The long, black rug streamed down the hallway, leading them straight to the cafeteria. Yet, instead of feeling familiar, it seemed so...strange. Dark sheets and silver beads were hanging over all the walls and every table was missing except for one. The same one that had been set with 10 plates of food, 10 martini glasses, and a single white candle. Someone had definitely gone all out.
"Now, this is my kind of party," Eli admired the depressing, gothic look of it all.
Clare shook her head in disbelief as everyone simply 'ooh'ed and 'ahh'ed at the display. "So, I'm the only one slightly creeped out by this?"
"Relax." Her body jolted instinctively when Eli set his hand on her shoulder. She blushed in embarrassment, realizing how unduly nervous she'd suddenly gotten. He chuckled lightly and ran his warm fingers down her arm, sending chills through her. "We're together."
He held the stare for a moment before breaking it off and heading towards the table. Because if he hadn't, he would've just had to pull her up against him and kiss her forever. And he didn't know if that was allowed anymore.
Why couldn't she just give him another chance? He told her everything...about the bully, about Julia...that was supposed to make her understand. She'd pushed him into this, forced him to admit the feelings he had for her, and he'd finally given in. He thought she'd show him what love was again...not break his heart. I can't be with you...
"Sit by me, okay?" Bianca nudged KC before noticing the name cards on the table.
"I don't think I have a choice," he replied slowly, as he realized where his seat was at. "Between my 2 ex-girlfriends," KC mumbled faintly, "Perfect."
"I'm next to the Torres brothers?" Bianca blurted out, sounding a little less than amused.
"Yeah, you can read. Good for you," Adam murmured sarcastically as he sat down with the others. No one else seemed to be rebelling against their unidentified host and his instructions.
"Seriously, who's behind this?" The brunette demanded. Her dark, accusing eyes darted back and forth, unsure of where to land.
"I'm just speculating here," Drew began derisively, "But I kinda think if our host wanted us to know who they were, they wouldn't have made all the invites anonymous."
"Whatever, this is bullshit," Bianca snapped, "If they're too pathetic to admit their sorry ass put this trainwreck together, no way in hell am I gonna let them torture me through dinner." She ripped her place card down the middle and glanced around KC. She remembered the blonde from her quest for diet pills, "Jenna, switch with me."
"My head is throbbing," Jenna groaned in response, burying her face into her palm. KC winced and turned away. unintentionally making eye contact with Clare. He whipped his head down and tugged at his bangs casually, pretending that never happened.
"And what? Your legs are broken?" Bianca argued back, "Get the hell over here!"
"My forehead is pulsating," She lamented again, completely ignoring the command.
"Drink some water," KC offered impatiently, pushing her glass towards her. She looked up at him, startled, before accepting. "I'll just trade with Drew," He went on, "No point in even asking Clare to ditch her new, emo boyfriend for a second."
"What? Uh, no, i mean, we..we're ju-just," Clare mumbled, glancing at Eli for help.
"Friends," he finished for her.
"Friends," echoed Clare. KC's jab at her had gone right over her head. She just didn't want anyone else to be as confused about her relationship with Eli as she was. Did he even realize how close his leg was pressed up against hers?
KC widened his eyes in amusement, "Oh, so, I'm guessing your little library make out session was just prep for a french exam?"
Eli blinked in confusion. "Woah, what, are you, like, stalking her?"
"Dude, seriously?" KC rolled his eyes, "Me and Drew were right in front of there, studying. You practically put it on window display."
Drew tried to help him out, "Yeah, that was the day when Bianca came over and -"
"So, of course you'd remember that," Alli finally spoke up from the end next to him. He turned to face her, immediately catching himself. He swallowed painfully hard, his heartsick eyes silently begging her for a second chance. She glared past him, "C'mon, KC, don't think everyone didn't see you checking out her 'boob job' that day in gym class."
"You did wonder what they'd be like," Dave pointed out before KC could say anything. He wanted in.
"Yeah, don't help," KC shut him down.
"So, you were looking at her!" Jenna instinctively pulled the only energy she had left to raise her voice. It felt more like someone had just smashed her head between a pair of cymbals.
Bianca laughed brazenly, "You honestly think now that KC's one of the most wanted star athletes at Degrassi, he'd still be hooked on his frumpy, Bible-humping ex?"
"Don't you dare talk about her like that!" Eli jumped up in her defense.
"Or what? You'll cut me?" She fired back.
Jenna focused past Bianca to a black velvet couch in the back of the room. "Sit where you want. I've gotta go lie down," she mumbled as she left. KC finally felt like he could breathe again. Bianca just groaned and fell back into the chair she was meant to.
"Can we just go easy on the drama for tonight?" Adam begged, "Eli and Clare aren't together anymore, so who cares?"
"They broke up after Vegas Night," Alli added simply. "Ever since Eli made Fitz bring that knife to school, everything's been totally awkward," She jabbered on quietly as if she were trying to whisper a secret, but to the entire table.
After a moment of processing, Drew furrowed his eye brows, "You're holding him responsible for the lockdown?"
"I do."
The room fell quiet. They all turned to stare as Connor innocently sunk down further into his seat, his fork lazily pushing the food around his plate. No one really knew what else to say. Jenna finally shut her eyes, drifting off into a deep, peaceful slumber...At least for a second.
The uproar came back full force as they continued insulting each other mercilessly, each shout louder than the last. But just as Clare shrieked for them to stop, the noise level hitting it's peak, a deafening clap of thunder sounded through the room. Darkness filled the room, leaving the flickering flame at the center of the table as the only light source. And through the ear-splitting silence, a soft, shrill voice began to sing...
"Ten little Indian boys went out to dine; one choked his little self and then there were nine.
Nine little Indian boys sat up very late; one overslept himself and then there were eight.
Eight little Indian boys traveling in Devon; one said he'd stay there and then there were seven.
Seven little Indian boys chopping up sticks; one chopped himself in halves and then there were six.
Six little Indian boys playing with a hive; a bumblebee stung one and then there were five.
Five little Indian boys going in for law; one got in Chancery and then there were four.
Four little Indian boys going out to sea; a red herring swallowed one and then there were three.
Three little Indian boys walking in the zoo; a big bear hugged one and then there were two.
Two little Indian boys were out in the sun; one got all frizzled up and then there was one.
One little Indian boy left all alone; He went out and hanged himself and then there were none."
Clare's eyes fought to find Eli until she felt his hand run over hers, intertwining his fingers through hers. She exhaled slowly. Everything was going to be okay.
"Is that supposed to be a joke?" Drew wondered after the voice had completely faded away, "'Cause I'm not laughing."
"What the hell is up with Mother Goose these days?" The words played over and over in Eli's head. It couldn't be for real, could it? It didn't even make sense. They weren't in a zoo, or by the sea, and they weren't exactly planning to fly to Devon anytime soon. Still, looking around, there were ten of them. And that didn't really give him the easiest feeling anymore.
Not being able to take it anymore, Bianca shot up and slammed her fists down on the table so hard it shook. "What the fuck is going on here?" She screamed.
"Bianca Desousa," the voice boomed through the intercom again. It wasn't high-pitched like before, but still unrecognizable. "The Slut."
"Excuse me?" Her voice screeched in reply.
"You're shallow and manipulative. You use people and then hang 'em out to dry. You know you're going nowhere in life, so you try to take everyone else down with you. This is why you're being condemned."
She shrunk back down again. Condemned? What was that supposed to mean? And why was she being singled out? Her heart raced as she felt all eyes on her. Had this all just been some vengeful, elaborate scheme to humiliate her in front of everyone?
"Connor Delaurier," it continued. Bianca sighed gratefully, yet all the same fear was still there. "The Outcast."
Connor dropped his fork and sat up, avoiding eye contact with everyone.
"You're alone and isolated, yet you still continue to push away the only friends you've ever had. The only who doesn't want you at Degrassi more than you...is me. This is why you're being condemned."
He looked for Dave over on the opposite corner of the table, but he could barely even see across from him. They were all still sitting there, right?
"Alli Bhandari. The Tease." Her eyes immediately began to brim with tears when she heard her name. She bit her lip as she braced herself for what was to follow.
"You're selfish and desperate. You do whatever it takes to get what you want, no matter who you hurt. You hold onto grudges and can never put the past behind you. This is why you're being condemned."
Drew reached out to comfort her but she jerked away. He opened his mouth to say something, but then it was his turn.
"Drew Torres. The Cheater. That's an easy one." He exchanged a glance with Bianca before looking down shamefully.
"But don't forget liar. Blackmailer. And my personal favorite...traitor." Drew clenched his teeth. Each one felt like a punch in the stomach. "This is why you're being condemned."
"Dave Turner," the mysterious voice blared again. "The Wannabee. You never give up because you can't take a hint. #1 loser. Get over it. You shouldn't be here and that's why you are. This is why you're being condemned."
"Who the hell do you think you are?" He yelled back because no one else would. The better question was who the hell did he think it was.
"Jenna Middleton. The Backstabber."
"Are you still there, Jenna?" Clare asked nervously, her grip tightening on Eli's hand.
"I'm here," she answered, supporting herself up on her elbows as she listened.
"You're a boyfriend stealer and you don't care. Yet, you expect everyone to feel sorry for you now. This is why you're being condemned."
Jenna's head fell back again as she blinked back her tears. She just wanted to be back in her bed, where she could down a bottle of tylenol, snuggle up under her cozy, warm covers, and never wake up again. Not shivering in some tight, itchy dress as some psycho called out in pitch darkness to remind her of all the reasons she had to hate herself.
"Adam Torres," it went on. Drew watched his brother apprehensively. What had Adam ever done to anyone? "The Poser."
The words stung right through him. He swallowed hard. Oh, god.
"You can pretend all you want. You're still a girl and you know it. Keeping it a secret only makes you a liar. This is why you're being condemned."
Adam bit down on his tongue till it bled. He could feel the anger building inside him, but it could only escape through tears. Whoever this person was, they weren't messing around.
"Boys don't cry," Bianca whispered to his ear, smirking.
"KC Guthrie. The Heartbreaker." KC nodded to himself. He knew that was coming. "In trying to keep your life together, you've destroyed another. Possibly, two."
The baby, he instantly thought. His baby.
"Looking out for no one but yourself is nothing new. And it's never gonna change. This is why you're being condemned."
Eli pulled Clare closer, letting her head rest against his shoulder. There was only two left.
"Clare Edwards." He wrapped his arms around her tightly. Whether or not they were together, he was there for her.
"The Goody-Two-Shoes. You're controlling and stubborn. You think because you believe in bullshit, you have the right to judge everyone else. Well, now, your judgement day has come. This is why you're being condemned."
She couldn't help but cry out of fear. Eli kissed her forehead gently. No one could really do anything to her, right?
"Eli Goldsworthy. The Badass." The voice still spoke in the same slow pace as it did from the beginning. He just wanted it over with already. "You're always afraid to show the real you. You push people away before you give them a chance. No matter what you do, someone ends up getting hurt, and sometimes, I think you like that. Your past will always be a part of who you are. Because you won't let go of anything you hold. This is why you're being condemned."
The lights slowly came back on. Heavy breathing and heartbeats was all the only sound left in the room. It had to be a joke. A sick joke, and nothing more. Someone had just brought them together to try to taunt them for fun. Someone who must've been waiting in the principal's office, ready to pop out and laugh at them for falling for it. Their eyes finally began to meet each other as they finally felt like they could wipe their tears away...unaware that one of them was only seconds away from death.
...
*Now, that's school's starting, it's been harder to find the time to write obviously but I'll still keep updating as long as I keep getting reviews! If I feel like people's interest in the story is beginning to fade, so will my motivation to write it, so please tell me what you think of every chap! This story has 58 alerts so shouldn't I be able to expect that many reviews? XD pleeaassee?*
