She didn’t see it at first, not until sixth period when she was searching the bottom of her book bag for a stray pen.

The slip of paper was black, etched with silver writing that swirled and slanted in the best penmanship she had ever seen. Scarlet didn’t know why she didn’t notice it earlier. The dark gothic looking note hardly blended in amongst her possessions, which were all in shades of pink or soft creams. But as she searched the bottom of her bag, she pulled out her chemistry textbook and out flew the paper. Scarlet fumbled to grab it midair before it hit the ground. When she finally held the paper in her hands she glanced up one more time to make sure Mr Yual wasn’t watching. Though she was Head Girl at the academy, even she was not above Mr Yuals rants about paying attention and avoiding distraction. Scarlet let her eyes skim over the paper, her comprehension slow as she worked to make out the swirling letters.

Scarlet,

I know what you did at the Year End Formal last year and I have the cellphone you lost that night. Something tells me you’ll want to delete the messages and photos saved on it before anyone else sees.

$50,000 at 2am tonight in the main library. Give me the money and the phone is yours, if not, it might end up as evidence in a murder case. It shouldn’t be too hard to come up with the cash, I’m sure the allowance you get from mummy and daddy should cover it.

Yours truly, In love and in care,

O

By the time Scarlet had finished reading the note her hands were shaking and her breaths came out in ragged heaves. Who else had known about what she had done that night? How was it even possible? Her parents had done everything in their power- used up every resource and payed hush money to authorities- to make sure no one found out about what she had done. She hadn’t even told them that she had lost her phone that night, her parents would be furious with her if they new that a device holding enough evidence to put her in jail was missing out there. After an entire year without cops knocking at her door she had assumed she was safe or that the phone had somehow been destroyed. But this note had ripped apart all shreds of hope she had built. Someone out there knew what she had done that night and if she didn’t pay up, the authorities might know too.

This year was meant to be different, she was suppose to move on from last years events and become an entirely new and improved Scarlet. But it was only the first day of term and someone was already hell bent on destroying her life. Scarlet had finally earned the position of Head Girl at Renaes Academy and Board and she had worked painstakingly hard over the summer to craft the image of a polished and independent woman.

This person probably didn’t even know the details of what had led up to the accident. If they were relying on the messages and pictures on that phone, they were already being fed the wrong information. The messages she had sent Addie were the result of normal squabble between friends. But now that Addie was six feet under and Scarlet had been the last one to see her alive, those messages held an entirely new meaning.

Making sure to avoid Mr Yuals attention, Scarlet pulled out her phone and tucked it behind the cover of her textbook to disguise the device. She scrolled to the bottom of her messages until she found the group chat that hadn’t been used since the night of the Year End Formal. Though she felt a shred of guilt for reminding everyone of the part they played in the events that transpired almost an entire year ago, Scarlet was not going to be the only one taking the blame. With still shaking fingers she typed out the message that would not only revive the long dead group chat, but remind everyone of the events of that night.

Scarlet: Someone found the phone and they know what we did. They want $$ in exchange for it back or they go to the police. Meet me at the old meeting spot after school.