the blare of alarms drowns out the incessant chatter of students as they file one by one from the school, heads bowed as they whisper on their way to the buses that would take them home early. what's the occasion, you might ask? nothing special -- someone just happened to get stabbed multiple times in the school parking lot. a teacher, coming in for work. the killer bolted before anyone could get a good look at them.
will stares down at the body, aware of the teenagers watching from behind the yellow police tape. some are walking home, some are taking the bus, some have their parents waiting outside for them. they daw- dle just to watch the scene, curious, undoubtedly.
before he can analyze the scene, he feels like he's going to break under the pressure of all those stares. he can't do it like this. swallowing dryly, his throat par- ched, will breaks away from the crime scene and ducks beneath the tape. children protest as he pushes through them, but none of his colleagues seem to question him. when he manages to get some fresh air, he breathes a sigh of relief.
