Chapter 16
Lacey walked away from Jo's house with a smirk. She slid into her car and sighed happily, glad that she could interfere with their alone time. She buckled in her seat belt and flicked the lever to drive. She backed out of the driveway and rolled down the street, letting her car glide home. All the while she smiled at herself.
Who do they think they are? Fucking around with me and my emotions. Ha.
Lacey chuckled deeply before snapping out of the trance she was in, noticing she was home. She parked in her usual spot and stopped. As she unbuckled her seat belt and climbed out, she noticed something taped on the front door.
She sighed in annoyance and snatched it off the door, knowing it was either from her mom, or Danny.
Low and behold, it was from her mom.
Lacey,
Im sorry that I had to leave a note like this at the door, since I know how you hate when I just up and leave like this, but your father and I have taken off to Hawaii. It isn't just another vacation like the last time, your grandparents are sick. We're going to be gone for a while, not exactly sure how long. I love you so much sweety, and I'm so sorry we just left. I left a credit card for you with unlimited money, and the caterers will be there every day to take your food orders. I love you babe. So does daddy. I'll talk to you when we get back.
Mom.
Lacey threw the note in the trash and walked inside, brushing away tears. She ran up the stairs and slammed the door, screaming into the first pillow she could find.
-I-
Jo doubled over and heaved, trying to catch a breath. She ran five blocks to get home, jumping fences and fighting off dogs. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and fixed her hair before jumping her own fence, to the backyard. She scaled the side of the house, and smirked when she noticed her own window was open. Giving herself a quick pat on the back, she climbed in and giggled, loving the rush she got from sneaking around. She tiptoed to her door and pulled it open, but she didn't hear anything. She quietly walked into the hallway that led to the kitchen and noticed no one was home. She sighed in relief and went back to her room, intent on taking a bath to wash of the layer of sweat and grass she had acquired.
Once in her room she peeled of her sweat dampened clothes and hopped in the shower, letting the water wash her worries away.
-I-
Danny looked at the clock and saw that it was finally midnight. He smiled and stood from his bed, packing a black book bag with an assortment of camping items. His mom was out of town for the week and he had the house to himself. He sigh happily and pulled on a hoodie, tying his hair back into a slick pony tail. He swung the bag over his shoulder and hopped down the stairs. He slid a pair of gloves onto his rough hands and snatched up a pair of foreign keys from the table. Whenever his mom left, she would leave a random rental for him to use in case he had issues with his own car. Danny opened the door, leaving on all the lights, and grinned as he slid into the sleek black camaro with tinted windows. He inhaled the sweet 'new car' smell and adjusted the seat, pulling out of the driveway and speeding down the road.
-I-
Jo saw how late it was and yawned lightly. She stretched her legs and hopped off the couch. She had been watching tv in the living room, waiting for her dad to come home. Her mom had been called away on a business trip. Jo frowned when she noticed her dad probably wasnt coming back until really late or tomorrow. She rubbed her eyes and grabbed the bowl of popcorn from the table, dumping it on the kitchen counter as she walked to her bedroom. She flicked on the lights and scanned the room, looking for her silky night robe. Once her eyes spotted them, she shuffled over and picked it up. She took off her bra and underwear and put on the robe. She pulled the drapes on the window closed and flicked off the light. As she slid into the bed, she heard a car door slam.
Probably dad. She shrugged and snuggled into the covers, disregarding the sound of the door opening and closing shut. She heard his boots shuffling around the house and down the hallway, stopping in front of her door. She turned her head towards her door.
"Dad? I'm in here... I was just trying to fall asleep." She spoke the words to the door.
She heard as it slowly creaked open, in an creepy way. She sighed and sat up, pulling the string on the lamp to turn the light on.
She twisted her body, "Dad, I said I-" She stopped when her eyes met the brown ones at her door.
"Who... Who are you?!" She screamed the words at the blobby figure. This person had black sweats and a black hoodie on, a mask covering their face. The person dropped a bag on the desk and opened it up, pulling out a rope.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! MY FATHER IS AN OFFICER!" Jo screamed through her tears as she scrambled to the far side of her bed.
The figure unraveled the rope and walk towards Jo, a gun in their right hand.
"Lay down face down." The mans voice was strained. It was obvious they were trying to hide it.
When Jo didn't respond the man cocked the gun and pointed it directly at her heart.
"I said, lay face down." His voice was stern now; impatient.
Jo whimpered as tears streamed down her face. She lay face down on her bed, her body shivering with fear. The man straddled her thighs, gripping both hands and tying the wrists together. Jo cried, letting sobs over come her.
The man pet her head, running his gloved fingers through her hair.
"Maybe now you'll learn not to get in other peoples ways." He placed a small kiss on her temple and then replaced his lips with the gun.
Jo whispered a soft goodbye to her family when she felt the barrel pressed to her temple. She stopped whimpering and held in her breath, knowing it was the end. She peered up the masked man, and before it was all over, she asked one last thing.
"Why?"
The man took off his masked and Jo gasped, screaming when she saw who it was. But her world had turned off, and all she could see was white.
He had pulled the trigger.