Her knuckles turned white as she clenched the knife tighter. Her breathing was ragged and her eyes were sharp. There was no need for running anymore. There was nowhere else to go. Thea breathed in and smiled as the pleading began. Their voice was laced with fear and desperation that sent a delightful chill down her spine. There was no going back now, her face had been seen and no one could stop her. Thea brought the knife up and tore it through the air till it found its mark making a sickening sound. Again and again she lifted the knife, a dark red blurred her vision and covered her hands, but that didn’t stop her. Nothing could stop her. When the body stilled she stood up and straightened her clothes looking down at the gruesome artwork she had created. A voice behind her yelled, “CUT!” And a ringing filled her ears, as she turned to look at the director his words continued, “Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful. I will never understand how you do it Thea,” At the sound of her name Thea smiled and gave a modest shrug before handing the knife to a crew member. A woman, covered in thick fake blood, stood up taking a cloth and wiped her face, “That gave me chills! I wouldn’t have taken this job if I knew how terrifying it would be!” An annoying laugh fell from her lips. A laugh that could only belong to one Olivia Bennett. “Though let’s be honest, no one wants to watch a movie where the star dies. I mean you can’t kill me off,” Olivia’s voice echoed through the set grabbing the attention of anyone who was listening, “That’s just going to lose the media’s attention,” A small smirk crossed her face as all the eyes turned towards her. With her eyebrows raised, Thea looked straight into Olivia’s eyes, “Well I guess you’ll just have to take that up to the screen writer won’t you?” Nothing could compare to that satisfying feeling as Olivia’s smirk fell, “Now as much as I would like to stay I’m going to get washed off. Fake blood is very sticky after all,” Thea gave a small curt smile and hurried away. She could not bare to hear another word come out of that starlet’s stupid mouth. She grabbed her script and marched to the showers. Staring at the mirror Thea Hawksley met a pair of eyes that could only be her own. Who did Olivia think she was? This movie wasn’t just another role for her. It was much more personal than that. Not only was she the leading actress but Thea was also the author of this Film. Not to brag but ‘The Final Whisper’ would be the best horror film to date. It was truly her best work. She had put her soul into this one script. Every word, every feeling, everything down to each blink the actors had in their scenes. That’s what made this one unique. That’s what made her creation, her baby so special. This film was her. This movie was Thea Hawksley. Thea sat in the green room, her eyes closed and her mind running through all the scenes. In all honesty she knew every word by heart. Though there was no harm in practicing right? The sound of footsteps coming towards her made her eyes fly open. Once again there was Olivia, flirting with some crew member who was filling out paperwork. A perplexed look crossed the man’s face and he asked, “Does anyone know the date?” Without missing a beat Thea spoke up, her voice filled with certainty, “It’s October 16th,” Not a second later there was that laugh again. The one that made her head buzz and the atmosphere just shrivel up, “October 16th? Are you serious right now? It's August 8th. It looks like you’re spending too much time with that script aren’t you,” Olivia rolled her eyes and walked over to Thea grabbing her arm and forcing her out of the chair. Not even stopping or thinking about asking anyone, “You need to get out of here. Oh I know! Let’s go get some coffee! There’s this great coffee shop just-“ her voice faded out in Thea’s head. She couldn’t stand one more word from her. Thea sighed, who knew what Olivia was going on about now. She could talk to a brick if she wanted too. It was probably how she practiced. She never gave anyone a chance to talk about their thoughts and feelings. Though a pause in the constant yammering caught her attention. It seemed as if they were in line for coffee now. A public space filled with lots of people. Olivia’s eyes were on the barista when her next words left her mouth, “So I was thinking, there is really no reason to kill off my character at all. You said to talk to the screen writer so here I am making an offer!” Oliva turned towards Thea, looking her dead in the eyes still on her face, “You rewrite the death. I get to kill you and be the hero okay? Does that sound like a plan to you?” Thea opened her mouth right away to answer but her words were to quick. It made her head spin. The more she tried to think of what to say nothing came, “Great! I’m glad we can agree,” Olivia said with extra glee in her voice. Thea stood there dumbfounded. Wait what? Why didn’t she say anything? Thea was the one who wrote it, she would do what she wanted too. No one else got to decide that for her. They already had the scene shot. Why on Earth would they change it now? She shook her head a bit and opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came. ”Sandra?” The voice of a boarded barista cut through the air as she held out a cup. Instinctively Thea started to move. Walking out of the line and towards the pick up counter. Her hand moved up and reached for the beverage but someone grabbed it first giving her a strange look. A different hand took her wrist and spun her around. Olivia. ”Are you alright Thea?” There was a small amount of concern in her voice, but her eyes seemed uncomfortable, “Your acting strange,” Thea? Who was Thea? She didn’t know any Thea. Wait no. No no no no no. Thea was right. That was her name. Her name was Thea. Don’t. Forget. Thea. Sandra was her character. Sandra was the killer. Sandra wasn’t real. Why couldn’t she just remember that? Her name was Thea Hawksley. Not the killer Sandra. “Oh yeah I’m okay. I think I’m going to head home,” She tore her hand from Olivia’s grip, “Can you tell the director that scenes 7 and 9 still need work? Thanks,” Thea turned and left not waiting to see if Olivia had heard her. Instead she turned and walked out of the building. Her feet followed the familiar path in her mind back to her apartment. Entering her apartment, Thea locked the door behind her. The room was dimly lit by the setting sun behind the shades. Her eyes barely glazed over the bare walls as she walked to the couch picking up another script. Her eyes glazed over the words reciting the contents over and over again. Committing every little detail into her mind. Making herself feel the emotions that Sandra. Practicing her ending. Her win! No no no, it was her character's win not hers. She had to stop doing that. It was so easy though, she felt safe when she was Sandra. No one talked over her. People actually did what she asked. With a sigh Thea cleared her thoughts and continued to read. The ringing of her phone interrupted her thoughts and she picked it up. The director was calling. Even before Thea could say hello his voice filled her head, “Hey Thea, I think Olivia brought up a good point earlier. We shouldn’t kill off her character,” His voice sounded bored of the one sided conversation he had started. A muffled laugh could be heard on the other side of her phone. Olivia, “Anyway I’ve decided as the director that we’re changing it. So come in tomorrow we’re reshooting the scene. Thanks for the cooperation,” Click. And then nothing, the ringing growing in her ears. Who did this girl think she was? Going out of her way to convince the director? No no no no No No NO NO NO NO. She would not get away with this. No! She would not be allowed to walk all over Sandra Haven! Sandra was in charge now! That stupid little actress would not get away with this. She could not get away with any of this! Sandra took a breath and walked to the kitchen pulling a knife from the drawer. Sandra made her way to the front door concealing the weapon in her sleeve. She put her hood up and walked out to the bust street with a smile pasted on her face. Sandra took a right turn, then a left and continued straight. Stopping in an alley nearby and waiting. Waited until the traffic was gone. The moon rose higher and the clock ticked on. A taxi stopped in front of the building and the door opened. The sound of an obnoxious laugh filled the air and Olivia stepped out as the car drove away. The knife slipped down from Sandra’s sleeve and into her hand, the feeling was comforting and familiar. Olivia didn’t even notice she was behind her. Sandra’s voice was barely a whisper but it was filled with emotion, “Who do you think you are? Thinking you can rewrite my life like that?” Olivia turned and met Sandra’s eyes, fear filling them. Sandra’s breath was ragged and her eyes were sharp. She lifted the knife up letting it glisten in the air and brought it down. The pleading began to start, though nothing was new. After all, they had practiced this exact moment over and over again. Now it was perfect. The scream, the red. She brought the knife up and down letting it hit again and again. Everything was red and her knuckles were white. There was no director to stop her now.