cybercide

two

“So, we’re going to have to confiscate your camera for evidence, i hope that’ll be okay,” Officer Marne spoke, shifting his weight onto his right foot, “I doubt you’ll have anything on there that will get you charged with anything, right?” 

Max and Damien had arrived about thirty minutes ago, and the police arrived soon after. They were currently all together at the local station for questioning. Juliette was surprisingly calm throughout the whole ordeal, and the officers actually being nice for once might’ve had a small part in it. Last time the three had a run-in with the local cops, Max was wrongfully accused of robbing a gas station down the road. It really showed how Indiana cops think, seeing as the group had been in the next town over together and Max was the only person of color in their group. 

“Yes sir, the most you'll find on there unrelated to this is Max trying and failing at making breakfast for us,” Juliette smiled, giggling at the boy who lightly hit her arm in protest. “Alright, we’ll get your camera back as soon as possible, it should only take three days if we don't find anything compelling on here,” Marne explained as he got out of his desk chair, “Y’all are free to go now, we’ll call if we need you to come back in for anything else. Have a nice day, now.” Juliette and Max responded with smiles and Damien nodded politely at the officer, then made their way out of the small building.

Once they were near Damien’s car, Juliette pulled the two into a huge hug. “Thank you for being here,” She whispered into Max’s warm shoulder. “Of course, Jules, we wouldn't have it any other way,” He responded softly, wrapping his arms around the two for a minute, then pulling away when Juliette lifted her head off of his shoulder. “We should go to the diner, I’ll pay.” 

***

“Babe, it's obviously a soup! I mean, it's like chicken noodle soup or whatever, the milk is the broth and the cereal is the noodle and meat pieces!” Max exclaimed from the backseat, making Juliette roll her eyes as Damien tried to argue back that cereal is, in fact, not a soup as he turned into their driveway. 

“Okay, look, i love both of you to death but please stop, this entire conversation is making me literally lose brain cells. Can’t we just go inside?” Juliette sighed and got out of the car, trying her best to seem annoyed with the boys. In all reality, she loved these dumb little moments between them, it really showed how weird and amazing they are. She could hear Damien laugh softly and Max mutter, “fine, but this isn’t over.” 

Juliette turned her head to keep talking to the boys as she walked up to the front steps of Damien and Max’s house, blocking her view of what was in front of her. She trusted her muscle memory enough to lead her up to the steps, as she's walked this path many times already. “Yeah, no, Max, you gotta make those tacos again sometime!” Damien hummed as he walked up the steps to enter the house, “God, those were- what’s this?” he queried, looking at the cement. There was a medium-sized manila envelope laid neatly up against the side of the house, it had a dripping wet, dark red smiley face drawing on the front of it, still glistening in the light as if it was newly drawn. 

“Uhh, did a fan find our address or something? Maybe they dropped it off while we were at the diner,” Max suggested, reaching down to grab it. “There's no names or anything on it, just the freaky face. Lets go inside and open it, we could record it on Dami’s camera in case a fan gave it to us!” 

Juliette didn't like the feeling that this “fanmail” gave her. It was, for one, creepier than her Uncle Jerry, and made her feel really off, like it wasn't actually from a fan. She pushed away the anxiety of it and walked in behind the other two, and made a bee-line for the best chair they were always fighting over. 

“I’ll go find my camera real quick, hold up,” Damien explained, leaving for his room. “Maxxie, the vibe’s off with that. I don’t think a fan sent it…” Juliette spoke softly, curling up onto the chair. Shaking his head, Max responded, “It’ll be okay, Jules. What's the worst it could be?” “You’re right, I’m just being weird,” she smiled. 

“Alright, Jules, you wanna film?” Damien asked as he walked back into the living room. In his hands, he held his camera and tripod, which were now being handed over to Juliette. “Yeah, ‘course,” She smiled, standing up to set up everything for recording. Damien took a seat on the couch next to Max, who was sitting up properly to be in frame. 

Juliette turned the camera on and positioned it to where everything was in frame, and quietly counted off to let the boys know that they were okay to start talking.  “Hello everyone! So Max, Jules, and I just came back from having lunch at the diner and when we came back to the house, we noticed this little package waiting for us on the steps,” Damien explained as Max tried his best to imitate a game show model that shows off the various prizes. “We think it's from a fan so we’re gonna open it on camera in case it's something cool!”

“Look at this cool drawing, too! It's super ominous, I love it,” Max laughed, holding it out to the lens. “Aight, I’m gonna open it now.” And so he did, carefully peeling the flap back in a way that wouldn’t completely ruin the envelope. He reached inside with an excited grin on his face, clearly excited to see what was in store. 

The contents didn’t cause the kind of adrenaline filled emotion he was hoping for, though. He expected it to be something like a heart-felt letter or drawing, something simple, but no. What he pulled out was about five printed photos. 

Photos of the three of them at the crime scene. 

Two of Juliette talking to her camera in front of the bushes. 

One of her reaching near the body. 

One of when Damien and Max first arrived at the crime scene. 

One of them talking to Officer Marne. 

“I don’t think this is from a fan…” 

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