"For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul."

Judy Garland

Chapter Two -

Seven years later…

December 12th 1999

San Francisco, California

Blood. She shivered at the thought. No, don't think of that right now. She walked faster. She had to go. Now. Before she had a mental breakdown at the mere thought of him. Why did he have to die? Ugh! She had to stop thinking about him. Now. She broke into a run, the cold December air prick her skin; she needed the distraction. Badly. She didn't know why she had fallen for him. But she had; hard. She wished he'd never been in her life; that he would just one day be forgotten. But her mind wouldn't forget his smile, his laugh, and the thing she wanted to forget most; his dead body. Jenny's voice echoed in her head. "Why Hailey? Why did you kill him?" Jenny's voice, accusing her. Her. Of something she didn't do. Why would Jenny do that? Jenny, of all people; the nicest person in the entire grade. Hailey shook her head. Why did these things still linger, like endless shadows, haunting her. It's been seven years for Pete's sake! She should've buried her past better. No, she shouldn't have even gone looking for Jake. It's all my fault. She felt a tear down her cheek. She was to blame. If she hadn't gone looking for Jake, none of this would've happened. Because you killed him. The voice in her head taunted her. She didn't know all of the facts, but she knew one thing: that somehow, she wasn't responsible for Jake's death. Then why did that voice in her head keep taunting her, forcing her to believe what was a lie. Or was it? She didn't know anymore. She walked faster, trying to distract herself with all of the sights and noises in the bustling city. She finally reached the coffee shop, it was just down the corner from her house but it seemed like it took her a lifetime to get to it. She walked inside and smelled the refreshing aroma of fresh-made coffee. She walked up to the counter, ordered her "normal" and sat down at a table by a window. She looked out at the city. It wasn't really the best place to be in; trashy-looking people with trashy-looking clothes on. She shivered. She just couldn't stand the fact that not everyone had a good fashion sense. It's too bad. she thought as she looked up to see Josh Marstone, Jake's older brother, walk in front of the coffee shop. Look who's back... Hailey thought as she studied Josh, with his girlfriend, Casey Miller. They were the perfect couple. Casey, with her light-brown hair and big blue eyes, looked cute in her blue jeans and light blue top. While Josh, with his black hair and green eyes, looked gorgeous in his blue jeans and white t-shirt. Hailey sighed. I wish I could be like them. She turned her head to look out at the window, and saw them looking at her in the reflection of the window. Casey turned to Josh and said something to him. He nodded, then they walked faster down the street. hand-in-hand. Hailey looked at the couple as they crossed the street. That was odd. Usually, they were happy to see Hailey. She sighed. I guess I got my wish huh? It wasn't that she didn't like them; she just didn't feel like talking to anyone right now. What to do? she groaned inwardly as she drank a sip of her coffee. Hailey then got up out of her chair, threw her coffee away, and walked out of the shop. She knew what she had to do.

***

Seven years. Too long. Way too long. Well, for her anyway. But she had to be patient. The time was coming. The time for the Lord to come down, wipe off every sinner; to wipe away every tear from his or her eyes. She shivered in anticipation. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. she thought as she looked at the clock, at the second hand; listening to its ticking.

Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. She grinned. Her favorite memory verse from Sunday school; Hebrews 9:22.

She sighed, got up out of the chair she had been sitting in, and went to another room. The room she appeared in had a table in the center with a Bible on top of the table, a chair next to the table, a computer next to the Bible, and a small lamp on the desk. Next to the lamp was paper, neatly stacked paper, with things written on the pieces. She picked up the top piece and looked at the list in her hand.

Jake

Jenny

Hailey

Annalise

Emily

She grinned and looked at the list. She read through them and smiled when she saw Jake's name with two lines through it. She also noted the other names; the ones that she had put a bold underline under them. She had special plans for those. But they would have to wait, for she was saving the best for last. As she looked at those names, she began to shake. So much pain, torture, and rage had gone into those special names. They had taken him away from her, and they would pay. She knew exactly how. By the least expected way. She knew they were Christians, so why not play their own game? They were Christians, or used to be, but lately they had strayed from The Faith. Not good. She needed to remind them that He was, is, in charge of everything. Not them, leading their pitiful lives. They needed a wake-up call. They all did. They needed to be snapped back into reality; life wasn't some kind of kid's game. It was time they grew up. She couldn't wait to see the look of fear on their faces when they knew who it was who was behind all of this. She shivered. She couldn't wait to see them, to look at their faces as she told them what they had done wrong to her, and how they had betrayed Him, which was, of course, a big no-no. She smiled. It was impossible to control the adrenaline that coursed through her veins. Oh, what a rush! No, she had to clam down. She had to think. Think clearly. She had to stay three steps ahead of the game. She began formulating plans, her mind whirling at the seemingly endless possibilities as she clicked on the mouse and began typing….