Death Request Accepted E-Book

Nico Lane

• Herausgeber: Nico Lane
• Kategorie: Abenteuer, Thriller, Horror
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

You know how they say "small towns don't have secrets"? That's a load of bull. Take it from me, John, whose perfect little family in Chesapeake Village was shattered by the most bizarre mystery you've ever heard. My tiny community was turned upside down by this mystery.

My father-in-law discovered a newborn baby girl abandoned in the woods near our home. I'm talking real skin and bones, this poor little thing. We hurried her to the hospital, but it was already too late.

That's when things started to become strange. According to the DNA testing, the parents are me and my wife Rachel. But she was never pregnant, I swear by it!

I'm telling you, secrets began to leak from individuals like water from a broken pipe.

The further we sought answers, the worse it became. I almost went insane trying to discover what had happened to the abandoned infant.

And let me tell you, your jaw will drop when you eventually come to the startling surprise conclusion! When you think you've got it all figured out, surprising insights flip your world upside down. I'm still confused thinking about it.

If you want to read a thriller that will have you flipping pages late at night, you should read my story. Just don't say I didn't warn you - with each chapter, the mystery becomes more intense.

So, if you're looking for a thriller that will keep you asking pick up a copy right now!

Leseprobe

Death Request Accepted

A Social Media Prank Turned Tragic

The Prank That Took Three Lives!

Nico Lane

BOOKS BY NICO LANE:

- Death Request Accepted

- The Magic of Enchantia

- Silent Suspect

Copyright © 2023 Nico Lane

All rights reservedThe characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.Cover design by: Art PainterLibrary of Congress Control Number: 2018675309Printed in the United States of America

Contents

Death Request Accepted

Copyright

Character Glossary

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Character Glossary

John - A young man living in a small town. (Narrator)

Rachel - John's wife. She grew up in the same small town.

Michael - Rachel's father. A longtime resident of the town.

Gloria - John's younger sister. She is studying at the local community college.

Amelia - Gloria's friend. She is married to John's brother Richard.

Sophia - John and Rachel's young daughter.

Amir - A online stranger

Detective Hari - The lead investigator on an important case in the town.

The Prank That Took Three Lives

Social media has become inextricably linked to our daily lives. While technology allows us to communicate with people over long distances, it also has unexpected consequences. The narrative you are about to read is a sad account of how an innocent prank turned into tragedy, resulting in the deaths of three young people.

This story, set in a rural community in Virginia, follows a close-knit family as an apparently simple prank sets off a chain reaction of events that will astound the reader. It starts as fun banter and quickly escalates into a nightmare for everyone concerned.

As you read this cautionary tale, you will be lured into the complexities of the prank and its disastrous effects. When the whole image is shown, the facts revealed will give you shivers. The lives lost in this avoidable calamity underline the tremendous real-world risks lurking beneath the dark depths of social media.

While the scenario is fictitious, it serves as a mirror to inappropriate internet conduct that may be closer to home than we know. It pushes us to consider the ethics of our behaviour and speech on virtual platforms, which may have concrete, and sometimes irrevocable, offline consequences. The somber events that occur highlight the need of caution and compassion, particularly among young users.

So prepare yourself as you learn more about the circumstances that led up to the tragic triple tragedy. It's a sad message that we should all heed in an era when social media consumes so much of our time but seldom shows us its bad side. This narrative will disclose it to you in a manner you will never forget.

◆◆◆

Prologue

2020

Despite the fact that it was my day off from work, I awoke at my normal early hour. I decided to go for a long walk to get some fresh air before the day's tasks started. I dressed and went outdoors into the crisp fall air. The village was quiet, since everyone was still sleeping. I sometimes believe people are dumb because they lose out on the beautiful weather of early mornings.

I took the gravel road out of town, past the dilapidated barn at the edge of the woods. I was strolling cheerfully when I saw something unexpected. Something has to be wrong.

In the distance, I observed my father-in-law Michael racing across the field towards something. He seems concerned. Curious, I altered my path to follow him and see what was going on. As Michael saw something in the bushes, he glanced around and noticed me. "John, come here quickly," he yells.

When I caught up with Michael, I saw a nude, shivering baby girl abandoned in the leaves. When I looked down at the infant wrapped in Michael's shirt, I saw she was a small, frail creature. Her skin was tinged with blue, and her limbs were coiled firmly against the cold. Despite being shrunken and underweight, she had a fine black hair dusting on her fragile head. As she wailed pitifully, her eyes were clenched tight, and her pink lips opened to show toothless gums.

The umbilical cord remained connected. Michael had covered the sobbing baby in his shirt, but she plainly need immediate medical attention.

Michael promptly revealed that he had discovered her alone and dying there. My face was filled with rage and misery as he said. This innocent infant had been ruthlessly abandoned.

"We must get her to the hospital right away!" Michael said. My protective instinct for this vulnerable child surged as I nodded. We ran back to where my motorcycle was parked.

Her faint shouts of resistance escalated as the engine roared to life. My gut knotted as I felt guilty for adding to her suffering. But I needed her aid right now.

Michael clutched her closely as we jostled down the remote dirt road, hoping she'd make it, whilst I was riding as quickly as I could. The pleasant air from the morning stroll appeared to have become frigid throughout the bike ride.

I rushed through the doors of the small clinic, calling for the doctor. As I recounted discovering the hypothermic, preterm newborn, the old physician appeared, bleary-eyed but worried.

I maintained a tight watch beside Michael as the professionals worked quickly to put her under the incubator lights and administer IV fluids.

The gloomy interior of the facility mirrored the gloomy outside. The walls were a dismal mint green color that had faded over time.

The old linoleum flooring were scratched and yellowed. Above obsolete medical equipment, harsh fluorescent lights buzzed.

The old doctor directed us to a tiny room with an incubator and heating bulbs. He put the infant beneath the lights and affixed sensors to her little wrists and feet to monitor her vital signs while the nurse prepared intravenous fluids.

Through the smudged glass, Michael and I stared helplessly as her small chest scarcely lifted with each hard breath.

Her weak breaths faded and ultimately stopped after hours of agony. When the doctor turned out the lights in the incubator, the room became silent. My eyes were stinging with hot tears, and my fists trembled with rage at the injustice done to her.

When the doctor came out with the news, I looked away in grief as Michael sobbed furiously. We had done all we could to save her life, but it was too late.

I resolved then that I would not rest until I had discovered the truth. How can someone throw away their child? What dark reasons drove the youngster to be abandoned to die?

I was riding my bike back to my house, spurred more by the recollection of that innocent newborn girl whose very existence had permanently transformed my life.

◆◆◆

One

John

2019

My family and I reside in a modest suburban home with my parents, my older brother Richard, his wife Amelia, and my younger sister Gloria. With the six of us, it's a full home, but we make it work.

My parents have been in this property for nearly three years; it is still under mortgage, but we expect to pay it off shortly.

There are four bedrooms in total: one for my parents, one for my brother and his wife, and one for my sister and one for myself. There is also a comfortable living room, a dining space, a kitchen, and a small lawn.

My normal day begins with everyone rushing about getting dressed in the morning. My father is an early riser and is generally the first one to get out of bed.

By 6 a.m., we can hear him brewing tea in the kitchen. For the rest of us, the aroma of hot tea serves as an alarm clock.

My mother is the second to awaken and walks to the kitchen to cook breakfast for everyone. She cooks everything from omelets to burgers from scratch every day. We always sit together for breakfast, no matter how busy the mornings are. It's a cherished family tradition.

Meanwhile, my sister Gloria and I are preparing for college. We have to share the restroom and often disagree over who gets to use it first.

My brother Richard works in an office and gets ready in his room. His wife Amelia is a stay-at-home mom, so she isn't in a hurry to get dressed.

We're all seated around the dining table at 7:30 a.m., savoring the morning meal buffet my mother has cooked. We catch up on how everyone slept, make plans for the day, and argue over who gets to read the newspaper.

With so many of us attempting to get ready to go at the same time, it's frequently hectic, but the dynamic spirit makes mornings enjoyable.

After breakfast, we hurriedly wash up and go for college and work. My sister and I both attend the local community college; she studies business, while I study computer technology.

After everyone has departed, the home is silent. My mother spends her mornings cleaning and watching her favorite television programs.

Amelia visits the adjacent market on occasion to conduct errands or meet up with friends. Mom begins preparing lunch for everyone around midday.

We each start trickling back around 4 p.m. in the evenings. Gloria and I are generally the first ones home from college, hungry and anxious to pillage the kitchen. Mom orders us to go so we don't ruin your appetite for supper. My brother arrives home next, fatigued from dealing with city traffic. My father comes in at 6 p.m., newspaper in hand, eager to relax.

The atmosphere is more calm in the evening. In my room, I work on projects or surf the internet. Gloria converses with her pals or listens to music.

Mom and Amelia watch TV or talk in the kitchen while preparing supper. Dad reads the newspaper or takes a brief snooze in the evening. Richard unwinds after work by doing some gardening.

After supper, we have family time, during which we play inside games or take a stroll around the neighborhood. Dad and Richard like to play chess or carrom. At Ludo, we aim to defeat each other. Later in the evening, we watch a popular soap opera or a movie on television.

We start going to bed one by one at 10 p.m. Mom and dad are the first to leave the nest. Richard and his wife are the next to go. My sister and I attempt to get in a little extra TV or phone time before mom scolds us to go to bed.

I like falling asleep to the faint noises of television in the hall and my sister's gentle snores from the other bed.

Even though life might be chaotic with six of us living in a tiny home, I wouldn't exchange it for anything. I like the fact that I am never alone and always have someone to chat to.

We laugh, weep, celebrate, and encourage one another. And, at the end of the day, we know we've got each other's back. For me, this represents home and family.

I was growing drowsy, so I went to my bedroom. The bleakness of my living conditions hit me the moment I stepped into my small room. The 20x15-foot space seemed tight due to the low ceiling and lack of windows. As my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, I saw the peeling paint and water stains on the walls around me. The floor creaked under my feet as I walked in, taking in my surroundings.

My bed was in one corner, nothing more than a worn old mattress on the bed with a thin sheet and a blanket thrown over it. A wooden nightstand with a naked surface stood next to it. The only source of light in the room was a single bulb placed slightly above the mattress.

In one corner was a frayed-upon-the-leather recliner where I frequently snuggled up to read in the evenings.

A basic wood dresser stood against the rear wall, its drawers storing my modest apparel. And next to the window was a basic desk where I worked on my writing projects.

A little wooden stool next to my bed was the only other piece of furniture in the room. On the stool, my clothes were neatly folded and placed. Under the bed, a pair of slippers sat. This was obviously where I stored my little belongings.

As I moved farther inside, I saw a single wall-mounted shelf. It included my toiletries, which included a bottle of toothpaste, a toothbrush, a bar of soap, and some used towels. I was struck by the room's utter lack of adornment or character. Nothing more than the bare basics of life.

I awoke sleepy, blinking at the brightness coming in through the window. I was perplexed for a second since my mother had not awakened me up. Then I recalled - both of my parents had to run to my aunt's house this morning since she was ill.

I forced myself out of bed and went to clean my teeth. My stomach began to grumble, so I immediately changed and went to the kitchen. Amelia, my sister-in-law, was already there, preparing breakfast.

"Good morning, Mr. John!" Amelia, my sister-in-law, stated happily. Her beautiful blonde hair was wrapped in a ponytail and she was dressed simply in a green dress. Her kind, round face instantly put me at ease.

Gloria, my younger sister, stepped in, yawning. Her wavy red hair was a twisted mess around her face, and she was still in her pajamas. "Is breakfast ready yet?" she said sleepily as she took a seat at the table.

"Coming right up!" Amelia responded as she completed her meal. She brought me and Gloria dishes of scrambled eggs and bacon, as well as glasses of orange juice. The scent was incredible, and it made my mouth swim. Amelia later joined us for breakfast.

I smiled quietly, remembering how fortunate I was to have Amelia look after us while my parents were elsewhere.

"So, Amelia, what are your plans for today?" Before taking a drink of orange juice, I inquired.

"Oh, I'm going dress shopping for my friend Lauren's wedding next month," she said. I saw a speck of egg on her bottom lip but didn't want to humiliate her by pointing it out.

"That sounds like a lot of fun!" "What kind of dress do you want?"

"I'm thinking something blue and flowy." Lauren would want all of the bridesmaids to wear blue gowns. "I'm hoping to find something that looks good on me."

My sister Gloria was grumpily digging at her bacon with a fork while Amelia spoke.

"Ugh, I'm so not ready for this English test tomorrow," she grumbled. "Mrs. Wilson's class is really difficult. "I'm definitely going to fail."

"Oh, Gloria, don't say that; I'm sure you'll do fine." Just be sure you read your notes this evening," I advised.

Gloria just rolled her eyes and frowned. "It's simple for you to say, Mr. Star Student. Some of us are truly struggling."

I forced a grin. My sister could be rather theatrical at times. I made a note to question her later on her notes to assist her prepare.

Amelia gathered our plates and began cleaning them after we had done dining. Gloria and I hurriedly dressed in our school uniforms and dashed out the door to catch the bus.

When we reached home, I made a note to thank Amelia for the lovely breakfast. It was reassuring to know that I could always count on her when my parents were not around.

In the evening, when I got home from class, I saw a female speaking with my sister-in-law Amelia in the living room. I was completely taken by the beauty of this mystery girl in that split second glimpse.

"OMG, who is that gorgeous girl?" I thought to myself.

In the front of the home, our living room is a lovely, welcoming area. The room is rather spacious, with light brown carpeting on the floor. A dark red fabric couch and two similar armchairs are positioned around a wooden coffee table in the middle of the room.

A wide bay window on one side has a window seat upholstered in bright patterned cushions. During the day, the window allows in plenty of natural light and provides a great view of the street outside. In the winter, a radiator under the window keeps the room warm.

We have a TV stand next to the couch that houses our large flatscreen TV and cable box. A DVD player and movie DVDs are also stored on a rack beneath.

A brick fireplace with a mantel is located across from the TV area. On the mantel, we have family photographs in frames that are decoratively placed.