Chapter 4 (The Figure of Death)

Chapter 4 (The Figure of Death) is the fourth chapter of The Clearwood Murders: Episode I - The Figure of Death. It was written by Donald Newton and published on May 14, 2021.

Plot
Cheryl is being stalked.

Full Chapter
EXT. CARTER RESIDENCE - DRIVEWAY - DAY

Lorraine and Keith are making out by Keith's car.

LORRAINE: I'm going to miss you, babe.

KEITH: I'll miss you, too. I don't want to go. But I have to. Our future depends on it.

Lorraine smiles over Keith's dedication.

LORRAINE: I'm so grateful to have a man who cares so much about our future.

KEITH: Trust me, babe. After I finish the jobs I have to take care of in the next few days, we will begin a successful and happy life together. I will be able to provide you with anything you want.

Lorraine smiles over this idea.

LORRAINE: I love you, Keith.

KEITH: I love you, Lorraine.

They kiss each other again.

The SUV returns home with Andrew, Jenna, Nick, and Kiara. The group exit out of the car. Nick gets into Keith's car as the others pass by the kissing couple towards the front door.

ANDREW: (passing by) Get a room!

Jenna and Kiara laugh over Andrew's comment.

EXT. CLEARWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY

Cheryl is walking home by herself. We PAN to the ROAD to find a GREY CAR following her.

DRIVER'S POV.

The Driver is close to Cheryl. But far enough to keep her from knowing that he's following her.

BACK TO CHERYL

Cheryl finally senses the car following her. She turns back to see the car. She recognizes the car and expresses her annoyance over the car following her.

CHERYL: (to herself) Fuckin stalker.

It is now do we see that the driver is -- BUD LANE.

EXT. CLEARWOOD ROAD - SIDEWALK - DAY

Charlie and Brett are walking together.

BRETT: I can't believe what happened to those guys. They were all couples.

CHARLIE: It sounds like it came straight out of a horror movie.

BRETT: The beginning of one at that. The first murders occurring to a couple at night. Friday the 13th.

CHARLIE: And Scream.

BRETT: Pretty soon, multiple people are gonna die and there will be this big blood bath that follows near the end.

CHARLIE: Until someone either reveals themselves.

BRETT: Or it's going to be an unstoppable killer who comes back to life for another bloodbath.

CHARLIE: Now I want to watch a horror movie.

BRETT: Come hang out with me then. We can watch them all night.

CHARLIE: Do you have any beers?

BRETT: Yeah. A shit ton. My parents drink a lot.

CHARLIE: Sweet!

INT. CARTER HOUSE - FOYER - DAY

Andrew and Jenna hug each other.

ANDREW: Text me when you get home.

JENNA: I will.

They kiss each other.

JENNA: Bye.

ANDREW: Bye. Be safe.

JENNA: I will.

Jenna walks out the door and Andrew closes the door. Kathy walks by.

KATHY: I see you and Jenna are going strong.

ANDREW: I think we are. I think she might be the one, mom.

KATHY: That'd be nice. She's a sweet girl.

ANDREW: She is. Well, I'm going up to my room to finish my homework.

KATHY: Okay.

Andrew goes upstairs.

INT. CHERYL'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Cheryl is lying on her bed, watching TV, and playing on her phone.

EXT. CHERYL'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Parked across the street from Cheryl's house is Bud Lane. He is standing against his car and smoking a cigarette. He hears footsteps and turns to the house next door to Cheryl's. There is a couple staring at Bud. They are very suspicious of his presence. Obviously, they are nosy and protective of their neighbors.

BUD: What are you looking at?

Hoping to avoid conflict, the couple turn their eyes away from Bud.

BUD: (to himself) That's what I thought.

Bud finishes his cigarette, tossing it on the ground, and steps on it. He stares at Cheryl's house for a moment before walking off screen.

INT. CHERYL'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Cheryl is still lying on her bed and watching TV. There is a DING on her phone, notifying her of a text message. She checks out her new message. Its from an UNKNOWN. Confused by this, she reads the message.

TEXT MESSENGER: Hey, Cheryl. It's Bud Lane from school.

Cheryl is disturbed and really annoyed now.

CHERYL: (to herself) God! Fucking really?

Cheryl texts him back.

CHERYL ON TEXT: What do you want? How did you get my number?

Bud responds to her message.

BUD ON TEXT: I have my ways. I want to talk to you.

Cheryl angrily replies to his message.

CHERYL ON TEXT: I am not interested in you. You need to fucking leave me alone. I will get the police involved for sexual harassment of a minor.

Bud responds to the text.

BUD: You're sixteen. It's legal in this state to have relations with a sixteen year old. You may get me for sexual harassment. But if you don't embrace me...you will be sorry.

Cheryl is pissed by this message. She quickly replies.

CHERYL ON TEXT: IS THAT A THREAT?!!!

Bud immediately replies.

BUD ON TEXT: It's a promise. Be mine or suffer the consequences. Final chance!

This pisses Cheryl off even more. How dare he give her an ultimatum. She texts back.

CHERYL ON TEXT: FUCK YOU! I'm reporting your ass to the police.

Bud responds back.

BUD ON TEXT: Your call! Your life is over!

Before Cheryl can respond -- The sound of GLASS SHATTERING is heard from downstairs.

CHERYL: What the hell?

Cheryl jumps off of her bed, grabs her phone, and cautiously walks out of her bedroom.

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Cheryl walks down to the living room. It's very dark. It's now do we realize that Cheryl is home alone. She looks around the living room, looking for where the glass shattering sound came from.

INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT

Cheryl walks into the kitchen to find that the sliding glass door has been shattered.

CHERYL: What the?

Cheryl examines it and realizes that someone has broken into the house. She looks at her phone and the text messages from Bud makes it seem like this may have been his doing.

CHERYL: Oh, my God!

Cheryl proceeds to dial 911.

911 OPERATOR: 911, what's your emergency?

CHERYL: Yeah! Someone has broken into my house. I think it was Bud Lane, janitor from Clearwood Unified School.

Before Cheryl can say anymore -- THE FIGURE SNEAKS UP FROM BEHIND AND GRABS HER. Cheryl lets out a scream that the 911 Operator hears.

911 OPERATOR: Ma'am, are you okay? What's going on?

EXT. CHERYL'S HOUSE/NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE - NIGHT

The screams are heard by the same nosy Neighbors who saw Bud outside. They turn to Cheryl's house with concern.

INT. CHERYL'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT

The Figure uses a piece of shard glass to slice Cheryl's throat. Then he releases her body, which falls to the floor.

911 OPERATOR: Ma'am? Ma'am? Are you still there? Help is on the way.

But, of course, it's too late. Cheryl Reid is dead.

EXT. CHERYL'S HOUSE/NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE - NIGHT

The Neighbors are still staring at Cheryl's house. It's very dark in the house and on the lawn to see anything.

Suddenly, coming out of the darkness from Cheryl's property is -- BUD LANE! He has blood on his hands. He looks horrified. He runs to his car and drives off.

FEMALE NEIGHBORHOOD: Oh, my God! I think he hurt Cheryl. Call the police!

The Male Neighbor proceeds to call the police.

Deaths

 * CD = Chapter Death (Deaths in the chapter)
 * SD = Story Death (Overall deaths in the story)

Trivia

 * Last appearance of Cheryl Reid