Chapter Text
This was the most important day of your life...
You had studied for 6 years, and you finally got your master's in journalism. You walked up the stage in your gown with your cords around your neck and grabbed your degree from the chancellor and smiled for the photographer to the side.
You had waited for this your whole life. You truly loved journalism. The passion, the storytelling, the careful work put to uncover what's on the surface to craft the most interesting stories. You loved investigative journaling, and you fell in love with the process of getting your master's degree as you were able to experiment with this kind of journalism more.
This was a new chapter you just knew it...
05/08/1996
Your alarm clock went off and you instantly cursed to yourself angry.
"Don't wanna go to fucking work..." you slurred awake and slammed your hand onto the digital clock turning it off.
After drooling on your pillow, for what felt like only a couple of seconds more, your backup alarm went off. You threw on a blouse and office slacks and smeared shitty concealer under your eyes to cover up your insomnia. Running out the door different documents in hand, and keys in the other, you stepped into your car. Your AC was busted, and somehow it was already hot in the morning.
You groaned and grabbed your documents and rolled them up into a scroll shoving them in your glovebox and rolling down the windows to let air in.
After finding a place to park, you entered the office and immediately booked it for the break room. You grabbed a mug and started the coffee machine rubbing your temples.
"Wow, good morning."
Your eyes could've rolled all the way to the back of your head. You turned your head to see Jed grabbing a mug as well.
"Good morning." you grumbled.
"Rough night?" Jed smiled at you sliding his mug next to the coffee machine and leaning on the counter.
"Just... a lot of writing." you sighed already feeling your eyes sagging from exhaustion thinking about it.
Jed suddenly speaks, "Well, my night was AMAZING. I got an amazing shot of a crime scene last night been up all night writing it! Can't wait to show it to Rick."
You smiled but, in your mind, you wanted to strangle someone. Jed was so fucking far in his ass, but you couldn't blame him. He's been employee of the month for FOUR months in a row for his amazing stories about the murders going around Roseville and he's been a cocky ass since. Made other writers like you seem like shit compared to Roseville chronicle's golden boy.
No one could top him...he was just too good. He always knew where to look for clues and where to be at what time. Other writers, including you, tried to get clues and did, but every time you thought you did, he just had more than you and ending up leading the story anyway.
"Oh yea?" you grabbed your coffee mug and shook the powdered creamer before pouring it into your coffee.
"Yea, it's pretty amazing. I'm thinking-" Jed put his mug under the machine and hit the button to start it before tossing his hands up in the air" GHOSTFACE STRIKES AGAIN: THE MOST BRUTAL MURDER OF THIS YEAR."
You sipped your coffee hiding your unamused face, with raised eyebrows. You smacked your lips "Sounds...exciting"
He smiled "It absolutely is! Just you wait till I get to publishing it."
You offered a passive-aggressive smile before looking off to the side. You never liked Jed, although you respected him for his work. He looked down on you often handing all of his documents to you for editing, which the boss allowed since you weren't writing stories of your own. This made Jed treat you as a "walk-all-over-me" mat and at times you felt invisible to him. This annoyed you because you felt as though you were better than this.
You found it difficult to work with him as well. Often adding your own versions of the story only to be put down by Jed. He was very controlling and possessive of his work.
Air from the door opening made a swooshing sound.
"Hey guys." Greg came around the corner waving a hand.
You and Jed both said Hey- both in very different tones.
"I have exciting news! I got my hands on the security camera recording of the robbery taken place yesterday. Three of those fuckers and one of their masks fell off when they ran. I already have some of the paper written out from the footage. " Greg crossed his arms and looked at us.
Jed smiled but his eyes looked uninterested "Yea but c'mon Greg people don't care about a robbery- people are getting killed."
Greg rolled his eyes "Of course you would say that, Jed. Well take it as a sign I'm trying to clear the air between us and focusing on my own stories since you hog all of the good stuff"
Jed sucked in air and put his hands in his pockets "I don't hog- I'm just better at being where I need to be."
Greg looked to the side spiteful before looking at you "Hey_____, by the way, what have you been doing?"
Jed turned his head and studied you.
"Well, um..." You looked at the both of them shameful about your next words "It's been a bit slow lately- I've just been editing for Rick." You were mostly working for Jed, but your pride wouldn't allow you to admit you were working under a co-worker.
Jed raised an eyebrow knowingly before focusing back on Greg while he spoke.
Greg scoffed "Wow sucking up to the boss, huh?"
You felt a pang of annoyance "I'm not sucking up to him. Like I said, 'it's slow'. Besides, someone's gotta do it." you looked to the side avoiding Jed's eyes.
Jed grabbed his mug off the machine before speaking "Maybe you should try harder." He threw a light smile trying to tease, but all you saw were glowing red eyes and devil horns. He just never misses a chance to be Mr. Perfect.
What an asshole.
"Thanks" you grabbed your papers and mug and walked to the door.
You sat down at your cubical and started up your computer already catching your eyes on the red dots by "your mail". Opening it up were already papers needed for spellchecking and revisions. You frowned to yourself and looked at the master's degree hung up on the side of your cubicle.
The entire day later, you were coming up on the end of your shift. You got up and made your way to the front doors. On your way, you passed your boss's office and saw Jed and him talking. Jed passed some papers to Rick and while reading Rick smiled and nodded and slammed the papers on the desk pointing at it with a big smile while saying something.
You ignored the jealousy in your chest and continued walking.
Even though you were home your work wasn't done. You stayed up late writing different revisions for your job. It was 11 PM and you felt like you were going mad. Is this what you'd be doing until you died?? Editing papers with a masters? You felt so angry that the tip of the pencil you were writing with splintered on the page from the pressure you were applying to it. What could you do? You hated Jed. He hogged everything and left scraps for everyone else and it drove you crazy. Being the grunt and managing by just to convince your boss, Rick, that you were still an asset. You stopped writing and thought about it.
Thought about what? You didn't really know. Your mind was so crowded, and your thoughts were fuzzy. Without a second thought, you grabbed your wallet and keys and went for a walk.
You walked around town looking at different shops that weren't open this late and heard faint music from a nearby outdoor restaurant.
You could feel a dark obsession with your job start to develop and consume your whole life. Friends you didn't have, and family was out of the picture. The only thing that stopped you from going insane from mental isolation was your job. You yearned for so much more. A title. You wanted to be like Jed. An absolute unit at your work. Always being praised by the boss and speaking in front of the press with his charisma. You wanted to know how he did it. How was he always getting the best stories and the front row seats to the Roseville murders. He had connections sure-
You turned a corner and stopped. Your mind quieted down for a second. The street was dark and wasn't as active as where you came from. You thought for a second before deciding it was fine anyway since you would go in a circle back to your place.
You began walking and looking around with your hands in your hoodie. The music from behind you faded and the sound of crickets and leaves rustling became the new tune. The humidity made your hoodie sleeves stick to your skin uncomfortably but taking it off would just resort you being cold from the night's breeze.
You began to think again before hearing groaning to your left. You stopped walking and turned your head towards the sound. The moonlight only glowed on a couple of trees, but you couldn't see much behind that. You felt a weird feeling develop in your stomach. The groaning sound turned into a gasp before a wet breaking sound followed after, silencing the previous noises. You lifted an eyebrow confused and looked around for anything before looking back in the same direction.
You didn't want to be THAT dumbass, but you couldn't help yourself.
"Hello?"
Suddenly, leaves rustled.
"Hey, are...you okay?"
Hearing suspiciously no response you made up your mind to walk further. As soon as your footsteps ventured off the sidewalk and met dry leaves, sounds of someone scurrying and leaves following them were heard and you jumped.
Suddenly feeling more anxious, you stood still. You wanted to turn back and as you lifted your foot to do so you paused and put it back down thinking. What if this could be it? What if it was something horrendous? You could finally be the first to see and write about it.
You walked forward not knowing what to expect and, selfishly, you hoped it would be exactly what you thought it was...
Walking further into the tree line you could see a wet trail stained on the leaves and there it was...
Your eyes instinctively opened wide to take in more of the sight. The hair all over your body stood up.
Messy, sweat soaked hair, was over a female's face and her mouth was still open in a silent scream. Half of her body was twisted to the side and her leg was halfway sawed off. You must've interrupted whoever was finishing...this. Your eyes must've scanned the scene a million times still in shock. Something suddenly caught your eye lighter than anything else. Shiny just below the leaves. You sneaked towards it and picked it up rubbing the dirt off of it and revealing what was a polaroid of the use-to-be alive woman looking into the camera screaming on the ground as a black gloved hand was around her neck strangling her. On the bottom corner of the polaroid was blurred, which looked to be her hand trying to reach for the camera. You felt excitement creep up your back. It was so fucked up, but you couldn't wait to report your findings and finally be apart of something...
You had run to the outdoor restaurant and called the police using their landline. When they arrived you lead them straight to the scene. After being questioned at the scene, you watched from afar. You were hearing them talking and making notes of details in your mind. When you had gotten enough information you started the walk home grinning and feeling the secret polaroid around in your pockets.