The Killer's Deception

Authors Note

2009-06-26T17:54:00.000+01:00

So thats the end of the Blogger version but I'm hoping one day to write it better on a website where it will get noticed.

Thanks to everyone who read, commented and liked.

More info later x

Epilogue: Ten Years Later

2009-05-17T18:24:00.003+01:00

The woman smiled as she wrapped her arms around him, her lips lightly pressing a kiss underneath his ear. "I love you, Henry." She whispered.
"I love you more, Hallie." He teased back before listening to the silence knowing that it would be ruined soon by the sound of their second child's cry for milk.

Hayley and Harrison had both died the minute the two drove out of their old town after blowing out Lily's brains. They were happy with what the result had been and together they were going to live happily. Instead of fearing that Hayley and Harrison were the number one suspects, their parents feared that the killer had got them and hidden their bodies. Which they were happy with.

Moving to a new town, they eloped in Gretna before starting their own little family and there wasn't a single day that he regretted. He loved every minute that he was with her. Their love didn't get old and boring. Every day was ignited with more passion than the one before.

Sighing at the sound of their second child crying, he kissed her cheek. "I wished we'd lived a little first."

"We did." She whisperd before kissing him. "And we're living a lot more than they all did." He whispered as he reached up and took her into his arms as she moved, kissing her shoulder.

"Now that I agree with." Smiling, she just turned to leave.

Moving into the nursery, she leant over the crib and sighed. "What's bothering you, Lily?"

The Last Goodbye

2009-05-04T18:16:00.002+01:00

Everyone had died now and Lily was going never going to regret what had happened between her and Hayley. Together they had made something so beautiful happen. Something so beautiful that she would never forget, she would still remember it tomorrow as if it was yesterday. The best thing was she knew she had destroyed Hayley's life through getting Harrison involved in the horror that was their life.

Lying down on the couch, she flicked through the channels on the television before sighing as she heard a knock on the front door. No one would come calling at this hour of night because everyone knew her parents would be out and due to all her friends being previously disposed, this night was a free night for her.

Opening the door, her jaw dropped. "I thought you was leaving so you both wouldn't get in trouble..." She taunted before noticing what they were doing. "Hayley..." She started to plead but she was immediatly silenced with a small pop.

A bullet tore through her forehead, no sound made because of the silencer they'd attached. Her body slumped to the fall in a single instant. The woman bit back the urge to vomit due to the help of her boyfriends hand covering her mouth so that she wouldn't scream. Tears fell down her cheeks as she realised that this was it for them.

They'd made a big mistake.

Departure?

2009-03-07T23:32:00.003Z

The guy loaded their bags into the back of the car and closed the boot before turning round to look at her, resting back on the boot. He could see the fear in her eyes. He could see that she didn't really want to leave but it was all he knew. He held out his arms, a silent request for her to move into them so he could comfort her.

She did so.

He kissed the top of her head, his hand rubbing up and down her back. "I promise to look after you." He whispered holding her close, knowing that he never wanted to let her go. She really was everything to him now.
"I know and I feel so lucky to have you." Harrison smiled at her comment as he knew that she shouldn't feel that way at all. He sighed as he kissed the top of her head again. This caused her to move away and look up at him. "What's wrong?"
"You deserve so much..."

Hayley silenced him by taking hold of his lips, her hands cupping his cheeks as she pulled away, her head shaking. "Don't ever think that. It's you who deserves better." She whispered before smiling. "Let's go."

The car started and Hayley stared out the window, her jaw clenched at the idea that she was leaving. Anger raced through her and she knew it needed to end. All of it.

"Stop."

Harrison

2009-02-19T19:19:00.003Z

She stood outside his house, tears falling as she thought of what Lily had just told her. She'd always believed that he didn't know what she'd been doing but now she knew otherwise.

Moving inside, she headed up to his bedroom slowly and quietly. All this needed to end before it got any worse.

Opening his door, she slowly moved towards his bed and stroked his cheek gently before kissing him. He woke up, taking hold of her wrist before pulling her down on the bed.

"I've missed you."
"Harrison, we need to talk..."
"What about?" He whispered still kissing her.
"I know you know..." She whispered pushing him away from her, her hands on the vee of his top. "Why didn't you ever talk to me about it?"
"Because I didn't want to believe it, okay?"

She moved away from the bed, her hands running through her hair as she started to pace his room. She suddenly stopped near his chest of drawers and ran her hand along the top.

"I didn't want you to get involved."
"Well I am." He whispered moving up behind her and taking her in his arms. "Hayley..."
"Run away with me..."
"What?"
"Lets just leave this place. Now. And not come back. Ever!"
"I don't know what to say."
"Just say yes..." She whispered kissing him gently, her hands running through his hair when she turned to look at him. "Please because I don't want to lose you."
"Okay."

Manipulation Is An Easy Game

2009-02-14T23:26:00.004Z

The two women sat next to each other in the dark as they stared ahead. "I think we should leave town, Lily."
"Why?" The girl asked rubbing her hands together, the sound annoying the crap out of Hayley but she'd never say because that would just start an unnecessary bicker between them.
"Because we're main suspects now, they'll be onto us."
"There is no us, Hayley. Do you not see that?" Lily laughed as she shook her head. "Due to you being in prison when the last murder happened there is no one else they can pin it all on."
"But I did do all the other murders!" Hayley whispered fearing that someone could hear her, fearing that talking too loud would get her caught and thrown into jail for the rest of her years.
"I know."
"So you murdered Carrie?"

Lily laughed as she looked over at the girl with her dark adjusted eyes. How sweet and naive Hayley really was. As if Lily had got her own hands dirty with doing such a deed. "I had the power over someone else to do it."
"Who?"
"I'd just like to say he really does love you, by the way."

Hayley's heartbeat raced as she clumsily rose to her feet, running out of the old barn/house thing and emptying her stomach down the old drain. Her fingers clutching against the uneven brick as she thought of what she'd manipulated Harrison into doing.

Lily had always been the mastermind behind the murders. She'd cooked them up and Hayley had been the one brave enough to actually carry them out. The only one stupid enough. Until now.

She needed to find him.

Before anyone else did...

Could This Be The End?

2009-01-22T22:02:00.001Z

There was a hint of hesitancy in the woman's steps as she moved towards the old warehouse, a smile forming on her lips as she thought of what had happened there so long ago.

Three drunk friends promising to kill their best friends, get the revenge that they secretly desired. How wrong everything was now.

There was two of them left. Lily and Hayley. Two who made the original murder plot, the original drunken dream was plotted in their two ticking minds.

Pulling open the door, the ginger woman took a deep breath as she stepped inside and looked around. "Lily!" She called looking around, her eyes trying to adjust to the dark.

Why had Lily wanted to meet here?

That question was soon answered as a match was struck, gently accentuating a small area of the woman's face.

"Hello, Hayley."

Auf Weidersen, Carrie

2009-01-14T23:40:00.002Z

She'd always been afraid of them. She didn't like their long legs, the little hairs that made them more real. The way they quickly crept across the floor, the way they hid in corners. They were always there but she'd never really thought about them, it only feared her when she saw them.

That's why now, in a dark corner of the town, she was afraid to cross over the bridge because there was a spider there. They'd arranged to meet here. It was their favourite meeting place and everyone knew it was. It was like their den, their treehouse, their clubhouse.

She felt her heart racing, the overwhelming nausea biting at her stomach as she stared hollowly at the creature. It wasn't going to be moving anytime soon.

What she hadn't realised that it wasn't real. It was plastic. Simply bought from a joke shop. It had been put there for a reason...

From behind she was jumped, a hand covering her mouth to stop her from screaming. "Boo..." The voice whispered in her ear, warm breath teasing her ear, flesh tickling her flesh. "It's time to say goodnight, Carrie."

***

The girl struggled against the binds. The makeshift coffin was just the right size for her. It was almost as if it had been made for her and that's when she realised it had been, her death had been planned.

A shadow covered her and she looked up, her eyes widening in horror as she tried to scream. Her voice being muffled by the gag that had been forced into her small mouth. A smile crept across the shadows face. "Yours is the best, Carrie. Be proud. It'll be known forever..." The voice drawled.

A plastic box was revealed and Carrie could see them scuttling around. She knew what they were and could feel her heart racing as she shook her head, her eyes pleaing for freedom... For them not to be put in her coffin.

The shadow just laughed before opening the box, tipping them out on her chest. "Sweet dreams, Carrie. You'll need them."

A large board was put over her, cutting out the light. The sound of drilling. She'd been locked in.

She could feel her pulse racing, her heart soaring. Blood pumped in her ears. She could feel them crawling over her, minding their own business but she was still scared.

Tears squeezed free from her eyes, a warm sensation rushed between her legs and she knew that too much of this torture was going to kill her.

***

It took fifteen hours before the struggling stopped, her muffled cries to calm down. They knew she was gone. Lack of oxygen, fear.

Spiders were the murderer technically here.

Short && Sweet

2009-01-11T03:05:00.001Z

The lack of light hid the two people in shadows as they stood and discussed the next step of their plans. There was only a few of them left then the whole group would be wiped off the face of the earth.

"Who next?"
"Lily."
"No, save her 'til later."
"Carrie then." The partner drawled rolling their eyes before taking hold of the other's hand. "Are you sure this is how you want it to go down?"
"I want it to go down the way it goes down. I don't fucking care anymore."
"Excellent." The voice said, a smile present in the tone. He obviously had something planned for Carrie.

Friendship Lost

2009-01-05T23:08:00.003Z

The girl sighed as she ran into the police station. Learning about Hayley's arrest had made her rather distressed and she knew she'd never be able to settle unless she knew she was alright.

Hayley was being released that moment, her whole body froze as she saw her stood there. She quickly caught up with her actions and turned to look at the officer, her handcuffed hands moving up with a hint of indignation in her face. She'd hated being treated like a criminal.

"I needed to come make sure you was okay!" Carrie explained before Hayley had even thought about asking her a question.
"Well now you have, you can totter off home." She said in a bored tone of voice, signing her release forms before smiling smugly at Carrie. "You've checked that I'm fine. Pretended to be a friend, you can go back to your good old life."
"Hayley, you know i have no life without you."
"Well then, you're screwed." Hayley spat angrily as she pushed open the doors, smiling as she felt the cold wind bite at her bare skin.

His car screeched into the car park and she ran over to him as he stepped out of the car, her arms being thrown around his neck as she started to kiss him. He kissed her back with that same desperation, that same sense of loss. For being an online relationship, they definitley were working a lot better then they wanted.

"Hayley, understand this. I just want you to be okay."
"I am okay, Carrie."
"Do you know who is murdering our friends?" Hayley moved towards Carrie, her smile almost evil.
"I'd watch out Carrie, you might get unlucky next time." She whispered to her before moving away. "You never know how scared people get."

As the car drove away, Carrie found herself crying. She'd lost her best friend.

Fill In

2009-01-03T11:37:00.003Z

Looking down at the matted mess that used to be the girl's blonde hair, he sighed as he felt his stomach turn. He'd been wasting time with Hayley... They'd been so convinced that it was her that they'd not even considered the options of it being anyone else.

The ambulance sirens droned away as he rubbed his sweating hands down his trouser legs, his eyes tired as he realised this case was probably going to be his last. He was going to retire peacefully with the memories that he'd lost a girl her life with his stupidity, his neglect that there could have been more... He stopped thinking. There was no point mellowing now. Ellie Harris was dead. That meant Hayley, Carrie or Lily could be next...

He was going to protect them three. If it was the last thing he did...

***

She sat cross legged on the hard bunkbed they expected her to sleep on. Her eyes were cold and calculating as she stared at the little door letter thing where they put the odd drink for her. She hadn't drank one yet because there was no way she was going to pee on that toilet...

A small smile pressed against her lips as she realised she had him good...

Interogation Round Two

2008-12-31T14:09:00.003Z

The officer moved back to sit in front of her before slamming his hand down on the desk. Hayley had had her arms folded, her head nestled in the middle hoping that shecould catch a few moments sleep. She lifted her head, her eyes squinted as she tried to control the urge to slap the smug grin of his ugly face.

The new officer was a balding man, with a rather large beer belly swinging over the plain black belt that kept up his grey trousers. The yellow tie had remnants of his late night snack on it and it clashed dreadfully with the yellow shirt he wore. She just lowered her head again.

"Don't ignore me, Miss Oakwell."
"Ask me another question then. Don't just try and wake me." She sat up. "A person my age needs approximately nine hours sleep and i'd say you've eaten into a lot of it." She spat.
"Why did you murder them?"
"Because I hate them."

The officer looked at her, his lips curling into a smile.

"Is this you admitting you did it?"
"No. It's me admitting I hate them."
"They're your best friends, right? So why do you hate them?"
"They're annoying. They all think they're better than each one of us. Take Carrie for instance, she holds her nose up at anything. And as for her phobia of insects... Hello, they're going to be everywhere. Get over it."
"So you just hang out with them to look popular?"
"I hang out with them so I have a group to call my own."
"You don't anymore because you killed most of it."
"You think I killed most of them, officer." She smiled gently. "But you'll be soon shook from that belief."

The officer had been about to ask her what he meant when there was a knock on the door and in walked an officer. His face flustered. "Sir, there's been another murder." The officer looked over at Hayley, who just smiled back at him.

"Oh and your key suspect is locked up in your cell." She laughed happily. "If you'd have listened to me, you'd have realised you was wasting your time on me..." She said pouting sadly before standing up. "The press will have a field day."
"What do you know of this?" The officer thundered slamming his fists down on the table.

Hayley turned to look at him, her arms folded over her chest. In this light, she looked gorgeous. She looked evil.

"That I didn't do it!" She said before laughing again as she moved to stand by the mirror. "Your main suspect didn't do it!"

Ellie's Demise

2008-12-27T23:02:00.003Z

The girl cried as she sat in the back of the car. She didn't know why because she knew what was coming. She had nothing to fear... Nothing really. Death was a definite fact in life right? She might not have wanted it to happen now but it was going too...

The attacker clumsily climbed out of the car before opening the back door and brutally dragging her out with him. Her hands were tied behind her back so she fell heavily, a pained wince escaped her as her cheek made contact with the gravel.

"Kneel bitch." A harsh voice ordered from over her before she was grabbed again and forced to kneel. "You should be begging for your life. For the simple mundane fact you so desperately want to go to Ibiza right?" He knelt down in front of her, his eyes cold. "It's where it's, right?" He said the right this time more emphasised, more aggressive. She just merely whimpered.

So she might have been a cold bitch recently but that didn't mean she deserved to die. No one deserved to die really. She looked at him.

"Let me go..." She said in a voice braver than she thought she'd have been able to muster.
"Over your dead body." Then he laughed at his joke as he started to rise. "Because that's what it'll be." He moved behind her, bending so that he could whisper in her ear. "Dead."

The cold metal of the gun parted her hair and she whimpered as she heard his fingers flex. The trigger was pulled.

No pain was felt as the bullet tore through her brain. No pain was felt as her body slumped, face first, into the gravel.

He laughed coldly before starting the engine and driving around her.

Interogation

2008-12-27T00:04:00.002Z

Hayley sat on the metal desk, her hands trembling as she tried to ignore the overwhelming urge to vomit over the smug bastard that sat in front of her.

"Why did you kill them?
"I didn't."
"Don't lie to us. Hayley. You are the only thing connected to them all."
"Lily? Ellie? Carrie?"
"I doubt it somehow. I mean, why should they want to do it?"
"Why would I want to do it?"
"You knew about Ophelia."

Hayley smiled at the change of conversation. So this was how the officer was going to play,

"A lot of people do."
"True. But we're not looking at a lot of other people."
"Oh. I feel special."
"Don't mess with us, Hayley."
"Don't accuse me of Murder then!"

Her hands had slammed down on the table, her eyes narrowing with hatred towards the officers.

"We want to know the truth!"
"Well go look for it then!"

***

The blonde walked home, her arms wrapping around her chest to protect her from the cold. A car screeched to a halt next to her and she jumped. A man ran out and took hold of her. "Surprise..."

Hayley's Arrest

2008-12-20T15:55:00.001Z

The girl ran into her room, not even freezing at the sight of Harrison lying on her bed. She pulled out her suitcase and started to throw clothes in, not caring about the fact she could be creasing the clothes. “Going somewhere?” He asked lazily still staring up at her ceiling.
“Yeah. As far away from here as possible!” She said pulling the flap down and pulling the zip that violently she actually snapped it off. “Bastard…” She cussed sitting down, threading her fingers through her messy hair. Harrison was shocked to see tears falling down her cheeks.

“Talk to me…” He whispered moving to sit next to her, his arms wrapping round her shoulders and moving her head to rest on his.
“I can’t.”
“You can!” He said lightly, his finger tipping her chin so she looked at him.
“They’re onto me, Harrison.” She whispered fighting against his finger and looking down at the floor, her vision blinded by tears.
“Who?” She finally looked up at him, smiling at his cuteness. The fact he cared made her feel so happy!
“The police, Harrison. The police are after me.”

He knew why. He’d never need to ask why. That would be making them both idiots. “Don’t go. Stay here. Complete it all.” He whispered stroking her cheeks, taking hold of her lips gently with his. “Please.”
“I can’t…”
“Yes, yes you can!” He said strongly his fingers going through her hair. “There’s only a few left. Then you can run. Be free.”
“A race with time now. They know. They have to know.” She whispered moving away from him, her arms wrapping around her chest protectively.

There was a knock on the door. “Hayley it’s for you!” Her mum shouted.

Moving down the stairs, she stopped as she saw that officer that had stalked them since the beginning. “Hayley Oakwell, you’re under arrest for the murders of Jessica Williams, Katie Parsons, Keely Johnson, Darius Rodwell and Roxanne Booth.”
“What?”

Roxanne was Finally Discovered

2008-12-13T21:26:00.001Z

It was almost beautiful, seducing the way the antique dress swished in the cold sodden water. The deceased body of Roxanne Booth had been found. Discovered. Ironic for Jargon of acting to be used. Just the way the killer had hoped. The officer knew of Roxanne’s dream of being an actress and you could see the killer had known too.

She was beautifully made up with thick lipstick and eye make-up, her hair was neatly styled into the era that the dress was made from. Ophelia. The way she’d drowned. A famous Shakespearian play taken for serious and a plot to have themselves found.

“It’s someone who knows her.” He whispered as he waded out of the water, his hands shaking as she bit his lip, biting back the urge to throw up.
“Two of her friend’s study drama. They’ll know the play. Hopefully.”

***

Carrie and Hayley sat in the head’s office, their hands fidgetting as they tried to think of what they could have done. “Hayls…”
“Shut up…” Hayley snapped angrily as she raked her hand through her ginger hair.

Everyone had noticed a change in the girl’s characteristics. Her clothes had started to bag, her eyes had lsot their glint and her hair appeared to be nearly dead. Hinting that she hadn’t been looking after herself. She had started to get more angrier with her friends and had started to ignore their calls, messages and anything else they managed to send to her. She lived for Harrison. It’s all she wanted to do now.

“Please, talk to me.” Carrie pleaded looking at her. Hayley whipped round to look at her and Carrie nearly jumped back in fear, scared of the murdering look in her eyes.
“What? What do you want me to tell you, Carrie?”
“Anything! Everything!”
“Well, there isn’t anything to tell so leave me alone!” She spat standing up and moving to walk to the window, not moving until the door opened.

“Girls, we need to know about this picture.” Carrie shrugged her shoulders. Hayley moved from the window and took hold of it all.
“The scene where Ophelia drowns herself in Hamlet. She wears the dress because she wants to believe that even though she commited suicide it was still beautiful.”
“Ophelia commited sucide?”
“Yeah. She drowned herself. She more likely died from hyperthermia though.” Hayley commented handing the picture back before turning back to the window.
“How do you know this?”
“I studied her for my devised piece in drama.”

That’s all the officers needed to know.

This Part...

2008-12-10T23:57:00.001Z

Roxanne missing was from school a week later was a shock. She never was off ill. Hell, she didn’t care about infecting the school with whatever disease she’d picked up! Her friends had always teased her for it and it had been quite a shock over the past week. Even more so she’d not been answering her mobile so none of them knew if she was okay.

Hayley sighed as she climbed into Harrison’s car that night from school, her head resting back on the chair. She smiled at him. “Are you alright?” Hewhispered leaning over to stroke her cheek, his thumb gently brushing overher lower lip.
“Just a little tired.” She said confidently back giving him a light kiss before squeezing his knee. “Looking forward to our date this weekend.”
“Always is a highlight of the week.” He whispered kissing her again before starting the engine.

There was something unusual about their relationship. Everyone saw it. No one just dared comment about it. Maybe it was the way Hayley fawned over him, maybe it was the way she simply thought that his word was bible. There was the way Harrison seemed to control her every movement, how she had to text him to ask if she could go out with her friends.

None of them were in strong, long lasting relationships but they knew that wasn’t right. How were they going to tell her?

***

Mrs Booth sighed as her hand trembled as she realised that her daughter being missing a week without a peep was maybe more serious than she’d originally thought. She reached for the mobile and dialled the police.
“Hello, I’d like to report my daughter missing.”

Deep In Thought

2008-12-01T15:21:00.001Z

You never focus on how important life is until it’s challenged. Until that fear of losing it comes right up close to your face and gently whispers “Boo…”. Death could just be round the corner in the form of some deadly disease, a mode of transport that you didn’t see coming, a mad axeman out on a killing spree or just from your mad thoughts.

Every single one of them had been planning the perfect future. The perfect life they knew or were desperate to lead.

Hayley was going to get married, have children and be the best at whatever career she chose. She wanted to do Charity work. Meet David Duchovny. It was all in the game plan.

Lily was going to be a lawyer, a pretty lawyer known for her skills. She wouldn’t become a stereotypical female lawyer who does man things and wear man clothes because it’s the only way to be respected. She was going to break in by being the best she could be.

Ellie was going to be a teacher, become famous for doing something so surreal from what people saw her as. Her friends were all saying she’d become some silly, brainless WAG. She was determined to be a WAG with brains, fashion and independence.

Carrie was going to be in drama therapy. Making people realise that their life wasn’t all that bad. She was going to marry someone eventually, maybe it was going to be Dwayne but who cared?

Roxie was going to be on stage. A performer. Dancing, singing, Acting. You name it. She was going to do it! It was her ultimate dream to see her name in lights!

Darius was going to be a plastic surgeon. Meet the partner of his dreams. Have a civil partnership with this guy and just still be a great friend, a great laugh. Now look at him. Lying dead on a cold autopsy table. Medical Examiners poking around in his dead body determined to find any scrap of evidence to why he was gone.

Keeley wanted to be in cartoons. Draw comics that children would be addicted too… Ones with amazing graphics, keen storylines that had that dreadful cliffhanger that would make you be determined to go out and buy the next copy. Now she was lying in a box, her parents waiting to bury her.

Katie had dreams of being a psychologist. Studying the mind and soul. It had intrigued her, pulled her in. Now she was lying in a coffin, six feet under. Her dreams no longer being thought.

Jessica hadn’t had many dreams. They’d changed so often. Film director, Teacher, Scientist. All beautiful, amazing prospects. None were going to happen because her skin tissue had already started to decompose, turn green and start to smell bad. Worms were starting to eat away at those dreams.

Life is a short thing. A peculiar thing. You don’t know what was going to come round the corner. Each one had beautiful dreams, desires that only themselves knew. However, did they really know if they were going to ever see them through?

***

The girl sighed as she hitched her dancing bag further up her shoulder, her head starting to ache as it always did after an extensive work out in the dance studio. Pain was gain in her eyes and she knew that it was going to all be good in the end. She sighed as she headed towards the bus stop, her eyes getting heavier but she knew that in approximately thirty minutes she could be home and in the shower. That felt like a happy thought.

A hand covered her mouth and she struggled. She’d not heard anyone moving behind her. She tried to scream but knew that nothing would help. “Shush. Don’t struggle. Your theatrical entrance will be upon us soon…”

A Crack In The Foundations

2008-11-23T22:36:00.000Z

The girls held her hand as she sat at the table nearly hyperventilating. “The killer must have known I was going to be walking that way… knew that’s exactly where I’d be…” She stopped as she felt more tears falling. “The killer was stalking me.”
“Oh my god, that’s not how a serial killer works!” Hayley snapped angrily. “The world does not revolve around you Ellie!”
“That’s the only explanation?”
“Or it could be that it’s a field, in the middle of nowhere, and he needed a place to stash a body.”
“Is that how you did it in your book, Hayley?” Ellie snapped angrily and Hayley just continued smiling.
“No, Ellie. That’s how I did your murder. Except your voice box was missing.” Hayley whispered still smiling brightly, standing up and leaving the room.

“It’s her, Lily.”
“You can’t say that!”
“We know it’s her!”
“No we don’t, Ellie!” Lily argued pushing her friend’s hand away from her. “All we know is that Hayley has a very fertile imagination. Someone’s working in Hayley’s mind.”
“Yeah her!”
“Why would she have killed Keeley?” Lily spat angrily before flicking her hair back. “And she’d have killed Carrie by now as it’s Carrie that annoys her the most.”
“You blind fool. She’d never kill Carrie. They’re madly in love, lesbians. It’s disgusting the way they act!”
“Stop right there!” Lily warned her, her bravado shocking even her. “That’s our friend’s you are insulting.”
“No friend of mine is a murderer.”
“No. So it’s a good thing none of them are.”

***

Break their foundations. Make them lose trust in each other. It’s always a great skill. To know that everything is going to wind up okay. To know that they all think it’s her… to make them think she was some crazy bitch…

It was all the game plan.

Another One Bites The Dust

2008-11-20T10:30:00.002Z

Ellie Harris knew that she had annoyed Hayley the moment she’d opened her mouth about the whole running away business. Their friendship had been strained recently and it hurt Ellie to think that she might have pushed it to the limits this time.

Sighing, she wrapped the coat around her as she stepped onto the dark field that was a shortcut to her house. Her parents hated her walking this way because you couldn’t see if anyone was around because of how dark it actually was. However Ellie loved the peace and quiet, the sheer thrill that someone might be watching her… Planning on attacking her… just made adrenaline pump round her body.

Headlights of a car flashed on and she found herself wondering how it had gotten on to the field without being yelled at by the local farmer. He really got pissed if anyone damaged his favourite field. She sighed as she realised that it was driving away, slowly.

As the headlights vanished over the edge of the field, she just carried on walking realising that this was going to be another cold night down here. The morning would be freezing.

She tripped over something.

Pulling out her mobile, she used the light to see what it was.

She screamed.

Staring back at her was the mutilated face of Darius.

His hands and eyes were both missing.

Ellie felt the vomit rise in her throat and wasn't shocked when she threw it all up, her hands clutching onto her abdomen as she struggled with the dizziness.

Run Away With Me

2008-11-17T21:29:00.001Z

Hayley laughed as she was twirled around by Harrison in her front garden. It was amazing how happy she was. All her friends were dying around her and here she was managing to laugh, smile and have a good time. He stroked her cheek gently. “Hayley, I want you to run away with me.” She looked up at him, her eyes widening with horror.
“What are you saying, Harrison?”
“Isn’t it obvious?
“I can’t just up and leave my friends need me!”
“You staying here isn’t going to help anything.” He whispered laughing, slowly taking hold of her lips with his again.
“I’ll think about it.” She whispered.

***

They sat around the table and looked at her. “He asked you to do what?” Ellie screeched leaning forward and taking hold of her hand.
“Run away with him.” Hayley spelt out wondering if they were going to be going round in circles all day.
“And you said?”
“That I’d think about it.” Carrie looked over at her.
“Meaning no right?”

Hayley looked around her friends that were left and shrugged her shoulders. “Ask yourselves this. What is keeping me here apart from you guys?”
“Your family! An education!” Lily cried out.
“Dreams.” Carrie said softly.
“Exactly, they’re all dreams.” Hayley said tapping her fingernails against the desk.
“I don’t think you should go,” Ellie voiced.
“Why?”
“Because you don’t know him yet!” Ellie argued. Hayley looked over at her, knowing immediately that she was right.
“You’re right…”
“I know…” Ellie said before making them all laugh hysterically

***

Hayley’s lesson had gone on late and Ellie was out first and saw Harrison’s car. She knocked on the roof of his side and waited for him to climb out. “Ellie, what makes you knock on my roof.”
“Stop giving Hayley silly ideas.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The running away idea. You really have her falling madly for you.”
“That’s the idea when two people are in love.” Ellie laughed.
“Oh Harrison, you are cute.” Ellie teased before becoming serious again. “Leave her alone.” She warned before smiling at Hayley moving towards them.
“What are you two talking about?”
“I was just telling Harrison about my upcoming driving test, I’ll be able to drive you home.”
“You never told me about a driving test.”
“I must have forgot.” Ellie said before moving away.
“Bye Ellie.” Harrison called after her.

Random

2008-11-12T11:56:00.000Z

The girls all stood around in the chapel of rest, tears falling down their cheeks. Five of them were left and they were now starting to panic. Which one of them would next be sought after by the monster that had hunted down their friends?

With Jessica and Katie there had been a strong link between the two murders. The holiday away. But now Keeley had been murdered. She hadn’t even been close with them at the point of planning so her name hadn’t even been down to go. So why was she dead? The question now was who had the group pissed off in the world?

The answer was truthfully no one. The only people they ever pissed off were each other. She looked around the group tears filling her misty blues eyes as she ran her hand through the unkept ginger hair. Who would do this to them? Why would anyone do this to them?

They were a nice group. Each one of them had friends outside of the circle. Each one of them had a good reputation. The only one who really struggled was Carrie but that was just because she was weird and other kids in the school didn’t know how to cope with her. They found it easier just to hate and insult her. It was the way teenagers acted with what society handed to them.

No names could come to her head of who would seriously want to harm them. No ideas of what they had recently done and no one who had all the means to want so. They were good kids, great kids in fact. They just liked their company more than others.

Could this be the end of their group?

***

Harrison smiled as he pulled up outside the church, his heart tightening at the sight of her leaving the building. Her eyes were puffed up from the amount of tears she’d cried. Taking control of his emotions, he rose from his chair and headed over to her. “Are you okay?”
“Why is this happening to us, Harrison?” She wept into his arms, clinging to his shoulders. At times she felt as if he was her only pillar of strength. The only person to carry her through the troubles.
“Because the world is an ugly place.”
“You’re telling me…” She whispered against his chest.

He smiled. All he wanted was to feel needed. Really needed.

Goodbye Keeley

2008-11-03T12:58:00.000Z

The breathing of the figure was heavy as they hid in the shadows. They knew she’d be passing this way very soon. Keeley wasn’t a traitor. Not in the sense the other two were but she still had to vanish. Still had to have her life extinguished.

They watched her leave the small library, a paperback safely tucked under her arm as she checked the road before starting to cross. She was in her own little world. (She was always in her own little world).

They had not doubts that the book was a Stephen King. A book of horror. They grinned to themselves as they realised that what was happening here was like a very bad horror movie. A group of friends slowly being picked off one by one…

No motive.

They were a nice group of people. Kept to themselves. Never hurt anyone. Apart from those inside their group that is.

Without even trying to be Hayley and Ellie were the upper figures. They had control. They had the power. It probably pissed the others off but that wasn’t going to stop the patterns of life. Hayley was too headstrong to care and Ellie could get rather stroppy if pushed…

The weaker characters just bowed down at their feet, never appearing to care that they were constantly being stepped on. Trod on. Pushed down. Their points of view constantly crushed and not given the daylight they deserved…

It was time that they stood up to them.

But off that thought and on to the moment that they were waiting for.

Keeley’s mother (such a sweet, caring woman) had always warned her not to walk down the long dark alley. It might be a shortcut but you never knew who or what you would walk into on a dark night. (Me the figure thought laughing silently). She never listened. She thought she knew best.

All teenagers know best.

She stepped into the alley and walked down, her eyes on the path in front of her as she clung to the book afraid to lose it.

The dark figure jumped out in front of her, a small pistol being aimed at her. “Hello Keeley…” The voice drawled and the way her eyes widened with recognition made the figure just chuckle warmly. “I hate to do this but…” They drawled before shrugging.

Their finger pressed the trigger.

A bang echoed down the alley.

Blood came out of the hole in Keeley’s chest. Her eyes saddened at the thought of beytrayal. She’d trusted them…

Her body slumped to the floor slowly and the assailant backed down the alley, the gun still out in case anyone jumped out at them.

The gun would be found later in a dustbin.

No fingerprints. No sweat. No idea of who was the owner. No evidence at all.

Punishment

2008-11-01T16:54:00.001Z

She laughed happily as she skipped down to his car that was waiting just at the gate. She was ignoring the fact her breath was visible in the cold morning air and that her bare legs was being attacked by the wind, it almost felt like people were stabbing her with knives.

Opening the door to the car, she leant in and took hold of his lips with hers. “Good morning, handsome. Did you miss me last night?” He smiled slowly as he kissed her back, his teeth harshly biting into her bottom lip - when she pulled away she could taste the bitter metallic taste of blood - before leaning over her and closing the door.
“More than you could imagine.” He whispered before pressing down the lock button and starting to speed down the road.

Gripping onto the door handle, she bit back tears as she realised that this was a scary moment. What the hell had made him go psycho on her? She looked over at him and could see the anger glinting in his eyes. “Harrison, what’s wrong?” She whispered in a pleading voice, her hand never leaving the door handle even though she knew it wouldn’t save her life.
“We’ll get to that.” He said coldly just staring blankly ahead. She let her tears fall now as she realised that she’d just walked into danger.

The car screeched to a halt at an unknown place and she found herself staring stiffly ahead, her hand was now glued to the handle with fear. He turned to look at her. “What was his name?”

She remained silent.

“What was his name!” He barked angrily taking hold of her shoulders and turning her so that they faced each other.
“What was who’s name!” She screamed back at him, trying to break free from his touch.
“That guy you was all over last night.” Something in her eyes faded and he knew she’d worked it out. He’d followed her. He’d been sat there watching her move sexily against the nameless guy. He’d watched her dance and laugh with another man. And he was now angry.
“I didn’t get his name…” She whispered looking down at his chest, not wanting to look at his eyes.

Afraid she’d see the betrayal.

“You danced with some man… So disgustingly it was almost as if watching sex… and you didn’t get his name?”
“I didn’t want to know his name. We were out having a good time!” She explained still refusing to look up. “We were there to forget about the ugliness our world has become.”
“Your world is ugly?”
“Yes…” She whispered then winced as his hand made contact with her cheek, making a loud slapping noise. She looked at him, her cheek reddening and tears stinging her eyes.
“I’m sorry you feel it is.”
“You don’t make it ugly. Oh, Harrison. You coming into my life has made me forget that they all hate me. That they all plan things behind my back… At night I just lay awake and wish that you was there holding me when I cried. I only want you. Not them.”

Her words cut him deep. Especially as he watched her cheek glow.

“You want to be a writer.”
“And to do that you need to be in touch with your emotions and realise what you feel.” She explained quickly. “And the only emotions I feel for you are love and adoration. I swear. I mean, at times I don’t even think I deserve you.”
“You don’t but I will never leave you.” He whispered. “Without me you are nothing.”

And she found herself nodding in agreement.

Random

2008-10-28T14:46:00.001Z

The pen scratched across the paper, the aggression in her movements and the tears that blurred her vision stopped her from staying on the faint blue lines. She couldn’t believe what they’d done. Going on holiday? ON HOLIDAY! Without her. Without Ellie. Without Lily. Disgust ran through her as she threw the notepad against the wall. The tears weren’t sad ones. They were angry tears. Tears of hate. Tears of pain! The book lay open on her sister’s bed, the latest entry open for them all to read..

So they thought they’d be able to get away with it. Not tell us. Just vanish off the face of the world. I’d like to see Carrie try. I mean, we’d get suspicious when the stupid geek didn’t spend every minute of them four days on the fucking computer! I knew Jessica was a bitch. Everyone knows Jessica is a bitch. She’s out for one thing. Herself. She always has been and probably always will be. Me and Katie have never seen eye to eye so for all I care, she could go and party in the sea. Catch pnuemonia because of the cold water. Darius should have known better and should have convinced them to tell us but I’d never expect him to. I hate them. I hate her. I hate her. I hate her. I hate her… I HATE HER!

That page was later destroyed and found in tatters in the bedroom bin by her sister, Laura. However the words “I hate her” had been bolded and still seemed to be the only words in tact.

A page of the book had “I HATE HER!” written over and over again. Not that anyone else would know. Or who HER was?

***

“You can’t really want us to have fun here, can you?” Hayley snapped at her parents.Apparently the parents had cooked up a night out for all the girls and Darius just so that they could have a laugh again and realise that they still had life left to live for. That Jessica and Katie would want them living life large.
“Fun is only mildly putting it.” Her mother said handing her some spending money before thrusting her out the door.
“If Harrison rings…”
“We’ll tell him to call back.” Her mother said laughing closing the door behind her. Hayley groaned looking down at herself in the tight green dress, silly heels and her hair done up. She hated going out.

***

With the help of alcohol they’d all relaxed and were moving to the beat of the music. Hayley and Carrie laughed as they moved against each other. Their hands linked as they looked at each other. The two lesbian lovers were back in town. Everyone was moving together.

Dancing. Laughing. Singing. Having a good time.

All the girls were being flirted with by other men in the club. Hayley and Carrie were separated, being forced to dance with men. Hayley laughed as she moved dirtily against the stranger, her arms wrapped around his neck. The look of happiness on her face was making her friends all smile as they danced with their own partners.

The guy sat in the dark shadows of the club, his hand attached to his face as he watched her move with the man. He knew he couldn’t trust. Tomorrow…

Tomorrow, he’d teach her a lesson. One she’ll never forget.

Stepping Up

2008-10-26T17:17:00.000Z

The (once eight, now six) girls sat at their table at school. The sympathy of all the other students annoyed them all. They heard them whispering, talking about it. Hayley had been sat in a toilet cubicle listening to two girls talk about it…

“Did you hear about the Katie girl?” The voice asked, the sound of a lipgloss pen squelching into it’s tube made Hayley roll her eyes.
“Burnt down in her house.” The other one said with a slight hint of amusement in her voice. “I can’t believe that’s two of them down.”
“I know! The quiet ones! Seriously. You’d think the murderer would at least go after the losers.”
“Talk about insensitive!” Hayley growled as she stepped out of the toilet cubicle, her hands turning the taps on the sink and let the nuke warm water run over her hands. “The unfortunate fact is murdering the nice people not you fucking bitches!” She growled angrily before storming out of the toilets.

… people should just get attacked at times for their insensitive comments that apparently makes them feel good. So some people use jokes to cover up upsetting subjects but that was off the mark. She sighed as she ran her hands through her hair.

“What are the funeral arrangements?”
“To dig a hole and throw her in.” Hayley mused lightly before shrugging. “Her mum is sorting it out. I think Gina is taking over.”
“Oh what a shock…” Ellie sniped before leaning back against her chair. All their faces were fresh from make-up today because they didn’t know when they were going to burst into tears and ruin their mascara and eyeliner.
“God knows why she thinks anyone should care. She didn’t even want to come to her party!” Carrie snapped angrily biting her lip lightly as she noticed Gina walking towards them.

Gina Gilly was a first class pain in the arse. With long brown hair that was always greasy looking and always down even though it had never been straightened (therefore was always kinky because of when she wore bobbles) that looked disgusting and you just wanted to run a comb through it (or even better shave the damned thing off). Her face was always caked in make up at irrelevant times. She preyed after men like women of the night. Her nose was too big and was always in everyone elses business. She knew more about everyone else did than everyone did!

“Hey guys. I thought I’d come find someone else who was just as upset about this whole business as I am.” SHe whispered in an overdramatic voice. Hayley raised her eyebrows at Ellie before laughing.
“Keep looking then.” She whispered harshly.
“Excuse me?”
“You wasn’t Katie’s friend. You are no ones friend. You only ever care about yourself.” Lily shouted finally feeling good that she could let her anger out at this cow.
“How dare you!”
“We dare.” Keeley whispered. “We cared about Katie. And you just want to get all upset so that people rush over to you and ask for a story.”
“So why don’t you do us a favour? And get lost!” Roxie whispered looking up as Gina stood at her shoulder.
“If that’s how you want it…” She whispered her voice whiney as if hoping they’d change their mind.
“It’s how we always want it.” Gina turned round and stormed off.

“Katie would never believe we finally stood up to that bitch…”

What?!

2008-10-23T00:42:00.000+01:00

She fell down onto her bed, tears falling down her cheeks as she realised that the last thing she and Katie had down were affirm how much they hated each other (being civilised was their game). To now learn that Katie was dead and Hayley could never apologise for the slanging matches, the bitter comments and the simple fact she hated her was going to drive her crazy.

She curled up in a ball against the corner, clinging to her teddy bear as she chipped the black nail varnish off her thumbnail. Who was out to get them? Who was inside her head? More importanly why were they inside her head? What the hell did they get out of it?

There was a knock at the door and looked over, tears blurring her vision (times like this she praised her allergy to cosmetics) and smiled as she saw Harrison. “You didn't have to come...” She whispered through her tears, running a hand over her face so that she could move her fringe out of the way. He moved over to her and cupped her cheek in his hand.
“I'd come running for you every time.” He whispered taking hold of her lips gently.
“I'm so lucky to have you.” She whispered back clinging to him as she felt more tears being released over the fact another one of her friends was dead.

She looked over at him, saw the hurt in his eyes (probably due to the fact this was the first time he'd seen her cry) “I'm sorry. You was meant to be going to a party tonight.”
“Who wants to go to a silly party when they're girlfriend is off having fun elsewhere?”
“Even that's not happening now.”
“Well come to my party. Take your mind off things.”

Hayley knew she should say no. Mourn a little over Katie's death. But it was no real loss to her. Katie detested her more than she detested... whatever it was she detested (okay, Hayley really was at the bottom but let's not go in that) and she found herself wanting to please Harrison. “I'd like that...”
“Go get your gladrags on.” She smiled as she stood up from her crouched position, kissing his cheek lightly.

***

Ellie sat on her bed, her pink laptop rested on her knee as she looked at the letter she had ust written. It blamed Hayley for the two murders. In her head it all made sense. Motive, reasoning, time... But could she really blame her friend? That one person who sat there and listened to her through thick and thin, understood what annoyed her (hey, they survived church together – that's an annoying thing). She looked at the open e-mail where she was going to post it to someone (anyone) just so it felt as if she cuold let it off her chest.

She pressed the backspace button.

And cried as she watched the message get deleted character by character.

Question Time

2008-10-19T16:47:00.002+01:00

Police sirens startled them and they turned round to see the police car stopping in the car park across the road from them. A groan escaped the lips of Lily as she noted it was the same on who’d spoke to them about Jessica (she tried desperately to remember his name but couldn’t so she gave up). He spotted them and his face fell grim as he started towards them.

“Oh God.” Hayley snorted as she also spotted him dodging the cars and noticed that he was actually quite attractive in a uniform man kind of way (basically she’d screw him if he promised to wear the uniform). “What’s he want now?” She grumbled moving her bag further up over her shoulder as it was starting to get heavy.

He stepped into the building and looked around at them all. “I’m afraid you won’t be going to Katie’s house for your barbecue.”
“Are you stalking us?” Ellie asked raising her eyebrows as she pursed her lips. This was getting weird. Who normally had police officers following their every move.
“No. I’ve just been called by the police at Katie’s house.” The girl’s all rose from their feet, their heartbeats speeding up as they looked at them.
“Has something happened to Katie?” Carrie whispered biting her lip gently, not wanting to know the answer (even though she already knew the answer in her mind)
“Her house was burnt down.” He looked over at them, saw the tears starting to build in their eyes (he should have done this somewhere else was his only thought as he saw the other people in the interchange staring at them). “It was arson.”
“Someone really was after her.” Keeley whispered looking down at her hands.
“You promised her!” Carrie turned to look at Hayley, her eyes open in horror. “You promised her she was going to be okay.”

Looking down at the ground, she ran her hands through her hair and felt tears starting to fill her eyes. She had promised. She had swore that there wasn’t some psycho out to get them. How stupid was she to make that promise?

Her phone buzzed and she reached into her pocket.

A message of Harrison (inside her mind she was smiling) as she opened the message and felt more tears fall.

Hope you have a great time tonight. Don’t get too close to the BBQ fire. I know how clumsy you are. Fire burns. I Love You. X

Looking up at the police officer she shook her head. "Why is this happening to us?"
"To you guys?" He asked looking over at her, his arms crossing over his chest.
"You have to admit, Officer. Two of our friends are dead." Lily stepped in and looked at him. "Why?"
"We don't know."
"Well why are you wasting your time here with us!" Ellie shouted angrily at him not caring about the scene she was making (women started to mutter about teens today and Hayley found herself wanting to beat them one), all she cared about was her friend's.

"I have one question for you all."

Those few lines caused all of them to take a deep intake of breath as they waited ("on the edge of their seats") for it.

"Another shell was found at the crime scene. What could that symbolise?" Hayley pursed her lips as she crossed her arms over her chest, her glare aimed at Carrie.
"They went on holiday. Maybe they picked up some crazy stalker without realising."
"They?" The officer asked (eventually they'd ask his name as he knew they didn't remember)
"Jessica. Katie. Carrie. Darius." Ellie voice aloud, the disgust present in her voice as she also glared at Carrie before turning to look back at the nameless officer.

The officer picked up on that. Two of them were dead. Shells being left behind.

They had a lead.

Where's Katie?

2008-10-19T01:21:00.001+01:00

The six girls crowded at the bus interchange, their happy laughter echoed through the small building (irritating a few of the people standing by but they just didn’t appear to care) as they looked at their watches, waiting for Katie to meet them.

They’d planned on going shopping today to buy essentials for their birthday BBQ. It was going to be the basic stuff (meat, chocolate and alcohol) and then they’d all set off down to her house and party until the early hours of the morning due to the fact Katie lived in the middle of nowhere without neighbours (no one to complain about noise levels).
Impatience was starting to set in as they tapped their feet against the cheap marble floor. Ellie groaned as she realised she’d stepped in disposed gum and it was now stuck on the bottom of her brand new heels (£12 in Garage. It had been decent she’d though). Sitting down on one of the hard benches, she used a spare penny to scratch it off. Using every insulting word about the stupid idiot you’d thrown the intruder to her shoe on the floor.

“She’s not normally this late…” Hayley started wrapping her arms around herself shuddering (eventually she’d realise she was stood under the airvent, right now she was too busy moaning). Keeley laughed as she looked over at her.
“You have no right to talk about punctuality.”
“Hey. I’ve been getting better recently!” Hayley said laughing as she ran a hand through her straightened hair, staring at the buses that were coming and going.

The bus Katie should have been on arrived and Hayley sighed moving outside the main door to get phone reception (what was the use of phones if you could never get signal in dire emergencies?). Dialling in Katie’s number, she gave the other girls eyes when she reached the voicemail.

“Katie. Where the hell are you? We’re all bored out of our minds waiting for you! Ring me when you get this!”

***

The police officers moved up to the bedroom, shocked to hear the twinkling of a mobile phone. The sound took them towards a drawer. Pulling it open they found an unharmed mobile and diary (lucky really, as they could now see what was meant to be happening). The mobile’s screen said that a Hayley was ringing for her and the officer sighed.

“The second one from that school.” He muttered noticing the emblem on the front of the diary.
“And apart of that group…” The second officer grumbled pointing at a cindered photo. Bending down to pick it up, he saw it was a small photo of four friends on a beach somewhere. The first victim was smiling at the camera, her arm around the blonde’s shoulders.
“Where are the rest of them?” The detective asked.
“Someone obviously took the photo…” (they just didn’t realise that friends could be cold enough to leave half the group out on a group holiday…)

Katie's Comeuppance

2008-10-15T14:28:00.001+01:00

The girl sighed as she moved around her bedroom, panicking about her upcoming birthday celebration. All her friends would be here expecting an amazing barbecue that she couldn’t hold because her mother had suddenly decided to spring on her that she was going away for a fortnight. How selfish was that?!

Flopping down on her bed, she hid her face in her folded arms as she thought of being in this large house on her own for a whole two weeks. Normally she’d have had Jessica over to keep her entertained but that wasn’t going to happen now, was it? She sighed as she thought she might invite Lily. Lily was always good at keeping people entertained and would probably scare away and scary monster. Hopefully.

Downstairs, not that she’d noticed, a figure was walking around in the dark. They were being weighed down by the heavy petrol can they held. Their eyes glinted in the moonlight as they gently spread the thick liquid over the furniture downstairs moving towards the stairs and splashing it up to her bedroom door. Smiling they gently painted the door with petrol. A small smile spread on their face as they heard the faint sound of her crying.

Moving back downstairs they moved to the back door where the trail of petrol started, pulling out a box of matches, they coldly lit one. Flicking it down on the ground, the glint in their eye brightened as the orange flames aggressively consumed the treat they’d handed it. They left in a hurried pace.

Katie sighed as she smelt something burning. Lifting her head from her hands she screamed at the amount of thick smoke consuming her bedroom. What was happening here? She moved to the bedroom window as she saw flames flicking underneath the door. A liquid was also there and she didn’t want to get closer to examine it because she immediately knew what it was.

“She promised there was nobody after us!” She screamed banging her fists on the window. “She promised!” She screamed again and again until she got weaker, her body slumping down on the floor as she continually spluttered from the smoke that she’d inhaled. “She promised…” She croaked as her last words, her eyelids closing as she blacked out.

The arsonist stood in the back garden, the glint still in their eyes as they stared up at the window. Happy to watch her collapse. To know that her life was over. To know she’d paid as well…

Acceptance

2008-10-08T14:33:00.000+01:00

She fidgeted with the long white dress she wore, wondering if she could pull off the black polka dots. Deciding she could she ran a hand through her freshly curled hair and looked over at her sister. “Why am I so nervous?” She whispered running her sweating hands over her skirt, swerving from her sister’s slap.
“Because it’s you. Fuck knows why you took drama.”
“Because I’m amazing at it.” She said pouting sexily and digging her hand in her hair, posing.
“You bighead.” She said throwing her pillow at her causing Hayley to laugh as she winked at her.

The car pulled up outside and out stepped Dale, Lacey’s boyfriend. Hayley smiled over at him before letting him into the living room. “I’m here for the big unveiling.”
“What? You two are meant to be coming to the damned restaurant.”
“We have better things to do.” Her sister taunted wriggling her eyebrows, causing her sister to wrinkle her nose.
“I do not want to know…”
“Well you have a boyfriend now, you’ll be doing it soon.” Hayley raised her eyebrows before smiling.
“Some of us can keep our knickers up for longer than a month into a relationship.” Lacey laughed before clicking her fingers and pointing at her sister.
“Touché!”

“Wow Lacey, you are as beautiful as your sister.”
“If not more attractive.” Dale slimed as he held onto Lacey as if scared she’d feel attraction to Harrison. Lacey smiled nodding her head.
“Oh, Hayley. We date such charmers!” She laughed as she took hold of Harrison’s hand.
“Ready to face the music of my friends?”
“Born ready…” He whispered taking hold of her lips gently before leading her out.

***

The girls all stood outside the restaurant looking at her. “Are you okay?” They asked a fretting Carrie who was pacing backwards and forwards.
“No! Our friend is dating some guy off the internet that she’s met twice! And we’re all meeting him for dinner! Hello, he could be a killer!” They all turned to glare at her.
“This isn’t telly.” Ellie snapped angrily rubbing her arms to protect her from the cold.
“And Hayley isn’t stupid!” Lily also pointed out.
“Don’t ruin this for her, Carrie.” Katie muttered running a hand through her blonde hair.
“You mean you guys are actually going to accept him?”
“Yes.” They all chorused looking at her, their eyes determined as they glared at her. She just sighed angrily and continued pacing.

***

“Thankyou for this.” She whispered when they left that night. Her friends had been nice, except for Carrie, and she was so thankful to him for sticking with her. He looked over at her, his hand brushing her shoulder gently.
“Don’t worry. I’d do anything for you.” She laughed gently before leaning over and taking his lips with hers.
“Thankyou, Harrison.”
“My pleasure, Hayley.” He whispered against her lips, his hands raking through her hair. “Can I see you next weekend?”
“I don’t see why.. Oh, no. I’m at Katie’s house. Sorry.” She said before kissing him again. “Weekend after.” He nodded resignedly before leaning back against his chair.
“Sounds fine.”

Somebody's Out There

2008-10-06T18:45:00.003+01:00

They crowded round her that next morning at school. She looked over at the ceiling as she clung to Gemma, who was always there to solve her problems. “Someone attacked Scotty?” Ellie asked for clarificiation, trying to think of what cold blooded bastard could attack a dog. Katie nodded, her eyes filling with tears as she leant her head against Hayley’s shoulder.

“Something’s happening here guys. Someone is seeking us out.” Katie finally managed to whisper.
“What the hell makes you say that?” Hayley spat out angrily, her hands shaking as she bit her lip gently. She’d long since considered that. Someone was definitely in her head.
“Come on Jessica was murdered and then Scotty was attacked!”
“Could be a total coincidence, Katie.” Carrie whispered biting her fingernails. Katie shook her head as she gently rose from her chair, Gemma following suit.
“I refuse not to see it.” She whispered before leaving, Gemma following like the little lap dog she was.

Lily and Ellie looked over at Hayley, who just shook her head. “It’s just a coincidence. This has nothing to do with us.”
“What are you saying?” Keeley asked.
“There is not some mad axe man out there hunting us down. This is not some horror book.” Hayley muttered gently holding Keeley close to her, her eyes haunted. She understood why Katie was upset, if anyone had hurt her dog Rookie, she’d be upset. He was her best friend.
“It sure looks like one.” Roxie whispered before standing up and heading to class.
“Yeah it’s almost as if someone has a greater power over us.” Lily muttered linking arms with Ellie and leaving. Hayley smiled at the other two girls.
“Want to walk to lower?”

***

“God she feeds on people’s misery!” Hayley spat angrily about Gemma to Harrison, her internet friend. He looked over at her, smiling softly.
“You sound as if you could do with her killing not Jessica.” Hayley smiled at him realising that he could make that joke as he didn’t know any of them.
“I just don’t get what it is that makes her like that! She’s just always there! I swear, she just makes the problems worse!” She said throwing her hands in the air aggressively before laughing at the fact she had caught his face. “Oh my god, I am so sorry…” She whispered leaning over and wincing at the fact that she’d caught his face with her hands.

Taking hold of a tissue, she leant in and dabbed at the cut. “I’m sorry.” She whispered laughing gently before stilling as he took hold of her wrist.
“I know how you can make it up to me…” He whispered moving up and slowly curving his hand around her cheek. Her breath caught in her throat, her eyes slowly closed as she licked her dry lips. It seemed like forever before his lips gently touched hers, coaxing hers into kissing him back. Dropping the tissue, her arms gently went around his neck as she kissed him back, not caring that this was a guy she hardly knew. All she cared about was the closeness, the attention and the idea someone liked her for her!

Eventually they broke away and he chuckled, his fingertips gently caressing her heated cheek. “You’re beautiful.” She shook her head as she ran her hand through his dark hair, teasing the tips.
“No I’m not but I’ll gracefully thank you for the comment.” She whispered kissing him again gently.
“You have to realise that you really are something special. Just because your friends take you for granted. I mean, why do you even bother with that Carrie?” She smiled as she shook her head.
“You’ve got to meet them…”
“Is that an invitation?” Hayley laughed.
“Why would I want to introduce you to my friends?”
“Because don’t girls normally want their best friends to meet their boyfriends?” She smiled as she bit her lip lightly.
“Is that what we’re doing here?” He took hold of her hand and gently pressed a kiss to her knuckles.
“That’s what I like to think.” Laughing, she wrapped her arms around his neck and held him close to her.

Katie's Shock Discovery

2008-10-04T12:40:00.000+01:00

The blonde girl sighed as she ran a hand through her wavy locks, her little black cocker spaniel was skipping off ahead in the woods and she had a huge fear that she was going to lose her beloved pooch. “Scotty!” She called stumbling over some twigs as she scanned the road frantically, hoping to God that he hadn’t wandered off the path.

No one ever wandered off the path in these words. It always scares people because you either get lost or you’re attacked by your paranoia and you think people are going to jump up behind you and attack you. Which isn’t going to happen. This area was a nice one and it was too quiet to be harbouring psychotic killers.

She called his name again, listening to his little woof. She panicked as she didn’t hear it. She decided to stand still and see if he’d come back to her.
She didn’t know how long she’d stood there waiting on baited breath for Scotty to bark. Her heartbeat had started to race as she moved around. She started calling Scotty’s name more frantically, rage rushing through her at the idea her dog would ignore.

A whine echoed through the woods and she froze, her heartbeat racing at the sound of her dog’s pained whimpering. She followed the sounds and saw him lying in a clearing, his small body shivering. She knelt down next to him and gently stroked him, her hand moving away covered in a sticky crimson liquid.

Someone had beaten her dog.

She screamed in anger. “Where the fuck are you, you bastard?”

Looking down at Scotty she saw something attached to his tail. A little white piece of paper.

“You’re next. Katie.
All my love.
X”

Her heartbeat raced as she collapsed on the floor. Who would do such a thing to her dog?

Who would want to injure her in anyway?

They Meet

2008-10-02T00:32:00.003+01:00

The thick ginger hair ran down her back as she walked through the busy shopping centre. Her fingers were clasped together so tightly that her knuckles had turned white but she knew she wasn't going to turn back now. She took a deep breath as she stepped into the small cafe and saw him sat at the couches. Just like he'd promised to be.

He was a dashing guy with uncut brown hair that flopped into his boyish blue eyes, she could tell they were contacts from how bright the blue was. His lips were kissable and stretched widely into a grin. His body was rather muscular and Hayley could imagine being curled up in the strong arms she could see beneath the short white shirt sleeve. All in all, her internet friend sure as hell blew her breath away and she could feel her stomach muscles tighten and heartbeat race as he looked over at her smiling.

It had to be the wrong guy. No way this delicious piece had fallen for her. When he stopped in front of her, she was finding it hard to stand as her legs were like jelly. "Hey." She managed to whisper her hand reaching out to grab onto a chair as she felt faint.
"Hayley, you're more beautiful in life than on a camera." He whispered softly in her ear as he took hold of her arm and led her gently to the couches.
"And there is no way you fell for me." He chuckled.
"I do look like the shallow type but there was something about the way your ginger hair refused to sit flat, the way your misty blue eyes twinkled when you teased me. Then there's the dimples..." His eyes darkened with desire as she laughed with embarrassment, the dimples appearing.
"Great. So you appear to love everything I hate."
"Isn't that how it always works?" He challenged sitting opposite her. Hayley smiled softly, heat flooding her cheeks as she realised that he didn't change in person.
"Always."

Another Wedge...

2008-09-28T23:26:00.002+01:00

"You can't be serious!" Ellie shouted her friend as she paced the toilet floor. Hayley ran a hand through her loosened ginger hair, debating if she should put it back up into a bobble or just leave it as it was.
"Can't be serious about what?" Carrie asked as she stepped out of the toilet cubicle, using her hand gel to wash her hands.
"She's only gone and arranged to meet up with that guy she's been talking to over the internet!" The girls all turned to look at her and Hayley felt herself shrinking in size at their death glares.
"Are you fucking stupid?" Katie asked shaking her head.
"No. I've thought it out. We're meeting in a public place."
"If Jessica was here she'd make you see sense..."
"No actually, Jessica always told me to go for it. If Jessica was here, she'd be taking me." Hayley found herself snapping at Carrie before storming out the toilets.

The six girls left in the toilets turned to look at each other, "We can't let her go through with it."
"Carrie, she's just going to rebel. It's Hayley, for gods sake!" Lily cried leaning against the wall. "Someone needs to make her realise she's stepping into danger doing this."
"No we're stepping into danger trying to get in her way." Roxie muttered raking a hand through her hair. "I can't see why we don't trust her. She's not going to do anything stupid with him."
"She loves him, Roxie. She worships the ground he walks on." Carrie muttered looking down at the floor, her heart breaking as she realised that she'd not noticed her friends desperation to be with the internet guy.
"We'll follow her. She said they'll be in an open space. It's all we can do." Lily muttered looking at them. "Hey, I've always wanted to do the Mission Impossible into Hayley's house. Let's just follow her around."
"Talk about invasion of privacy..." Keeley muttered sighing as she slouched out of the toilets too.
"Could we really do this..?"
"She'll thank us eventually."

A month later...

2008-09-24T14:12:00.002+01:00

The girls had moved on the best they could. They did this by never mentioning Jessica as if they did one of them would get depressed and the idea of crying in school was something none of them enjoyed. They weren't heartless bitches. They were just desperate to cling onto the small piece of pride they already have.

Hayley sat at the study table, her hands crossed on her lap as she stared down at her open bag on the floor. Her murder book was lying there. Ellie had told her to get rid of it and she'd tried so hard but instead she kept it there in her bag, knowing that no matter who ordered her to she'd never be able to throw it away.

The sound of a chair being pulled away from the table caused her to look up at Carrie, who had just arrived. "Hello you." She said gently, her eyes closing slowly as she took a deep breath and reopened them. A huge, fake, smile formed on her face as she picked up her pen and tapped it against the paper.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
"It's been a month. You think they'd have found her by now." She whispered gently her hands fidgeting getting faster as she got more angry at the idea her friend's murderer was still walking around.
"Hayley, it only happens that fast in your detective programmes." Laughing, Hayley placed the pen down and sighed.
"I'm sorry." She whispered running a hand through her hair and then burying her face into her hands as she battled back tears.

Arms wrapped around her and pulled her face into her chest, stroking her ginger hair gently. Everyone knew it was hard for Hayley to show emotion and for her to be there in tears knew that something was bothering her. "Tell me." Hayley pulled away and shook her head.
"No." She muttered before turning to look at her notepad. "Sorry. I'm so swamped with work it's annoying." She teased smiling over at her best friend. Her friend smiled back, her eyebrows raised.

When had Hayley started keeping secrets?

Update...

2008-09-23T00:15:00.002+01:00

The three girls stood in the toilets. Hayley moved around pushing every door check that each one was empty so that they could talk. Ellie and Lily had both read the murder book and both knew that Jessica had been murdered the way Hayley had written. She moved back towards them, her hands shaking as she gripped onto the sinks and looked over at herself in her mirror.

“Did you kill Jessica?” Lily finally asked moving over and squeezing her friend's shoulder, gently looking at her through the mirror. Hayley laughed.
“No but I dreamt of doing it. You know that. Someone has read my book. They have to have done.” Hayley whispered looking over at them. “And I've only let you two read it.”
“Hayley, someone must really want us or them to suffer.”
“We really want them to suffer and they really want us to suffer.” Ellie whispered looking over at the door. “I can't believe it.”
“Why would we kill someone over a holiday? We're not that pathetic.” Hayley whimpered falling to the floor. “I'm an accomplice now to whoever did it.” Ellie and Lily crouched in front of her.
“We need to get rid of the book.”
“Why?”
“Jesus, Hayley. If the police find that book you're in trouble!” Hayley nodded realising that her friend was correct. She hit her head on the back wall and laughed.
“I can't actually believe she's gone. I keep expecting her to run in and shout surprise.” She said letting the tears fall, not noticing the door open and the rest of the crowd step in.

***

The small graveyard seemed daunting as the seven friends all stood around in a circle holding hands. Due to the fact the body was being held in custody there wasn't allowed to be a funeral just yet so they were holding their own memorial. Tears slid down all their cheeks apart from Hayley's as she stared into space with an emotionless look. Her whole world had crashed in the space of a week.

To know that your imagination had come to life and ripped apart everyone's way of life was starting to drive her insane. How did someone know what she so secretly desired? How did someone know that she wanted the stupid bitch to die with a silly cheap shell rested on her shoulder. Her breathing started to race as she tore free from the chain and ran out of the graveyard.

Her body slumped against the wall as she tried to concentrate on not throwing up all her guts. How did she know that someone wasn't stalking her? Reading her inner thoughts? She sighed as she bit her lip gently, starting to slowly pace the small road.

A hand lightly squeezed her shoulder and she jumped, screaming loudly as she turned round to face Carrie. “What the hell are you playing at?” She snapped angrily before running hands through her loose ginger hair, that was so unwashed the amount of grease was making even her cringe.
“We were worried about you?”
“Why would you be worried about me?” Hayley laughed as she fell to the floor. “I can cope with death.” She said laughing as she buried her face in her knees, rocking to and fro. “I'm sorry. I know you loved her so much.”
“Not as much as I love you, Hayley. I need to know you're going to be okay.” Hayley looked over at Carrie and smiled.
“I will eventually.”

***

The scene was beautiful, to know that they'd caused such a stir in the girl's lives. To know that each one of them knew that they could have been a little more nice to her during her days when she was alive.

Ellie and Lily were stood there wishing that they'd forgiven her for betraying their friendship. Roxie could remember that argument they'd had over a stupid essay question. Katie realised that she was never going to have a silly debate again. Carrie could remember everytime she swore about the camera being out. Hayley knew that she'd remember every bad comment she'd ever thought of Jessica and there was a lot of them.

Each one of them would be so badly plagued, they'd probably start blaming each other.

And that's when all the games begin.

Jessica's Dead

2008-09-18T15:32:00.000+01:00

There was a moment of silence as the officers took in the sight of the poor sixth form student, her face flawed already from the force of the stones to her perfect skin. The chief investigator sighed as he looked around the circle, noticing how the Medical Examiner had already arrived and was crouched down next to her. “She’d already been down on her knees. I’d say she’d tripped over that piece of rubble.” He said pointing at the piece of marble rock, gently raising himself so that he was standing. “She’d have knelt back up, been a little aggressive and would then have been immediately aware that the attacker was behind her. He’d have been holding her for a couple of minutes, the touch wasn’t intimate. You can tell from the bruising around the chin area.” The man sighed. “The blade would have then been drawn across here from the left to the right. The killer would have watched her bleed.” The officer smiled over at him.
“Thanks doc.” He said looking over at him and then turning to the officers. “Do we have an ID yet?” The officers nodded.
“Jessica Williams, seventeen year old. She attends the local catholic school and was walking home from work.”
“What does the shell mean?” The officer shrugged.

***

There was never a moment of silence when the seven girls got together. They’d noticed that Jessica wasn’t there but that didn’t shock them, she was always late for school after a late shift at work. She said it was because she had to work. They knew it was because she was struggling to keep up with the sleep patterns.

“I can’t believe she actually said that to him!” Carrie squealed laughing as she listened to Hayley tell her about the latest tale of the romance between Laura and Dale. They’d just got over a pregnancy scare and now the two of them were talking marriage and Laura had warned him away by claiming lesbianity at the mention of the word.
“She believes it will keep him at bay.” She said smiling before noticing the police car slowly pull up outside the school gates. “I wonder what’s happened now.” Hayley muttered biting her nail gently as she played with the hole on the left arm of her cardigan.
“Some old neighbour would have complained.” Ellie said laughing as she looked away from Roxie and stood up to lean over the balcony, watching the police walk into the head of the sites office.

***

The girls stood outside the office, very afraid of what they had done. Hayley was calm due to the fact she had dealt with the police before but the others were starting to pace and were talking in rushed tones. The door opened and out stepped Mr Lawrence, inviting them into his office.

Mr Lawrence was always being called names by the students because of the way he acted like a complete ogre. There was no way you could talk to him unless you had been sent for because you had misbehaved in another lesson or you’d broken a school rule along the way. These girls had very rarely pissed any teacher off so they’d never had any dealings with Mr Lawrence but they still called him names as they hated how he treated the students on a whole.

The police officer stood as they entered the room, his hands strangling each other. The girls could tell he was going to tell them something they wouldn’t like due to the way he avoided any of their eyes. Mr Lawrence sighed as he looked over at them, indicating for them to take a seat on the semi-circle of chairs that had been organised.

“In the early hours of this morning, Jessica Williams was found dead in the graveyard across from her house.” The girls all gasped as they clung to each other, their faces all shocked at the news they’d just heard. “As you are her friends we would like to ask if there was any person who would want to harm her?”

Hayley, Ellie and Lily all looked at each other, their eyes sending the same message. Yeah, us. There was a long period of silence as each girl tried to think of someone who would want their friend dead. “There is no one.” Roxie finally spoke up, coming to a conclusion for them all. The officer smiled sadly before nodding at Mr Lawrence.
“You may leave now.”

Introducing the Murder Book

2008-09-16T20:05:00.002+01:00

That night Hayley stepped into her house from after school, her fingers already loosening the red tie from around her neck not caring as the silk slivered to the floor. She walked into the living room and wasn’t shocked to see it empty. Her parents lived for their jobs and the kids were lucky to ever see them. Leanne was a great mother. She fed them, kept them but wasn’t the best person to talk to when in a fix. She always believed everything would get sorted out soon and then leave it at that. Whereas Joseph would always tell her they were better off without them. Their family never needed friends. They were lone wolves.

Knowing that her sister would be out with her boyfriend, she found herself moving to her room. Her chubby fingers were fidgeting with the white buttons to her shirt, that were so small it was pathetic. She slid the shirt over her shoulders, not caring that her neighbours could probably see her stood in her bedroom. Her stomach hanging over the waistband to her black trousers, her black bra cutting into her flesh. She pulled on her favourite tee shirt, quickly covering the ugly body she detested so much. Flopping down onto her bed, she reached under her bed and pulled out the book that she loved the most. Her murder book.

What’s a murder book?

Simple. It’s her story book. And in each one there is a different murder for every person who has betrayed her. It makes her feel better about herself. She knows in her head that it’s wrong to wish someone dead and she’d never do it. But just to write down about getting that sweet moment of revenge, that amazing kick that murderers feel… It just releases her anger and her hatred. She’d never let anyone see what was in her book. Never in a million years. They’d think she was mad. Insane. Mentally disturbed.

***

The girls shift had been long and she was tired. Her black hair was still up in the stupid hat that she needed to wear as she worked with food. Reaching up she pulled it off and smiled as the short black locks fell free and sexily moved down to her shoulders. She sighed as she pulled out her small mirror and pulled out her lip gloss. Her lips pouted as she slowly applied the glittering colour. Her body was very aware of her colleague watching her. Her heartbeat was racing and her breath was catching in her throat but that wouldn’t knock her confidence. She sighed as she slowly screwed the lid back onto the tube, sliding it into the pocket of her very tight trousers. She glanced over at him, her hair swishing back and her mouth spreading into a large grin as she slowly raised her hand and waved bye to him.

On her short walk home all she could do was laugh at what she’d managed to achieve. He’d finally noticed her. Her attempts to catch his attention weren’t failing. Jessica knew that everyone thought she was weird and a little cold but it was a façade. She actually really liked the idea of being a girl. Wearing pink, wearing make-up and girly scents just to get noticed by a boy. She had dreams of being swept up into an attractive man’s strong arms, her heart would flutter just at the way his eyes would mist with desire as he looked down at her. She knew it would never happen but that didn’t matter to her. She’d always have her fantasies.

A sudden rush of cold wind made her wrap her coat tighter around her as she looked around and noticed the cemetery. She’d normally avoid it and she knew that if she did cut through it she’d get home quicker. After telling Hayley she avoided it, she’d felt embarrassed at her jibes. Of course she wasn’t afraid the spooks were going to get her. Spooks weren’t real. Mad killers and rapists were real. Not that that ever bothered Hayley. She lived in a dream world where she lived with her unexplained phenomenon and that was it.

The gate was annoyingly calling her name and she found herself walking over to it, pushing it open and stepping in. An immediate chill rushed up her spine as she took a deep breath. Her reputation hung on walking through this cemetery and she knew that she could do it as long as she put her mind to it. Closing the gate, listening to the screech realising that if anyone else entered she’d hear it go off. She turned and started down the path, unaware of the eyes that had already trained onto her. The branches moved as the figure rose and started to follow her down the path, a glint in their blue eyes as they twirled the knife around in their hands.

It was totally a cliché that in a graveyard there’d be a random piece of marble rock lying on the path and in the dark she wouldn’t see it. She grunted as her foot caught it and she fell to the floor, scraping the skin off her hands as she swore in an unladylike fashion. “You’d think some arsehole would move it away.” She whispered angrily to herself pushing herself up and freezing as the hair on the nape of her neck started to stand. Someone was behind her and she didn’t know who.

Turning to look, she froze as a gloved hand aggressively took hold of her chin and moved her to face the front again. Her breathing raced even more as the person knelt down behind her. She could smell a familiar scent but she couldn’t place it. Her heartbeart surged as the hand forced her chin up so that her head was resting on the other’s shoulder. The moonlight glittered on the knife as Jessica’s eyes opened wide with fear, her body started to wriggle but it was no match for the bigger body of the assailant.

The woman’s breath hitched in her throat as the cold blade touched her neck and she whimpered at what was coming. She’d studied killers for too long not to know that blade was going to rip across her soft tender skin. That crimson liquid that kept her alive would spray out everywhere, covering everything around her. When a poor old woman who came to see the grave to her late husband found her body, she’d have the biggest shock of her life. A pretty little girl lying on the floor with a ugly gash across her neck, that cut the reason her life had so quickly ended and she knew that as she closed her eyes preparing herself, she felt the warm sensation of a single tear running down her cheek.

The knife sliced through the skin and that attractive liquid did spray out just as she’d predicted. The killer released her. Using the girl’s work shirt, the blade was quickly cleaned of any blood before being placed back into it’s package. The woman’s face was being cut by the sharp pebbles that decorated the path. Gently pressing a shell to the side of her body, the killer laughed as they headed down the path and walked out. Smiling at the sound of the squeak.

***

The ginger smiled as she closed the book, her hand running over the black leather of the cover. If her mother knew what she used this book for, she’d be shocked. She laughed as she slipped it back under her mattress and ran downstairs at the sound of her mother shouting her name.

Lesson One Part Two

2008-09-08T12:31:00.001+01:00

***

The brunette walked into her lesson, her hair swinging with every step as it brushed her shoulders. Her brown eyes were shielded behind glasses as she'd ran out of time this morning to put in contacts. And this was infuriating her. Lily was the one in the group who was always left out. Everyone realised this but still nothing ever seemed to get done about it. Now that she was apart of Hayley and Lily's group she felt amazing to walk into school. She walked in with her head held high, her heavy bag slung on her shoulder no longer weighed ten thousand pounds. She had a reason to come into school and she loved knowing that.

Taking her usual seat next to Katie, the seventh member of the little group, she smiled as she took out her books. Katie had noticed the change and knew what it was about as well. She was the only member of the traitor group, apart from Carrie, that didn't seem to be getting full brunt of the hatred and people were still talking to her. Or so it appeared. Katie knew that Hayley wasn't keen on her and that was due to the poisoning Katie's boyfriend, Danny, had done onto her. She ran a hand through her blonde hair as she bit her lip. What was making this group fall apart. Were they never going to see eye to eye again? She sighed before biting her lip. "Is Hayley okay?"
"She will be." Lily whispered smiling before taking out her book and hiding it in the textbook, she only had a few pages left. Katie sat quietly, wondering what the hell did that mean?

***

Carrie and Jessica had a free together as their teachers weren't in school. Jessica sighed as she ran her hand through her hair and looked over at Carrie. "You spent most of the holidays with Hayley. She can't hate us that much, can she?"
"She spent the holidays with me. Not you. Me and her are inseperable." Carrie said shrugging before leaning back against her chair. She sighed. "Hayley just needs to calm down."
"That will never happen." Jssica laughed before standing up and moving to the windows.

Jessica was a different kind of girl. Her life was locked up behind some metal wall and hardly any piece of information was released. She would write her stories, draw her little doodles, take photos but that was all you ever got of her. Nothing else mattered in the world. She never thought far into the future. She just knew she waned to travel. Live a life of suspense. A planned life wasn't her thing.

First Lesson

2008-09-08T12:02:00.006+01:00

First lesson for Hayley was Sociology. She enjoyed her sociology lessons. Maybe that was because their warm teacher, Mrs Hafferty, was amazing. She could light up the room with her happiness and her enthusiasm for such a boring subject. Mrs Hafferty wasn't fashion conscience and that showed today in her tight black tee shirt and long flowing green skirt. She was a big woman and her stomach sometimes spilled over the waistband, yet she didn't appear to care. Hayley liked this the most. It wasn't often you found a hero when you're heavy. Everyone now wants to be stick thin, a size zero. This prospect made her shudder.

In this lesson was Roxie. Roxie had just joined the school to do sixth form and she was from the village next to Hayley's and when they were together they got on like a house on fire. Roxie was one of the tall, slender girls that Hayley hated or envied. Whichever way you wanted to see it. She had short strawberry blonde hair that was wavy and when she wore it down it sprung in loose waves around her face like a lion's mane. She had beautiful blue eyes that were always expertly teamed with make up to give you a knock out effect. Roxie was quiet but still one of the most confident girls there. Her dreams were to be on stage and she took the acting, dancing and singing lessons to make sure she got there. Hayley envied Roxie's confidence but Hayley was never one to show anything so she let her anger pass.

Moving into the classroom she sat down and smiled, winking over at Cleo who was sat at the other side of the classroom. "Alright, Roxie baby?" The girl smiled as she looked over at her friend, Hayley's hair had bumped up in the bobble and she looked as if she'd just been dragged through a hedge but no one was going to say anything to her. Hayley didn't give a damn about her appearance, she just cared about having a good time.
"I'll be better if you explain the theatrics this morning." Hayley laughed before nibbling her lip lightly and looking at her, sitting down.
"I'm so dramatic these days. It's to get the attention I want." She said laughing as the song on her iPod switched and she started to jive to herself. Not caring that people were watching her.
"You hate being known as a mardy bitch." Roxie said tugging the earphones out, Hayley raised a finger to her pursed lips and shushed her.
"Life is about to change." She said before smiling at Mrs Hafferty who walked in, looking flustered as she was later as per.

***

Ellie sighed as she walked into class, her books hugged to her chest tightly as if fearing that some bastard would steal them off her. Ellie was the curvacious blonde who had looks to die for. Her hair hugged her face and emphasised the shape, the side fringe hiding her left eye. Her eyes were a summer green and they always had Hayley in a tizzle. Hayley absolutely adored the eyes and always joked it was what made her fall madly in love with Ellie. Ellie had on a fitted short that showed her hourglass waist and impressive breasts, a skirt that touched her knees still looked amazing on Ellie and gave the right knockout as it showed her tight covered legs. Boys were drooling for Ellie but she never noticed.

In art she was accompanied by Keeley, the eighth member of the group who rarely hung out with them but she was working her way back into them. She had long brown hair that was always kepy back with a headband, her eyes neatly made out with thick amounts of black eyeliner. She had a gothic thing about her but she wasn't. She just loved to be individual. Keeley smiled as Ellie approached their working bench. "How's Hayley now?"

"She'll never get over the betrayal."

"They should have known that. She's cold hearted. She was brought up like that." Ellie nodded realising that she was exactly the same.

As they'd excitedly talked about their time away without them, Ellie had found her hands clenching into fists. Her teeth gritting as she thought of how easy it would be to scream and shout. How much she craved to tell them to fuck off and go die somewhere because of how they'd made them feel. To know that Hayley had thought that she was unloved, to know that Lily hadn't cared as she was always used to the let down. This was the first time Ellie had ever felt anything like this and she didn't like how psychotic she started to feel as she thought of what they had done to them. "She just needs mental payback."

"Ah, she's writing a story about killing them then?" Ellie laughed. They all knew that's how Hayley survived. She'd write a story. The more anger she felt the better the content of the story.

"She's probably finished it."

Meet Some Of The Crowd...

2008-09-07T19:41:00.010+01:00

The seven girls sat at a table in their upstairs common area, their clothes the only thing similar between them. The horrible black cardigans with the red emblem of their school. Cheap and tacky. It was all they were worth to their school. Their bright red tie rested against the bright white of the shirt. Long black trousers or mid-length black skirts covered their legs and silly little black pumps encased their feet, pretty but impractical for the stormy days. There was a moments silence as they analysed their last conversation about the summer holidays. They'd discussed everything from the traitors going on holiday without them to the amazing night out they'd all had at the karaoke bar.

What you need to realise about these seven girls is that they aren't really friends. They all hate each other. The knifes are always pristinely polished and stored at the bottom of their bags waiting to be violently thrusted in the back, right between the wings of their shoulders. A day without them bitching about one another was a miracle and deeply desired by the timid one of the group. You'd think that with a group of people who'd act like this they'd cut all ties with each other. But not this crowd. They realised it was to hang with them or to move on and being a lone ranger. Not a good idea in their school which was all about cliques and social status.

Each girl was socially different. Some were expected whereas others weren't. That's probably why they stuck together as if glue binded them. The most socially adept was Hayley, the ginger. She was one of the youngest but yet the most streetwise. She lived in a rough area and was proud of this. She didn't hang out at home, her parents wouldn't allow it. Fearing that their overweight ginger would get attacked. Especially as if she had a loudmouth and always knew how to get herself into trouble. The worse thing about Hayley was that she was overly happy and would trust anyone. Her parents would always joke how she'd be the one to offer a job to an axe murderer as she'd believe the man was different to her. She liked people to be different. She hated clones. Hayley was easy to get on with due to her positive way in life and her pollyanna attitude. She had a friend in most social circles and used them to make sure she always had a partner in class, never one to be alone.

The worst social one was Carrie. Carrie had only been at the school a couple of years and had immediatly made friends with Hayley. Hayley's attitude brushed off on Carrie and they managed to beat the old Science bullies. Now they leaved with each other technically, their happiness was amazing. Carrie had once been a little gothic princess, black being the only colour in her wardrobe. This making her the prime victim of many bullies. The other reason was due to the fact they apparently believed that she was a lesbian. Even though she'd been one of the seven to have a string of loose boyfriends.

The silence between them was awkward as Hayley tapped her fingertips on the cheap wood of the table. Everyone knew that the holiday conversation had annoyed Hayley, Ellie and Lily but they still seemed to determined to wind them up about it. She gently rose from her chair and smiled at them before turning around to leave.

The door opened and Hayley looked over at the door as it opened revealing Jessica. Jessica was the one Hayley didn't really meet eye to eye. They had one lesson together and Hayley always had to smile through it. She did love Jessica and had a great time with her but there was that fear that Jessica looked down on her. Jessica was thin and attractive. The worst thing about this was that she knew it. She knew that all she had to do was shake her beautifully toned arse and boys would come running. Her hair was never a natural colour. So far they'd experienced chocolate brown, black, purple, blue. It was a multi-coloured swapshop! She always had a confident strike about her when she wrote and when she was with the crowd she could sing like mad but outside the cirlce, she sucked. And that's why she probably hadn't left yet.

"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Didn't want you to be alone." Jessica excused her following her before moving and sitting in a chair. Her blue eyes scanned the ginger who was scanning the playing field. Her eyes resting on her sister who was climbing out of her older boyfriends car. "We're sorry about leaving you out." Hayley snorted before turning to look at her, walking over to pull a seat and sit opposite her.
"I'd love to believe you. But I don't." She laughed as she rested her chin on her hand, her blue eyes looking anywhere but at Jessica. "I mean, your reasoning is stupid and besides I had fun here. Who'd have thought that our small hometown could be as fun."

The three girls laughed as they sat in the large field, a small blanket rested between their arses and the untamed grass. They'd decided to have a picnic and laughed as they drank their bottles of alcohol. Hayley and Lily both had an ice cold beer whereas Ellie had her alcopop. The cold relief of the alcohol made them smile as they looked out over the quarry, their eyes scanning the gorgeous orange and red swirls of the sunset decorated the blue of the sky. "Why are you planning on leaving us early tomorrow?" Ellie asked Hayley lying on her stomach as she picked up one of the jelly rings, her tongue poking through the hole.
"I have to go check out this guy." She teased lying back on the bed, looking up at the sky now. The other two girls laughed as they shook their head.
"Casey would kill you. And besides you have your online relationship with Harry." Hayley smiled as she looked over at them.
"That's not going to last forever." She said as she finished her beer, the temptation to throw it over the side of the quarry and watch it smash into loads of green glitter but she didn't like littering. "Hey, why don't we go out to that old house again some time?" The two girls looked over at her, knowing what had happened last time they went there.
"Hayley..." She just laughed before stealing the jelly ring of the end of Ellie's tongue.

There was a small silence between the two girls as Jessica explored Hayleys face for any kind of emotion apart from the glimmer of happiness that was always there. She didn't see any. And Hayley was glad that she couldn't. If she did, she'd see the anger and the hatred Hayley was boiling up right now inside at the mere thought Jessica thought she could excuse their neglectfulness with a simple apology. She sighed as she looked over at her friend. "Hey, we've all moved on now. That was during the holidays." Hayley whispered standing up and smiling at Jessica, who also rose and opened her arms wanting a hug. Hayley stepped into the open arms, her own arms wrapping around Jessica.

You'll pay. You'll pay for every time you've made me feel like a piece of shit on the bottom of your shoe. I can promise you that now.

The voice in Hayley's head shocked her. She knew her inner child was nasty and was all up for making people's life a misery, but this was a new one. Her arms stiffened as she pulled away, her eyes looking like glass as she looked over at Jessica. "Are you okay?" The ginger nodded.
"When am I not?"

The Beginning

2008-09-06T21:50:00.001+01:00

There was a long silence as the door handle rattled, their heartbeats raced as they turned to look at the bravest of the three of them. Her own jaw had dropped, her own pulse racing as she grasped at their hands and allowed her teeth to nervously bury themselves into her bottom lip as she stepped towards the door. Mentally counting to ten, she yanked it open preparing herself for some madman with an axe. At the empty space she felt herself whimper with relief. She looked over her shoulder at them, her ginger fringe hiding the fear in her swirling grey eyes.

Why were they here? Well, that was an interesting question. They'd tell you themselves but they didn't truthfully know either. They'd wanted out of town, to escape their traitors of friends who'd made arrangements nad hadn't included them. They weren't a malicious threesome but when they got started, they never stopped. The anger they had felt had been almost physical. The overwhelming urge to punch their friends smug faces in had been so powerful, the ginger had actually been dragged away just to save herself from getting into trouble. The problem was they were all vulnerable, sure they never admitted that but there is always that certain line you didn't cross. To know their friends were going away without them was making them question their qualities. Were they bad friends or what?

Taking hold of one of the cider bottles, she tipped her head back and allowed the sweet nectar glide down her throat. At first it felt as if it was going to stop at the lump in her throat but it managed to push itself back. Her stomach settled as the dizzy sensation of alcohol hit her brain. She wasn't one to get drunk, she had the same genes as her father and she knew this. Probably the reason she'd turned into a small alcoholic in the past few months. She took one final swig before throwing the bottle against the wall. The other two winced at the point of contact, small shards of green glass sparkled everywhere as the moonlight shone through them. No one could ever work out if alcohol had a good effect on her but they noticed now as she grinned.

The grin stretched across her chubby face, her dimples didn't appear and the glint in the cold blue eyes caused their hearts to race more than the rattling handle. "We need to punish them." She whispered softly flopping down onto the floor and placing a chocolate raisin on the end of her tongue. The two friends were shocked. She made this appear as if it was some normal conversation. But to her it probably was. Everyday she discussed the idea of punishing her aunt for making her life a hell and here she was talking about their friends. People they were meant to love.
"What are we thinking about?"
"A few harmless pranks." She said back as if shocked that they would be scared she would do something else. This was her, she was the happy one. The one who smiled through the bad times and the scary times. The blonde looked over at the brunette.
"Where's the harm in a few harmless pranks?"

Welcome Note From Me

2008-09-06T21:32:00.001+01:00

So this is a story I'm going to write and take serious.

It might not be amazing. But it'll be good as I can do while typing. My written work is better, normally.

Thanks for taking the time to read!

Feel free to comment

Helen

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