Tw: Blood

A haunting melody played in the silence of the girls' shared dorm room as Rae strummed. Her fingers gracefully pluck the guitar strings. School was nothing but a prison and the only things that brought her joy were her best friend Oly and the guitar. He taught her how to play their freshman year. Music was her escape from this godforsaken world.

Zee's phone dinged as she laughed at the funny video one of her many friends sent her. Rae's eyes rolled as she jolted down chords in her new notebook. "I'm so hungry." Zee groaned as her stomach growled. Zee was always hungry according to Rae. That girl surpassed even a five-year-old in pickiness. "Do you ever think about anything other than that guitar?"

Zalira didn't get it, her life was perfect, so why did she need an escape mechanism? Why did Rae have to look identical to a literal walking breathing goddess and why couldn't Zee be just as smart as her counterpart? If you were to ask either twin they'd say their sister was far superior in every single way. Seventeen years, seventeen of their parents pointing out their flaws and being reminded how they're not good enough and never will be.

Rae's phone buzzed as she noted a text message from her friend Oly. It read; Meet me outside the old greenhouse in 10 mins; I have info on the MBS.'

MBS, that was what was in the note. She and Zee thought it was just a silly prank, so she mentioned it at the assembly. Oly said he'd look into it. As if there was anything to look into was there? 'What is MBS?' she texted back as the message went from sent to read to typing.

'Midnight Bloom Society. Pls hurry, I think they're on 2 me.'

Midnight Bloom? Why did that sound vaguely familiar to Rae? "MBS." Rae said out loud as Zee continued sending her friends memes. Friends was such a strange word. How do you just pick a random human and go; 'yes you'll do nicely I like you.' "Zee, have you heard of the Midnight Bloom Society?"

"No." Zee replied, her attention glued to her phone. "Why?"

"That's what MBS stands for. Oly..." Rae began but her sister cut her off.

"Oh my god, Rae you said it yourself it was hazing. Don't tell me you think there's some sort of conspiracy going on. What? Our school covered up a murder or some crap that happened decades ago? Stuff like that never happens in real life."

"I didn't expect you to understand." Rae sighed as she headed to her closet and pulled out an oversized hoodie that she had borrowed and simply forgot to return. "I'm going to go talk to Oly you do whatever it is you do when no one's around."

"Wait, it's after curfew, are you sure it's a good idea to go out alone?" Zee asked while she climbed off her messy bed. "I just watched a movie where a psychopath was kidnapping and killing girls from a wealthy boarding school. He chopped them into bits."

"Not like you're going to come with me."

****

Zee's heels clacked against the brick path as a chill ran up her and her sister's backs. "School sure is creepy after dark." Zee muttered while she followed closely behind Rae. Her phone flashlight pointed in the direction ahead. Her battery was nearly dead. Unlike Rae who had an eighty percent charge. Rae had better things to do than to be on her phone all day.

Unease met the pit of Zee's stomach as they neared the green house with a figure lying on the ground. "Oly!" Rae shouted as she jogged over to his unconscious form.

Zee took a few more steps before she stopped as the gravity of the situation dawned on her. The pool of blood, overturned flower pots, and the blood trail. This was obviously no accident but Zee would never imagine anyone could be killed on campus. "Rae... he's gone."

Rae ignored her sister and cradled her friend's lifeless body. The pool of blood underneath him stained her school uniform. "Oly please I need you to wake up!" She cried tears stained her face. "School starts tomorrow, I promise I'll laugh at your lame jokes just please wake up."

Zee didn't have any emotional attachment to the guy but seeing her sister so distressed. Saddened her, they may have lost their close twin bond but she was still her sister and the girl she shared a womb with for nine months. Zee dialed the three digit emergency number. "Hello, I like to report a crime."

"Oly please I beg of you this isn't funny." Rae cried as she noticed something odd. An orchid pinned to his uniform shirt with a note. 'You shouldn't have gotten him involved in the MBS Zarael. This is on you.' One word, guilt was all that she felt. His death was her fault and now she wished she didn't tell him about the stupid note.

A half an hour later, the police arrive and block the area off. They question the twins and staff briefly but everyone seems just as clueless as the twins. Rae didn't mention the note she found to anyone. She didn't want any more blood on her hands.

"Rae, are you okay?" Zee asked as her sister quietly nodded as she sat at a nearby bench. She watched as they took away the body. "I think I've lost my appetite, we should get back to our room and get some rest. Don't want to be groggy for school tomorrow."

School? How could classes still be in session Rae wondered. A student was just found dead. One with kind eyes, infectious smile, and bright, studious personality. Someone she liked a tad bit more than a friend. "Ugh, I must be in hell." Rae muttered and followed her sister back to their dorm. Whoever killed Oly she vowed to find them and stop them even if it killed her. The one haunting the Midnight Bloom Society couldn't hide from her, for she was a Vallisair. Hell hath no fury like a Vallisair woman scorned.