Pretty Little Lies

Fifth Prompt: Rivers

Word Count (for story only): 600 words

It's crashing down, the sound of thunder

The lightning strikes and makes me blind.

You'd drag me down then pull me under

Until you see me drown.

Infection-Lacuna Coil

Selina watched in silence as the river rolled by, drowning the sounds of screaming.

It hadn't been her fault, really. She'd done nothing to force Mitzi to fall in, and it sure wasn't her fault the bitch couldn't swim. Or think coherently enough to grab onto something at the shore. Or hold her mouth shut to get water out of her lungs. Or hold onto something and stay afloat.

No, the girl just kept screaming at the top of her lungs, almost inviting herself to drown. She wasn't fighting her death, at least not in any way that would be effective. At least soon she'd stop screaming. The sound grated on Selina's ears, making her want to get out there and hold Mitzi down, maybe slit her throat with her own nails, or strangle her until even the water couldn't find a way in.

But if she did that, she'd be a murderer. Mother would be upset if they had to move out of Gardenia before she'd uncovered the town's secrets. And, of course, took them for herself.

The river could do it. Her death would be put down to an accident, no one would know Selina had ever been there, and Bloom wouldn't ever be picked on by her again.

Bloom had said they were friends, but Selina knew the truth. She heard Mitzi whisper behind her 'friend's' back. They'd laughed at her. Planned to make her life miserable.

Selina had tried to confront Mitzi, but she'd been laughed at. Mitzi asked what a 'little freak' could do about anything.

Selina knew what she had to do. She just didn't think it was going to be this easy.

It hadn't taken much. She wrote Mitzi a love letter, so sickeningly sweet it was hard not to put an aurae in with it. It asked her to meet Andy at the riverbank, right where the shore always got confused with the water at night. All she'd wanted to do was make her trip and get muddy. The real treat was supposed to come later. Selina didn't know Mitzi would get caught in the current

Ah well. Not like anyone would miss her.

Selina smiled, happy to hear the roar of the river put an end to Bloom's suffering.

"Oh my god!"

She shot up, startled by the sound.

There, from the opposite side of the riverbank: Bloom and Andy. Bloom's hair was disheveled, eyes wide with shock. Andy looked confused, but that look turned to horror when he saw Mitzi. The two raced towards the drowning teenager, calling her name.

Selina ran alongside them. She knew she couldn't reveal herself now, but she wanted to see what would happen. Would they be too late? Would Mitzi stop tormenting Bloom when she saved her sorry hide?

The witch kept her eyes on Bloom as they pulled Mitzi out of the water. She looked panicked, for sure. Did that mean it was finished?

Just when Selina started to feel smug, Mitzi started coughing. Andy was giving CPR, forcing the water out of her. Mud, twigs, and bile spewed out. Wailing was heard.

Mitzi was safe. Safe and would probably never get the satisfaction of watching her crush make out with the girl she hated right at her own party.

She didn't deserve to be saved, not after all the pain she caused.

Against all odds, Bloom saw her. They locked eyes.

She deserved it, Bloom.

What have you done?!

A/Ns: I actually did some form of planning for this one, and kinda like the outcome. This was combined with the Ipod Shuffle Challenge on WCFC. Hope you all like it.

I really should work on Out of the Darkness, or my outline for NaNoWriMo, but this idea's been in my head for days. I wanted to leave you all with a little momento before a month-long absence. I might update Out of the Darkness, but it won't be my writing. All my writing's going to be for NaNo.

Oh, in the story, I mention an aurae. I took that from Percy Jackson, and I believe they took it from Greek mythology. An aurae is a ghost-like monster, and if you kill it it curses you with something someone else cursed you for. I think it also does that if you don't kill it. Really awesome monster, using the people who hate you against you.

I'd also like to give a shout-out to some other entries for this challenge: Day and Night (features Luna and Radius) by Art Writer III, and One Hundred Pages (features Bloom) by AshTreeTown. Both are very good drabbles, and I look forward to more in the series. Hope you all read them!

Thanks for stopping by, don't forget to review, and I'll see you on the far side!