Previously...
"What about the lady's missing kid?"
"The kid's about a year older than you or was. I got her name right here, Sabrina Archer. The kid went to the same school as you, Vega." I remember when I first got here. The teacher mentioned someone transferring.
As I realized what was going on around me, I hear I knock on the door. "Hey Tori, could you open the door?"
He looked around. "Wasn't Cat here a minute ago? Did she leave already?"
She wasn't here at all. In fact, I didn't even see her. "Cat was here?"
I shut my door fast and start to breathe heavily. My heart began to beat faster. My paranoia rose as I looked at the phone.
I was positive she saw me talking to him a minute ago. I was sure of it. She had been standing outside me room, listening to our conversation. Cat heard everything I said to Detective Wolf.
Bright light makes my eyes burn as my mom pulls away the curtains. I felt sick and scared. I didn't even know how to process it at the time, but I am sure it was all real. Cat was there, watching me. She heard everything I said to him. I was speechless. I don't know how I was going to face her now. But maybe Cat won't bring it up. Hopefully, it's stays behind us where it belongs.
"What's wrong, Tori? You look sick today." My mom says, turning away from the window. I was sick. Thanks, for noticing.
"Yeah, I think I have a cold, or a fever." I felt my own forehead and it was burning. I didn't feel like doing anything except sleep it off.
The doorbell rings as I lie down gently. "That must be Jade and Cat. There here to pick you up."
I turn my head towards my clock in my room. My eyes widened as I thought of last night. The thought of Cat's face when she was watching me was creepy. I felt colder just thinking about it. "I...don't think I'm going to school today."
My mom, thankfully understood, and went downstairs. "Okay. I will tell them you're sick." She smiled as she shut my door.
"Okay." I said softly.
...
"I can take whose next." The nurse said. I followed the her into the exam room with the doctor sitting on a chair. It looked like he'd was expecting me, but I knew that, because he was the doctor and all.
As I sat down on a chair, he started to work. When it was nearly over, he started speaking to me. "You got a cold alright. I am going to give you a shot, if that's alright with you." I nodded.
When it was finished, he escorted me out and the nurse called the next one in. I sat in the waiting room for a minute. As I examined the scar left by the doctor, I kept thinking about the other night and how I was lucky enough to stay home today.
That's when I heard some other villagers in the background. "Did it really happen? Was she spirited away?" It sounded like an elderly woman.
I gasped. "But she's so young, don't you think?"
"She probably eloped or something." It was another woman.
"With who?"
I turned my head slightly to grasp onto what they were saying. "Probably that tourist man from LA." She says, confidently. "Most likely with him."
The first woman start to laugh. "That Loraine should be fine wherever she lives."
Loraine? I thought. Oh yeah. Her. The woman who gone missing at the festival.
...
As I was walking home, I heard a car behind me. The car horn to be exact. I spun and saw Detective Wolf in his car. "Hey, Vega."
"Hi, Detective Wolf." I was nervous, thinking that he could be wondering what I am doing here.
"So, why aren't you in school right now?" He asks me.
I started to stutter as I spoke. "I didn't feel well, so I didn't go."
He nods at me and throws his cigarette butt out the window. "Did you want to go out for lunch. It's on me." It seemed odd that he would offer, but I except, not to be rude.
When we got to the restaurant, just on the edge of LA, we got a booth. I was on one side
and Detective Wolf was on the other. He ordered a coffee, while I stuck with pop.
I watched him as he takes his first sip of his drink. I hear the gulping noise he makes after he sets his cup down on the small plate in front of him. I take a good look at the menu, to see what I can have for lunch. I didn't want to be expensive, so I looked for dishes that didn't cost so much.
Detective Wolf sighed. "I gotta say, since Sabrina went missing last year, I've been suspicious. I've checked out his friends, who are your friends now, I found out some interesting things about them."
I was about to take a small sip of my drink until he mentioned them. What did my friends have to do with anything? "The first guy that got killed during the festival was the director of the construction site. It seem a couple of weeks before his death, he had a couple of fights with Jade and Beck."
"Really? Those two?" As I thought about it, it kinda made sense. Jade I get, but Beck? He doesn't strike me as someone how would have a fight with anyone.
"Yeah." He said. "The man who threw himself off the clock tower in the village. He had a daughter. Her name was Cat Valentine." I stopped breathing for a second. Cat Valentine? Her dad committed suicide? That must have been terrible for her. And to also have her mother disappear along with him, it's such a shame.
"Are you serious?" I asked. Part of me didn't want to believe this was true. But Detective Wolf nodded at me. He took another sip of his coffee and averted his eyes away from me and brought it to his menu.
"Next year, the priest of this very village, collapsed and died from an unknown illness. And the wife who hung herself at same day. They had a son. The name is Robbie Shapiro." I remained speechless, as he continued to explain what he had dug up.
"The housewife that got burned to death the year after is different. She had a nephew, staying there at the time, during her death. His name was Andre Harris."
I mouth dropped a little bit. "She was related by blood and he was staying there for a couple of weeks because of spring break. Then, Sabrina Archer went missing around that time. That was Andre's cousin."
I gasped, as I tried to take a sip of my drink. "All the deaths that happen here has something to do with your group of friends, Vega."
I started to growl at him. My fists began to tighten as my anger grew. He made it sound like my friends had something to do with the murders. I don't believe him.
I rose both my fists and slam them hard onto the table. "This is crazy! There has to be a coincidence!"
People around us faced me and my face. I saw a hand reach out in front of me. It was the detective. I couldn't take in what he said, I just couldn't. There is no way...unless my friends were lying.
"Okay, calm down, people are staring."
I met his gaze again. "I'm...I'm sorry."
"Until last year, Cat lived in a boarding school LA."
A sudden smile was plastered onto my face as I heard her name come from the detective's mouth. "Yeah. Rena's different."
The waitress came by and we ordered our dishes. As she left, he continued to speak. "Yes. She is. Cat moved to Westlake about a year ago."
"But she is an outside, why were her parents hit with the curse?"
"I hate to tell you this, but she isn't an outsider. I checked the towns residency records. It turns out that Rena was in fact born here. The moved to LA just when Cat was about to enter her third year in grade school."
"What about Kyle? Who is he connected to?" I very curious of this because he hasn't mentioned him. He did get killed by the curse, right? So he should have been mentioned about now.
"Everyone. Don't tell me you already forgot." The waitress handed us our plates and we started eating. "For some reason, all the deaths happened to be connected to your friends, kid." He said, as I started eating. I just ordered a grilled cheese sandwich, while Detective Wolf ordered a plate of steak.
"Listen up, Vega. The person who is in danger is actually you." I couldn't imagine what he had said. It makes me feel sick.
...
Later on this evening, I took a short nap. After a little while, the doorbell rang. The porch curtains in the back were still open, letting in the moonlight shine into the room, illuminating it. I suddenly rose from the sound of the bell. I put my slippers on and headed to the front door. As I opened it, I see familiar faces. It was Jade and Cat.
"Hey Tori, how are you feeling?" Jade asked.
"Okay...I guess." I replied.
"That's good. We were worried about you, ya know." Cat smiled with her cute, childish smile.
"Are you sure you are feeling better?" Jade asked. She was worried about me? Since when? I know she is my friend and all, but I didn't expect those words to come out of her mouth. She made it sound so sappy.
"I'm fine, Jade." I gave her some reassurance.
"Oh really, because to me you still look a little green." Jade walked up to me and placed her hand on my forehead. My cheeks warmed up from her touch.
Cat held a wrapped up container. It was covered in newspaper. I think it could be food, but I'm not that hungry. "Really?" I didn't feel that terrible when the afternoon came around.
"We brought you over some sandwiches for you. We thought it could help you feel better." Cat handed the box over. It was pretty small, so I estimated there were one or two sandwiches in there.
"Thanks Cat." I said, looking down at the container.
Cat shook her head. "Jade made one two you know."
I grinned. "You did?"
Her face turned red and swiftly turned her head away from mine, avoiding eye contact. "Well...I didn't want Cat to do all the work you know."
I laughed inside. "Okay, if that's how you want to put it. We all know you care about me." I joked around, while lightly punching her shoulder. She looked like she broke inside for a second, but that is only a possibility.
"You look totally fine," Jade said, patting my shoulder repeatedly. "I bet by tomorrow, you'll be feeling awesome."
"Come on, Jade. We are making to much noise out here." Cat looked like she going to walk home by herself, but stopped to wait for Jade. "Okay. Hey, Tori?"
I was now getting tired and I started to yawn. "What now?"
"I was wondering, what did you have for lunch today?" Her voice dropped and sounded very angry.
"I went out..." I said.
Cat suddenly spoke, talking in the same tone as Jade. "You went out to get something to eat."
I looked at Jade again. She doesn't usually act like this. What is going on? "How was it? Was it good?" I jumped, taking a step back from them.
"Uh...yeah." I started to get uncomfortable. How did they know this? Were they spying on me or something? How else would they know about me having lunch with the detective? I can't tell them anything. If I do, the info will be leaked around the village. I don't need them on my back at this point.
"Looked like you had lunch with some old geezer, am I right?" Jade was about to get up in my face. I placed my hand on the handle, getting ready to close the door, if they attack me. "Who was he?"
My eyes widen with shock. They were there, watching me have lunch with him. I am sure of it. I dropped my container, due to my hands shaking in front of me. "What it the man from before?" Cat asked.
"But...how do you know that?" I started to breathe more heavily. My heart rate went up and I found it more difficult to breathe as each second flies by.
"What were you two talking about over lunch? Sounds like you were getting really worked up there."
"I...didn't talk about you guys." I stuttered.
"Uh oh. Something smells fishy." Cat said. The saw through it. I would have too, if I were in their shoes.
"It doesn't matter what you are trying to hide at this point. I will always know what you're doing and when and where." Jade said. "I hope you won't forget that, Tori."
Cat tilted her head and leaned into my face. "Tori, you look really pale. Why don't you go lie down for awhile."
Jade creepily looked at Cat. "We're going to go now." Cat bent over and picked over the container.
She pressed it softly against my stomach. I was frozen and took me awhile to comprehend what just happened. I was about to close the door, until Jade stopped it. I saw an eye through the small opening of my door. "One more thing. Please don't be absent tomorrow."
The door shut tight and I place my back against the door, breathing in and out slowly. They were freaking me out. At first, I thought they were sweet and nice. But now I am getting second thoughts.
"How did they know that?" I said to myself.
I walked into my room, leaving the sandwiches on the table. My blanket is on my torso and I lie down, staring at the blank ceiling. When I thought about what happened this past week, I came to a conclusion. I rose from my comfortable position and became angry.
"Damn it. I know they are trying to kill me. But I won't give up so easily, no matter what!" I shouted to myself.
Tomorrow morning came around faster than I expected. The sun shined brightly through my window early. I left without breakfast and headed out for school, in a different direction that what I usually take. I don't want to take the chance that I might bump into Jade or Cat on the way.
An elderly woman who I've started to talk to occasionally here spoke to me. She was watering her flowers in the front yard of her house. Small flowers were peaking out of the dirt, which means she was doing good so far. I wonder how long it will take until they are all grown.
"Wow, Tori. You're up early today. Why aren't you with your friends?" She says.
As I walk past her, I smile brightly. "I woke up early today."
She continued to water her flowers when I walked off. The smile turned into an angry expression. Woke up early? As if I could sleep...It didn't matter, because now I know what I have to do.
As I got myself over to the doors of the school, I walked up to my class room. I will never let my guard down anymore. It's time to defend myself. I went through the lockers in the hallway. Thank god they were all unlocked. As I went through each one, I didn't find anything. "Damn it." I said to myself.
And then I found one. It had a metal bat. It was all black with some white lining on the handle. I decided to take it. As time went on, I started to wash my face. I was getting drowsy. The smaller students of the school were starting to come in. Surprisingly, I found Robbie and Andre next me as I wiped off my second wash.
"Hey Tori. What's up you're super early today?" Robbie asked.
"Nothing really."
Andre began to get suspicious. "Then why do you have that." He was pointing at the bat I got beside me. I didn't care who saw it. I needed the protection.
"I found it lying around, so I am going to clean it up and try to find its owner." I said.
"That's nice of you." Robbie said. Andre started to walk towards class. "And whatever you do, try not to lose the bat." Robbie caught up with Andre as both entered the class room.
...
I was outside at the tap and scrubbing one side. When it was all covered in water, I started to swing it, in hopes of drying it faster.
"Hey, Tori. I was surprised to hear you've come to school early. What gives?" I didn't give an answer. I didn't bother to turn around either. I knew who was behind me. Jade and Cat. I didn't want to look at them, not after what they said to me the other day. They are trying to get me, I am sure of it. There is no mistake here.
"I am trying to dry the bat faster by swinging it. I am too lazy to dry off myself, plus it's good exercise." I heard gasps behind me.
"Okay, good luck." I hear footsteps. They left. No one was here except for me. I began to get angry. I was starting to hate what they were doing. Was it for their enjoyment?
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!" I swung the bat hard at the dirt, getting it dirty again. I didn't care. They were using me.
When classes ended today, it was our job to clean up the class room. It was not too bad today. It could have been worse. I pack up my things and started to exit the class room, ditching clean up duty.
"Hey, aren't you going to stay here and help?" Jade asked. I took the baseball bat from my locker and started to head out.
"I don't feel like cleaning the class today. Can you leave me alone for awhile?"
"Tori...why don't you want to hang with us anymore?" Cat said.
My jaw tightened and I growled to myself. "That's not it." And when I said that, I left.
...
I was walking quickly the fastest way to my home. As I was half way home, I heard someone following me. I turned over my shoulder to see Cat behind me with a saddened look. It was true I was a little harsh, but there was no other way to put it.
"What do you want?!" I tightened the grip of the bat as I saw her. I rose it up high to try and defend myself.
"Nothing." She says.
"What about cleaning the class, huh?" I asked.
"I was worried about you, so I came here." She says softly. I lower the bat a bit in her direction.
"Don't follow me anymore." My arm comes down to my sides as I face the other way and walk off, leaving Cat alone. I can sense that she is hurt at this point, but it doesn't matter now. I want her to leave me alone.
But I still hear her behind me. Is she trying freak me out or something? "I said don't follow me!"
"But this is the way I always go." She said.
I look at the ground below me, refusing to look her in the eye. "Then go in front of me. Damn it." I got out of the way and waited for her to go by. Cat didn't budge. She stared at me with sad eyes. I know what she wants me to do, but I am not stupid enough to fall for it.
"Go! Now!" I lift my arm, trying to guide her in front.
"Okay, I will but put the bat down. You're scaring me." Cat said.
"Hurry up and go!" I say, trying to rush her.
Cat speed walks in front of me and starts to go home. Then she starts to slow down and stop. Why? What's she up to now? "Keep on walking!" I screamed.
"Can I ask you something then?"
I sighed. "What is it now?"
"Why are you carrying the same bat?"
"What the hell are you talking about?" I didn't think this belonged to anyone. Well, it looked abandoned. So after I fixed it up a bit, I was going to use it to defend myself, but now the plans have changed.
"Why are you carrying the same bat?"
"I don't know what you're saying. Tell me what you mean!" I yelled.
Cat sighed and started to speak again. "Why are you carrying the same bat as Sabrina?"
I gasp. "Sabrina?" I look at the end of the baseball bat and see her name craved into it. "I guess I just borrowed it." There was no other way of putting it. I mean, who cares?"
"That's not what I'm saying? Why are you doing that? Why are you doing everything the same as Sabrina?"
I quiet down to let her finish. "What is? What's the same?"
"Even though Sabrina joined a team, she never did any sports." She said.
I did't by this bullshit. "So what?"
"Now just like you, Sabrina started walking to school alone one day. Alone just like you."
"What does this have to do with anything?!" I yelled, cautiously taking a few steps closer to Cat.
"And then one day, she started practicing swinging a bat. Just like you. And then she started to carry a bat around all the time. Just like you." Her voice started to higher, like she was about to cry or something. For the record, I wasn't 'practicing' anything.
"And then, one day, suddenly..." Cat was on the edge. I could feel like she had tears in her eyes because of it.
"One day, suddenly what? What happened to Sabrina?" Cat didn't answer. "Answer me!" I didn't care anymore. I walked up behind her close enough to spin her around to face me. Our faces weren't that far apart. She had a poker face now. I couldn't read her at all. It was like she changed...again.
"I already told you. She transferred out. Sabrina went to another school." I stayed my distance until I fell backwards onto my butt, dropping the bat in the process.
"She transferred out?"
The poker face turned into a creepy, devilish glare. "You won't do that, right?"
"I won't do what?"
Cat crouched down to face me better. "Transfer out."
I began to panic at this point. Why is she so afraid that I will transfer out of the school. It's not like I got anywhere better to go. I'm now speechless as I stare into Cat's eyes which slowly began to eat away at me like a parasite.
...
At home, the phone started ringing in the middle of the night. The curtains were open again and I was in my room, lying on my bed. I felt so stressed out and tired from what happened. Cat had became more terrifying and it made me fear her a lot. As the second ring started, I got off my bed and went to go pick it up. "Hello?"
"Hi Tori. Your father and I have to go to LA because of his work place. Sorry this is last minute, Tori."
"Huh, right now?" Were they coming home now and getting their things?
My mom laughed. "No. I mean we already here. We left before noon."
"Oh. Okay." I nodded my head. "But why did you guys leave?"
"I'm sorry. Your fathers contract isn't going to well, but were here to resolve all of that. We will be back home tomorrow evening I promise. Are you sure your going to be okay there alone?" She asked.
"I will be fine Mom, don't worry." I replied. I didn't want her to worry about so much. I wanted her to focus on my dad. He is much more important in this situation.
"Okay, bye then. Make sure you wake up early enough tomorrow and remember to eat, okay?"
"Sure. Bye Mom." I said with a smile.
"Bye." The phone on the other line hangs up and I hang up as well. As I realize that I am now alone, I don't feel safe anymore. I rush downstairs and close the curtains. In the process, I lock the porch door, leading to the patio. I turn on the lights and television and the lights to the front entrance. I run over to the door and lock it. The bolt and the chain are secured. The phone rings again. Nobody should be calling me this late. It startles me. I jumped and made my way to the nearest phone. I pick it up.
"Hello?"
"Hi. This is Wolf from the LA bookstore downtown, is Tori there?" It was Detective Wolf. I got scared for nothing.
"Oh, Detective Wolf. Hi."
"Hello Vega. How are you doing? Noticed anything odd lately?"
I swallowed my saliva and started to speak to him. "You could say that."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I think that someone is trying to kill me."
Detective Wolf becomes more interested. "You serious on this one?" he asked.
"It could be a coincidence, but Cat and Jade have been acting strange. More like, scary or horrifying."
"Is that so? What did they do?"
"It's not what they did, it's about what they said. Cat knows about Sabrina being spirited away. She knows something."
I cracked the knuckles in my neck. "She said I was acting like her. She told me that if I kept acting like him, I'm going to end up like him."
"Like what, Vega?" He grew anxious to know.
"She said I'd be transferred." I said. It was like I could breath in the first time in forever. It felt like it was clogging my throat for the longest time.
"Transferred?" He asks.
"I think Cat-" I get cut off my the sound of the doorbell. As it kept ringing, there is only one person that comes to mind who would be at the door. Cat Valentine.
Please R&R! I worked really hard. Sorry for not posting it sooner. I tried to make it extra long!
Until next chapter!
~xhumanoidxify