Nayeli sat in the dark, staring at the chrome-plated pistol in her hand. She examined its cold, hard edges, wishing it would just vanish, like the secret she had found out earlier that day. The rain continued to pour as she waited in that house, wishing she could be in her own home right now instead of this one. She closed her eyes, reliving the moment that led her here. “What’s taking Ezra so long?” Nayeli groaned, staring at the graffiti on the ceiling of the gazebo. There was no answer. She sat up, looking at the boy standing in front of her. “Braxton?” Braxton started, his head turning sharply. His eyes were wider than she had ever seen them before. Nayeli cocked her head. “Are you ok?” She watched him close his eyes and take a deep breath. When he opened them again, they had returned to their normal, indifferent state. “I’m fine,” he said lazily with a slight tremor in his voice. She furrowed her brow in confusion. She stared at him for a minute before turning her gaze toward the playground. The park had been empty for several hours now, since the weather report had announced rain earlier in the day. As always, they were wrong and no rain had come, though a strong breeze blew through the gazebo, making Nayeli shiver. “You said that Ezra would be here soon. Well, soon was two hours ago!” “Shut up, Nay!” Braxton snapped. She jumped a little. Her mind instantly went to the fact that he was yelling at her. It just wasn’t like him to shout, let alone to tell her to ‘shut up’. He took another long breath and shook out his arms. “Sorry,” he muttered. “He’ll be here—“ “Soon,” Nayeli finished for him. She crossed her arms, laying back down on the table. “I know,” she mumbled. Footsteps suddenly echoed in the gazebo. Nayeli shot up and Braxton turned on his toes. A short, broad shouldered teenager was walking toward them. His hands were shoved in the pockets of his oversized jacket. He wore a cool smirk, as though he knew something they did not. “Is she staying?” Ezra asked before he was even halfway there. “Nice to see you, too!” Nayeli called to him. Braxton looked at Nayeli out of the corner of his eye and signaled with a nod for her to leave. Nayeli clicked her tongue in annoyance but didn’t argue. She scooped up her backpack and stormed off, brushing past Ezra as she left them standing in an awkward silence. It was beginning to get dark now. Gray clouds had gathered across the midnight blue sky. She looked up just as a single raindrop hit her forehead. Then she heard Ezra mutter something to Braxton. She knew she shouldn’t listen in on their conversation but her curiosity got the better of her. With a quick glance over her shoulder, she ducked behind the slide, peering around the plastic edge, straining to hear their conversation. “I can keep your secret,” Braxton said hastily. Ezra was still smiling. It was the kind of smile that made others feel anxious. She could see it in Braxton’s face. “I haven’t told anyone that you killed—“ Braxton started. Ezra’s arm shot up. There was a silver streak and a gunshot. Everything went silent except for the ringing in Nayeli’s ears. She stared in utter horror at the scene. Blood ran out of the hole in Braxton’s forehead. It slid across his temples, forming a pool underneath his head. She felt queasy. The world began to spin. She turned to leave but instead vomited all over the teeter totter. Her legs gave out and she fell onto the sand, covering her mouth so she wouldn’t cry out loud. She jumped as the front door closed. Her eyes flew open and she was back in the living room, holding the gun. It had become a blur of silver in her trembling hand. She brought her other hand up to steady it and found the strength to stand. The rain had turned into a torrential downpour that pounded against the roof of the house. It seemed to be keeping time with her racing heart. The latch on the door clicked into a locked position. Wet shoes squeaked on the tile floor in the mudroom followed by a thud as they were kicked off. A light turned on in the hall and a shadow appeared in the hallway. Nayeli watched it grow longer as it approached the living room, bending and contorting over the edges of the furniture. Her knuckles had turned white as she held onto the handle of the gun with a vice-like grip. She extended her shaking arm in front of her until her elbow locked, pointing the barrel toward the entrance. With some difficulty, she pulled the hammer back with her thumb. It made a clicking sound like the latch on the door. Ezra appeared in the doorway. He was sopping wet. Water dripped off his clothes and onto the carpet. He stopped, eyes fixed on Nayeli and the gun as though he expected her to be standing there this whole time. “I know your secret,” she whispered, voice trembling. “I know you killed someone before Braxton. I heard everything you had said.” He took a step forward. “Nayeli,” he said threateningly, arms extending out in front of him. “Put the gun down.” She tightened her grip on the weapon. Ezra stopped. “Look, you found out. Your friend is a murderer.” Tears were streaming down her face. Her arms began to lower of their own volition. Ezra took another step toward her, smirking. She knew that look. It was the same one he had before he killed Braxton. Nayeli closed her eyes. She pulled the trigger. There was a gunshot. Everything went silent except for the ringing in her ears. She opened her eyes again and stared at the scene in shock. Her own body convulsed. She doubled over, spewing the contents of her stomach all over the carpet. Chunks landed in the blood that had pooled around Ezra’s head. Her legs couldn’t support her anymore. She crumpled to the floor, staring at the chrome-plated pistol in her hand.  Nayeli sat in the dark.