Morgan

I reach home at about 10:47 pm. I'm pretty sure mom's asleep by now. Good. I've already had quite a rough day, I have no energy left to face this. Just wanna lay down on my bed and sleep. Instinctively, I try to take out the door key from my bag but then realize I don't have it. Guess I gotta go through the window. As I get near the house door, I notice my bag next to a flower pot on the porch. A yellow sticky note on it that says

Couldn't find you so I brought it here. Hope you had a great day 😊

From Lydia, your BFF

I snatch it off my bag and rip it to as many pieces as I can. That b*tch. Is she mocking me!? It really feels like she's making fun of me.

I pick up the bag, take out the keys, unlock the door quietly and go inside the house. After getting changed, I lay down on my bed. A wave of relief washes over me. But...I still feel so weird. This emptiness that I'm feeling, it isn't like when mom and dad divorced. Nor when dad said he didn't need me and left. It's like I'm in a pitch dark room and trying desperately to prevent a lit candle from snuffing out. I mostly feel angry due to the confusion. I have so many questions for her.

I look over to the picture frame on my bedside table. A happy photo of us with snow falling around us. Looking at it hurts my heart. What if...I misheard the voice? Since the Lydia on the phone expected me to be disposed of, why would she come all the way to my house to return my bag?

I deeply wish that I'm wrong. I NEED to talk to her tomorrow!

____________________________________

Walk towards school was filled with such distress. I had tried calling her and she won't pick up! Is she avoiding me cause I survived and now I know that it's her? I won't forgive her one bit. I'm worried if I see her face I might lose control. My blood is already boiling just thinking about her.

I unconsciously bite my thumbnail as I see the school insight. Focus on the plan! Tell her you wanna talk, take her to a quiet place most likely the shed and confront her! Simple!

The first thing I do upon opening the class door is look for her. But she isn't here yet. Strange...she usually arrives very early. I go over to my seat. As expected, Jessica is glaring at me. But she doesn't say anything when I sit down on my chair. I remember how every day before and during school I would only think about being bullied and how cruel and unfair it was. But now...

I don't care about them anymore.

Class starts and there's still no sign of Lydia. Don't tell me....she's not coming today!? That little...she's definitely avoiding me!

Suddenly someone pokes my back with a sharp pencil. I look back and Jessica whispers " we're going to continue where we left off "

I quickly get up from my seat. The whole class including the teacher looks at me.

" umm...may I go to the restroom? " I say controlling my frustration.

The teacher allows me and I walk out. Not noticing the annoyed expression on Jessica's face.

On the way to the restroom, My head is filled with rage. I couldn't care less about what Jessica said, all I know is that my plans are ruined! And that Lydia is running away. Did she know what I'll do next?

The restroom is empty. I take out my phone from my pocket and call her again. She doesn't pick up. I keep calling her but to no avail. Frustrated, I punch the wall. I wash my face, trying to cool off a bit. I look at myself in the mirror. I've never been happy with my looks but I look especially horrible today for some reason. If Lydia was here she'd definitely say otherwise.

My vision gets glossy and tears stain my face. I cry. I let myself cry hard. Making such an ugly face. Sobbing. Wiping away tears only for them to fall down again. I kneel down on the floor.

Why...? Why did she want me to get killed? I always thought she was different from everyone. I always talked about how people are double-faced, hiding their true nature. I....never thought Lydia was one too.

I hate her...

I hate her...

I hate her! I hate her! I hate her! I hate her! I hate her! I hate her! I hate her! I hate her! I hate her! I hate her! I hate her! I hate her!

I HATE THAT WITCH!!!!!!

I get back up and look at the mirror at my bloodshot eyes.

" I'll kill her "

Suddenly the bell rings. I wipe my face and fix myself. Going back to class, I feel so numb. Crying really helps...

After the teacher leaves the class, everyone starts to chit chat. Ugh...I need school to be over quickly so I can go search Lydia! As I put my books back in the bag, I overhear some students talking about something.

" Did you see that gruesome murder that was on the news yesterday? "

" I did! And I was eating that time too. Ruined my appetite. I can't believe there are such sick people in our city "

" wait...what news. I got home from cram school at night and went straight to bed. So enlighten me "

" I can't remember which street but two people were brutally murdered in their house. According to the news and articles, their stomachs were sliced open till their throats and their guts were spilling all around them. So gross! "

" Not just that, the police also found ' angel wings ' carved on their chest. Way to leave a signature! "

That's strange. I'm getting a strange feeling about all this. I take out my phone and search for the murders they were talking about.

My eyes widen in shock when I see the street name along with the house. The victim's bodies are obviously pixilated in the images but beside them on the screen is a picture of them alive.

It's them...those two Kidnappers!

But.....I wasn't the one who did that. How did this happen!? I start getting goosebumps just thinking about it. That time, I stabbed one in the neck and the other in the stomach. Then I left the house

Who did this....?

Was someone waiting outside for me to leave? I don't understand any of this. Was it just a coincidence? If I had stayed there any longer would I have ended up like them too? My mind is yet again filled with confusion. Then a thought came to my mind.

If the police found any evidence of me there, wouldn't that make me....a suspect? I gulp hard. The hairs on the back of my neck raise up. Is someone...trying to frame me? And what's the meaning behind the angel wings?

Is Lydia involved in this too? I'll find out later when I leave the school. But still...this is really terrifying. I can't stop shaking! Get a grip morgan!

At lunch break, When the bell rings, All the students go out as if already guessing what's going to happen. Jessica and her gang walk towards my seat. Should I tell the teachers I'm feeling sick and go to her house?

A hand slams hard on my desk " Greetings loser~ I bet you can't WAIT to get started " Jessica utters

But...what if she's not home? Should I just wait or come back another time? Or...do I break-in in case she's home but pretending to be out?

Jessica slaps my face. The stinging feeling brings back painfully annoying memories.

" Dogs should listen to their masters when they're speaking "

I get up and simply push her away. She tumbles a little but regains her balance.

" what do you- " she angrily begins but I cut her off

" shut the hell up! I'm really fed up with this shit. Do you pathetic excuses for humans really not have anything better to do!? Stop wasting both of our times! " I yell. This isn't like the last time I stood up to them. This time, I don't care.

Jessica gets closer to me and grabs my shirt collar " raise your voice against me again and I'll seriously make you pay. I think you forgot what I told you about your mom yesterday " she smirks

I grab her arm tightly and slowly dig my nails into her pale skin. She winces

" let go, " I say as I glare at her. Whether it was what I was doing or the look on my face but for a second she looked...scared.

" Stop, that's enough, " Ashley says.

Jessica pulls her hand away and caresses her arm.

" You can do whatever the hell you want, " I say. Picking up my bag I leave the classroom.

Once outside, I put my back against the wall and take deep breaths. Calm down! As I began to move, I suddenly hear them talking inside the classroom.

" Maybe we should stop, " Ashley says.

Curiosity raises inside me and I stop to listen.

" what!? Are you insane? Why!? " Jessica says, shocked.

" I...think so too. " Luna says sheepishly

" same here. It's not fun when they start to fight back " says Helen.

" Then we'll just put her in her place. Come on guys, it's nothing. We could just beat her up and do a few more stuff and then she'll learn her lesson " Jessica says. She sounds frustrated.

Someone sighs " Jessica...look. we've been doing this ever since we got into this school. It was fun at the beginning but now..... it's...just boring to do that to the same person every day " Luna utters.

" are you guys literally forgetting why we're doing this!? " Jessica yells.

" of course we remember! " Ashley yells back.

" I didn't share with you the money that Lydia gave me to bully Morgan, just so you could ditch me when it gets boring! So you either do it or pay me back your share! " Jessica yells at them

....what..?......