|WH∆T YOU KNOW|

How could I have missed that I had a brother? A freaking brother! We share the same blood, and I forgot about him... Even worse, I thought he was my boyfriend! That's pretty messed up.

I decided not to tell Larson about Baylor. He would have a great time with that story. I could already imagine the jokes he would have.

I could feel that I loved him though. In a non incestuous way. The old Harley felt safe just by hearing his voice. He truly was my protector. But, the question is, where was he while I was getting murdered? Where did we go after we left the school that night?

I'm not sure if these memories are helping me. I mean I have like a hundred new questions about what I saw, but I didn't get a single answer.

The afterlife is frustrating; and quite unpredictable I might add.

I wish I knew where I would find memories. I've probably walked through the halls of that school several times, but I don't get any memories. It only happens when I don't expect it.

Most of them are from the night I died, maybe my brain is forcing me to remember it. Except for the one with my dad. That one doesn't belong with the others.

Man, I wish I knew where Baylor and I went. That would make retracing my steps so much easier.

I played through what I had gathered about that night so far.

I was definitely at prom until I called Baylor to come pick me up for reasons unknown. Besides the laughing of course, but that's still a mystery too.

I know I climbed through the window of what might be my room, and left the note.

Then later after that, I was on the dock bleeding.

Wow, I have three little pieces of a massive puzzle. So much could have happened in between them.

I guess it's safe to assume I left with Baylor. And if that's true, then we could have only used one road to leave the school. Finally, a glimmer of hope. That road goes on for miles before there are any turn offs. Maybe if I follow it, I might have more memories.

I started in the parking lot where his Jeep was parked, and began following the signs leaving the school.

I walked completely around the building, all the way to the front.

After that, the path continues past two other school buildings, and then on to the main road.

Finally, something is simple. I miss things being easy. I miss being care free.

Even though I'm not alive, I still feel like there is an invisible timer over my head. People are all walking timers in a way, but a dead person shouldn't feel like that...

I do though, and I'm pretty sure it's because of Josiah. He said he collects people or whatever. He hasn't collected me, not yet at least... Or has he? How do you know when you've been collected? This place doesn't seem like Heaven at all. It's definitely more on the Hell side.

Wonder if that stuff doesn't exist though? Am I stuck in this place forever? Maybe after I solve my mystery it will be over. Like over over. Dead and unaware of things. Maybe I'll just be in the ground after that. Would that be a relief? Is that what I'm sticking around for? Dirt? Or in my case, a murky lake burial..

After about two miles, I decided to take a break. Even though my ghost body doesn't give out, my mind does. After a while, I just get tired of thinking.

I propped my arms on my knees, and used them as a pillow. I probably looked like a fluffy pink ball sitting on the side of the road, wrapped all up inside my sweater. Too bad no one sees me.

Suddenly, I heard sirens. They grew louder and louder. They were definitely headed towards me. I raised my head up slowly. It was dark again.

Yes, another memory!

My celebration quickly ended when red and blue lights began to dance off the pine trees. The vehicle was coming closer. Memory Harley didn't move an inch until she raised one hand to her eye. They were tear filled again, and she wiped them with the back of her hand.

Where is Baylor? Did he put me out on the side of the road?

I suddenly noticed my side throbbing, but I couldn't look down to see what was wrong. I also noticed that I still had on my pink sweater, so I must have changed out of my prom dress somewhere. I now wore the clothes I died in.

The vehicle reached me now, and Harley ducked down in the grass.
It was an ambulance moving at top speed. 

Harley hopped up and took off through the woods that lined the road, despite the pain in her side.

She was crazy, running like a mad woman through the darkness. I don't know how she managed not to trip, but for some reason, I don't think she cared either way.

She stopped to catch her breath just as more sirens passed by on the road behind her.

We buckled over, clutching our side. The injury was making itself known now. Almost unbearable. She let a few more loud sobs exit her body. I'm not sure how much of the crying was from pain, but I think most of it was from her chest, like a broken heart.

She swallowed hard, and straightened back up. The mad woman was back in control, and she was determined to run again.

We were off again through the dark woods, a little more sloppy this time. The adrenaline was running out.

At that moment, she face planted.

My face was two inches deep in dead, rotting leaves. The memory was over. I knew because my sense of smell was gone. Those leaves should have had a terrible odor.

The woods were still dark though. It must be almost sunset in "real time". Great. A whole day wasted.

I kept to the same path memory Harley was on before she fell. At least I can maybe figure out where she was headed.

Thoughts of the beast made me run faster. Itusually only showed up in darkness, and I didn't want to get caught alone with it.

Maybe the beast can only come out in the day if it's in a human form, which is most likely Josiah. Although, I've been with Josiah during the night twice I think, so I guess he can be human whenever he wants.

Why does my mind go to such dark places at the worst times?

Relieved, I exited the woods, and to my surprise, entered my back yard. So, this is where I was headed.

It took me maybe an hour to make it through the woods from the road. Longer even because human Harley would have needed rest. She may have walked part of the way too.

I looked up to the broken window. I guess this is the point where I climbed up. Knowing exact times would be extremely helpful right now.

So, again with the question why? Why climb up and break in rather than use the door? If this was my house, I would have just walked in.

I remembered something else. A party. There was a party going on that night. So who threw a party?

If I ran out of prom crying, why would I have a party? Was it pre-planned? It could be Baylor's I guess. Maybe he threw it. There is a slight chance that it was a surprise party, but that makes the least amount of sense.
So, I don't think this was my house after all, but if not mine, then whose?

"Well look who's back." My heart dropped for a second before I realized it was just Larson's taunting voice behind me.

I turned to find him sitting in a beach chair with a drink in his hand. He was shirtless, and had his pants rolled up a few times above his bare feet. He twirled a mini umbrella from his drink between his fingers.

At first, I just stared at him. Sometimes he is so stupid I have no words for him. "Larson... I really hate to ask, but what exactly are you doing?"

He smiled. I think he likes to aggravate me. "Well Harley, after you left me this morning, I got bored. I figured you would eventually come back here, so I decided to come get some sun."

I assumed he meant earlier, because he obviously wasn't getting any sun now.

"So you sat here all day?" I asked.

"Pretty much." He patted the chair next to him. "Come join me, will ya?"

I have nothing better to do... besides think of course.

He grinned when I took up his offer. "So what did you do today?"

"I tried to get more memories." I said.

He sat up to ask his next question. "Did it work?"

I thought about what I saw. It wasn't really that informal, in fact, it was more embarrassing than anything. "Nope." I lied.

He relaxed back into the chair. "I guess we'll never figure out how you died." He said.

I don't think he meant anything by it, but his words hurt me. Especially since he was the one who promised he would help me solve my mystery. Now, it sounds like he doesn't care.

Maybe he's mad because we have only focused on me. I guess I have been selfish. I haven't really put much thought into how Larson died. I suddenly felt bad that this was the first time in all these weeks that the question has come to mind.

Right now is probably the best time to ask... "Larson, how did you die?"

His head rolled back over to face me. His eyes sparkled in the moonlight, and his gradual smile revealed his extra white teeth.

"Isn't it obvious Harley? I killed myself."