. This was the fourth kidnapping of the city in the span of two months and it certainly had the entire city on its feet. Many students have begun to theorize and speculate who the "Hog Stalker" was and what links the victims could possibly have. However one of the many students in the mess hall that day was doing the opposite. She was sitting alone, busying herself in her studies.
'God these people are getting out of hand. Just don't be stupid, not that hard...but Dana...of all people...she can't be really gone, can she?' Brittany thought to herself. She sat up and released a sigh, sticking in an earbud and adjusting her hood over her head. She then slouched over her books and began to write down her own study guide for her upcoming tests. Little did she know that someone a few tables away was watching her.

-

"Brittany Albourne?"

"Here, and I said to call me Britt."
Brittany had always hated her name since she was a child, due to her mom naming her after a children's cartoon chipmunk and forced people she met to call her Britt.

"Wow you're so pushy" Anthony mocked. The brunette simply rolled her eyes and softly punched her lab partner. The two met each other at the beginning of the semester when they sat next to each other for their honors biology course.

"Anthony Collins?"

"Here," Anthony lifted his hand slightly and then brought it back down when he looked over to Brittany, a judging look plastered on her freckled face. She then smirked and laughed quietly, not wanting to draw attention from anyone other than Anthony. Anthony was in his master's program and would be finishing up in the spring once his remaining classes were done at the age of twenty-seven. Brittany was barely finishing her bachelor's and was entering her masters at the age of twenty-three, which is something she happens to be proud of.

"Alright class, we all know that Dana was apart of this course, so don't try to be shaken up. I'm sure she will turn up fine. Sorry Geoff, you will have to find a new lab partner for the moment, I'll allow a group of three," the professor begun once he finished taking roll. However, after his opening, the atmosphere of the class grew heavy and silence filled the room.
"Today we have amphibians to look at!" the professor tried to make light, but failed. Shortly after instructing the class on today's lesson, students went up to collect specimens and microscopes."Let's just get this over with" Britt mumbled to her partner and went up to collect their frogs.

The day went by as usual with grey gloomy clouds, the only weather that seemed consistent within Lakeshore Creek during the winter, spring and fall seasons. It fit the city nicely, or at least it did to Brittany. She always loved the 5 p.m. walks to the coffee shop and from there to the park. She found it best to be alone, since that was her only time to truly be with herself. The sun was beginning to set and it gave an aesthetically pleasing sight to anyone who looked up occasionally from their busy lives. The girl with the long wispy hair and blue eyes walked with coffee in hand to the park, adorned with her signature hoodie and slightly ripped jeans. She always ignored what people advised about going alone after daylight hours to places such as the park for safety concerns, but she believed that as long as she was aware of her surroundings, she would be fine. However she was a stubborn girl who always doubted that anything dangerous would happen to her. It was known to many city folks that Brittany lived alone in an apartment complex with other students who couldn't afford to dorm at the university or who were kicked out of their parents homes. Brittany however decided that once she became a college student she would move out of her parents and live somewhere habitable as she attended a university, which made her different from most.

The college student was quick to sit on the empty swing set and slowly rock herself as she sipped her warm coffee. She sat there with the wind and the setting sun, giving it an almost melancholic atmosphere. Brittany took this time to look around. There was no one at the park at this hour which made it ideal for her. A small smile formed on her lips and started to imagine of places she would like to visit in fairytales. She had a creative mind ever since she can remember. However she was oblivious to the man staring at her from the distance behind a tree.

From the man's perspective, watching her press her luscious pink lips to the lid of the coffee cup was so captivating. He was standing very still, almost holding his breath to make sure to not scare off the precious thing in front of him. He longed to interact with her, but he was certain that if he approached her, she would escape from his reach. So he lurked in the shadows, admiring her and keeping track of everything she did. The way her almost feather like hair swayed in the wind, the way her long lashes battered as she blinked, oh the way her blue eyes shined. She was different from the others and it made him want her so bad.
Before he knew it, he was lost in his own little world, thinking of the things he could possibly do to her. He felt goosebumps form all over him as he imagined seeing crimson liquid run on her pale skin. Or perhaps her pleas for mercy. Now that was something he looked forward to hearing. His fantasizing came to an end when he saw movement from her general direction. He quickly stopped his breathing as he watched her start her way back home. He muttered a curse under his breath when he looked down to his wrist. 6:30.

"Oh Brittany you are always so punctual."