Chapter 4: No Man's Land's Final Curtain

Parker's POV

I was up until 3:00 AM talking to Meagan (this was one of her chosen moments) about a major problem. We had to make a really hard decision, but we knew it was the right thing to do.

Since Meagan had her whole not talking thing, I had to confront her. I saw her first thing at her locker and approached her.

"Randy?"

She smiled and said in a fake happy voice, "Parker, hi!"

"Listen, Randy, we need to talk," I said.

"Oh no, Parker, are you breaking up with me?" she joked.

"Lily, it's about No Man's Land," I said.

"What is it? What's wrong?" she asked.

"Meagan and I were talking, and we feel that at the moment, you shouldn't be worrying yourself with such trivial things like a band," I tried to explain.

"Parker, what are you trying to say?" Lily asked.

"Randy, we want you out of the band."

Lily's POV

I felt like I had been punched in the stomach. Why was all this happening to me? What had I done to deserve this? It took me a moment to find my voice, and I only managed one word. "What?"

"Meagan and I think that you've got so much going on in your life that you won't be able to perform musically. And to be frank, Randy, you're getting kind of depressing to hang out with," Parker said. "Look, I've got to go. I'll talk to you later."

Parker took off down the hall, leaving me standing there with my mouth hanging open. I'm not sure how long I was standing there, but once again my trance was broken by a sweet voice.

"Lily? Are you alright?" Eric asked me.

"Uh, not really. I was just-" I didn't have time to finish my sentence. Travis and Robbie came up.

"Hey Lily, what's up?" Travis greeted. He gave Eric a bit of an odd look and Robbie did the same.

"Uh, guys, this is Eric Johnston. Eric, these are my best friends Robbie McGrath and Travis Strong," I introduced the guys.

They said hi to each other and Eric said, "So, Lily, you were just telling me what was wrong?"

"No Man's Land, my band, just kicked me out. My own band kicked me out," I said. I didn't cry. I couldn't anymore. I had cried too much over the last few days to cry again now.

"Oh, Lily, that's horrible!" Robbie said as Travis gave me a hug. The bell rang and the guys gave me sympathetic smiles and took off. Eric hung around as I grabbed my books and shut my locker.

He offered me his hand and said, "Come on, I'll walk you to class."

I took it and we set off down the hall. It was nice having a guy who was actually taller than me. Ray had been the same height, but it was still slightly awkward, Travis was a bit shorter, but Eric's height was more comfortable, so I didn't have to slouch slightly to 'fit in'.

"I heard that Mlle Sierra was the latest victim," I said. Eric looked surprised that I had brought it up, but didn't say anything. So I continued. "I was thinking that maybe we could go ahead with that date. You know a movie after school?"

"I'd love to, but I can't right after school. How about we meet at Mickey's at 5:30? I've got a little something to do first," Eric offered.

"Sure, sounds great," I said. "Well, this is my class. I'll see you tonight."

I quickly kissed his cheek and went into class. I was surprised with myself, but did my best to act normal.

Knowing I had something to look forward to after school actually made the rest of my day bearable. Eric was really sweet, I started trusting him enough that by lunch I was telling him about No Man's Land, Ray, and everything else that seemed to be completely screwed up in my life. I think the only thing he didn't know about me by the end of it was my secret identity as Shady Lane. Although I did mention RFR and that they (we) weren't doing shows for awhile because of Pronto suddenly 'moving away'.

Robbie's POV

"Robbie, I don't know about that Johnston character. He seems…" Travis tried to find a word to describe what seemed like Lily's latest romantic interest.

"Geeky? Dorky? Nerdy?" I offered.

"All of the above. And Lily deserves better than that. Besides, she's probably feeling very vulnerable now, after Ray's death, even if Ray did dump her before he died. Actually, that probably made her vulnerability worse if anything," Travis reasoned.

"Sounds like someone's jealous," I smirked.

"I haven't had feelings for Lily in like forever! The last thing I am is jealous! Just because she's pretty, smart, funny, and talented doesn't mean I still have feelings for her!" Travis made a sad attempt at defending himself.

'Well, he's not wrong about all that stuff about Lily. She is pretty…and smart…and talented…Who am I kidding? Who wouldn't like that girl?' I thought to myself.

"Eric seemed a bit on the shady side too…" Travis said. I just rolled my eyes.

Killer's POV

I overheard Parker and Meagan complaining about last-period gym class that day…well I heard Parker complaining about it. It was perfect; people who had gym last always left school slightly late. I also overheard them say that they hated always being the last to get into the change room because they were always being yelled at by the gym teacher. That meant that they were also the last people out of the change room as well. It was all too easy.

I hid in an empty locker as everyone else showered and changed. By the time Parker and Meagan came in everyone else had already gone. Parker jumped into the shower but to my disgust Meagan hang around not even changing. I was somewhat unhappy, I had hoped to get them at the same time, but it looked like it would have to be Meagan goes first.

I quietly crept out of the locker and snuck up behind Meagan. I already had a piece of duct tape in my hand. I stuck it over her mouth and dragged her behind a row of lockers, so if Parker came out she wouldn't see us.

"Do you like art, Meagan? How about I make you a bit like Van Gogh?" I smirked as I cut off her left ear. I sliced it clean off in one move.

She winced in pain but didn't try to scream through the tape, which was disappointing. It was always more fun when they squirmed, but Meagan didn't even struggle.

"How about I make it match?" I asked as I cut off her right ear. Why isn't she trying? I thought to myself. I sighed, if she wasn't going to be any fun I'd might as well just make it quick. I thrust the knife into her stomach and let her die. She never made a noise. I wiped the knife on her hair as Parker came out of the shower.

I waited until she had put some clothes on before I crept out and gagged her with one of her knee socks. I forced her onto her knees and dragged the knife from her hair line to her chin (lifting the blade only to avoid cutting off the sock keeping her silent), just narrowly missing her eye.

I considered a bit of mutilation on her as well, but I had other things to do that day besides kill. I slit her throat and let her die. I cleaned off my trusty knife like always and I stuffed her body in the locker along with Meagan's.

I wiped the sweat off my forehead with the towel Parker had dropped on the bench. Killing was hard work…although it was fun. I just had to keep remembering my reason.

I ran out of the change room and headed home to ditch my bloody clothes.

Lily's POV

Around 5:15 I left my house and started off towards Mickey's. I sat down on one of the couches and tried to breath. I hadn't even been this nervous before I went out with Ray.

Eric walked in right on time and we were about to head for the movies when Robbie and Travis burst in.

"Lily! Parker and Meagan were the latest victims!" Robbie said as he tried to catch his breath.

"What?" I gasped.

"The janitor found their bodies stuffed into a locker," Travis said. Robbie had lost the ability to talk.

Everything went black as the floor came up and met with my head. The last thing I remember was Eric crouching next to me looking worried.