Miller was dead.
India felt a chill run up her spine when Hutch informed her and the rest of the friends at the Cafe. Something did not sit well with her last night and she sure as hell didn't feel better about it today. The five friends sat a table in mourning, not sure what to say or do about the whole situation. It's insane that as soon as you lose someone the only thing that runs through your mind is when you last saw them or the last words spoken to them.
"Sweet shit, get a load of this! I think I've found boss man's body." Phin's voice cut through the silence.
Hutch jumped up first from the table moving behind the counter where Phin sat at the computer. The rest of the friends followed shortly after crowding around Phin to see Miller's character laying in the exact position Hutch got a glimpse of back at the office.
"Oh, god!" Abigail covered her mouth with her scarf.
"That's off-putting," Swink added.
India swallowed and pushed her hair out of her face.
"Didn't you say Miller was stabbed today, Hutch?" Phin asked while he eyes remained on the computer screen.
Hutch turned his head to the side snapping his eyelids tight, "Man, I can't look at this."
That was all the answer Phin needed as he announced, "Yeah, I think I'll have to quit hanging around with you, brother."
India glared at the back of Phin's head during October's scolding, "Hutch I'm sorry. Phin, if you had any less sense, you'd be half a penny. Now shut the goddamn game off."
Phin did as his older sister said exiting out of the game and turned around in his chair, "Why, because we found Miller's body in it?"
"Tâmpit,"(asshole) India muttered her eyes connecting with Phin's to make sure that he knew that he was her target.
"It is a horror survival game." Swink hinted.
Phin shrugged his shoulders, "I mean I hate to be a dick, but I think you guys are overreacting just a little bit." He held his finger and thumb out for dramatic effect.
"Would you show some respect, man?" Abigail bit.
India raised her eyebrow at the platinum blonde, the only one that could really put her man in place was his sister and herself. She must admit that Phin acting unsympathetic did make him sound more like a dick than he actually was.
Phin titled his head to the side the sunglasses in his hair titling as well,"Respect? You pay respect to gamers by gaming,so let's boot it up. To Miller." He turned around to the computer.
Hutch snapped his head to Phin, "You know what man? Stop saying that! You're not playing for Miller or Loomis."
"You don't even know those guys, right?" Abigail asked to make a point.
Phin turned around again resting his arm on the top of the chair, "Listen, If you wanna curl up in the fetal position for the rest of the day, its fine, but don't expect me to. And, as for you, I just met you like goddamn yesterday, so kiss my ass."
Abigail held her mouth open in shock as India bit down on her nail to stop the laugh that bubbled in her throat.
"Phin!" Hutch warned.
"What? Look, why don't you guys get out of here and let me play in peace?"
The silence lasted for a few seconds before Abigail rolled her neck holding up her pointer finger and her middle finger around her can, "Peace."
In India's view it looked stupid, she did not know what this girl was about but it defiantly was not what she put herself out to be. Everyone started to pile out of the room but October stayed behind to sit on the counter grabbing onto Phin's face, "Hey, take it easy."
Phin looked up in his sister's eyes mumbling, "I'm sorry."
October wrapped her arm around his throat pulling his head to her chest placing a kiss on his hair before leaving.
"You coming?" October's hoarse voice questioned India who leaned in the door frame.
India nodded, "In a minute."
October smiled leaving India with Phin.
The honey blonde girl stood next to Phin who leaned back to get a good look at his girl. She worse a black Scuba cutout dress, with the right amount of skin showing the large tattoo on her left rib cage, her thick golden legs were shining even in the darkly lit Cafe, and her honey highlighted hair was messy just how he loved it. He blinked wrapped an arm around her waist tugging her body to him, "You came to scold me too?"
India shook her head caressing Phin's face before plopping down in his lap, her arms wrapped around his neck. She stared at his pouty lips before pressing hers on his, Phin made a noise of satisfaction making India laugh into the kiss. India pulled away to stare into Phin's blue green eyes, "Nope. I came to cuddle with my idiot of a boyfriend for a few seconds, since you want to be left alone in peace."
India rested her head in between the space of his neck and shoulder nuzzling her cheek into his skin.
Phin scoffed, "You're always welcome to stay. Those suckers were giving me a fucking headache about the whole thing."
India sighed, "But you do understand where they're coming from don't you?"
Phin ran his fingertips against India's thigh, "Yeah yeah. Let's talk about something else."
"Like what?" India voiced as she pulled back to stare at her boyfriend.
Phin smirked, "We can do a lot of things to make it more peaceful around here."
India rolled her dark brown eyes, "And this is where I leave you."
Phin latched onto her waist trying to pull her back into his lap, "Come on...everyone's gone."
"Is sex the only thing that runs through your mind?" India asked annoyed that she failed to get out of his grasp.
Phin pecked her lips, "No. I also think about other things..."
"Like?"
"Uh...I'll get back to you on that."
India gave a semi-hard punch to Phin's shoulder allowing his hands to slip from her waist. He winced rubbing his now sorta sore shoulder sending a glare towards his on and off again girlfriend. India stood with her hands on her hips, "That's for being mean to Hutch. Catch ya later, babe."
She left her boyfriend laughing at his grumbles that sounded like, "That woman is hot and cold. She never plays nice for long."
India made it to the rooftop just in time to hear Abigial say, "Look, I'm no gamer, but there are only so many ways you could die in a video game. It's all just really bad timing."
She plopped down in the chair across from Swink resting her elbows on the table top as Swink pulled his UV sun visor hat off.
"Not really. In a sense, the timing is bad because he over-responds to deaths. When you think about it, the coincidence of finding Miller's game body and his real body was perfect. That's why we're freaked out."
India nodded agreeing with her intelligent friend completely.
Swink started to think more about it, "Maybe timing had nothing to do with it. Maybe it was inevitable. Possible homicidal replication on a sociopathic level."
Hutch started to move around holding onto his beer and also thought about it.
"Where are you going?" October asked what the remaining four all were wondering.
Hutch turned to his friends, "Loomis said his friends were playing that video game the night they died, hours before, Now Miller. What are the chances of all of them being murdered right after playing that video game? Jesus, if Phineus is playing that game..."
Hutch left the rooftop rushing down the steps as the friends raced after him, "Hutch! Come on, honey. You've gotta relax." October spoke grabbing Hutch's arm.
India felt the chill run down her spine again, this was not good.
"It's just bad timing!" Abigail suggested.
Hutch continued running down the steps, "But, Swink said what about timing has nothing to do with it."
The girls turned to Swink who looked like he regretted saying so, "Did I say that? I have a penchant for big theories. Don't listen to me."
The five friends ran down to the Cafe. Hutch was the first to enter the Cafe yelling, "Phineus! Phin! Oh, my God!"
Phin had his face resting against the computer keyboard, it looked as if he stopped breathing. India's wide eyes returned to the normal size as she realized what the hell her boyfriend was doing. October stood with one hand on her hip irritated about the whole thing.
"What are you doing, man?" Hutch asked concerned.
India was started to feel bad for her friend. Everything was completely fucked up and now Hutch became paranoid but she did not blame him.
Phin leaned back into his chair staring at Hutch, "I'm pulling this bitch. What's it look like?" He placed his bong to the side releasing the smoke from his nose.
Hutch sounded defeated, "What if Loomis and Miller..."
"Was more than a coincidence? They both played the game and then they died, so...obviously the video game killed them, right? Are you serious, man? Listen to yourself."
"Phin," India warned.
Phin turned his head to the side glancing at Swink, "I was ready to bite it anyway. Hey Swink, check this mirror I found. I flipped it over. The back works like a mirror, but it won't break like the other one. I think it's made out of polished silver something. I don't know. You guys don't have one."
He got out of his seat allowing Swink to take his spot to stare at the paused game on the computer. Phin held onto his jean jacket turning to Hutch, "We all know you've been through a lot, and you know I love you, but you're freaking everybody out now."
Hutch nodded, "I know. Yeah."
Phin patted his shoulder and brushed by India pulling her along with him.
India couldn't believe that Phin brought her along just for him to work on his precious car. After turning him down for some car sex he decided he was going to punish her and make her watch him work on his car all seductively but she would not give in. She stood outside of the car on the passenger side holding onto her little journal crossing some lines out that did not fit well with her new project at all.
She started singing over the words slowly and softly:
Oh, I beg you: Can I follow?
Oh, I ask you: Why not always?
Be the ocean, where I unravel.
Be my only, be the water where I'm wading.
You're my river running high.
Run deep, run wild.
I, I follow, I follow you.
Deep sea baby, I follow you.
I, I follow I follow you,
Dark doom, honey. I follow you.
India was brought out of her singing as a loud truck horn echoed in her ear drums, she quickly lifted her head to see Phin pressed tightly against the car as if the sound alerted him too. India noticed that Phin was gasping for breath which made her raise an eyebrow, "You alright?"
Phin turned to her almost forgetting that she were there with him since she liked to be so damn quiet.
"Yeah. Let's get back on the road I'm sure those dickheads will be calling us soon."
India nodded climbing into the passenger seat as Phin closed the hood to his precious red car.
The two were speeding down the road with "Sweet Dreams" By Air Supply blasting from the speakers. Phin, sadly would not shut up as he sung along to it obnoxiously.
"Close your eyes, I want to ride the skies in my sweet dreaaaams! Close your eyes, I want to see you tonight in my sweeeet dreaaams! Funky!" He yelled.
India smiled at Phin turning her attention back to the green that blurred by her eyes, she decided to let him have his fun. Fun was definitely what the two needed with this video game crap scaring them, well India half to death. The sky suddenly started to get darker as the song faded away and two looked up at the sky. India started to feel uneasy once again and Phin pulled the gear shift back increasing speed down the road. As they continued down the road fog made it's self known, India was the first to let out a scream as a little girl appeared in front of the fog. Phin let out a scream also swerving the car to the right towards a tree, but thankfully he slammed on breaks before the car could greet the tree.
"What the hell?" India yelled.
Phin breathed unbuckling his seat belt looking over at her to make sure she was alright. He held onto his phone unaware that he answered it before the girl caused him to almost have an accident.
"Where are you going? Get back in the car!" India yelled as Phin climbed out of the vehicle walking a few ways down.
"Is anybody out there?" Phin yelled into the fog.
India groaned climbing out of the car to stand beside Phin with her arms crossed. She heard October ask, "Phin, are you okay? What about India?"
"Yeah. We're awesome!" Phin exasperates.
Hutch's voice cut in, "Phin, It's Hutch. Where are you guys?"
Phin walked backwards than forwards explaining, "I was on my way, but my whip got stuck out on River Road. We're just south of Binky's Adult Store man."
"I'll drive," A new voice declared.
"Who's that? Abigail?"
"Yeah," She answered.
"Sup mama?"
India crossed her arms tighter to her chest giving Phin a look who just held his hands out to prove that he meant nothing by it.
"What's up?" Abigail greeted.
India marched over to Phin and snatched his phone out his hands, "Hey Swinky, when you were talking about perceptive reality, were you talking about hearing or seeing things, or both?"
"Both. It's see, relatively speaking..."
Phin snatched his phone back, "Shut up. Listen, I've not tripped out like this since I ate that matzo ball at Bible camp brother."
October calmed her brother down, "Hey. Phin. Hang on. We're coming to get you guys."
She continued, "Phin, India. You guys didn't die in the game remember? I'll be right there."
"That's right! We didn't die in the game baby!" Phin yelled hanging up his phone then he latched onto India and spun her around.
The darkeness did not help the annoying ice cold shiver that continued racing up India's back as the two stood in the middle of the road. India stared down one street while Phin looked the other way, a sound of horses in the distance brought Phin's attention to India's way. Phin started walking ahead of India but she grabbed onto his hand, "What are you doing?"
"Hey. Wait a minute. In the game, she only comes at night." Phin realized.
India looked around, that's exactly why the skies suddenly turned dark. She was coming.
"Is anybody out there?" Phin questioned suddenly feeling scared.
India slapped his back, "Stop asking that goddamn question!"
India turned just in time to hear a whip and horses, she shoved Phin to the side tumbling on top of him. She looked over to see the spirit of Elizabeth Bathory on her carriage screeching at the girl. She decided to turn her carriage around, India turned to Phin to see that he was out cold. She shook him but he would not wake up, quickly she started dragging him towards the car but screamed as Elizabeth Bathory climbed out of her carriage. India hopped over the fence and started running through the fields noticing the carriage following closely behind. She ran in zig zags rushing towards the trees and hid behind them. The honey blonde girl blew her hair out of her face and placed her hand over her panting breaths as she heard the clicking of Elizabeth's heels. India counted to three and ran away deeper into the woods finding a bigger tree than the next to hide her. While running she did not expect Elizabeth to wait for her, slashing at her legs causing the girl to fly face first into the dirt.
India rolled over onto her back screaming and pushed herself backwards in pain away from the serial killer woman. This did not stop her from slashing at India with a whip in one hand and a blade in the other. India's screams could be heard throughout the field as the whip burned her skin leaving damage to her face, arms, and legs. Elizabeth stopped her whipping to look down at her work, India had her eyes closed but she wheezed as she tried to find her breaths. Elizabeth dropped her whip now holding her blade in both hands, she raised her blade above her head eyeing the young girl before her.
Then she swung.
A/N: Lyrics belong to Lykke Li.