“Y-yeah, I went for a jog—c-can I see you?” I ask, teeth chattering.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine; I just… don’t want to be alone right now,” I say.
I have a feeling if I go home,she’llbe waiting for me there too. If she’s the person who was driving the car that chased me home on Friday, then she knows where I live. Mom and Dad aren’t home, so it would just be me, all alone.
“Are you sure? You don’t sound fine, Chi… You know you can tell me anything, right?” Belle says.
I nod, squeezing my eyes shut.
“I just—” My voice breaks. “I j-just can’t be alone. Can I come over?” I ask.
There’s a pause. I can hear her thinking.
“I’ve been… sick, so my room’s a mess, but Waffle Palace should still be open? I’ll meet you there?” she says. I feel some relief.
“See you soon,” I say, before hanging up and stepping out of the glass box. I look around once again, heart thrumming in my chest.
The girl’s scream echoes in my head as my mind flashes between last year, when I was sure I saw her lying on the groundas we drove away, bleeding out, eyes wide, not moving at all… Then tonight, when I ripped that mask away, I saw the dead girl staring up at me.
Alive, grinning, and with a thirst for vengeance in her blue eyes.
Half an hour later I’m in Waffle Palace, sitting back, watching the sky through the window as it shifts from dark blue to pitch-black, devoid of stars and light altogether. Trying to take my mind off tonight.
It’s only just dawning on me that I left Devon alone back at school. I hope he’s okay. I wish I could text him to check how he is. I look down at the dark brown of my hot chocolate, flecks of cream still visible on the surface. The cream is the only part I had an appetite for.
Belle sighs as she sits down, placing her wallet on the table. “Ordered us a huge ice-cream sundae to share. Thought all that sugar would cheer you up,” she says with a smile, sounding stuffy. She’s sick, but she still came out to see me. I try not to feel too bad about that.
“I don’t need cheering up—I told you, I’m fine. Just wanted to hang out,” I say, lying through my teeth.
“Could’ve fooled me.” She takes my hand and squeezes. “You look like you haven’t slept… or eaten in ages.” There’s concern riddling her face. Her expression, however, quickly changes as the waiter places the huge glass bowl in front of us.
Belle claps her hands together, eyes lighting up. She’s so happy that I smile a little too as I survey the dessert. Seven big scoops of icecream, chocolate flakes in each corner, with sprinkles and deep-red strawberry syrup. My stomach twists and a wave of nausea hits.
Out of nowhere, images of deep-red blood flash in my brain, and I feel dizzy as I look up at Belle, who’s asking if I’m okay. Her face morphs into the girl’s.
The girl Jamie and I left at the side of the road.
The girl who isn’t dead.
Tears sting my eyes and I try to breathe deeply, but I can’t get enough oxygen. Belle is beside me suddenly, her arms wrapping around me.
“Is she okay?” I hear someone ask.
I don’t know, I answer in my head, closing my eyes.
By the time I’m calm again, our ice cream has melted and been taken away and Belle is looking at me like I have a third head or something.
My chest aches as the images continue to flicker, blurring with reality. My nightmare is coming true, like I always suspected it would.
“I know it’s been hard for you at school,” Belle starts, “but I want you to know… you can trust me.”
I look at her, and I feel like I can tell her anything. I’m so exhausted, these secrets weighing on my conscience.I can trust her.I squeeze my eyes shut.
“Aces was right about me. I’m a bad person, and before you say I’m not, I am. I’ve done a lot of bad things, and it’s all coming out now and I can’t stop it.”
Belle is silent for a few moments. I don’t look at her at first, too scared that she’ll look at me like I’m some monster. But when I open my eyes, she’s weirdly calm.
