I am still alive and you need to get used to it. My parents, family members, and friends thought I was dead but I proved them wrong. They say that I drowned but I am a great swimmer or so they thought. My parents say that I can’t remember anything since it was all a blur in my memory. But I do remember going to a secluded beach in the middle of nowhere wich was strange from what we normally do. I woke up in a cold sweat wich was becoming very noticeable every morning almost like I was swimming last night in the lake.

(I’ve started writing a novel for Maisie and Davian. I’ve found a lot of things I think I want to change, so this one is about Davian’s favorite spot, instead of it being a bench on a hill I was thinking like maybe a bus stop bench that doesn’t get used anymore. I just thought I could make it more memorable with out-of-the-ordinary details. Thanks for reading!!!!!)

The whole night is quiet, except for the small breeze that blows the dried leaves across the road. I pull my leather jacket tighter around me, folding my arms as a stronger breeze ruffles my hair. 

Tears creep into my eyes as I lean agaisnt the metal bench. I remember when I was a kid how Dad and I stumbled across this place. It was so cool to me, and now it’s just a place filled with painful memories. 

Maisie shifts next to me, brushing her blonde hair out of her face. My heart jumps in my chest, I forgot I’d brought Maisie here. I’ve never shown this place to anyone. But then again I’ve never had anyone to show it to.

I glance over my shoulder to see Maisie shivering as a gust of wind carry’s her hair over her blue eyes.

I can’t help smiling, she’s just so . . . I don’t know beautiful.

I shake my jacket off, goose bumps rising on my arms as they meet the ice cold air.

Maisie shakes her head, giving me a thankful smile. “I’m good,” she says.

“You’re shaking,” I point out, wrapping the jacket around her shoulders.

Maisie grabs the jacket snuggling into the black leather. “Thank you.” She smiles, scanning me as I fold my arms across my chest.

“No problem,” I grit my teeth trying to stop myself from shaking. I can’t let Maisie know I’m cold. I don’t know why this matters to me, but ever since we kissed I’ve wanted to put her first. It gives me this little burst of light that only grows stronger with every minute.

“Are you sure you’re—“ Maisie starts, her blue eyes shining with worry.

“Yes,” I assure her, licking my lips. “I promise you I’m not cold.”

Maisie sighs, scooting closer to me. “Then why are you shaking?” She hints, raising her feet to the bench.

I wrap my arm around her shoulders as she hugs her knees to her chest. “Because . . .” I trail off, my heart racing in my chest. “I’m scared.”

Maisie plays with the zipper on the jacket, “Scared of what?” She ponders. There’s a little highness in her voice that tells me she knows the answer.

“Losing you,” I whisper, as Maisie shifts in my arms.

“I’m not going anywhere,” she murmurs, twisting around to look in my eyes. I blink hard trying to stop the tears from falling.

“You almost did,” I mumble, looking away from her gaze. “You almost died.”

Maisie looks at her wrist that’s covered in a huge band-aide. “You saved me,” she tells me, lifting her hand to my cheek. “And thats how I know I’m not going anywhere.”

I feel like I shouldn’t be relived at this, but I am. What if something happens to me? What if I leave? Then Maisie might hurt herself again, and that’s my worst fear. I don’t care about monsters or any of that stuff. I just can’t let Maisie hurt herself.

Maisie gently turns my head to hers, staring at me with her ocean eyes. “I didn’t know it before . . . But I know now.”

I shiver as a small breeze swirls around us. “Know what?” I ask, my voice trembling.

“I love you Davian,” Maisie breathes her eyes shining with tears.

I swallow, the night of the crash flashing in my mind. She loves me . . . She loves the guy who killed her mother. And . . . I love her too.

“You don’t have to say anything,” Maisie whispers.

I lean close to her, our faces inches apart as I bring my hand to her cheek. “Can I kiss you?” I recycle the question from our first kiss only a few nights ago.

Maisie smiles her breath warm agaisnt my skin, as she pulls me close, kissing me as my black leather jacket falls to the ground with a small thump.

I stand beside the throne, smiling at the noblemen who pass, as one is meant to when they are prince. My father, old as he is, still looks full and young when he’s around the court. I on the other hand, look older as I try to keep my other feelings from showing. All I can think about is Tia. Tia, with that dagger in her side. Tia, falling backwards off that cliff as I could do nothing. Tia, who was so delicate, she barely made a splash when she hit the water below. I tighten my grip on my golden goblet as a duke from the northern mountains comes to greet me. I try to smile as convincingly as I can, but my mind is elsewhere. I should never have taken her with me. I’d know it was a bad idea deep inside, but I’d wanted an adventure, childish as I was. It was meant to be a short trip out to the coast, that had turned into my assassination attempt. Tia had gotten the knife stuck in her, though, even when it was intended for me. I should be over it. It was two weeks in the past. I’d mourned her. So why was I still clinging to her? Suddenly, there is loud shouting, and screaming from the court ladies and lords as the doors to the ballroom burst open, I turn my head to the ruckus to see a girl being chased by soldiers down the steps, her gown soaked through… I drop my goblet, red wine splattering my snow white garments. Tia. “Tia!” I shout, all sense gone from my mind as I sprint across the floor to her, knowing its not what a prince is meant to look like in public. Nothing like the prince I am. I don’t care. Her face is bright with joy, her messy black curls matted to her face, her chocolate brown skin slightly paler than it should be. Im not thinking about how she looks though. I only can think how she’s here. How she’s really here. I spin her round and round, scooping her up and hugging her close. “I’m so sorry.” I whisper. “I should never have let them get to you.” Her smile doesn’t waver. “I’m still here aren’t I?” I call for the music to play again, and for a doctor to come, because the wound in her side needs attention. I’m to looks like she tried to stitch it up, failed, and then wrapped it in ripped dress. Everyone begins to dance again, and they all seem to spin around us like a merry go round. Tia pulls me down for a kiss, and her lips feel warm and soft, even though she’s shivering and feverish. This simple thing, a kiss from a person I thought was dead, no less the person I loved, sends a jolt through me. “You’re really real? Right?” I say, sounding childish. “You’re not just a dream?” “Who do you think I am, a ghost?” She laughs, and if I hadn’t been so relieved to see her alive, I might have laughed too.

We had found refuge in the bones of the old temple, one of the last forged links between the two kingdoms.

The war had started over ten years ago, on the eve of my twelfth birthday. I’d been playing in the meadow, just beyond the castle, when a tremor had shaken the earth, and clouds black as night choked the sky.

The temple had been hit—the first casualty of many—a statement from the other side that they no longer desired peace.

From then on, I’d been brought up to hate them—the Others. And I did hate them. All of them... until I met her.

My Jude.

Ben and Mason had come with word that The Others had retreated. A treaty signed. The Other King dead.

Poison had ended his life—slowly, painful—and the guards had found his daughter, Jude, my Jude... beside him... her life a fingertip from the hands of the reaper.

I’d stared at Jude for a long while after they brought her in. At the dull tint of her usually radiant, bronze skin. The dark circles beneath her eyes. The dry, cracked crevices of her mouth, the corners stained a deathly scarlet.

Under the flickering candlelight, I had thought it was blood at first, but she had no other wounds.

“We found her next to the Other King,” Nelly had said. “And yes, he's dead. But here, give me your hand, dear.”

I had willed my gaze to meet hers. The nurse had been by my side for as long as I could remember. She’d been there through every cold and skimmed knee, and she’d been there to care for me when I sprained my ankle after the first time I’d snuck out to meet Jude. I trusted her wholeheartedly.

After a moment of hesitation, I let Nelly take my hand, and gently, she brought my fingers to Jude’s wrist.

Her skin had felt cold—a sheet of thin, delicate ice. I hadn't wanted to press too hard, not wanting her to shatter.

“It’s faint,” Nelly said softly, “but there is still a pulse,” And I’d felt it. The precious thump-thump of life. Of Jude. “She's still alive, Rose.”

A cacophony of emotions had crescendoed all at once...

Elation.

Confusion.

Relief.

Anger.

...Each fighting for the right to the first chair.

But it was fear that won. A late audition but just as powerful. I had to take a moment outside.

Among the toppled gravestones and skeletal, leafless trees, the old temple didn't look so out of place. More than a pile of rubble, broken domed windows, shattered and shards of glass stretched high and wide like pairs of opened arms. Wild, yellow flowers climbed over the grey lacerated stone walls. Tall grasses grew, swaying and rustling in the breeze.

I tilted my head towards the sky, and the broken splinters of the remaining roof tiles caught the moon's light. White, they shone like teeth—a guarding, gnashing beast of their own.

This was where the war had begun. And this was where the war would end. With Jude alive.

Taking a deep breath, I let the crisp autumn night burn away the fear in my throat. The stars winked. The moon smiled.

I returned to Jude's side.

The red of her lips had darkened. Thin veins now cracked across her skin, pulsing like rivulets of lava. Bracing myself, I asked, “What did she take?”

“By the colourisation,” Nelly pondered, “I’d say Seuphus. In small doses, it can put someone into a sleep-like coma.”

“And in large doses?” Mason asked from behind. His pale hands had found their way to the cutlass at his hip, the tips of his fingers working the ribbon tied around the hilt, his usual solution for settling his nerves.

“Well,” Nelly lifted a shoulder. “you saw the late king.”

“How do we fix this? How...” I brushed Jude’s cheek. “How can we wake her?”

“A true kiss.”

Heat flushed every crevice of my body, and I ignored the sharp twitch of Mason’s smirk. I stuttered. “Pardon?”

“A True Kiss flower. If we make a paste from its petals, it should counteract the poison.”

“And bring her back?”

“And bring her back.” Nelly echoed.

“Where do we get one?”

Taking a step back, Nelly held out both her arms. “The garden. They're everywhere.”

“Outside?”

“That’s handy,” Ben said dryly.

“That’s a godsend,” said Mason.

But Nelly grabbed my hand and squeezed. “That’s Jude,” she whispered. “That girl, she’s brilliant. She knew what she was doing. We can save her.”

As soon as her words struck, Mason and Ben rushed outside, returning moments later with handfuls of the bright, yellow flowers.

A True Kiss flower.

Taking the sprigs, the three of us watched, a collective breath held, as Nelly placed them on the marble floor and ground them into a thick, lumpy paste.

She smeared a coin-side blob into Jude's mouth.

A second passed.

I trusted Nelly.

A minute passed.

I did trust Nelly...

Two minutes passed.

I didn’t—

“Why isn't it working?” I growled.

“Just wait,” Nelly whispered.

“I’ve been waiting!” I snapped. A tear fell from my cheek, landing just above Jude's eyebrow. “Sorry, Nelly, I—” She touched my arm. Smiled. Squeezed.

It wasn't her fault; I knew that. It wasn't anyone's fault but the Other King’s.

Pressure pushed the sides of my head, igniting the start of a headache. I rested my head lightly on Jude's chest. A faint ba-dum. A last ember of life.

How long would it last?

“I’m sorry,” I murmured, my breath hot against her cold jacket. I closed my eyes.“Please come back. I-I need you.”

“Rose, look!”

I didn't want to, I wanted to lay here forever, but two hands pulled me up, steadying my dead weight.

Jude coughed. Then she groaned, her head lulling softly to the side. Her eyes opened, catching the light of the nearby candle. They glistened like gold.

I caught her gaze, dumbstruck, and she smiled. “Miss me much?” Jude croaked, her voice more beautiful than bird song. My heart twisted.

She laughed, and if I hadn't been so relieved to see her alive, I might have laughed too.

But I kissed her instead, not caring about the stares.

It was a cloudy day as I walked up the hill, my hand loose around my sisters arm. “Okay Ainsley. I need to get home to do homework so you’ll only have a little while to play today.” I say as I carefully tie her shoe and help her take off her sweater. “Okay thanks Tay Tay!” She said as she ran down the hill squealing joyfully and I sat down on the nearby bench.

Ainsley went back and forth on the monkey bars, played tag with random children, and slid down the slide. A mother came up to me and we had a small conversation about high school and she told me about her high school experiences. We talked for about 10 minutes and I look up, but Ainsley is nowhere to be found. “Sorry I have to get my sister.” I say trying to stay calm, out of fear of looking irresponsible. “Ains!” I yell and shift uncomfortably on my feet, my fingers nervously fiddle with my skirt. “Ainsley!” I say in a hushed panicked tone as I step onto the wood chips and scan eagerly for her. The boy in the orange shirt that my sister was playing with earlier races by me and I grab his arm gently. “Hey! Do you know where my sister is?” I try not to look threatening, but I’m sure my panicked face made him nervous. “Stranger danger!” He yells, but he has missing front teeth so it comes out, “Thranger Danger!” His mom, the woman I was talking to earlier comes over, “Calm down Darby. She’s not a stranger she was just asking a question hun.” She reassures him and I pull my other backpack strap on. “What’s the matter hun?” She says while ushering her son off to continue playing and her face forming a motherly concerned face. “M-My sister, she’s not on the playground. I-I just looked up for 2 seconds and she’s gone!” I croak out my words and my eyes form tears. “It’s okay. Kids run off all the time, I should’ve left you to watch your sister instead of talking to you, I’m sorry.” I look down at her jacket and a tear falls onto it. “It’s okay. I just need to find Ainsley. Can you check the playground for her? She’s wearing a yellow sundress with yellow ballerina shoes. Dark brown hair and light brown eyes, f-f-freckles. Super cute freckles.” I swivel on my heel and frantically race around for her, I check the parking lot first. If she got taken I’d at least be able to see the kidnapper and the car, I think as my feet pound the black asphalt furiously. Don’t think like that, I tell myself, Ainsley knew not to wander. She was the least likely child to be taken, right? She wouldn’t follow an adult, but she would follow a child. My heart beat quickens and I feel it stomping around furiously in my chest. Children can be bait for kidnappers, why didn’t I think of that? I scan the parking lot, it was rather small. I check between all the cars, I look in them, no sign of her. My heart sends me back past the playground into the woods and that’s when I see it. A piece of yellow string caught on a tree branch. I almost pass out, I couldn’t let my sister be taken. I wouldn’t. I’d never forgive myself.

My feet and heart send my feet flying down the forest path, yelling Ainsley at the top of my lungs. I hear laughter, Ainsley’s laughter and I send myself down that path. “Ainsley! Ainsley! Ainsley! Oh gosh answer me Ains!” I’m desperate and emotionally exhausted, but I wouldn’t stop then. Not when my Ainsley’s life is on the line. There I see her, giggling while a boy who’s about my age is squatted down to her level. He’s rubbing her knee and now instead of anguish, I feel rage. My fists ball and I lunge towards him, hands flying everywhere. “You get away from my sister you creep! Don’t-“ I hit him, “Touch-“ I wildly beat his back as he’s doubled over, “My sister!” I push him down and scoop Ainsley up into a defensive stance. “Tay! He helped me because I tripped in the woods with Carson! He told me a funny joke!” She laughs, and if I hadn’t been so relieved to see her alive, I might’ve laughed too.

“Aye Mel grab a beer man. You been cuffed up with your girl all the time you never have time for your boys anymore.” Martin said as he lit up his Newport. Martin was my boy of ten years. He had my back through every situation. When I was locked up back in 2012 he held me down. He put money on my books and shit and held secrets that even my girl Natasha didn't know. “Man my girl just had a baby man. I gotta be a father before anything.” I shook the ice off my Budweiser and crack it open taking a sip off of it as a dapped him up. Natasha, my now fiancee, had just had our son, Nathan about four months ago. Natasha and I had been struggling in our relationship from the moment I found out she was pregnant. I loved her. I still love her. With the changes that come with being a parent hit, we started hitting rock bottom. “Shit man I understand. You know I got that baby momma shit going on you feel me so I get it.” he ashed his cigarette and took a drink from his beer. “Shit man you see your boys on the weekend man. You are bullshitting.” I said teasing him. It was true. Martin and Tiffany, his baby momma, broke up years ago. She never was on his ass about taking care of his kids. All she wanted was him to spend time with them and that's all he does. He chuckled back respecting my honesty. “Man all I'm saying is don't forget your boys.” I spent most of the day over his crib doing what we do as boys and that day turned into an everyday thing. It gave me some relief from the stress at home so every chance I could get to get out the house I would. One night after chilling with the boys I came home to chill. I walked into our bedroom and Natasha was up with Nathan screaming to the top of his lungs. To be honest I wanted to leave. It seem like she could never get him settled and the house was starting to become a mess. “Damn Mel. It's almost two in the morning. What you forget we existed,” Natasha said with tears running down her face. “Tasha don't start that shit and what's wrong with him man. Calm his ass down.” I argued back aggressively. “Well damn Mel what the hell do you plan on doing around here? All you do is chill with that nobody Martin all day.” she grabbed Nathan up trying to calm him down the best she could. “See this the shit I'm talking about. You always trying to argue. Man I'm about to go. I don't got time for this shit.” I pushed passed her, grabbed my phone and my keys and I left. I drove back to my boy’s house and turned my phone off. At this point, I was sick of this with Natasha. She hasn't been the same since the baby. I was starting to regret getting her pregnant. We've been trying for over a year and things just began to change soon after that. Don't get me wrong I love my son, but the arguing and all the emotions were making me want out of the relationship. I drove back up to Martin’s crib and I noticed him laughing from a distance. “Man I'm not in the mood,” I said getting out of the car. “Bro she already called looking for you. Shit man y'all will be good don't even stress it.” he passed me a bottle of tequila and a cigarette to try to calm me down. I took a few hits of my cigarette and took the bottle to the head and chilled for the rest of the night. It was going on three in the morning. Martin came over to me drinking whatever was left of the tequila hitting his last cigarette. “Don’t come fucking with my bro.” at this point I was drunk and tired all I wanted was some sleep. “Nah man I was just coming to see if you were alright.” I grabbed what was left of the liquor out of his hand and took it to the head. “shit man I'm just tired of the bullshit with her.” I replied. “Do you love her?” He asked. I took a pause. I knew I loved her, but I wasn’t sure if I was in love with her anymore. “Look man you and Tasha been rocking for a long time. I know this sound strange coming from me, but if you love that woman and y’all can get through the tough times y’all will be okay.” I knew he had a point and I knew him being my boy he wanted the best for me. We finished the last of the bottle and went to bed. “Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom!” There was a loud knock at the door. “Ayo is Mel here?” I heard somebody ask at the door. I hear Martin mumble something to the guy at the door. “It’s Natasha bro…she might not make it.” I scrambled to me feet in total shock. What could have possibly happened. “Ayo what’s going on?” It was my brother Matthew at the door. “Aye Mel Natasha was found at the house on the floor not responding. We tried to call you but..” “What the fuck where is she?” I interrupted. “Bro they just picked her up. She’s on her way to the hospital. We called you about ten times.” My heart dropped to my feet. What could have happened? Did somebody do this or did she do this to herself? Was she sick? Where the fuck was Nathan? Where is Nathan? I had so many questions. I hurried to my car and speed off. I had tears streaming down my face as my heart was pounding out of my chest. I had to call her. I couldn’t believe this had happened to her. “Hey It’s Natasha. Sorry you couldn't reach me.” Her voicemail said. I kept calling getting the voicemail once again. “Come on Tasha pick up baby. Pick up.” I was doing 90 in a 55. I swerved off the road trying not to lose my life getting to her. It had began to rain and it began to rain hard. I couldn’t see. I had to stop to get myself together. “Tasha what the fuck!” I screamed. I took a few breaths and got back into my car. I called Tasha’s mom but I got no response. I was beginning to feel sick. I looked back over my call history. Tasha called me over 15 times. I felt like shit. “Was the argument even worth it” I thought to myself. I was hyperventilating trying to keep my composure. I called her again and again coming to the conclusion that my girl, my baby, my Tasha was gone. I called one final time and I finally got a response. It was her mother. “Tasha, Tasha baby it’s me Mel.” I yelled through the phone. “Mel this is her mother. Where are you?” “I’m on my way Ms. Paula. Where is she? What happened?” I started to get feeling in my body again. “She’s stable. She overdosed apparently. Where the hell were you. It’s almost six in the morning.” I could tell she was worried about Natasha and was curious as to why I wasn’t there to stop her. Her questions irritated me, but I answered understanding how it felt to be a worried parent. “We got into it so I left. Can we see her?” I asked. “Just get down here Mel. She needs you.” The call ended. I slowly approached the hospital. I ran inside in a panic. My heart was pounding. “Natasha is she here? Natasha Fasion is she here? I frantically asked. “Sir calm down. Who are you?” the nurse at the desk. “He is with me.” Natasha’s mom replied. We rushed back upstairs as fast as we could. Ms. Paula directed me to the window of Natasha's room. She laid there. A bit pale yet peaceful. I was lost for words. I could hear the sound of her beautiful heartbeat. It was the most beautiful song I've heard in my life in that moment. “She’s recovering well. They said if your brother wouldn’t have stopped by to pick up Nathan she probably wouldn’t have made it. Where were you Jamel?” She seemed disturbed about my absences. I promised to take care of Natasha and protect her. I failed her. “Ms. Paula we were arguing. I left to clear my head. How was I supposed to know this would happen?” We both paused as we glared back at Natasha. “You know me and her father have been married for 35 years. It hasn’t been easy but one thing we have always done was protect each other. Now I’m not saying you haven’t. I know you are good man but I will say whatever it was that brought you guys to this point, she took a long pause, it wasn't worth it.” I didn't respond. “She’s spoke with me about her struggling with depression since the baby. I'm not taking sides by any means Jamel. I'll just say no matter what you guys go through stick together.” I know she meant well. Mr. Larry, Natasha’s father, was beginning to fall sick. I could only imagine what Ms. Paula was going through. 35 years was a long time and I know through those 35 years her and Mr. Larry had been through a lot. You could see the pain in her eyes. Their story was in her gaze. I respected her advice knowing she genuinely understood. “Jamel whatever the situation. Leave it in the past and move forward.” She left my side to take some time to let everything sink in. I stood their gazing at my beautiful fiancee. My heart broke. I let her down. I let us down. “Hi are you her for Natasha Fasion?” it was her doctor. “Yes, yes I am,” I replied hoping he had good news. “She’s recovering well. Right now she's getting some rest. Visitors are allowed but limited so she is getting the rest that she needs. You are welcome to go inside.” I nodded and thanked him as I walked inside the room. I could barely stand to see her like this. Her eyes slowly opened. “Mm..Mel? Hey. I'm so embarrassed.” she closed her eyes slowly in shame. “Baby their isn't anything to be ashamed about it's just me and you.” I moved the hair from her eyes and kissed her on the forehead. “You know when you left I wasn't even angry with you anymore. I realized I haven't communicated what I've needed with you enough. I think if I had told you I was having a hard time bouncing back after having Nathan this wouldn't have gotten this far.” I remained silent for once and let her speak. “It’s not like you really left the house anyway.” she smirked. “What do you mean baby?” I asked. “Having Nathan around and him acting just like you I could never get rid of you.” She laughed, and if I hadn't been so relieved to see her alive, I might have laughed too.

Emotions are a question of mine. Something I, a human do not know of. Am I, a human capable of not feeling something that is so common and important to us humans? I ask myself at night, day and non-stop. Adoration, amusement, anger, awe, confusion, contempt, desire, disappointment, distress, fear, and interest I did not feel. But then one day, it happened. Who knows if it was a miracle or just a normalcy. But I felt a surge of something. Something new, something refreshing? “Confusing” I thought to myself. Confusing! Something new.. But how did this happen? Is it a miracle, a gift, a curse or the supernatural?

After the day ends, I will not feel the emotion confusion or any emotion at all. Because after all I am cursed or perhaps gifted and this is just a dream of an improbable situation.

But all will stay the same with my questions. Am I even human? Is this a curse or a gift? I guess I’ll have to stay pondering to these thoughts of mine.

“I can’t believe you,” Finch snaps, walking even faster than he already was. “Why didn’t you say anything about those texts?”

“Who’d believe me?”

“You literally didn’t delete them!”

“I’ve got experience with people thinking I’m crazy.”

“Because you do actually kill everyone you live with.”

I pull at the gloves he’d forced onto my hands after the injections, not wanting to think of what they could do. He notices, even in the dark of the moonless night, because of course he does.

He can read my mind, after all, and they even think controlling it is a possibility. Not that he wants to consider such a thing.

“How long until we get to your place?” Finch asks eventually.

“Few more streets.”

“Who’s home?”

“Emma, hopefully.” I think for a second. “Her mother might be.”

“They know where you live. What if nobody’s home?”

“Surely they’d have taken them—?”

“It’s a worldwide thing, idiot.”

After that, we walk in silence. I’m trying not to panic, but it’s so difficult.

What might have happened?

Every bad outcome runs through my head, over and over and over, a cycle of bad and worse and worse still.

Will we find nobody?

Will we find dead bodies?

Will we find a room covered in blood?

Or what if it’s not just Emma and Danielle that they hurt?

What if they repeat their little ‘gift’ to Finch?

Not that I know what that was. I also don’t think I want to know…

The door is the same as ever, and yet a thousand times more threatening than it has ever been. Even when I first moved here… it didn’t seem that scary.

I knock, mostly because Finch refuses, but also because I don’t actually have a key yet.

I’ve been here for months.

That’s… odd, I guess.

“Oh my god, it’s Lexi!” Emma grabs my hand to pull me inside, eyes shining. “And his boyfriend, hi Finch.”

“For crying out loud… my name is Alex! And I’m not dating him!”

She laughed, and if I hadn’t been so relieved to see her alive, I might have laughed too.

It was the worst day of my life the day I learned my wife had been in a car accident.

My wife had a job interview a few towns over, to get there she had to take the motorway. I offered to drive her there but she wouldn’t have it, she insisted she go alone. She had always been a cautious driver, I knew that, but that didn’t stop my gut from telling me something bad was going to happen.

She left at ten in the morning and got onto the motorway not long after. Things went fine for a few miles until a car came speeding up from behind. My wife’s car had been in the middle lane sandwiched between two other vehicles when the car from behind decided to overtake my wife.

There was nowhere near enough space for it to squeeze through, but it tried anyway. My wife’s car was rear-ended and she span out of control, colliding into the car to her left. The crash caused a huge pile up and several people including my wife were sent to hospital.

I went and visited her as soon as I could. She looked so tired when I entered her room, but she still had the biggest smile on her face when she saw me. “Are you okay?” Was the first thing I asked her, so trivial and generic. I wish I’d told her I loved her first, but I can’t change that now. “I’m fine honestly, do you think this will hinder my chances at getting that job as a driving instructor?” She laughed, and if I hadn’t been so relieved to see her alive, I might have laughed too.

It’s been 2 years since Ellie passed. She was only 16 when she had her overdose. I told her it was a bad idea. I TOLD HER IT WAS A BAD IDEA! I told her she shouldn’t have hung out with that witch Sarah. Sarah made her do it. Sarah made her go to that frat party even thought they were both just 16. Sarah made her do that stuff… SARAH MADE ELLIE HAVE THAT OVERDOSE… Sarah killed Ellie…

It wasn’t hard to find Sarah’s social media. I figured it wouldn’t be very hard to track her down and get the revenge Ellie could never get herself. Turns out Sarah was living a pretty good life in XX college. She probably sobered up at the realization that what happened to Ellie could easily happen to her. But it’s too late for all to be forgiven. Hmmm, looks like she’s going to hang out with her friends later on. Oh look! She posted a selfie with her new house without blurring the address. People should be carful of what they post so as to not give away every last detail of themselves. She’s probably going to post something when she’s with her friends. Now to wait.

Ping! Sarah finally posted where she currently is with her friends. “Having so much fun with Rachel and Alexa at XX Karaoke joint!” She made it too easy.

People are stupid. It’s past midnight and you’re walking home alone? Well might as well have my fun and freak Sarah out a bit before I get Ellie’s revenge. Speed up. Slow down. Turn right. Cross the street. Turn right again. Again. Again. Grip keys in hand. Look at phone. Oops. You stoped paying attention. Sarah turned into an allyway and I followed suit. Lucky me. Turns out this ally is a dead end. “Stay back!” She shrieked with her annoyingly high pitched voice pointing her phone at me. “The police will be here any minute!” Didn’t matter. As long as she was in hell I didn’t care what happened next. “You killed her…” The look of confusion crossed her face. Keeping my pace, I unzipped my black sweater, revealing the sheathed machete I had tucked into the waistband of my jeans before I left home. She gasped. After removing the sheath I looked at the machete as if it were an old friend, then looked up at her. “Jason?” Guess she actually does recognize me. “L-look. About Ellie, I’m s-so sorry, but none of us meant for that to h-happen! I don’t go a day without t-thinking about her! Please I’ll give you a-anything!” Ha. Now she’s starting to plead. “Then you won’t mind giving me your life.” I started walking just a bit faster to make her even more nervous. She backed into the wall that made up the dead end. “Please…” She whimpered. Her face now in disarray with her smudged makeup and unsightly expression. “You killed her and you’re gonna pay for what you did!” I shouted at her, picking up the pace. Eager to get this done as soon as possible for Ellie. Sirens wailed in the distance. I noticed Sarah glance at the open space right next to me. Well shit. She was trying to make a run for it. “No you don’t!” We started sprinting at the same time and I held the machete with both hands, ready to stab my newly sharpened blade into her. I was faster. The blade of the machete plunged into her gut with ease. I twisted my blade ninety degrees then ripped it out, making Sarah stager back a couple steps. She held her bleeding stomach and looked at me with wide eyes. Blood was gushing out of her gut and she was choking on blood as she fell to the ground. “I’m… sorry…” were the last words she managed to choke out.

I dropped to my knees and looked at my hands. I wonder if this was really for Ellie or… if I did it for my own peace of mind… The warm sensation of blood on my hands was odd… it wasn’t scary.. but comforting instead… The sound of sirens stopped coming closer, replaced by footsteps. Looking up now, I could see Ellie crouched over the now dead body. She looked at me, stood up and started dancing around. She laughed, and if I hadn’t been so relieved to see her alive, I might have laughed too.