Song: Secret-The Pierces

I look down; blood is all over me, his blood. I can't go in the house looking like this. For one I just don't want to have to explain anything to anyone. And on top of that how in the hell do I explain on killing someone. The pool house should be unlocked so I make my way around the back of the house. Sure enough the door is unlocked. I don't bother turning on the light. I find my way to the bathroom in the dark.

When I get in there, I light up the candle on the back of the toilet. Shredding off the blood stained clothes; I put them in the bottom of the trash can. I turn on the shower as hot as possible letting the water scorch my skin. I scrub and scrub. I feel so disgusting and gross, his dried caked up blood all over me. I watch as it starts to come off, making its way down my body and into the drain. I wash my hair twice to make sure everything is all out of it and then decide to wash my body one more time just to make sure than I didn't miss anything the first two times. The whole time tears silently fall.

When I get out, I throw a robe on. My mom always makes sure she has plenty in here in case we have lots of guest over. I manage to open the door quietly to the house and go on in; honestly I am surprised that I don't wake anyone up. I get to my bedroom, shutting and locking the door behind me.

I climb in bed pulling the covers over me completely and try to close my eyes. I will myself to go to sleep. I wasn't asleep long when someone is banging on my door angrily. Dear lord go away. But they keep beating. I'm sure if I don't open it they are going to break the door down.

I hear him yelling, "Coralie...Coralie...open up this door this instance." My dad yells from the other side. I normally don't lock my door but tonight was one of those nights that I felt like it needed to be locked.

I drag myself out of the bed, rubbing my eyes. "What?" I say the same time that I yawn.

"Derrick brought you home?" he asks with an urgent voice.

"Yes...like two hours ago." I shrug. "I guess...Why?"

"Nothing, Samantha called she said that he hasn't returned home." He tells me with a calmer voice but I can still hear the worry behind it. I hear my mom on the phone talking with Samantha.

"She's here...she said he dropped her off two hours ago...I don't know...Okay well let me know if you find out anything and we will do the same...Ok...bye."

She ends the call and looks at me with a worried expression on her face. "You have been home for over two hours." She stands in the middle of my doorway with her hands on her hips. By the way she says it it's like she doesn't believe me. I guess because she never heard me come in the door. Normally when I get home from any of the house I babysit for I always come in making noise as I storm through the house and grab snacks from the cabinets and the fridge but tonight I went straight to my room.

"Yes ma'am." I look up into her eyes, trying not to blink or look away. " He dropped me off. I was really messy after playing with the kids so I came in, took a shower and I was tired so I went to bed, sorry."

"You should have told us you were home...God I was worried about you." She throws one hand on her hip while still holding the phone with the other hand.

"Sorry mom, I didn't mean to worry you."

She walks over to me and hugs me. "Go back to sleep sweetheart, I love you so much...Good night."

I hug her back. "Goodnight mom."

My dad looks at me and shakes his head. "We're just glad you are safe honey, you gave us a scare. Goodnight."

"Goodnight daddy." I have to stand on my tip-toes to kiss his cheek. They must have believed me because they don't ask any more questions.

I shut the door, climbing back into bed. It's so nice to have parents that care and worry about you. Which is one of the reasons I will never be able to tell them what really happened. It would break their hearts...maybe even kill them. I try to close my eyes be every time I do all I see is him. I toss and turn the rest of the night just knowing that he will show up and take me straight to hell with him.

The next morning, I climb out of bed and quickly put on clothes for the day. I select a pair of jeans with a long sleeve shirt. I add the extra bracelets to hide the bruises for two nights ago, not to mention a few of the new bruises from last night.

My mom is up bright and early cooking breakfast before we have to head off to church. Dad is sitting at the table reading the Sunday morning paper. I was shocked that Carter was not at the table.

"Where's Carter?" I ask.

"He left early to go pick up Natalie. We will see them at church in a little bit." She says with a worried smile. I can tell that she is so worried about the whereabouts of Derrick. I don't say anything else in hopes that maybe they will not bring up last night and to my luck they don't.

When we get to church, everyone is talking about Mr. Derrick Nelson...he never came home last night. Like I care. I am glad that he will never be able to hurt anyone else the way he had me. Mrs. Nelson is standing over with some of the ladies and of course she is crying and wiping her eyes every now and then with a tissue. I quickly look down and try to make my way inside however she decides to stop talking to them and comes up to me.

"Good morning Coralie...did Derrick say anything last night." Her eyes are all red and puffy from crying so much.

"No." I shake my head.

"He didn't say if he was going to go somewhere after he dropped you off? He didn't say anything?" She sniffles again and dabs her eyes. I can tell she hasn't had any sleep within the night.

"No." I say bluntly while shaking my head no and even if he did would I really tell her. In my mind I was thinking I know exactly where he was going...to hell. But I don't say that out loud.

She looks at my parents and starts crying again, this time more sobs than anything. "I just don't get it; this is so not like him."

"Samantha I'm sure everything is fine." My mom hugs her and starts crying too right along with her. I let them hug it out while I walk on in and take a seat in the back row. I watch the reaction while the preacher talks about Derrick and how we all need to pray and hope that he is safe and will be home soon. I wonder if it was the other way around and it was me that was gone, would they all be praying for me? Would they all hope that I was safe and never harmed from my attacker. I zone out the rest of the service because all I can think about is everyone leaving and searching for him. Hoping to find him safe and sound however they find him brunt to a crisp. And then my mind starts to race with the fact that his death will be connected to me and then I will be found guilty of murder.

By the time church is over, two cops show up and pull her out in the lobby. The wails that come from her makes everyone go silent. The preacher excuses himself and then returns to announce the news of his death. The he guides everyone into prayer. I should pray for him but I don't.

Later in the day everyone seems to end up at our house as usual. It is after all he gather place for all events. My mother tries to comfort her more, but she can't seem to stop crying. I get that they were married, I do but seriously shut up it wasn't like he was Mr. Wonderful beside that girl did her a favor. Whoever she was. I still can't get her out of my mind. It was like she was there but she wasn't and I'm not sure that I could ever explain to anyone what she even looked like.

I over hear them talking. He was found on one of the back roads; in the back of his truck burnt to a crisp all that was left were his bones. Darn. They keep talking about who could have done this? Why would anyone do it; he was such a good man? Blah! Blah! Blah! These people had no idea what he was really capable of. They had no idea how much he sinned.

Then good old nosey ass neighbor Mr. Harvey had to put in his two cents. "You said he was here last night dropping off your daughter...I saw her walking home; I didn't see him dropping her off."

I try to pretend that I don't hear them talking about me. Until I hear my dad calling out my name to get my attention.

"Coralie...What time did you day he brought you home?" He already asked me once but now he looks at me as if I was lying to him all because of Mr. Harvey.

I roll my eyes and look at the big clock above the fireplace. I shrug. "It was like eleven or so I think. I don't remember the exact time."

"But it only takes him less than ten minutes from his house to ours...Did you stop anywhere along the way?" Samantha ask. I can see the wheels turning in her head. She is trying to figure out what all took place after we left the house. Maybe if she took me home like I asked her to none of this would have even happened.

"No... but he let me out at the end of the road. He acted like he had to be somewhere. I walked the rest of the way."

"Why would he do that?" She questioned me again.

"I don't know...he said he was in a hurry to get back home." I lie.

I glance up and Mr. Harvey is glaring at me. Mr. Harvey you so need to mind your damn business and stay the hell out of mine. This is all your fault that they are questioning me more about what happened. I glare back at him; I dare him to say another word.