Riley Ross
Chapter 62: Lorraine, Lorraine

Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Lorraine, Lorraine

"Lorraine! What are you doing?!"

In the sophisticated but humble newsroom of ABC-ZBN, Lorraine was being chewed out by the editor-in-chief. Her voice had just shaken the studio lights, and now her heels pounded the floor as she strode toward the news desk. And if the other staff were seeing it right, her eyes seemed to be seething with rage.

But Lorraine didn’t flinch. Instead, she calmly removed her hair tie, letting her long, brown, slightly gold-tinged hair fall over her shoulders.

And as she saw her boss fuming and marching toward her, she simply sighed and stepped away from the desk.

"Compose yourself, Chief."

And surprisingly, Lorraine’s speaking voice was deeper and seemingly even more enunciated than her anchoring voice,

"Occurrences like this are something I live with, and history has shown time and again that the public craves authenticity. I will not suppress what I feel—especially when the victim in question was a child."

"Do you want us to get suspended again?!" The editor shouted, first jabbing a finger in her direction, then suddenly marching away from her and dramatically hugging the teleprompter like it was his husband.

She was gentle with it, but at the same time only a second away from trying to strangle what was between their arms, "Just read what’s on the goddamn screen!"

"Hmn," Lorraine shrugged.

"And aren’t you scared?!" The editor brandished a rolled-up script like a sword, gesturing wildly at the crew around them. "You’re taunting a literal, sadistic, satanic murderer! It’s not just your life you’re putting at risk! Don’t you remember the hotel incident?! You almost died!"

"Well, I most certainly did not," Lorraine shrugged, "In fact, I’m quite certain the perpetrator is watching us even now. And that is precisely why I continue to speak as I do... with the hope that we might lure that bastard out of hiding. And when we do, I intend to meet his gaze—as the officers lead him away in chains."

***

[Whoever did this, I am risking my journalistic credibility by saying this:

This is ABC-ZBN news, and my name is Lorraine Gray. And to whoever killed this sweet, innocent child, fuck—We apologize for the inconvenience. We are currently experiencing technical difficulties.]

And true to Lorraine’s instincts, the killer who had brutally murdered Stephanie Evans was watching the broadcast.

What she hadn’t expected, however, was that he’d be doing it with a bunch of teenagers while eating pizza.

"Shit..."

The Baby Crew were now sitting around the Ross family’s unusually large couch, the looks on their faces all different from each other as they had just finished listening to the updates about Steph’s death.

Yes. While the Baby Crew were enjoying and devouring the pizza Diana bought for them, the group decided to look up details regarding Steph’s death at the same time. And everything they saw and heard caused them to either stop eating completely or not stop chewing at all as they were too invested in everything.

"I... I don’t even know what kinda person Steph really was. And yeah, she was a straight-up bitch the first—and last—time I saw her, but still..." Bella covered her face as she scanned all the photos of the crime scene that were leaked on the internet, "Ain’t nobody deserve to go out like that, yo."

That is debatable, but perhaps true more often than not. In her case, I suppose she truly does not deserve to die like that. But she did hurt Sister, so she was going to pay for that sooner or later... she was just unlucky I happened to be feeling creative at that moment.

"...I have seen all sorts of bloodshed and violence in my long life," Gary closed his eyes and breathed in deeply, "But this... this is something else."

I am glad you think so, Gary. It is only my second time, but it is nice to know that someone appreciates my work.

Victoria also stared at her phone, reading more articles about the crime with a serious expression on her face.

"Whoever did this is sick," she sighed, "They’re obviously more powerful than Steph, and they enjoyed showing her that. She... I wonder how long she was tortured?

Not as long as I hoped it would have been. But unfortunately, twelve-year-olds can not be choosers. You are wrong, however—I did not enjoy showing her that I am more powerful—I take no joy in that.

The only enjoyment that I felt during that time was from the act itself.

I relished at the sound that escaped her mouth as I stretched her hands and feet and twisted and pulled her fingers and toes to tie her to the walls.

"And... the man on top of her..." Pauline’s voice wavered as she looked up from her phone. "They said he was... her lover."

"That’s... fucked."

No. Sadly for them, they were not able to do that in their last moments—but I did let them be together forever. Right now, the coroners are still probably figuring out how to separate the two. Good luck with that.

I remember Mark clearer now. I tried my best to keep him alive as long as possible while I flayed his skin and flesh, rearranging his ribs so that they would flap open.

I flayed his flesh in several layers, I tried to see if he could stretch as wide as Stephanie, but only his intestines were able to reach her hand.

Stephanie was still alive when I did that, and the two of them looked at each other in complete and utter fear as their life faded away from them brutally.

It was... very romantic.’

"Are you... alright?" Pauline hid her phone as she scooched closer to Hannah, which was sort of hard to do from how soft and wide the couch was. But as soon as she reached her, she gently placed her hand on hers.

Hannah did not really respond at first and only looked at her, before glancing to the rest of the Baby Crew. And finally, after a few more moments of just staring at them, she shook her head and sighed.

"I’m... fine. It’s just... we only saw her yesterday," Hannah narrowed her eyes. It was hard to tell what she was thinking, the tone of her voice extremely quiet as she slowly said, "I mean... would that someday also happen to us? Just all of a sudden, we’re gone."

"Man... that’s just the world we livin’ in," Bella shook her head, "No wonder all them adult folks look dead inside. Anyway, we been talkin’ ’bout Steph for like—what? An hour now? I’m votin’ we switch it up, ’cause I been wonderin’ somethin’ since the news cut off."

"I..." Pauline meekly whispered, "I think I know what you want to ask. Is it about..."

She then turned her head to Gary.

"Yeah," Bella nodded, "That reporter—she said her name was Lorraine Gray, right? Said she got a fourteen-year-old son. You fourteen. That ain’t yo mama, is it?"

"Guys," Hannah sighed while shaking her head, "I’m pretty sure there are a lot of Grays out there that are—"

"Did I forget to tell you guys?." Gary answered without any hesitation, shrugging as he looked at everyone,

"She’s my mom, no big deal."

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