The whole town of Merryville watched as the horrific words scrolled across the television screen in a bold headline: AVALON PITTALUGA KILLED IN DEADLY SHOOTING. Their ears focused on the sound of the solemn eulogy delivered by a local reporter.
"At midnight," a wavy blonde said, "the Pittaluga family's house was broken into by an unknown intruder. Avalon, seventeen years old, was the only one there at the time. She was shot in a standoff and died this morning at five."
If it wasn't enough, the entire town might've bowed their heads and made the sign of the cross in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit — Amen!
"No suspect has been identified as of yet," the reporter continued after joining in on the town in their moment of silence. "If you have any clue as to who could be responsible, please call this number." At the bottom of the screen, a number to the county police appeared.
In a somber ritual, the town returned to their phones, and the town exploded with chatter and elegant gossip:
Did you hear the news?
Yes. Avalon Pittaluga is dead.
What a tragedy.
Who could've done this?
The town faded out to flickering ellipsis. The question was one they all had to consider: who had deviated from their socialite ways? While some may have left it to the police, Lavonne Green and her friend, Okapi Young, were excited:
OY: This could be our breakthrough in reporting.
LG: We could place Merryville on the map.
OY: Let's do this.
LG: Let's find out who here is the traitor.
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Short StoryBefore Avalon Pittaluga, the town of Merryville knew nothing of how susceptible they were to the horrors of the real world. But when Avalon is killed in a fatal shooting at her own house, the town once known for meeting up to its name becomes a hots...
