It was not supposed to end like this. Life wasn't perfect. Life wasn't even real. Life was a dream. It was a hit-in-run mistake that never leaves nor latches on, but rather stays permanently until fate drives a wedge. Holly used to believe that the gods of the universe gave each person a sacred gift or perfect promise. But, now, she knows that is not true. Life is not fair, life is not true, and life is never planned. She did not want this, she did not dream this.
Staring at the five lifeless human beings in front of her, Holly summed the courage to move. She stood up and looked around. The deaths in front of her were not random, they were not meaningless. They were perfectly planned, in every detail and every line. The death count should have been six. She should be one of them. She should not be here. Not everyone in the White family deserves a second chance. Not every person in the White family is a monster, not all of them possess tragic flaws. Holly, looking past the blood and the gore, stared up at the sky. This is my chance. This is my purpose. Now, she knew there was no turning back.
6 MONTHS EARLIER
Yawn. Yawn. Holly knew it was a mistake to stay up so late every night, yet she did not really regret it. She loved texting Nate as long as she can, and if that meant not getting eight hours of sleep, then who cares? Nate was her everything. Not only is he a perfect height and build, but he is also a perfect mix of funny and sincere. Holly truly believes that Nate is her soul mate. Yes, they've only been together for two months, but isn't love at first sight a real thing? She knows her Aunt Marie once had a happy marriage. Although never a witness, she could tell from the stories and pictures that Marie really loved her husband. She also truly believed that her mother and father were once happy as well. Sure, her father was labeled a criminal, but he was still human, right?
"Holly! Holly! What is the answer?" shouted Mr. Sanchez from the front of the classroom.
Holly jerked her head up and stared at the board, "Um...neon?" she answered suddenly. Mr. Sanchez shook his head in disbelief and continued taunting the other students. Despite her daydreaming and constant fixation on Nate, Holly was one of the brightest students in her advanced chemistry class. She studied sometimes and tried to turn in her homework, but most of the time she did not care all that much. Her teachers always told her she was a natural, but she hated it when they said that. All that means is she is living in her father's legacy. Her father was a chemistry genius, and Holly knew she is inheriting his talents. Her older brother, Flynn, did not take after their father. Sure, he is bright in the sciences, but he is much better at social studies and literature. She always wondered why she has to be the one most like her father.
Nate smirked at her from the other side of the classroom. She blushed a dark shade of red and gave him the least embarrassing smile she could afford. He mouthed, "Tonight." She nodded her head and went back to staring at her formula page. Her smile lingered throughout the rest of the class. Nate had that effect on her. He had that effect on most people.
