《I Loved You》


 Chapter 1

    <h1 style="text-align: center">Chapter 1</h1>


    I noticed her about halfway through my first year of classes. I was meandering in the hallways, trying to find any excuse to not get to class early when I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up. The beige halls are adorned with all manner of banners and awards for school spirit while doors to various classrooms dart the walls.


    Looking the opposite way, I find a girl staring into her locker. Well, that is the impression she wanted to give. But I could tell, she hasn¡¯t moved in a dozen minutes. She¡¯s kept her attention laser-focused on one thing the entire time: me.


    She¡¯s petite, hardly more than five feet tall. She wears an adorable bob-cut, tapering off just under her chin. She seems to finally notice I¡¯ve caught her as she quickly runs her slender fingers through her silky, shiny, auburn hair before closing her locker and marching off to class. She pays me no mind as she passes, although I am now the one watching her every move.


    And so we remain, for months. I never approach her, and she never approaches me. However, near the end of the semester, I noticed she definitely carried more sway to her hips.


    The real shock came when she wound up sitting behind me in the next semester¡¯s classes--all of them. It was rare for a single person to have even a couple of classes changed, let alone all seven of them.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    It was hard, at first, concentrating on the blackboard. The dreary lights lead to a sleepy atmosphere as the teacher droned on about this or that. I felt my eyelids growing heavier as the monotonous lecture continued, and I stopped fighting the urge to rest.


    A small shaking woke me, and I came face-to-face mere inches from the girl. In a panicked state, I jumped back and fell out of my chair. This was the first time we had ever been so close. A small jingle fell from her lips. ¡°Are you all right?¡± she asked. I had never clearly heard her voice before. It was quiet and higher-pitched than I¡¯d imagined. Her brown eyes twisted a knot in my stomach, my throat clenched, and my heartbeat increased in thunderous increments. She gave a small, cute tilt of her head and held her arm out to help me up. ¡°Rose, right?¡±


    I smirked. ¡°As if you don¡¯t know, Kay.¡±


    A blush crept across her cheeks before she seemed to remember why she¡¯d woken me. ¡°School is over.¡±


    ¡°No one else bothered to wake me up? What assholes.¡±


    Kay points to herself, earning a laugh from me, and I tell her I meant everyone else were the assholes. My stomach growled. Nervously I rub it, and mention her grabbing food with me as a thank you. She was reticent at first, seemingly afraid of finally closing the gap between us. It was then that I knew I would have to be the one to push us closer.


    I want to say this was the beginning of a long line of evil, but evil had found its way to me long before I was even aware of Kay. Evil plans in advance, and it came in a beautifully sadistic package.

 Chapter 2

    Chapter 2


    The cafe I chose was renowned for its cozy, romantic atmosphere. The dim lighting and soft music added a sensual touch while the sweet and sour desserts were the perfect gift for women who loved fine flavors of contrast, many of which were little more than a rendition of renowned favorites, like peanut butter and chocolate. As we walked in, Kay hesitated at the doorway. I grabbed her hand and gently pulled her along.


    Ignoring her pleading look, I told the host to get us a table for two. I pulled out Kay¡¯s chair and helped her scoot up to the table. The menus arrived and Kay sifted through it.


    ¡°No need to be so nervous, Kay. It¡¯s my treat.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m nervous.¡±


    I hand my menu to the waiter after I order my meal and look toward Kay. ¡°Are you having trouble? I could order for you. How are you with cake?¡± I turned to the waiter and ordered the house special cake. I reached over and pulled Kay¡¯s hand into mine. ¡°No need to be so nervous. We¡¯re just having some lunch. Or¡­¡± I run my fingers over her knuckles, ¡°is there another reason you¡¯re so nervous?¡±


    ¡°Ah. Y-Yes. I¡¯ve never been on a d-date before.¡± She twirls her fingers around one another.


    My mind wondered for a moment as she is so hard to hear. ¡°Date?¡± So that¡¯s what she thought this was. How cute for her to have escalated it all on her own. Her sudden panicked look made it all the better.


    ¡°I-I-Is that wrong? That isn¡¯t what this is?¡± She quickly stands up. ¡° Oh god. I think I need to go home.¡± Still holding her hand, I pulled her back down.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Relax. I was teasing you. I¡¯m glad you realized this for what it was.¡±


    The waiter brought our food. The lightly-colored cakes looked divine. This is where I brought all the girls, and the kind of food here always made them swoon. I intended to cut a piece from my cake and feed it to Kay, but before I could even get mine ready, a movement caught my attention. Looking up, I saw Kay with her own small piece hanging in front of me. Bummer. But oh well.


    ¡°You minx.¡± I gave her a small wink and took the cake into my mouth. I made sure to have an exaggerated expression about its taste. Then I let her know it tasted even better coming from her. She blushed and tried it herself, and the moment the frosting hit her tongue, her beautiful brown eyes sparkled.


    When we finished, I asked her if she wanted to come back to my place. I told her we¡¯d have some time alone. She gave the smallest of nods and held my hand the whole way. Our shadows intertwined the way I expected we would before the night ended. After all, I always got what I wanted, and she made it far too easy.


    Kay looked around in earnest as we stepped into my room. She took note of the green and pink walls. "We haven''t repainted since I was a kid."


    She nodded and picked up one of the plushies decorating my desk. "Perhaps there are better things for you to get entranced by than a silly doll?¡±


    I placed a hand on her hip. Her eyes widened, but she made no other move. I slid my other arm around her and pulled her in. Our lips met in an unexpected unison. She was clumsy and inexperienced, but her desire to move first quickened my pulse.


    It wasn¡¯t long before I was carrying her to my bed. Soon after, our shadows showed their truth as we joined one another in ragged breaths and skin-on-skin in a chorus of moans.


    It had been enjoyable enough, but it was time to send her home. My parents wouldn¡¯t have appreciated my bringing yet another girl home.


    ¡°I¡¯ll walk you to the station,¡± I tell her, trying to gently shove her out of my house. She was incredibly reluctant to leave. She wanted nothing more than to hang on tight and cuddle forever. I wonder if I had been like that my first time? But that was so many partners ago - there is no way to remember. ¡°Text me when you get home safe. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow at school, okay?¡± I give her a kiss on the lips. ¡°Be safe getting home.¡± She waves me off."

 Chapter 3

    Chapter 3


    The next day, we didn¡¯t see each other at the lockers. Instead, Kay came right up to me and reached for my hand. I noticed few people paying us any attention, so I almost let her, but my friend Mimi was soon skipping up to us, so I quickly snatched my hand away from Kay.


    Kay seemed very disappointed when I introduced her to Mimi as nothing more than my friend. Mimi wasn¡¯t in our class this year. In fact, she¡¯s the one who¡¯s schedule was changed to something weird, along with Kay¡¯s. What a small world it was. I wave goodbye to Kay and follow Mimi off to talk in private about something. I didn¡¯t notice the shadow that fell on her lovely face.


    When class was about to begin, Kay came up to my desk and quietly asked if I wanted to have dinner at her house. I thought about it. I liked the girl, I did, but I liked to keep things simple - every girl was once-in-a-lifetime, no more But I supposed it wouldn¡¯t cause issues just this once.


    ¡°Sure. I¡¯d love to. You can cook me something that¡¯ll give us energy for a busy night.¡±


    When school ended, Kay and I walked out of the room together. Mimi quickly found us and gave a side-eyed glance toward Kay. ¡°Ready?¡±


    ¡°Ready for what?¡± It dawns on me and I slap my forehead. ¡°Oh. Shit, we had that clothing shop in another town to go to. Right.¡± I turn and look at an increasingly dejected Kay. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m sorry. We¡¯ll make it up. I promise.¡±Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    She coos into my hand as I stroke her cheek. She seemed to be feeling a little better, but then Mimi opened her mouth. ¡°Look, I don¡¯t give a shit what you do with other women. But really? Right in front of me? It¡¯s our day now, come on.¡± She wraps her arm around mine and pulls me away.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± I muttered to Mimi. ¡°Bye, Kay.¡±


    As I turned, I had to stop and do a double-take. For a moment, I thought I saw the devil in Kay, but I dismissed that thought quickly and gave her another small wave before Mimi and I turned the corner.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± I tell her as we exit the building. The bustling crowd stands before us. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the cafe. My treat for saving me.¡± I lace my fingers through hers and she raises an eyebrow at me.


    ¡°So what? Now that you have use for me, you¡¯re finally going to give me the time of day? What about that other girl? Isn¡¯t she your girlfriend?¡±


    I pull her along for our date at the cafe. ¡°I don¡¯t have girlfriends. No matter how much I like someone. It just leads to drama.¡±


    She finally matches her pace with mine and gives a whistle. ¡°You¡¯re kind of heartless.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re still coming with me.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, well, I just think you¡¯re hot.¡± She gives my arm a squeeze, pushing her breasts into me.


    We ordered our cake and spent a few hours eating and chatting. Occasionally, I would feel the urge to look around, feeling as if someone¡¯s eyes were on me. Every move I made almost seemed to be judged by another, but I never found anyone paying attention to me besides Mimi.


    Rubbing the back of my neck uncomfortably, I suggested we go back to my place. She responded with a toothy grin and eagerly followed me. Our night passed much more passionately than the one I¡¯d shared with Kay. Unlike her, Mimi had experience and was quite aggressive between the sheets.

 Chapter 4

    Chapter 4


    When I left my house the next morning, I found Kay outside my door, leaning against the fence. My skin crawled for a moment, but I hurriedly disguised my reaction. ¡°Well, hello there, beautiful. You come here often?¡±


    She gives me a small smile and nods in response. Scratching my cheek, I ask if she was here to walk to school with me. ¡°Yes. I missed yesterday. Can I cook that dinner tonight?¡±


    I feel my eye twitch. ¡°I guess.¡±


    In class, I could feel her staring at me, and the way my skin frizzled, I was reminded of a burrowing critter - small, and subtle, but capable of monumental destruction. Between each period of class, ordinarily, I would remain in the classroom to chat, but I had to get away from that oppressive feeling, and instead, I made my way to the rooftop.


    With nothing but the sky above me, I grab hold of the railing and lean forward into the view before me. As far as the eye can see, sprawls my beautiful city, the city in which I¡¯ve had so many wonderful adventures. It¡¯s so unlike me to be on edge, and yet, I couldn¡¯t figure out why. Was it because of Kay? No. She was a sweet - if weird - girl.


    I lean further into the railing and spread my arms wide. The wind snaps my hair into the air and it flairs majestically. My light-blonde hair was always a treasure of mine. I felt a small bump force, likely from the wind.


    Oh, how it flies freely as I fall. It¡¯s so¡­ wait, falling? I was falling!


    The ground rushed to meet me, and I hit it with a sickening thud. All at once, classmates and teachers were clambering over me, rushing me to the nurse¡¯s office. Mere moments after I¡¯d been laid on the sticky, brown leather cot, the door slams and Kay rushes to my side.


    ¡°Rose!¡± The nurse begins to speak up, but I wave her away. ¡°Oh god, are you okay?¡± Kay takes hold of my hand. The nurse raises an eyebrow at this, but nothing more. Seeing Kay wasn¡¯t going to tackle me, she made herself scarce.


    ¡°I¡¯m okay, Kay. I promise.¡±


    She squeezes my hand harder. ¡°How? I heard you fell or something.¡±


    ¡°The worst injury I¡¯m going to get is my fingers if you don¡¯t let up. Geez.¡± I rubbed my hand for a moment before I placed it on top of hers. She gave me a little smile and looked me over.


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay? How?¡±


    I pull her closer and cup her cheek. ¡°There were bushes that softened my fall. Other than a few bruises, I¡¯m fine.¡± I kiss her on the lips.


    ¡°Please, let me make you dinner tonight. I¡¯ll treat you like a queen.¡±


    ¡°Aye. That¡¯s fine.¡± On the inside, though, I thought if she wanted to treat me like a queen - one who had been injured, no less - she would let me go home and rest.


    We moved slowly as we made our way to Kay¡¯s house, a residence not nearly as impressive as mine. Actually, I would have called it rather rundown. But of course, I wouldn¡¯t have told her that. I found it odd that the nameplate read ¡°Glifford,¡± but I assumed it must have been a relative¡¯s place.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    She positioned me in the living room, telling me to make myself comfortable while she cooked. The first thing that stood out was how not lived in the house was. The walls were an awkward shade of green and pink, kind of like my house. What were the chances?


    I hobbled down to the floor, sitting on the old floor mats. With nothing else to do, I let my eyes wander around the room. It truly seemed barely lived in. There wasn¡¯t much in the way of clutter. Besides the table, the only other furnishings were a couple of dressers. The chink of glass on the table drew my attention, and I embarrassingly thanked Kay for it, feeling like I got caught doing something I shouldn¡¯t have.


    ¡°How does your family live in such a small place?¡± Shit, that was rude, wasn¡¯t it? ¡°Oh. I¡¯m sorry. Forget I asked. I¡¯m an idiot with no manners sometimes.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I don¡¯t have a family. I live here alone, on my inheritance. It¡¯s enough for just me.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± I scooped up some pasta she laid down. It smelled fine enough.


    Well, that¡¯s bizarre. But who was I to question someone else''s life? Plus, I really didn¡¯t want to get into her personal affairs. I ate some of the pasta and found it bland. She wasn¡¯t an amazing cook by any means, but it was food, and it satisfied my hunger.


    After refusing my help to take the dishes to the kitchen, she returned and came around the table. Behind me, she started to give me a massage, something I quickly decided more than compensated for her lackluster culinary skills. It felt so wonderful that I barely noticed that I was dozing off, despite how early it was. My phone going off brought me back to reality. Before I could grab it, Kay handed it to me. But the screen was lit up along with the first few lines of the text I received, visible on my lock screen. ¡°Heard you went home with that crazy¡­¡±


    I turned around and received nothing except a smile from Kay. Quickly telling her I needed to use the restroom, I made my way inside and locked the door. I scrolled through several texts I must have missed, all from Mimi, all bad-mouthing Kay.


    I replied, telling her I was going to leave soon if she wanted to come over for the night because my parents were out of town. Flushing the toilet to make it seem like I really did have to go, I turned on the water and washed my face. I wondered how Kay was going to respond to that text? She definitely saw it. Then again, she¡¯s so quiet, maybe she wouldn¡¯t even bring it up.


    Sighing, I opened the door and walked out, immediately bumping into Kay. ¡°Oh. Uh, sorry¡­ What were you-¡± She hands me a towel. ¡°Ah. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°You pee very quietly.¡±


    ¡°What? Dude, Kay, that is creepy as hell.¡± She hangs her head and informs me she was joking. But she hadn¡¯t been, had she? She was standing at the door and I ran into her. She must have been right up against it, listening in. The thought of that causes my heartbeat to speed up and twists a knot in my stomach. Once again, looking at this woman makes my hair stand on end.


    I needed to go home.


    ¡°Thank you for the food, Kay. It was yummy, but I have to go now.¡± I made my way to the door and slipped my shoes on. As I opened the door, I felt her grabbing my shirt from behind. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Are you leaving to¡­¡± She let her words hang for a moment before deciding to continue on. ¡°You¡¯re leaving to go be with that Mimi girl, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    I turned to face her fully, my brow was furrowed. ¡°Well, honestly, yes. I¡¯ve spent time with you today. Now I need to make time for her.¡±


    ¡°But we didn¡¯t even have sex.¡±


    I should really go. Like, really, really go. This is getting out of control.


    ¡°Do you not want to taste my innocent body again?¡± She cooed up to me and kissed the crook of my neck. Fucking hormones. But¡­ I reach down and pull her up by the ass, and snake my tongue into her mouth.


    A couple of hours passed before I was getting dressed and telling her I needed to go. ¡°After all that, you¡¯re still going to go fuck Mimi?¡±


    "Hey, you gotta get it while the gettin''s good, as they say." I gently closed the door behind me.

 Chapter 5

    Chapter 5


    Mimi didn''t find me at all the next day, a rare occurrence. When I called her during break, she didn''t answer. Feeling a tap on my shoulder, I push the phone away. "Hi, Kay."


    "You''ve been distracted all day. What''s up?"


    I notice a twisted smile upon her lips. I run my hands over my face, and it''s gone. "I''m fine. Just tired and worried is all."


    "About Mimi?¡± She fidgets with her fingers.


    A knot finds itself in my stomach. "How¡¯d you know?" The more I''m around her, the more my skin crawls.


    "Just a hunch. I haven''t seen her with you all day."


    "I see. Well, I''m going to go check on her."


    "Can I come?" she asks, a shadow fleeting over her face.


    I shake my head; I¡¯m imagining things. Kay is only a high school girl.


    "Yeah, I suppose she won''t mind. She''s probably just skipped today to be with her boyfriend." I knew that probably wasn¡¯t the case - Mimi was dedicated to her studies and never missed school, even if she was sick.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Standing outside Mimi¡¯s house, Kay seems to swell with pride. "Well, she isn''t answering her phone or door,¡± I say, the ball of worry in my chest tightening its grip with each breath I take.


    The white, wooden door gives the tiniest of protests as it opens to a dank, dark entryway. Kay nudges me forward and I step farther into the house, calling her name.


    "Mimi?" A gentle, small hand on my lower back ushers me deeper inside as a heavy, copper-like scent grows stronger.


    I turn into what should be her kitchen and trip, falling into a puddle. I try to gather myself but slip face-first into the liquid.


    The area lights up with a small click as Kay turns the light on. I groan, the side of my face throbbing from hitting the floor, and open my eyes. Another set of eyes meet mine, yet they are devoid of glimmer. An abyss stares back at me as something snaps inside my brain.


    I pushed up my languid body as fear pumps through me. My blood boils hot enough to cause a sweating fit, yet my skin is cold and clammy. Mimi¡¯s lifeless, mangled form, sprawled on the floor in a position of agony, and her slashed throat revealed her final moments to me while the nearby blade answered my unspoken question.


    Worse still, a man in a turtleneck sweater with cropped hair laid against the wall with a contorted face as if he bore witness to the devil. His stare lingered on another corpse lying face down with salt-and-pepper colored hair. She was dyed from head to toe in a crimson color.


    Realizing the truth behind the bodies, the pain in my chest and the horrors in my imagination meet in my throat, rising to escape from my mouth in a glass-shattering scream.

 Chapter 6

    Chapter 6


    The next thing I remembered was waking up screaming in Kay''s bed. A fit of horror overtook my naked form as I thrashed in a panicked frenzy.


    I turned and vomited into the trashcan beside the bed.


    Kay''s icy hands rubbed my back and offered me water. Washing away the bile seemed to be Kay''s cue as she leaned in and pressed flesh to flesh and lips to lips.


    "I''ll take away your pain," she cooed. And for the third day in a row, a drunken pleasure--a hedonistic party--waged between my thighs from sunrise to sunset.


    Only with the light of the fourth day did the tremblings subside and lucidity begin to return. A frail-looking arm dangled over my chest. Occasionally, the vulture''s claw would squeeze my breast and elicit a moan from my lips. Feeling guilty from over seventy-two hours of selfish pleasure, I made my way between her thighs without awakening her.


    Before the end came, however, Kay''s eyes flew up and she erupted. It wasn''t until the afterglow faded that she asked why I¡¯d done it.


    "You''ve taken care of me during all of this. It was the least I could do."


    She kissed up my neck to my lips. "Let''s take a shower." My focus wavered from the water as I kept checking the temperature. My gaze landed on Kay''s hamper. A lacey set of panties stuck out and caused me to blush. I moved to push them down and a glimpse of red teased my curiosity. Picking up the garment, my hands ran cold and I dropped it like it was burning coals.


    A blood-stained uniform splayed out across the bathroom floor. Hearing the pitter-patter of footsteps, I shoved it into the hamper, burying it deep. I pulled my arms out just in time for an ominous being to enter the room. Shaking my head, I offered her the best smile I could.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    "Let''s get in. I''ll wash you," Kay insists, her gaze lingering on the hamper.


    Despite a million evil scenarios running through my mind, Kay is able to get me off twice before the water turns cold, while also washing me and my hair, but my mind is a million miles away.


    Why did Kay have a bloodied uniform? Should I ask? There has to be a reasonable answer. Surely she can¡¯t be responsible...


    I try to escape before I¡¯m even dry again. "I need to go home." I know she wants to come with me, and I try to placate her by telling her she can walk me home.


    My breath was ragged and I tried to stay a step ahead of Kay, but she held my arm tight. My parents rushed out of the house and smothered me in an embrace while shoving Kay away from me. That shadow fell over her face yet again and the bloodied uniform flashed through my mind.


    My parents don''t let her come in, hardly looking at her, as they slam the door behind us. They insisted on getting me to see a therapist, telling me the police wanted to interview me again. A few days later, after so many appointments and interviews, I was still struggling with the idea of telling my parents or the police about Kay¡¯s bloodied uniform. Every time I saw her, even when she was offering sympathy, I couldn¡¯t ignore the joy in her eyes. But she was just a high school girl, like me - she couldn¡¯t possibly have been responsible for Mimi and her family¡¯s deaths.


    Kay catches me eating alone on the roof and nuzzles into the crook of my neck. "Can you come over today? I want to make you feel good."


    "Kay, I''m trying to eat. What are you doing here?"


    Her smile drops. "Why are you being hateful?  I''m just trying to help you."


    My fork stops midair just before my mouth. A palpable tension floats between us. "I came up here to be alone, Kay. I''m sorry I haven''t given you much attention recently, but if you''re really concerned about me, then please give me space."


    I sense her presence disappear. A voice whispers on the wind followed by the metal door slamming closed.


    "Be careful not to get pushed off again."

 Chapter 7

    Chapter 7


    I didn''t see Kay in the classroom but I knew she''d be waiting to invite me over again. I didn''t know what to believe. It was all too surreal that she knew what happened with me, doubly so when combined with that bloody uniform I saw. My confusion-laden body pounds the concrete with each step towards the exit¡­ and there stands Kay.


    "Come over and eat with me?" She took a step forward, much to my chagrin. Every nerve in my body urged me to tell her no and to leave her behind, but if I could find that uniform again and verify it was really blood, I could determine whether I was truly being paranoid.


    "Yeah, sure." I walked past her, toward her house. She sputtered along for a moment before linking arms with me. She''s almost like a puppy - a clingy and creepy-at-times-puppy.


    When we arrive at her house, I take the chance to immediately head to the restroom. Luckily I had to pee this time, in case she was being a creep again. However, I gave myself a moment to go through her hamper. The clothes don''t seem to be any different from the ones from before¡­ does she just not wash her clothes? Or perhaps she has so few that she has to wear them over and over.


    I gave up empty-handed and used the restroom. When I left the bathroom, I didn¡¯t see Kay. I called out for her, but she was nowhere to be found. I hesitated a moment before going to the kitchen to find her. The pale blue walls were marked with a thick coat of dust of disuse. Various plates and dishes laid strewn about the counters. A small thump could be heard through the door leading out back. I moved towards it and placed my hand on the knob only for something moving through my window to catch my attention. Peeking through the small window, I saw Kay in a small garden in the back. She seemed to be¡­ burying something. Could that be the uniform?


    I didn¡¯t have much time to contemplate before she turned around and headed this way. In a panic, I ran towards the living room and laid across the floor as if bored. Looking up at the ceiling, I noticed a mold stain that showed a murder scene. In my eyes it showed a small, innocuous girl, knife in hand, ripping and tearing through others. I closed my eyes as the backdoor opened.


    A rushed set of steps, followed by quiet, gentle ones, came across my form. ¡°Asleep?¡± Kay called out, ¡°You¡¯ve had such a rough few days. But that¡¯s okay because-¡±This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    I felt her presence beside me. A gentle hand finds its way to my neck, applying the slightest bit of pressure and gradually tightening its grip. My instincts demand I smack her away and run. But I pushed them down. The pressure never gets unbearable, perhaps she was afraid of waking me up. ¡°I love you, Rose. No one will get in our way.¡± She drags a tongue across my cheek, punctuating it with a kiss.


    My heart could beat out of my chest. It is true. It has to be. She hurt Mimi to hurt me, or maybe to make me beholden only to her. I knew I had to be careful and stirred just a little as if starting to wake up. She tore her hand from me. Opening my eyes, I met hers, their innocence shining back at me as a smile danced within them. But just behind the color, I see the fires of hell.


    Gulping as quietly as I can, I called her name. She ran her hand over my cheek, erasing the evidence of what she had done. ¡°I am here, love. Food will be ready soon.¡± She placed a kiss on my lips and hurried to the kitchen.


    When she was out of eyesight and around the corner, I crept second by agonizing second towards the door. Sliding my shoes on, I closed the door behind me as quietly as I could and waited a moment. I listened in, to see if I could hear any sounds out of the normal. Sucking in a breath through my teeth, I let out a sigh and turned around.


    ¡°Where are you going, Rose?¡±


    I met the beast before me. The devil smiled wide, her teeth bloodied and sharp. ¡°I-I-¡± My voice trembled. I knew I had to keep it together. ¡°My parents texted me. They want me home for dinner. I¡¯m sorry. I wasn¡¯t expecting them to still be so uptight.¡±


    Her smile didn''t fade, yet it no longer reached her eyes. ¡°Oh.¡± She looked down and kicked a pebble. ¡°That¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll eat alone. They can be used as leftovers anyway.¡± She steps towards me and it takes all I have to not leap back.


    I clear my throat and tell her goodbye. She spread her arms wide. I wanted to shove her away and run, so, so bad. But I didn¡¯t.


    With a cold sweat dancing across my skin, I walked into her embrace. Her smell envelops me, calming me for just a moment. That, more than anything, scared me - so easily could I have fallen back under her spell. Her lusty lips made contact with my own. They¡¯re so strong, so unlike themselves from the beginning. They¡¯re chapped and maddening. Pulling away from her, I tell her goodbye and walk away, not giving her a chance to come with me.


    Once I was confident I was out of sight, I broke into a full sprint, racing for the sanctity of home.


    I dove into my mother¡¯s arms and cried. I couldn¡¯t possibly tell her anything she asked. What could I say? I had no actual evidence. I just knew it. I knew how dangerous Kay was. That bloody uniform has to be the answer.


    I have to dig it up from the garden. Tonight¡­ she wouldn¡¯t expect me to return tonight.

 Chapter 8

    Chapter 8


    The hallowed night spread before me as I made my way behind Kay¡¯s small house. Inch by inch I crept, always in expectation of Kay. Her wicked smile haunted me all the time now. Every time I blinked, she was there; I knew she killed Mimi, and all I had to do was prove it. I found the garden and kept my flashlight low as I looked around for loose earth. I fell to the cold ground, using a small trough to dig through the dirt with confidence. I dug for what seemed to be an eternity before coming into contact with something other than earth. Smiling to myself, I took another look around and then pulled up the uniform. Yes! Exactly what I needed! But wait, this color is a little¡­


    I shined the flashlight toward the dress and saw reflected colors dissimilar to our school¡¯s uniform. It''s dirty as all get out, but is clearly more green in color. A small tag decorated the chest and read ¡°Glifford.¡± Where had I seen that name before?


    I chose to dig a little further until the sound of my tools met metal. I tensed and took a careful look around me again. Seeing no one around me, I kept digging, more quickly and even more quietly than I had been. When I finally see something protruding from the soil, I pull on it. With some effort, it dislodges and I shine the flashlight over it, gasping. Is that really a bone? Okay, yes, it¡¯s a bone, but it¡¯s an animal bone, right? Surely it can¡¯t be human¡­ But little by little, bone by bone, the urge to vomit increases, and I can no longer choke it back when my eyes rest upon a human skull. I screamed, and then I ran.


    Returning home, I took a freezing shower to calm myself. Scrubbing the dirt from under my nails, I pause and realize that ¡°Glifford¡± was the name on the front of Kay¡¯s house. Does that mean she killed a woman and took her house?


    ***


    By the morning, my queasy stomach had not improved. I didn¡¯t go to school. I didn''t go downstairs, opting to sneak out my window. I returned to Kay¡¯s house. The area was completely undisturbed, as if I had never been there. Digging turned up nothing further. What was happening? There absolutely was a body here. There¡¯s no way Kay could have taken it all out.


    A rustling behind me makes me jump to my feet, and an overbearing scent of rust floods the air as a darkness tickles my neck. I couldn''t turn around. I knew she was there. Closing my eyes for even a moment showed her to me¡­ those lips that dripped venom which each movement.


    A gentle hand caressed my shoulder and I burst forward with all my strength, leaping over the hedges. Darting into an alley, I ran and ran trying to escape the incoming storm. The thudding pressure is never far behind me until I''ve come upon my own home.


    I pulled the door open and hurried to the kitchen. Turning on the lights, I kept my eyes shut. Peeking through one, I see everything is as normal as can be. I let out a breath I wasn''t aware I was holding and slumped to the floor - perhaps it was foolish to have expected something so vile.


    My nerves were on edge and realized my parents might have had the right idea to send me to a therapist. Making my way upstairs, I flipped the light switch in my room. My eyes lit up at the sight before me. My walls, colored in terrible colors from when I was a child, were decorated in pictures of me from every conceivable angle. My own room had become a sanctuary dedicated to myself.


    There were pictures of me eating with others and eating alone or with Kay. There were shots of me in the shower and pictures of me in the bathroom. Many of the pictures weren¡¯t even new. Some of them clearly went back years, captures of various Christmas parties, Halloween bashes, and Valentine¡¯s Day dates jumped out amongst the clutter.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    I grabbed my hair and pulled with all my strength. Some clumps coming out by the root. I turned and made my way to my parents¡¯ room. Slamming the door open, I had planned to barricade myself in and call the police. The ghastly sight before me made me discharge my body¡¯s weight worth of vomit.


    There before me lay my parents sprawled on the bed caked in dry, crusty blood. Their eyes were lifeless and twisted as if they witnessed creatures from the beyond in their final moments. My father had a slit throat and dozens of stab wounds. My mother¡¯s hand gripped his, disconnected from the rest. Her arms were deliberately crossed on her chest and her jaw hung open in a silent screen. Maggots crawled out of her mouth and danced across her face. It was clear the couple had been dead for more than just a couple of hours.


    Stumbling outside, I tripped down the stairs. I had wanted nothing more than for my life to end, but when I heard footsteps beside me, my body moved on instinct. I was on my feet faster than I ever imagined I could move and found myself staring straight at the monster before me. Her lips touched her temples in a curled, mangled form of delight.


    ¡°Rose. You look terrible. What were you doing on the ground?¡±


    ¡°W-What are you d-d-d-doing here Kay? How did you know I would be here?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s your home. You missed school. I have your homework.¡± She gestures to her backpack and takes a step toward me.


    ¡°Stay away.¡±


    ¡°Rose, I love you. Calm down. Let¡¯s go inside.¡±


    I tried to take a step back, yet it isn¡¯t enough. She descended upon me immediately and wrapped me in an embrace. ¡°Come now. There¡¯s no one to get between us.¡± Tears spilled forth and beckoned a question.


    ¡°Why would you do this?¡±


    ¡°This?¡± She looked towards my house. ¡°I just want to be together with you, Rose. Why do you have to make things so difficult?¡±


    I shove her away. It¡¯s in the middle of the day, but no one is around. What can I do? I can¡¯t just take the time to call the police.


    ¡°Come now, Rose. Please? I don¡¯t want to hurt you.¡±


    I stumble backwards and run from her twisted form. No neighbor answered. All the houses were empty. It¡¯s ludicrous that no one was home--time of day be damned. She couldn¡¯t have killed them all. She couldn¡¯t have. However, I could never stay in one place for long, for she was always right behind me. She walked at speeds that kept her at pace with me. I ran with all that I could and made it to the roof of the school. By the time I got there, the sun winked out to the twinkle of night, the stars high above me. My skin was freezing from a mix of sweat and sunburn from an entire day of dodging death, but I had done it. I hadn¡¯t seen Kay for hours now. I approached the edge barrier of the rooftop and admired the stars. I lamented what my life had become.


    I would stay here until the morning, and then I would tell the school what happened. I don¡¯t know when I lost my phone, but I can¡¯t risk going back out and finding it. Every house on the way here had been empty, and the closest police station was in the next town. I was safe here. I had lost everyone to that hellish girl, but I am free now. I can finally cry in peace over everyone dear to me being taken away.


    I let the gems free from my eyes and watched as the cool autumn night carried them away. I spread my arms wide to take hold of the stars. A small laugh broke free from my lips at the thought of how insane everything had become. Just then, a gentle hand lowered itself onto my back and a bit of force was exerted over me.


    The stars spun around and the ground became the sky. With a sickening thud, I landed as before, yet no bushes were there for me. Through bloodied, hazy eyes, I could gather just enough strength to look up as a figure strolled up beside me. A bloody, gnarled hook of a hand stroked across my cheek. Sweet nothings were spoken to me as I gave in, realizing nothing but the end remained. A tiny, quiet jingle danced its way to me.


    ¡°I love you, Rose. We¡¯ll always be together.¡±