Cuffed
A Novel
By The author of www.storiesbymee.weebly.com ,
Emma
Intro
There are things that some people don't know. And then there are
things that everyone seems to know, but no one seems to forget. And then
sometimes you can't trust yourself so then you think; if I can't even trust
myself...Who will? Life is a roller coaster ride. And let me tell you a
little secret... I hate roller coasters.
“Hey Jayme!”
I scream across the hallway as I dash past the open doors.
“Hey
Justin!”
She replies with a bit of sarcasm. I fiddle with the object behind my back as she
pulls in for a hug. I bring the glass up to the back of her neck, trying to keep
my fake laugh going. She pulls out of the hug and I rush my hand to my pocket,
patting the glass back into its place in anger. I manage to smile as she wonders
where I’ve been for the past month.
“Well...
I’ve been a little busy... uh... planning the rest of my- life.”
I cringe- that was a close one. She smiles and moves the hair out of her face.
“I remember last year we were best friends- and look now-we’re boyfriend and
girlfriend.”
I smile, that’s what she thinks. It’s best to pick the stupid ones, they never have a
clue what’s coming for them.
I take her hand in mine and bring the other hand to my pocket. I pull out
the glass and once again hide it behind my back. Jayme’s looking down at the
ground, and I wonder if she saw me- no she couldn’t have- I’ve been doing this
too long and no one has ever seen. That’s when I realize she has something too,
a rose.
“What’s this?”
I say in confusion. She brings it up to the sun light above us.
“I found this in the rubbish, after I stopped sobbing I decided to look for more and,
this is what I found.”
I gasp. She found it. I rip it from her hands and count the petals. One, two, three,
four, five, six, seven, eight, nine- One was missing.
“What are you doing?”
Jayme screamed as I rushed through the open hallway, the smell of burnt paper
surrounding me. I heard a rustle in a door as it banged down, various
firefighters rushing through. They screamed a mix of unidentified words as the
world started to close. Red overcame me, and a large man with grey eyes towered
above me.
“No! Jayme, run!”
I screamed in fear as I pulled out the glass as lunged it
at the man. He caught it and flashed a deep, dark smile my way. I felt pain as
red overcame the world, swallowing everything that was left of me. And as the
world came to a close, I saw a flash of the man and in his hand he had the last
petal.
Chapter 1
The
Depth of Me
I jump off the bus and
saunter into the school as inconspicuously as I can. I seem to blend in with all
the other 15 almost 16 year olds- it’s only that they don’t know how it’s hard
for me to pull myself together after the incident. I step in front of the
horrific crowd and find my locker, number 176. Turning to my left I see Mari.
Stuck up Mari. Mari has golden brown hair and a bit of an attitude. She’s
looking into the mirror attached to the inside of her locker. She has mascara
in her hands and she’s lengthening her already perfect eyelashes. She caps the
mascara bottle and gently placing it to the bottom of the locker, almost like a
kitten. She stares at me for a second, scans my body, up and down.
“What
are you staring at?”
She says,
hand on hip. I hide my face in my locker and turn away with only one thought-
Man, that kitty has some claws.
To my left I see my homeroom, Mr. Bergins classroom. Past his room is
locker 174. And there, standing in front of his locker, is Hunter. Hunter has
“flippy” (as we call it here) dark brown hair, but is sunkiss in the summer. His
eyes are the color of the ocean, but it depends on the day and what he’s
wearing. He plays football and lacrosse, and he’s 5 foot 9 inches, one inch
taller than me. And guess what? I like him... a lot.
I walk into my Homeroom to find Emily and Jain laughing on top of their
desks. “Hey Em! Hey Jay!”
I squeal, rolling my eyes at their oddness.
“Hey Jayme!”
They both shout across the room at the same time. The teacher looks their way, and as
quick as lightning, they plop back into their seats. An empty desk lies beneath
me, and I slide my phone to the end, ignoring the screeching sound it
makes.
I shove my books onto my desk and open up my notebook to see a note.
Jayme,
You shouldn’t have done that. Now that you know my identity, keep it
away. Tell no one, not even the police, cause’ I can knock down anyone who knows
in an instant, including you.
Have a nice day,
Well- incase anyone finds this, let’s just stick with +00
78, because I’m sure you know what that
means.
I cover my head and look around. You can’t do this, I thought we were-
Before I could finish my thought, Mr. Bergins bangs his ruler on the white
board. The shrieking noise hurts my ears, and gives me a headache. I glance over
at Jain, and we both smirk. I see her take out her phone and start to rapidly
move her fingers across the keys, like an elegant finger dance. I hear my phone
vibrate in my desk. I push it to the end of the desk and bang on it so it will
stop. Mr. Bergins stops talking and gives me a glare.
I glance down at my phone and view the message. Jain: Dude, Hunter is
totally checkin u out! Whatever u do, dont turn around, Ill watch him!! : P
I start to freak out on the inside. Hunter, looking at me, never mined
checking me out! Me: OMG JAIN! You know I have a major crush on him!
Keep a look out gal! ;) My insides get shaky. I want to turn around because
he sits right behind me, but he’ll turn away. Jain: Ok gal! He’s staring at
you again! You might have a chance! I shriek and chuckle as Mr. Bergins
exchanges glances with Jain and I.
“What’s
so funny, ladies?”
I shake my
head and begin to write in my notebook what’s on the board. My phone buzzes and
I slam it, I wasn’t expecting a message. Jain shrugs as Mr. Bergins walks up to
me
He snatches my phone out of my hand and walks to the center of the
classroom. He presses a few buttons and gives me an astonished look. Using his
best girly girl voice, he reads the messages.
“Dude,
Hunter is totally checking you out! Whatever you do, don’t turn around, I’ll
watch him!”
He
says sticking his tongue out. I hope this is done before he reads more, but of
course, he isn’t.
“O M G Jain! You know I have a major crush on him! Keep a look out
girl!”
I turn
around slightly and see Hunter’s red cheeks. I decide to end this, and rush out
of the classroom. I keep my head down as I try to make my way through the crowd.
I hear laughing behind me from Cameron, the most popular girl in
school.
“OMG! It was so funny watching her run away in embarrassment. And when the teacher came
back to look for her, that was hilarious!”
I hear more
laughing. I walk even faster, trying to get away. No one’s eyes meet mine, like
usual. Only today, it’s worse. The only thing from other people that reaches me,
are laughs.
I run through the crowded hallways, not daring enough to exchange a
glance with anyone. Behind me I hear hopeless screams from Jain. Eventually, she
catches up with me, and I realize Kayla is with her. I sigh and keep my head
down. I support my books under my arm as Kayla nudges me.
“HEYY!”
She said
running up to my side.
“Hi.”
I
say softly.
“What’s
up with you?”
Jain says
cheekily, smiling like a crazed ninny. “
I’m
not in the mood.” I reply back sharply and angrily.
“Ooooh!
Drama! Is it about what happened in class?”
I stop in my tracks and stare at her.
“How do you know about that?”
I
question as the doors open and the cold breeze nibbles on the back of my neck.
“Come
on Jayme! Everyone knows! It’s the humiliation of the-yah. I should
stop.”
I run into
the bus and plop into the first seat.
“Of course
everyone knows.”
I
think to myself.
“Of course they do.”
I lay in my bed facing the ceiling. What a fool you made out of
yourself today. What were you thinking to even show your face? I think to
myself. I’m right, what was I thinking to even walk through the hallway? And
Hunter. He’s probably so embarrassed right now because a stupid nobody likes
him. What are my chances now? I start to cry.
The next day, I decide to make a choice I never have, I’m going to skip
school. I hop onto the bus and sit in the front row, ready to bolt. The noise
behind me disappears because of how focused I am on the door. Suddenly it opens,
and there I go. Instead of walking to the door, I turn right, jump the fence,
and prance into the open field. As I make my way into the woods, I wonder if
anyone saw me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hunter
I watched her when the teacher snatched her phone. It was actually pretty
funny when you think about it.... Her cherry red cheeks and the tear plopping to
her desk. But when I heard my name, and the fact I was checking her out,
I was embarrassed cause’ you know..... That’s... Jayme. And when she plopped
her head in her desk in frustration, a secret was let out. I knew she liked me,
but, not a major crush. That’s very
meaningful.
I on the other hand have a major crush on Mari. That girl is perfect.
Her perfect golden brown hair that flows just the right way, her eyes the
color of the night sky on a starry night. And she’s 5 foot 8 inches, two inches
shorter than me. I just wonder if she likes me
too.
So, I leave class and Jayme is no where to be found by anyone. Teachers
started to look into it when they found her hiding in the science room cabinet.
“She was in the cabinet?
She’s that slim?”
I asked
Mark.
“Yah. Well, I think, Tyler told
me.”
He stated pointing to him.
“So let’s move on to a bigger and
better topic, do you like Jayme?”
I scratch my head. Of course I
don’t! I mean, me... her? NO
“No I don’t like her I mean, why
would I?”
I say, but I obviously didn’t
convince them.
So, I walk to my locker and turn to my right, but I don’t see Jayme,
instead, I see Mari. She’s staring at me, and I know she is because Olivia’s
locker is next to mine, opened, and there’s a mirror on the front. Olivia slams
her locker shut, and stares at me. “So, I guess you like-“
“Stop! I’ve had enough I don’t like
Jayme just because she likes me!”
I threw my hands to my
head.
“I wasn’t going to say that. I was going
to say, so I guess you like Mari. I mean, I’ve seen the way you stare at
her, and being friends with her best friend I know she likes you too.”
I feel like I die inside, but this
time, it’s a good feeling.
An ocean. The waves crash against the shore, tugging on the sand.
There are palm trees all around, and the ground is blanketed by rocks and
shells. There is a young girl playing in the water, prancing around and diving
into the waves. This young girl has brown hair and blue eyes, like the ocean.
The girl walks out of the water and runs. She runs into the forest of trees,
looking back to make sure no one saw. The waves swallow her footprints, and
there is no sign of her anywhere else. Yelling appears from behind, and a mob of
people gallop out of no where, but they aren’t looking for the girl. But one
person stands out. She only stands out because she doest fit in. The rest of the
crowd is smiling and laughing with their smart phones and the latest style of
clothes. But this girl is holding a bouquet of roses and is heading the opposite
way of the crowd. She kneels down and puts the flowers on the floor, when
someone from the other group slaps her in the back. She turns around and the man
laughs and punches her in the face. The girl puts her hands up to reveal an
injured nose and leg, and limps away. All that’s left is the flowers, with one
petal slightly blood stained.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mari
I laugh the rest of the day. Man,
if I were Jayme, I would’ve killed myself by now. All because of the
embarrassment and the humor. (Well, for me) Later that day when Jayme came to
her locker, the one next to mine, she was crying. I didn’t want to laugh,
because that would be mean. But I guess it just slipped out like soap on water.
I was laughing like a hysterical hyena. She gave me a teary eyed glare and
slammed her locker shut. Well, some anger issues you got there huh? I
think watching her saunter down the hallway. I turn away and see Hunter chatting
away with Olivia. I bite my lip, and an idea strikes me. I like Hunter, and now
that I know Jayme does to, I’m going to strike back. Why? Only because we hate
each other! Rivals have to make rivals jealous.
So the next day, I come to school and I look out side and I burst into
laughter. I see Jayme running. Running!So yah, she looks me in the eyes
and then goes into the trees, with a flip of her head and a jump. I decide it’s
the perfect time to make the move.
“Hey Hunter!”
I say, with a flip of my long
gorgeous hair and a flutter of my sparkling eyes. I put my hand on my hip and
let the other rest on the wall. He stares at me... like he’s... scared. He shyly
turns to the side and hides his face.
“Hey Mari what’s up?”
He says, but puts and emphasize on
the Mari. Something tells me he’s not used to
me.
“Can I ask you a
question?”
He says, and I blink uncontrollably,
stating I have something to say.
“Actually, I have a question for
you.”
He laughs with me, and together, we
create a harmony. I open my mouth and say it with confidence.
“Wanna’go out
sometime?”
He says it too, and I nod my head. He
brings me into a hug and smiles. Man, when they said revenge is sweet, they
weren’t kidding.
That night I sat in
my bed and stared at the ceiling with a smirk. Just thinking about what I did
makes me smile. I couldn’t wait until tomorrow. I closed my eyes and fell
asleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Red. Red swallowed my dream and
everything behind it. Was it guilt? Did the guilt take over my life because of
what I did to Jayme? Of course not. The only reason why I saw red was because
red is for pain. And for some reason, I only felt pain... but it calmed me.
I was
calm.
But why was I calm? The pain was too hard to handle. I tried to scream
but each time I tried the red got brighter and brighter until I blacked out.
I woke up in a field. A field of colorful flowers and rainbow grass. But
why was this? I was never a good person; do I deserve a unicorn friend in the
after life? Was I dead? I had no idea. But now, the pain was gone and I saw a
light in the distance. I had no idea what the light was, so I tried to run away,
but as I ran away the light only surrounded me. It gave me a hug that warmed me
on the inside and out. I recognized the light now. It was fire. I saw something
floating, and it landed in my hand. I turned it around a couple times when I
recognized it from another one of my dreams. It was the blood stained flower
pedal.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There was a girl in her dream.
The girl was sitting at a dinner table with white roses in front of her. She was
reading a label when she gasped. She ripped a rose out of the bunch and left
the restaurant. She cried in the rain with the white rose in her hand. She took
pedals off and mouthed words in bundles of tears. One by one she ripped them
off saying,
“He loves me, He loved me not, he
loves me,”
And then she stopped. There was one
pedal left. She took it off and buried it in the ground. She took a handful of
rocks and left. Leaving the buried rose pedal, with a heart made of rocks
surrounding the spot.
As the girl ran away, a tear dripped down her face, unseen. The rain
soaked her hair as the girl sat down in the grass, up against a tree. She took
her hood and placed in on her head when she turned towards the tree and sulked
in sorrow. Suddenly, an older girl walked up to her, her head splattered with
brown against the blond hair.
The older girl smirked at the young girl, the rain not strong enough to
wipe the smile away. She didn’t feel pain, she felt glad, almost as if she
planned this. The young girl looked towards the older one and stood up. A
conversation started.
“Wanna know what girl? You aren’t safe here. You have people after you
everywhere; sitting here in plain sight wasn’t your best option now was it?”
The girl shook her head.
“Poor, poor, little girl. Why,
Macy, you thought you had a chance now, didn’t
you?”
The young girl, Macy, nodded as the
older one grabbed her sweater and pushed her up against a brick wall.
“I’m everywhere you turn, poor
girl.”
Macy stuttered to talk.
“You don’t know what I’ve gone through. I’ve been bullied
and pushed around. You don’t know about my past or my future. And you never
will.”
Macy
screamed in fear as the older girl smiled and grew closer.
“How are you sure of that? What if I never left your side
and haunted you just because I hate you all that much. Poor, poor, Macy, she
has no clue!”
The
whispering became a stern scream.
“What if I’m the little shadow in every corner? Face it
Macy. I’m everywhere you look. You can’t escape me. I’m in every shadow and
over your head and out your window and haunting you in your
dreams.”
She lowered her
voice.
“I know more about your life that you
do. And no matter where you go or what you do, I’ll always be standing behind
you knife in hand. And when you see those eyes in the doll and in the picture of
that women move, or when the chair rocks, or when you find blood in the
basement, you know I’m right there, and I always will be until the end. Or at
least your end.”
Macy tried to scream as the girls hands curled around her neck giving a
light squeeze before putting her against the
wall.
“Just
remember, no matter what you do, you can’t escape me. I’m everywhere you look.
And you can’t do anything about it.”
The girl clutched her neck hard when Macy realized how
unbreakable she was. No one could stop the pain. Macy kneeled to the ground as
the girl let go and smiled at the blood on her hands. As the girl walked away,
Macy lay there, lifelessly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jayme
I’d never though I’d be here so
early in the book. I’m already sitting here grounded, washing the floors with my
brother’s toothbrush. I bet you my fairy godmother will show up right now with
her magic wand, ready to start my fairytale life. And when the clock strikes
twelve and I’ll be back here, a prince will knock at my door with a shoe. He’ll
place it on me and it’ll be the perfect fit. The end.
Well guess what? This isn’t a book. Or a movie, a fairytale, or anything
that ends well. No. This is me. I lie in my bed and stare up at the empty
ceiling.
“Blank, plain, nothing happening to
you, fake. Wow. We have so much in
common.”
“Why am I falling apart right now? If there is someone out there that can
glue me together, why don’t they?”
I whispered into my
pillow.
“It’s hopeless. No. I’m hopeless.
I’m hopeless and weak and cry over a text message.
If it wasn’t for that s- stupid Hunter I wouldn’t be here right
now.”
I glanced at my door, opened wide, the
light pouring in, reflecting against my eyes. I sauntered over to close it, not
being able to bear the glare. As I brought my hand towards the door knob
something caught the light.
I snuck past the stairs and creeped into the room. I reached out and
grasped the small, thin, object. I gaped in glory at the sight of the object,
but wondered where the rest of it was. I flashed a small gaze at the table I
found the item and saw a striker lying there next to a can of bleach. I knew
what I had to do.
I stared at the lone match and brought it up to the striker, trembling. I
fiercely stroked the match against the striker, the red and yellow flames
burning the fresh air. The smoke flew up as the flames boomed heat around the
room. I chucked the match to the ground, imminently regretting everything. The
flames ran along the bleach track that headed all around the first floor.
Memories flashed through my head as the flames danced around me. A chill ran
through my back, striking me with pain as I heard the ceiling collapse. I saw a
flash of white and everything fell apart, the world slipping right through my
fingertips.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mari
Life. Man, if there was one word to define it, it would be me. Sure, I’m
selfish and demanding but, hey, at least I’m pretty! There is nothing more in
life than to have perfection all around. Nothing more at all. Do you ever get
when people say that it’s bad to have enemies because it only pushes you down?
Let’s just say in my world, they only help me reach the top.
“Oh my god! Mari!”
Hunter screamed as I strutted off
the bus.
“What?”
I growled back, fixing my hair as I
stared into my portable mirror.
“Did you hear what happened to
Jayme yesterday?”
I closed the mirror as a smirk lit up my
face.
“Well, what happened, and what’s in
it for me?”
I snapped back.
“It’s all over the news, apparently
after the ‘incident’ in school she ran away.”
I stared at the floor, a grin
peering through my lips.
“That’s it? I seriously thought it
would be more, Uhm, intense considering what was near her, I mean, flames are
sure to start even if left by the
bleach.”
I stopped, realizing what I had just
revealed.
Hunter stared at me, a deep empty stare.
“Well- I mean- uh-
Uhm...”
Hunter grew closer to me.
“How do you know about the
match?”
I stopped, Hunter’s force growing as I
was soon banged against the wall.
“Match? What? I said nothing about a
match...”
I stuttered. Hunter’s face lit up
red.
“What did you do to Jayme?” His palms
became sweaty against my arms. I stayed silent. “I said what did you do to
Jayme? I knew you guys were enemies but really, you had to kill her to be
satisfied?”
I widened my eyes as pools of tears
streamed down my face.
“You do realize I’m going to have
to call the police for breaking and entering and attempt at
murder?”
I fell backwards, the grass beneath me
smothered with mud.
“But, we’re dating so really it
would not be right to arrest your girlfriend.”
He stared at me.
“Well, we’re through.”
Hunter started to walk to class when I realized how vacant the hallways
were. I struggled to stand up and scampered towards him.
“Are you still gunna’ call the
police?”
I tugged on his shoulder, but he
flung it back at me.
“Yes. Why shouldn’t I? You practically
murdered someone. I don’t want to be in a relationship with a kill-”
I pushed him to the wall, and
threatened him to back away.
“Never.”
He said, struggling to escape my grasp.
I curled my fingers around his neck, a breeze of cool air running through
me. For some reason, I recognized
the feeling from somewhere. I clutched his neck as he blurted few attempts of
breath.
“Hunter!”
I screamed, not realizing what I
just did.
“It’s too
late-”
He gurgled as he fell to the ground, my
fingers stained with blood.
I ran down the hallway, trying to escape what I just did. I glanced into
the classrooms, only few catching a glimpse of me. I couldn’t believe it. I
am a murderer. I practically killed Jayme and my boyfriend- or at least I think
he is- isn’t breathing. What should I do? Suddenly, down the hall I heard a
gunshot.
Iflipped my head a round seeing a tall young girl, a rifle in her hands. Before I
could get a glance at her, she pointed the gun at me. I rushed down the hallway
and screamed for help. Obviously, no one could hear. I turned the corner,
gunshots firing behind me like a bunch of tin cans being slammed to the ground.
Loud and obnoxious footsteps followed me like a shadow. I turned around and saw
a red face with a smirk. She turned her head sideways and stopped running. For
some odd reason I did too. She walked up to me, her eyes dark and gray. When I
looked into her eyes, I thought of a happy place, somewhere with a unicorn
friend.
I realized what it was now. The choke, the fire building up around Jayme,
the pain in the field, it all added up. The gun was pointed at me as a force
knocked me to the ground. That’s when I realized I was now the one who lay
lifeless. Suddenly I felt a pain stab me in the heart. The girl towering above
me showed me the last thing I’d ever see, a deep, dark,
smile.
Chapter
2
The
Petal
There was sharp noise. It was
high, more of a shriek than any normal thing you’d hear there. Suddenly, the
intercom blew on, a worried principle screaming, CODE RED, CODE RED! The Math
teacher rushed to the door and looked left and right and started furiously
pounding on the door. One word was managed to sneak out of his mouth,
“Mari.”
The class burst into screams and shouts
as the wind outside blew the leaves around. The breeze howled, rain starting to
patter on the roof. And down the hall, around a corner, a body lay unconscious
with a calmed look on its face and a knife in hand. The murderer was no where to
be seen.
Jayme
I woke up in a cramped room, news cameras and balloons blocking my view
of any door. I was covered in bandages, and tubes were all around me leading to
a mask over my mouth. I struggled to life my head up, but an odd nurse pushed me
down with fierce force.
“Wanna know what Jayme? You aren’t safe
here. You have people after you everywhere; sitting here in plain sight wasn’t
your best option now was it?”
I stared up at her in shock. The
nurse looked just like Mari.
I sat up straight, seeing only my mom and dad. No creepy nurse, no
cameras, no random strangers smiling unbearably, only my mom and dad. A nurse
sauntered in, obviously not seeing me awake. I got up and turned around in fear.
Sure enough, I was still laying there.
I ran in circles, the sight not transitioning. I’m awake but I’m not
awake... I paused and remembered what we learned in science class. Astral
Projection... But I have to be going somewhere, right? Suddenly, I knew
where I was going. Almost in an instant I was at my school, lights flashing from
police cars. There were medics rushing in to the school, carrying three bodies
out. Before I could think, I was shook and woken up.
“There has been a fire in downtown Westway. Jake, it’s on to you.”
“Thanks Jane. Here in Westway a
young fifteen year old girl ran away from her home yesterday, earlier found by
police and grounded. Police have talked to the parents and found out she ran
away after an incident in school that cause laughter and bullying directed her
way. She was placed in her room while her parents when out for dinner, leaving
her unattended. While she was alone, someone snuck into her house, leaving a
match, striker, and some bleach. Police found this out after seeing the bleach
can and noticing under the lid there was a boys name, the name found said, Jerry
Wallfer. Suspects say Jerry died last year, so no evidence could turn to him.
Yet next to the writing showed
this;”
A picture showed up that said: +00 78.
“This girl, Jayme Terta, lit her
room on fire, and was burned, but police say that’s not what put her in the
hospital. Here is police officer Lones with more information.”
“We have found a small pocket knife
that must’ve fallen out off the suspects pocket near the window, and we also
found a wound on Jayme’s upper back. We believe the suspect
is-”
Suddenly, the police officer fell to the
ground, right out of the blue.
“No, Christopher, the real question is who caused Jayme to run away,”
I said tapping on my notes paper, proving Christopher wrong... again.
“Yes Jake but you see that will take us no where. It’s like digging and suddenly you get to a big rock. So you keep poking it and shaving small things off but you never get through the rock. Let’s go around the rock, Jake.”
I stood there, pen at my chin.
“You make no sense Christopher.”
“Jake, there is a reporter here to talk to you about what has happened.”
I heard Christopher scream from his office. I saw the door kicked open by tall, glittery high heeled shoes that burned my eyes to the pupils. A tall, young and flawless looking woman with blond, wavy hair sauntered out, strutting like Taylor Swift. I stared at her eyes. Deep gray, mesmerizing eyes.
“Yes?”
She whispered, giving me a puzzled look.
“Well, the investigation started when Jayme Terta ran away from her home for unknown reasons at school. It was when we found her sulking in a tree we thought it was the end. We’d never have
trouble with Jayme again. Honestly though, the investigation started over something stupid, and then let’s just say, it grows. Like a bomb that explodes-and like a chain- it causes more and
more bombs to blow up, and somehow it’s connected to that stupid little
topic,”
“The investigation continued when the bleach, match and striker showed up
at her house with the mysterious plus sign, two zeros, a seven and an eight. We
are starting to think this was portrayed as a code that only the murderer and
Jayme knew. Then afterwards a fire started by Jayme and someone stabbed her in
the back, leaving a deep wound.”
I paused and stared deep into the reporter’s eyes, those gray like the night sky eyes.
“Continue,”
She said, glancing up from her notebook. I lowered my eyebrows, furrowing them at what was said on my paper.
“Only one thing.”
I took my glasses and looked closer to make sure I was seeing right.
“Mari.”
The reporter looked up at me obviously waiting for more.
“Yes...”
“Mari Wallfer. She was gone last night during the fire. And, she was out of class during the shooting, but she was found.“
“Dead?”
“No... She was found... with a gun
in her hand and a note.”
The reporter’s eyes glistened like the night sky. She gasped and rapidly took notes.
“Well, what did the note say?”
I handed her the note.
Dear whoever is smart enough to find
this,
Listen. You may have had suspects. You may have thought it was him or it
was her but no. If you think you know anything, you are wrong. WAY WRONG. You
can try. You can dig up bodies, search east, south west, up, down, you can’t
find me. And trust me. This wasn’t the final strike. The lightning bolt is still
charging. Watch everywhere. But you should know it’s already +00
78.
Sincerely,
Well, why do you
care?
“So, where is this ‘Mari’ now? She was gone last night and she was hurt but that
doesn’t mean we can suspect anything to be different.”
The woman said, slowly crumbling the note between her wrinkling fingers.
“We can’t. She’s not seeing any visitors in the hospital.”
The woman got up and tucked her loose strands of hair behind her ear. She slammed her notepad and left with her head held high and her mouth shut.
Jayme
My blurred vision blocked my way of understanding a thing. I saw more
people around me than expected, especially since I was here a few minutes ago. I
scanned the room as my mom rushed to go get a doctor. I turned to my right to
see, “Get well soon!” balloons along with teddy bears and singing cards.
“Jayme?”
I heard coming from a bewildered young girl.
“Olivia? How’d you know I was here?”
Olivia was my friend a few years ago until she changed her attitude and her personality just to be friends with the popular people.
“You’re mom called my mom when they came home from their dinner. Apparently they were old high school friends so, they just, I don’t know. My mom told me and for a second I forgot who you were
but then I remembered it was before 8th grade when we were friends.”
I stared at her and swallowed hard, a lump growing in my neck.
“And then you changed..... Just for him.”
She blinked a few times, her blue eyes flashing back and forth.
“It was a wrong and stupid choice too, I mean, I died my hair and got contacts for a player that dumped me just days after. I’m sorry. I got you some flowers!”
She said as her face lit up like a light bulb. She handed me a vase with stunning white roses.
“Thanks.”
I sulked as Olivia sauntered out the door.
The room was cleared and now, I was alone. Completely alone. For about a minute I felt safe, like nothing could possibly happen to me and this was the final strike. Nothing would happen, I was safe.
“I’m safe. Completely
safe!”
I screamed, a little louder than I should’ve had. Of course I had to realize it was only a warning.
Next to my right ear I heard the blaring phone scream its annoying ring. I picked it up, carefully maneuvering my arm from its cast when a deep and scratchy yet familiar voice shouting.
“You have 30
seconds...”
There was a short pause and an ear piercing shriek.
“GET OUT.”
I felt a cold chill run up and down my back, making my feet spasm. I carefully got out of the hospital bed, counting down the seconds.
5...6....7...
I limped over to the door, ignoring the screams from inside of me.
10...11...12...
I twisted the door knob, my wrinkly and weak fingertips not used to the cold touch.
17...18...19...20...
Struggling, I forcefully clutched the door knob and yanked on it, causing it to pop off.
25...26...27...
Panicked, I banged on the door as footsteps approached behind me.
28...29...30
“Well, Jayme, it’s nice to see you again...”
The voice rumbled.
The person was dressed in all black, only a white mask over their face and cold grey eyes peeking out. She grabbed a white rose off of the flower batch.
“Now that we are finally alone...”
She fiddled with the rose, twisting and turning it and not even squinting when the thorn pierced into her skin.
“I have a job to do.”
The voice said, pulling a sharp and pointy knife out of no where. Slamming it against her arm, she put it above her head and threw it at me. With a quick jerk of my neck, I moved to the side, the
knife stabbed into the wall. I ran to it, and struggled to get it out of the
wall, but it was too late, the person had already pushed me against the wall.
“What’s wrong Jayme? You scared?”
I whimpered and whine as the persons face grew closer. He, she, it pulled the knife and brought it to her
shoulder, mimicking me as it was pushed up against my
face.
“What do you know Jayme,”
The door was knocked on, interrupting her mid-sentence.
“I know nothing, all I know is that...”
I whispered, reaching my hand for the mask.
“Continue,”
She murmured back as I ripped the mask off her face.
“Wait- why?”
I let out a squeal of her name as her face flashed through my eyes.
“It’s too late Jayme! You’re time is up!”
She screamed as she ripped a petal off of the rose and cleaned the knife with it, dropping the petal to the ground as the door busted opened.
Chapter 3
An
Unknown Identity
I stared at Jayme and clenched my teeth together, bringing the knife to her frail neck.
“I know you know something- and trust me when I say this- I know you know who he
is.”
She struggled and gurgled until she finally admitted she knew.
“Now, what exactly do you know?”
I mumbled as her hand reached towards my neck.
“What are you doing?”
I growled as my face became revealed.
She knows both of us. Without a thread of panic I brought the
knife back and screamed at her.
“It’s too late Jayme!”
I stuck the knife into her flesh as she whimpered and whined.
“Your time is up!
I stared at her lifeless body for a second with a smirk peering through
my lips. The door knob jiggled with anxious turns as I heard a crack. The
towering door collapsed and smacked the ground with a force that broke the wood
and the glass window shattered into unfixable pieces.
I grabbed a piece of glass and kept it by my side as I slip into the
vacant corner, hidden by a large wooden cabinet. I grabbed my mask and rested
the mask onto my face when I started to hear murmurs and mumbles until someone
noticed the body on the floor.
Screams echoed through the long hallways of the cramped hospital. I
brought the point of the glass to the corner of the room. My body shivered as
hair rose at the back of my neck. Dozens of Nurses came running in, looking for
signs of murder.
“I think I found something!”
Shouted one of them, grabbing the attention of the rest
of the nurses. I peered around the corner and glared at the nurse with the
object.They found the petal.
I gaped at the way the nurses crowded around trying to figure out the
meaning of the petal. They passed around ideas over and over again, still never
coming up with the right answers. I creeped over to the crowd and came closer to
listen to them.
“No!”
I shrieked as I slipped on a piece of broken glass and fell to the ground. I felt burning
stares pierce my skin as I let out a wail.
The room fell silent as I lay there, mask off and in sight.
“Run.”
I heard from inside of me.
“Run and make them cry. Make them chase you and chase you until they shrivel up and
die. Make them suffer and run.”
I struggled to stand up, limping on my leg for a second. I gained the strength to
run, hearing screams and alarms go off behind me, wailing out the restless cries
of tomorrow, the tears of today already gone.
I dashed through the hallways, closing my eyes as I escaped any grasp.
There was a crowd behind me, and I couldn’t handle myself. I grabbed my belt and
pulled out a gun, keeping it hidden in my clutch as I rushed away. I stopped and
turned around, aiming my gun at anyone who stared.
“Shut up and it will do you good.”
I heard a scream from somewhere at the back of the hallway.
“I said shut up!”
I screamed, wasting dozens of bullets on people that can do me no
good.
I heard sirens out the window as the flashing lights interfering my
fiery. I shot another 10 times, lives going faster than rain clouds on a sunny
day.
There are things that some people don't know. And then there are
things that everyone seems to know, but no one seems to forget. And then
sometimes you can't trust yourself so then you think; if I can't even trust
myself...Who will? Life is a roller coaster ride. And let me tell you a
little secret... I hate roller coasters.
“Hey Jayme!”
I scream across the hallway as I dash past the open doors.
“Hey
Justin!”
She replies with a bit of sarcasm. I fiddle with the object behind my back as she
pulls in for a hug. I bring the glass up to the back of her neck, trying to keep
my fake laugh going. She pulls out of the hug and I rush my hand to my pocket,
patting the glass back into its place in anger. I manage to smile as she wonders
where I’ve been for the past month.
“Well...
I’ve been a little busy... uh... planning the rest of my- life.”
I cringe- that was a close one. She smiles and moves the hair out of her face.
“I remember last year we were best friends- and look now-we’re boyfriend and
girlfriend.”
I smile, that’s what she thinks. It’s best to pick the stupid ones, they never have a
clue what’s coming for them.
I take her hand in mine and bring the other hand to my pocket. I pull out
the glass and once again hide it behind my back. Jayme’s looking down at the
ground, and I wonder if she saw me- no she couldn’t have- I’ve been doing this
too long and no one has ever seen. That’s when I realize she has something too,
a rose.
“What’s this?”
I say in confusion. She brings it up to the sun light above us.
“I found this in the rubbish, after I stopped sobbing I decided to look for more and,
this is what I found.”
I gasp. She found it. I rip it from her hands and count the petals. One, two, three,
four, five, six, seven, eight, nine- One was missing.
“What are you doing?”
Jayme screamed as I rushed through the open hallway, the smell of burnt paper
surrounding me. I heard a rustle in a door as it banged down, various
firefighters rushing through. They screamed a mix of unidentified words as the
world started to close. Red overcame me, and a large man with grey eyes towered
above me.
“No! Jayme, run!”
I screamed in fear as I pulled out the glass as lunged it
at the man. He caught it and flashed a deep, dark smile my way. I felt pain as
red overcame the world, swallowing everything that was left of me. And as the
world came to a close, I saw a flash of the man and in his hand he had the last
petal.
Chapter 1
The
Depth of Me
I jump off the bus and
saunter into the school as inconspicuously as I can. I seem to blend in with all
the other 15 almost 16 year olds- it’s only that they don’t know how it’s hard
for me to pull myself together after the incident. I step in front of the
horrific crowd and find my locker, number 176. Turning to my left I see Mari.
Stuck up Mari. Mari has golden brown hair and a bit of an attitude. She’s
looking into the mirror attached to the inside of her locker. She has mascara
in her hands and she’s lengthening her already perfect eyelashes. She caps the
mascara bottle and gently placing it to the bottom of the locker, almost like a
kitten. She stares at me for a second, scans my body, up and down.
“What
are you staring at?”
She says,
hand on hip. I hide my face in my locker and turn away with only one thought-
Man, that kitty has some claws.
To my left I see my homeroom, Mr. Bergins classroom. Past his room is
locker 174. And there, standing in front of his locker, is Hunter. Hunter has
“flippy” (as we call it here) dark brown hair, but is sunkiss in the summer. His
eyes are the color of the ocean, but it depends on the day and what he’s
wearing. He plays football and lacrosse, and he’s 5 foot 9 inches, one inch
taller than me. And guess what? I like him... a lot.
I walk into my Homeroom to find Emily and Jain laughing on top of their
desks. “Hey Em! Hey Jay!”
I squeal, rolling my eyes at their oddness.
“Hey Jayme!”
They both shout across the room at the same time. The teacher looks their way, and as
quick as lightning, they plop back into their seats. An empty desk lies beneath
me, and I slide my phone to the end, ignoring the screeching sound it
makes.
I shove my books onto my desk and open up my notebook to see a note.
Jayme,
You shouldn’t have done that. Now that you know my identity, keep it
away. Tell no one, not even the police, cause’ I can knock down anyone who knows
in an instant, including you.
Have a nice day,
Well- incase anyone finds this, let’s just stick with +00
78, because I’m sure you know what that
means.
I cover my head and look around. You can’t do this, I thought we were-
Before I could finish my thought, Mr. Bergins bangs his ruler on the white
board. The shrieking noise hurts my ears, and gives me a headache. I glance over
at Jain, and we both smirk. I see her take out her phone and start to rapidly
move her fingers across the keys, like an elegant finger dance. I hear my phone
vibrate in my desk. I push it to the end of the desk and bang on it so it will
stop. Mr. Bergins stops talking and gives me a glare.
I glance down at my phone and view the message. Jain: Dude, Hunter is
totally checkin u out! Whatever u do, dont turn around, Ill watch him!! : P
I start to freak out on the inside. Hunter, looking at me, never mined
checking me out! Me: OMG JAIN! You know I have a major crush on him!
Keep a look out gal! ;) My insides get shaky. I want to turn around because
he sits right behind me, but he’ll turn away. Jain: Ok gal! He’s staring at
you again! You might have a chance! I shriek and chuckle as Mr. Bergins
exchanges glances with Jain and I.
“What’s
so funny, ladies?”
I shake my
head and begin to write in my notebook what’s on the board. My phone buzzes and
I slam it, I wasn’t expecting a message. Jain shrugs as Mr. Bergins walks up to
me
He snatches my phone out of my hand and walks to the center of the
classroom. He presses a few buttons and gives me an astonished look. Using his
best girly girl voice, he reads the messages.
“Dude,
Hunter is totally checking you out! Whatever you do, don’t turn around, I’ll
watch him!”
He
says sticking his tongue out. I hope this is done before he reads more, but of
course, he isn’t.
“O M G Jain! You know I have a major crush on him! Keep a look out
girl!”
I turn
around slightly and see Hunter’s red cheeks. I decide to end this, and rush out
of the classroom. I keep my head down as I try to make my way through the crowd.
I hear laughing behind me from Cameron, the most popular girl in
school.
“OMG! It was so funny watching her run away in embarrassment. And when the teacher came
back to look for her, that was hilarious!”
I hear more
laughing. I walk even faster, trying to get away. No one’s eyes meet mine, like
usual. Only today, it’s worse. The only thing from other people that reaches me,
are laughs.
I run through the crowded hallways, not daring enough to exchange a
glance with anyone. Behind me I hear hopeless screams from Jain. Eventually, she
catches up with me, and I realize Kayla is with her. I sigh and keep my head
down. I support my books under my arm as Kayla nudges me.
“HEYY!”
She said
running up to my side.
“Hi.”
I
say softly.
“What’s
up with you?”
Jain says
cheekily, smiling like a crazed ninny. “
I’m
not in the mood.” I reply back sharply and angrily.
“Ooooh!
Drama! Is it about what happened in class?”
I stop in my tracks and stare at her.
“How do you know about that?”
I
question as the doors open and the cold breeze nibbles on the back of my neck.
“Come
on Jayme! Everyone knows! It’s the humiliation of the-yah. I should
stop.”
I run into
the bus and plop into the first seat.
“Of course
everyone knows.”
I
think to myself.
“Of course they do.”
I lay in my bed facing the ceiling. What a fool you made out of
yourself today. What were you thinking to even show your face? I think to
myself. I’m right, what was I thinking to even walk through the hallway? And
Hunter. He’s probably so embarrassed right now because a stupid nobody likes
him. What are my chances now? I start to cry.
The next day, I decide to make a choice I never have, I’m going to skip
school. I hop onto the bus and sit in the front row, ready to bolt. The noise
behind me disappears because of how focused I am on the door. Suddenly it opens,
and there I go. Instead of walking to the door, I turn right, jump the fence,
and prance into the open field. As I make my way into the woods, I wonder if
anyone saw me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hunter
I watched her when the teacher snatched her phone. It was actually pretty
funny when you think about it.... Her cherry red cheeks and the tear plopping to
her desk. But when I heard my name, and the fact I was checking her out,
I was embarrassed cause’ you know..... That’s... Jayme. And when she plopped
her head in her desk in frustration, a secret was let out. I knew she liked me,
but, not a major crush. That’s very
meaningful.
I on the other hand have a major crush on Mari. That girl is perfect.
Her perfect golden brown hair that flows just the right way, her eyes the
color of the night sky on a starry night. And she’s 5 foot 8 inches, two inches
shorter than me. I just wonder if she likes me
too.
So, I leave class and Jayme is no where to be found by anyone. Teachers
started to look into it when they found her hiding in the science room cabinet.
“She was in the cabinet?
She’s that slim?”
I asked
Mark.
“Yah. Well, I think, Tyler told
me.”
He stated pointing to him.
“So let’s move on to a bigger and
better topic, do you like Jayme?”
I scratch my head. Of course I
don’t! I mean, me... her? NO
“No I don’t like her I mean, why
would I?”
I say, but I obviously didn’t
convince them.
So, I walk to my locker and turn to my right, but I don’t see Jayme,
instead, I see Mari. She’s staring at me, and I know she is because Olivia’s
locker is next to mine, opened, and there’s a mirror on the front. Olivia slams
her locker shut, and stares at me. “So, I guess you like-“
“Stop! I’ve had enough I don’t like
Jayme just because she likes me!”
I threw my hands to my
head.
“I wasn’t going to say that. I was going
to say, so I guess you like Mari. I mean, I’ve seen the way you stare at
her, and being friends with her best friend I know she likes you too.”
I feel like I die inside, but this
time, it’s a good feeling.
An ocean. The waves crash against the shore, tugging on the sand.
There are palm trees all around, and the ground is blanketed by rocks and
shells. There is a young girl playing in the water, prancing around and diving
into the waves. This young girl has brown hair and blue eyes, like the ocean.
The girl walks out of the water and runs. She runs into the forest of trees,
looking back to make sure no one saw. The waves swallow her footprints, and
there is no sign of her anywhere else. Yelling appears from behind, and a mob of
people gallop out of no where, but they aren’t looking for the girl. But one
person stands out. She only stands out because she doest fit in. The rest of the
crowd is smiling and laughing with their smart phones and the latest style of
clothes. But this girl is holding a bouquet of roses and is heading the opposite
way of the crowd. She kneels down and puts the flowers on the floor, when
someone from the other group slaps her in the back. She turns around and the man
laughs and punches her in the face. The girl puts her hands up to reveal an
injured nose and leg, and limps away. All that’s left is the flowers, with one
petal slightly blood stained.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mari
I laugh the rest of the day. Man,
if I were Jayme, I would’ve killed myself by now. All because of the
embarrassment and the humor. (Well, for me) Later that day when Jayme came to
her locker, the one next to mine, she was crying. I didn’t want to laugh,
because that would be mean. But I guess it just slipped out like soap on water.
I was laughing like a hysterical hyena. She gave me a teary eyed glare and
slammed her locker shut. Well, some anger issues you got there huh? I
think watching her saunter down the hallway. I turn away and see Hunter chatting
away with Olivia. I bite my lip, and an idea strikes me. I like Hunter, and now
that I know Jayme does to, I’m going to strike back. Why? Only because we hate
each other! Rivals have to make rivals jealous.
So the next day, I come to school and I look out side and I burst into
laughter. I see Jayme running. Running!So yah, she looks me in the eyes
and then goes into the trees, with a flip of her head and a jump. I decide it’s
the perfect time to make the move.
“Hey Hunter!”
I say, with a flip of my long
gorgeous hair and a flutter of my sparkling eyes. I put my hand on my hip and
let the other rest on the wall. He stares at me... like he’s... scared. He shyly
turns to the side and hides his face.
“Hey Mari what’s up?”
He says, but puts and emphasize on
the Mari. Something tells me he’s not used to
me.
“Can I ask you a
question?”
He says, and I blink uncontrollably,
stating I have something to say.
“Actually, I have a question for
you.”
He laughs with me, and together, we
create a harmony. I open my mouth and say it with confidence.
“Wanna’go out
sometime?”
He says it too, and I nod my head. He
brings me into a hug and smiles. Man, when they said revenge is sweet, they
weren’t kidding.
That night I sat in
my bed and stared at the ceiling with a smirk. Just thinking about what I did
makes me smile. I couldn’t wait until tomorrow. I closed my eyes and fell
asleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Red. Red swallowed my dream and
everything behind it. Was it guilt? Did the guilt take over my life because of
what I did to Jayme? Of course not. The only reason why I saw red was because
red is for pain. And for some reason, I only felt pain... but it calmed me.
I was
calm.
But why was I calm? The pain was too hard to handle. I tried to scream
but each time I tried the red got brighter and brighter until I blacked out.
I woke up in a field. A field of colorful flowers and rainbow grass. But
why was this? I was never a good person; do I deserve a unicorn friend in the
after life? Was I dead? I had no idea. But now, the pain was gone and I saw a
light in the distance. I had no idea what the light was, so I tried to run away,
but as I ran away the light only surrounded me. It gave me a hug that warmed me
on the inside and out. I recognized the light now. It was fire. I saw something
floating, and it landed in my hand. I turned it around a couple times when I
recognized it from another one of my dreams. It was the blood stained flower
pedal.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There was a girl in her dream.
The girl was sitting at a dinner table with white roses in front of her. She was
reading a label when she gasped. She ripped a rose out of the bunch and left
the restaurant. She cried in the rain with the white rose in her hand. She took
pedals off and mouthed words in bundles of tears. One by one she ripped them
off saying,
“He loves me, He loved me not, he
loves me,”
And then she stopped. There was one
pedal left. She took it off and buried it in the ground. She took a handful of
rocks and left. Leaving the buried rose pedal, with a heart made of rocks
surrounding the spot.
As the girl ran away, a tear dripped down her face, unseen. The rain
soaked her hair as the girl sat down in the grass, up against a tree. She took
her hood and placed in on her head when she turned towards the tree and sulked
in sorrow. Suddenly, an older girl walked up to her, her head splattered with
brown against the blond hair.
The older girl smirked at the young girl, the rain not strong enough to
wipe the smile away. She didn’t feel pain, she felt glad, almost as if she
planned this. The young girl looked towards the older one and stood up. A
conversation started.
“Wanna know what girl? You aren’t safe here. You have people after you
everywhere; sitting here in plain sight wasn’t your best option now was it?”
The girl shook her head.
“Poor, poor, little girl. Why,
Macy, you thought you had a chance now, didn’t
you?”
The young girl, Macy, nodded as the
older one grabbed her sweater and pushed her up against a brick wall.
“I’m everywhere you turn, poor
girl.”
Macy stuttered to talk.
“You don’t know what I’ve gone through. I’ve been bullied
and pushed around. You don’t know about my past or my future. And you never
will.”
Macy
screamed in fear as the older girl smiled and grew closer.
“How are you sure of that? What if I never left your side
and haunted you just because I hate you all that much. Poor, poor, Macy, she
has no clue!”
The
whispering became a stern scream.
“What if I’m the little shadow in every corner? Face it
Macy. I’m everywhere you look. You can’t escape me. I’m in every shadow and
over your head and out your window and haunting you in your
dreams.”
She lowered her
voice.
“I know more about your life that you
do. And no matter where you go or what you do, I’ll always be standing behind
you knife in hand. And when you see those eyes in the doll and in the picture of
that women move, or when the chair rocks, or when you find blood in the
basement, you know I’m right there, and I always will be until the end. Or at
least your end.”
Macy tried to scream as the girls hands curled around her neck giving a
light squeeze before putting her against the
wall.
“Just
remember, no matter what you do, you can’t escape me. I’m everywhere you look.
And you can’t do anything about it.”
The girl clutched her neck hard when Macy realized how
unbreakable she was. No one could stop the pain. Macy kneeled to the ground as
the girl let go and smiled at the blood on her hands. As the girl walked away,
Macy lay there, lifelessly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jayme
I’d never though I’d be here so
early in the book. I’m already sitting here grounded, washing the floors with my
brother’s toothbrush. I bet you my fairy godmother will show up right now with
her magic wand, ready to start my fairytale life. And when the clock strikes
twelve and I’ll be back here, a prince will knock at my door with a shoe. He’ll
place it on me and it’ll be the perfect fit. The end.
Well guess what? This isn’t a book. Or a movie, a fairytale, or anything
that ends well. No. This is me. I lie in my bed and stare up at the empty
ceiling.
“Blank, plain, nothing happening to
you, fake. Wow. We have so much in
common.”
“Why am I falling apart right now? If there is someone out there that can
glue me together, why don’t they?”
I whispered into my
pillow.
“It’s hopeless. No. I’m hopeless.
I’m hopeless and weak and cry over a text message.
If it wasn’t for that s- stupid Hunter I wouldn’t be here right
now.”
I glanced at my door, opened wide, the
light pouring in, reflecting against my eyes. I sauntered over to close it, not
being able to bear the glare. As I brought my hand towards the door knob
something caught the light.
I snuck past the stairs and creeped into the room. I reached out and
grasped the small, thin, object. I gaped in glory at the sight of the object,
but wondered where the rest of it was. I flashed a small gaze at the table I
found the item and saw a striker lying there next to a can of bleach. I knew
what I had to do.
I stared at the lone match and brought it up to the striker, trembling. I
fiercely stroked the match against the striker, the red and yellow flames
burning the fresh air. The smoke flew up as the flames boomed heat around the
room. I chucked the match to the ground, imminently regretting everything. The
flames ran along the bleach track that headed all around the first floor.
Memories flashed through my head as the flames danced around me. A chill ran
through my back, striking me with pain as I heard the ceiling collapse. I saw a
flash of white and everything fell apart, the world slipping right through my
fingertips.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mari
Life. Man, if there was one word to define it, it would be me. Sure, I’m
selfish and demanding but, hey, at least I’m pretty! There is nothing more in
life than to have perfection all around. Nothing more at all. Do you ever get
when people say that it’s bad to have enemies because it only pushes you down?
Let’s just say in my world, they only help me reach the top.
“Oh my god! Mari!”
Hunter screamed as I strutted off
the bus.
“What?”
I growled back, fixing my hair as I
stared into my portable mirror.
“Did you hear what happened to
Jayme yesterday?”
I closed the mirror as a smirk lit up my
face.
“Well, what happened, and what’s in
it for me?”
I snapped back.
“It’s all over the news, apparently
after the ‘incident’ in school she ran away.”
I stared at the floor, a grin
peering through my lips.
“That’s it? I seriously thought it
would be more, Uhm, intense considering what was near her, I mean, flames are
sure to start even if left by the
bleach.”
I stopped, realizing what I had just
revealed.
Hunter stared at me, a deep empty stare.
“Well- I mean- uh-
Uhm...”
Hunter grew closer to me.
“How do you know about the
match?”
I stopped, Hunter’s force growing as I
was soon banged against the wall.
“Match? What? I said nothing about a
match...”
I stuttered. Hunter’s face lit up
red.
“What did you do to Jayme?” His palms
became sweaty against my arms. I stayed silent. “I said what did you do to
Jayme? I knew you guys were enemies but really, you had to kill her to be
satisfied?”
I widened my eyes as pools of tears
streamed down my face.
“You do realize I’m going to have
to call the police for breaking and entering and attempt at
murder?”
I fell backwards, the grass beneath me
smothered with mud.
“But, we’re dating so really it
would not be right to arrest your girlfriend.”
He stared at me.
“Well, we’re through.”
Hunter started to walk to class when I realized how vacant the hallways
were. I struggled to stand up and scampered towards him.
“Are you still gunna’ call the
police?”
I tugged on his shoulder, but he
flung it back at me.
“Yes. Why shouldn’t I? You practically
murdered someone. I don’t want to be in a relationship with a kill-”
I pushed him to the wall, and
threatened him to back away.
“Never.”
He said, struggling to escape my grasp.
I curled my fingers around his neck, a breeze of cool air running through
me. For some reason, I recognized
the feeling from somewhere. I clutched his neck as he blurted few attempts of
breath.
“Hunter!”
I screamed, not realizing what I
just did.
“It’s too
late-”
He gurgled as he fell to the ground, my
fingers stained with blood.
I ran down the hallway, trying to escape what I just did. I glanced into
the classrooms, only few catching a glimpse of me. I couldn’t believe it. I
am a murderer. I practically killed Jayme and my boyfriend- or at least I think
he is- isn’t breathing. What should I do? Suddenly, down the hall I heard a
gunshot.
Iflipped my head a round seeing a tall young girl, a rifle in her hands. Before I
could get a glance at her, she pointed the gun at me. I rushed down the hallway
and screamed for help. Obviously, no one could hear. I turned the corner,
gunshots firing behind me like a bunch of tin cans being slammed to the ground.
Loud and obnoxious footsteps followed me like a shadow. I turned around and saw
a red face with a smirk. She turned her head sideways and stopped running. For
some odd reason I did too. She walked up to me, her eyes dark and gray. When I
looked into her eyes, I thought of a happy place, somewhere with a unicorn
friend.
I realized what it was now. The choke, the fire building up around Jayme,
the pain in the field, it all added up. The gun was pointed at me as a force
knocked me to the ground. That’s when I realized I was now the one who lay
lifeless. Suddenly I felt a pain stab me in the heart. The girl towering above
me showed me the last thing I’d ever see, a deep, dark,
smile.
Chapter
2
The
Petal
There was sharp noise. It was
high, more of a shriek than any normal thing you’d hear there. Suddenly, the
intercom blew on, a worried principle screaming, CODE RED, CODE RED! The Math
teacher rushed to the door and looked left and right and started furiously
pounding on the door. One word was managed to sneak out of his mouth,
“Mari.”
The class burst into screams and shouts
as the wind outside blew the leaves around. The breeze howled, rain starting to
patter on the roof. And down the hall, around a corner, a body lay unconscious
with a calmed look on its face and a knife in hand. The murderer was no where to
be seen.
Jayme
I woke up in a cramped room, news cameras and balloons blocking my view
of any door. I was covered in bandages, and tubes were all around me leading to
a mask over my mouth. I struggled to life my head up, but an odd nurse pushed me
down with fierce force.
“Wanna know what Jayme? You aren’t safe
here. You have people after you everywhere; sitting here in plain sight wasn’t
your best option now was it?”
I stared up at her in shock. The
nurse looked just like Mari.
I sat up straight, seeing only my mom and dad. No creepy nurse, no
cameras, no random strangers smiling unbearably, only my mom and dad. A nurse
sauntered in, obviously not seeing me awake. I got up and turned around in fear.
Sure enough, I was still laying there.
I ran in circles, the sight not transitioning. I’m awake but I’m not
awake... I paused and remembered what we learned in science class. Astral
Projection... But I have to be going somewhere, right? Suddenly, I knew
where I was going. Almost in an instant I was at my school, lights flashing from
police cars. There were medics rushing in to the school, carrying three bodies
out. Before I could think, I was shook and woken up.
“There has been a fire in downtown Westway. Jake, it’s on to you.”
“Thanks Jane. Here in Westway a
young fifteen year old girl ran away from her home yesterday, earlier found by
police and grounded. Police have talked to the parents and found out she ran
away after an incident in school that cause laughter and bullying directed her
way. She was placed in her room while her parents when out for dinner, leaving
her unattended. While she was alone, someone snuck into her house, leaving a
match, striker, and some bleach. Police found this out after seeing the bleach
can and noticing under the lid there was a boys name, the name found said, Jerry
Wallfer. Suspects say Jerry died last year, so no evidence could turn to him.
Yet next to the writing showed
this;”
A picture showed up that said: +00 78.
“This girl, Jayme Terta, lit her
room on fire, and was burned, but police say that’s not what put her in the
hospital. Here is police officer Lones with more information.”
“We have found a small pocket knife
that must’ve fallen out off the suspects pocket near the window, and we also
found a wound on Jayme’s upper back. We believe the suspect
is-”
Suddenly, the police officer fell to the
ground, right out of the blue.
“No, Christopher, the real question is who caused Jayme to run away,”
I said tapping on my notes paper, proving Christopher wrong... again.
“Yes Jake but you see that will take us no where. It’s like digging and suddenly you get to a big rock. So you keep poking it and shaving small things off but you never get through the rock. Let’s go around the rock, Jake.”
I stood there, pen at my chin.
“You make no sense Christopher.”
“Jake, there is a reporter here to talk to you about what has happened.”
I heard Christopher scream from his office. I saw the door kicked open by tall, glittery high heeled shoes that burned my eyes to the pupils. A tall, young and flawless looking woman with blond, wavy hair sauntered out, strutting like Taylor Swift. I stared at her eyes. Deep gray, mesmerizing eyes.
“Yes?”
She whispered, giving me a puzzled look.
“Well, the investigation started when Jayme Terta ran away from her home for unknown reasons at school. It was when we found her sulking in a tree we thought it was the end. We’d never have
trouble with Jayme again. Honestly though, the investigation started over something stupid, and then let’s just say, it grows. Like a bomb that explodes-and like a chain- it causes more and
more bombs to blow up, and somehow it’s connected to that stupid little
topic,”
“The investigation continued when the bleach, match and striker showed up
at her house with the mysterious plus sign, two zeros, a seven and an eight. We
are starting to think this was portrayed as a code that only the murderer and
Jayme knew. Then afterwards a fire started by Jayme and someone stabbed her in
the back, leaving a deep wound.”
I paused and stared deep into the reporter’s eyes, those gray like the night sky eyes.
“Continue,”
She said, glancing up from her notebook. I lowered my eyebrows, furrowing them at what was said on my paper.
“Only one thing.”
I took my glasses and looked closer to make sure I was seeing right.
“Mari.”
The reporter looked up at me obviously waiting for more.
“Yes...”
“Mari Wallfer. She was gone last night during the fire. And, she was out of class during the shooting, but she was found.“
“Dead?”
“No... She was found... with a gun
in her hand and a note.”
The reporter’s eyes glistened like the night sky. She gasped and rapidly took notes.
“Well, what did the note say?”
I handed her the note.
Dear whoever is smart enough to find
this,
Listen. You may have had suspects. You may have thought it was him or it
was her but no. If you think you know anything, you are wrong. WAY WRONG. You
can try. You can dig up bodies, search east, south west, up, down, you can’t
find me. And trust me. This wasn’t the final strike. The lightning bolt is still
charging. Watch everywhere. But you should know it’s already +00
78.
Sincerely,
Well, why do you
care?
“So, where is this ‘Mari’ now? She was gone last night and she was hurt but that
doesn’t mean we can suspect anything to be different.”
The woman said, slowly crumbling the note between her wrinkling fingers.
“We can’t. She’s not seeing any visitors in the hospital.”
The woman got up and tucked her loose strands of hair behind her ear. She slammed her notepad and left with her head held high and her mouth shut.
Jayme
My blurred vision blocked my way of understanding a thing. I saw more
people around me than expected, especially since I was here a few minutes ago. I
scanned the room as my mom rushed to go get a doctor. I turned to my right to
see, “Get well soon!” balloons along with teddy bears and singing cards.
“Jayme?”
I heard coming from a bewildered young girl.
“Olivia? How’d you know I was here?”
Olivia was my friend a few years ago until she changed her attitude and her personality just to be friends with the popular people.
“You’re mom called my mom when they came home from their dinner. Apparently they were old high school friends so, they just, I don’t know. My mom told me and for a second I forgot who you were
but then I remembered it was before 8th grade when we were friends.”
I stared at her and swallowed hard, a lump growing in my neck.
“And then you changed..... Just for him.”
She blinked a few times, her blue eyes flashing back and forth.
“It was a wrong and stupid choice too, I mean, I died my hair and got contacts for a player that dumped me just days after. I’m sorry. I got you some flowers!”
She said as her face lit up like a light bulb. She handed me a vase with stunning white roses.
“Thanks.”
I sulked as Olivia sauntered out the door.
The room was cleared and now, I was alone. Completely alone. For about a minute I felt safe, like nothing could possibly happen to me and this was the final strike. Nothing would happen, I was safe.
“I’m safe. Completely
safe!”
I screamed, a little louder than I should’ve had. Of course I had to realize it was only a warning.
Next to my right ear I heard the blaring phone scream its annoying ring. I picked it up, carefully maneuvering my arm from its cast when a deep and scratchy yet familiar voice shouting.
“You have 30
seconds...”
There was a short pause and an ear piercing shriek.
“GET OUT.”
I felt a cold chill run up and down my back, making my feet spasm. I carefully got out of the hospital bed, counting down the seconds.
5...6....7...
I limped over to the door, ignoring the screams from inside of me.
10...11...12...
I twisted the door knob, my wrinkly and weak fingertips not used to the cold touch.
17...18...19...20...
Struggling, I forcefully clutched the door knob and yanked on it, causing it to pop off.
25...26...27...
Panicked, I banged on the door as footsteps approached behind me.
28...29...30
“Well, Jayme, it’s nice to see you again...”
The voice rumbled.
The person was dressed in all black, only a white mask over their face and cold grey eyes peeking out. She grabbed a white rose off of the flower batch.
“Now that we are finally alone...”
She fiddled with the rose, twisting and turning it and not even squinting when the thorn pierced into her skin.
“I have a job to do.”
The voice said, pulling a sharp and pointy knife out of no where. Slamming it against her arm, she put it above her head and threw it at me. With a quick jerk of my neck, I moved to the side, the
knife stabbed into the wall. I ran to it, and struggled to get it out of the
wall, but it was too late, the person had already pushed me against the wall.
“What’s wrong Jayme? You scared?”
I whimpered and whine as the persons face grew closer. He, she, it pulled the knife and brought it to her
shoulder, mimicking me as it was pushed up against my
face.
“What do you know Jayme,”
The door was knocked on, interrupting her mid-sentence.
“I know nothing, all I know is that...”
I whispered, reaching my hand for the mask.
“Continue,”
She murmured back as I ripped the mask off her face.
“Wait- why?”
I let out a squeal of her name as her face flashed through my eyes.
“It’s too late Jayme! You’re time is up!”
She screamed as she ripped a petal off of the rose and cleaned the knife with it, dropping the petal to the ground as the door busted opened.
Chapter 3
An
Unknown Identity
I stared at Jayme and clenched my teeth together, bringing the knife to her frail neck.
“I know you know something- and trust me when I say this- I know you know who he
is.”
She struggled and gurgled until she finally admitted she knew.
“Now, what exactly do you know?”
I mumbled as her hand reached towards my neck.
“What are you doing?”
I growled as my face became revealed.
She knows both of us. Without a thread of panic I brought the
knife back and screamed at her.
“It’s too late Jayme!”
I stuck the knife into her flesh as she whimpered and whined.
“Your time is up!
I stared at her lifeless body for a second with a smirk peering through
my lips. The door knob jiggled with anxious turns as I heard a crack. The
towering door collapsed and smacked the ground with a force that broke the wood
and the glass window shattered into unfixable pieces.
I grabbed a piece of glass and kept it by my side as I slip into the
vacant corner, hidden by a large wooden cabinet. I grabbed my mask and rested
the mask onto my face when I started to hear murmurs and mumbles until someone
noticed the body on the floor.
Screams echoed through the long hallways of the cramped hospital. I
brought the point of the glass to the corner of the room. My body shivered as
hair rose at the back of my neck. Dozens of Nurses came running in, looking for
signs of murder.
“I think I found something!”
Shouted one of them, grabbing the attention of the rest
of the nurses. I peered around the corner and glared at the nurse with the
object.They found the petal.
I gaped at the way the nurses crowded around trying to figure out the
meaning of the petal. They passed around ideas over and over again, still never
coming up with the right answers. I creeped over to the crowd and came closer to
listen to them.
“No!”
I shrieked as I slipped on a piece of broken glass and fell to the ground. I felt burning
stares pierce my skin as I let out a wail.
The room fell silent as I lay there, mask off and in sight.
“Run.”
I heard from inside of me.
“Run and make them cry. Make them chase you and chase you until they shrivel up and
die. Make them suffer and run.”
I struggled to stand up, limping on my leg for a second. I gained the strength to
run, hearing screams and alarms go off behind me, wailing out the restless cries
of tomorrow, the tears of today already gone.
I dashed through the hallways, closing my eyes as I escaped any grasp.
There was a crowd behind me, and I couldn’t handle myself. I grabbed my belt and
pulled out a gun, keeping it hidden in my clutch as I rushed away. I stopped and
turned around, aiming my gun at anyone who stared.
“Shut up and it will do you good.”
I heard a scream from somewhere at the back of the hallway.
“I said shut up!”
I screamed, wasting dozens of bullets on people that can do me no
good.
I heard sirens out the window as the flashing lights interfering my
fiery. I shot another 10 times, lives going faster than rain clouds on a sunny
day.