I gotta say, it's hard to be brave,
             When you're alone in the dark.
       I told myself that I wouldn't be scared,
             But I'm still having nightmares.
               - All Time Low; Nightmares

My mind couldn't process this whole situation going on around me.

Why was this happening to me?

Who would believe that this poor innocent victim threw this party at my house?

Her stomach ripped out, her organs shredded, all eyes would be on the host and the questions asked would demand answers.

I couldn't bear to look at Jessica's body anymore, so I moved my inward battle inside.
I paced back and forth, my mind searched desperately for answers. The beer bottles and plastic red cups that were scattered all over the floor clanked against the corner of the wall as I kicked them aside. There was no time to clean the manor. Every inch of the majestic mansion was covered in cups, broken glass, food, shoes, and more disgraceful objects.

Tears welled in my eyes as I stared up at the ceiling taking ragged breaths. I ran my hands through my hair, frightened.

What was to come next?

Would they think I did this to Jessica?

What would grandmother think of me?

I sat at the dining room table and buried my head in my arms. But before I could cry, I screeched as a sting pierced through my skin and I felt warm liquid spill out of my arm.

A sharp section of a glass bottle had cut through and wedged itself in my skin.

"You should watch it."

I rolled my eyes and blinked away my tears as I turned to face Alec.

"What do you want?" I asked, tired and stressed.

"Well, how about we get that glass out of your arm?" Alec glided and held his hand out for me to take. I outstretched my hand prepared to hold his but he wrapped his fingers around my wrist instead. He turned my arm over gently to take a look at the damage done.

"This should probably be a lesson to you." He said as he carefully adjusted his fingers, gripping onto the glass.

I winced. "What kind of lesson?" Alec tugged at the glass with a small amount of force but I still felt the grinds rub against my skin.

"A lesson to never throw a party again. Clearly, you suck at it." He cracked a small grin as he pulled harder and faster. Half of the glass hung out of my arm and I yelped.

Alec chuckled before I glared at him harshly. "How could you joke at a time like this? A girl has died. Do you understand what that means? At a party, I 'hosted', a party on my property. I'm going to be in hot water for this-."

Alec interrupted me "It's not like you did it." His eyes bore into mine and he carefully removed the other half of glass as I hissed in pain.

"They'll think I did it, Alec! My god." Tears threatened to spill again as I rubbed my face anxiously, not caring if blood was streaming down my arm.

"Listen, this wouldn't have happened if you would've had a goddamn backbone and told her no! Don't complain to me, when it's your fault." Alec raised his voice at me and that was when I stood on my feet.

"How dare you! You don't get to tell me what I am- I know I'm a coward- I don't need you making this night harder for me. And what you say to me doesn't even matter. You're nothing, you're a freaking ghost with no life. So leave your personal opinions out of my damn life!" I practically screamed at him and placed my palms on the dining table.

Alec stared at me long and hard.

My heavy breathing bounced off of the walls, echoing. The red and blue lights flashing through the windows signaled the police had arrived. Alec took me by surprise and grabbed my wrist and held it to his chest.

"I have no heart, it's true. I'm dead, I'm a ghost. But don't you dare call me fucking nothing, because I was something. I had a life once too." His voice was wary and cracked as I felt no indication of a heartbeat.

I hadn't noticed the tears that fell down my face as he swallowed once and released my hand gently. "I'm going to help you with your arm and.." Alec paused as his back faced me just before he disappeared into the bathroom.

"And?" I stuttered in the uncomfortable
silence.

"And with what to say to the police." His voice shook.

* *   *

"Hello, Lily, I'm Officer Wilson. I just want to ask you a few questions. Would that be okay?" A police officer asked me politely as he took out a notepad and pen.

"Yeah, that's fine." I crossed my arms and immediately regretted it, forgetting about my freshly bandaged arm.

"Great. So, what was going on tonight?" He wrote something down before looking up at me. I licked my cracked lips and blinked away the tears that were welling in my eyes.

"Well, it was a party." I croaked and put a hand on my neck. My throat was dry.

"Okay. Your party, right?" Officer Wilson asked expectantly, tapping his pen against his notepad.

I replied hesitantly. "Uh, yeah."

Officer Wilson gave me an inquisitive look before scribbling more on his notepad.

"Can you define your relationship with the victim?" Officer Wilson asked as his eyes scanned all over my face, searching for any type of emotion.

I opened my mouth to reply with harsh words when a gust of wind blew over the cop and I. the pages of his notepad flipped violently as he struggled to hold them down. I felt a pair of lips brush against my ear and shivered, fluttering my eyes closed. Only to open them immediately and spot Alec beside me. My eyes flickered over to Officer Wilson, anxious that he might freak out about Alec, but he was consumed with his flipping notepad.

"You were friends, the best of friends," Alec whispered in my ear.

"What?" I said a little too loudly as the cop gave me a strange look.

Alec placed a hand on my shoulder and I peered up at him. "They're going to twist everything you say. Once you say how she treated you, it looks like a classic depressed -teen- kills - Queen Bitch- at - an - ever - so cliche - high school- party. A drunk fest that was held at your house. How does that sound? Revenge never tasted so sweet."

I stared at him long enough to understand what he explained. The back of his hand caressed my cheek and I sighed before moving my head away from his hand.

"Do you trust me?" His voice was raspy and desperate. I drew in a deep breath and released it. He watched my every movement as I bit my lip hard in concentration.

"I don't." I pursed my lips as he frowned.

"Well, I'm the only one who's going to help you in this predicament. Whether you trust me or not, it only gets harder from here, sweetheart." Alec said cockily and I felt my face grow hot with anger. I clenched my fists, ready to punch him square in the jaw.

"Who are you talking to?" Officer Wilson stopped me, mid-punch. His face had a questioning look and his notepad had stopped flipping.

"Huh?" My face was red with both anger and embarrassment.

"Fine, sure, let's pretend that didn't happen. Lilith. What was your relation to the victim?" Officer Wilson asked with an affirmative tone.

"S-She-." I stopped, thinking of Alec.

I needed my life to go back to the way it was.

And if that meant playing along with this little supernatural charade, I would do it.

Swallowing my pride and fear, I answered the police officer.

"Friends. She was the first person at Ravenwood High to give me such a warm welcome on my first day." I lie through my teeth and he nodded, waiting for me to continue.

"She...This was a party..to- uh, celebrate. To say thanks for making me feel welcome. It's hard being the new kid and she made it less..difficult? I don't really have friends and I couldn't help but feel as if I made one when I met Jessica." I wanted to cringe at every word said but I simply kept my stoic, frowning face. Hopefully, it was enough to convince the officer I was a mourning 'friend'.

The word "friend" shouldn't be associated with Jessica.

The sensation of nausea was so strong.

"I'm sorry for your loss. Was Jessica, by any chance, unhappy? Did you notice a change in her behavior? Perhaps you saw her with someone she normally wouldn't hang around with?" Officer Wilson asked me more questions as I shook my head to every one of them.

"I really don't know. Like I said, I just met her.
She was a new friend." I carefully touched my bandaged arm. My guilt ate at me from my core to my heart. I felt the nervous churning of my stomach as Officer Wilson stared at me before tucking his notepad and pen away into his pocket.

"Thank you for your time. Our team will be cleaning up your..lawn." He trailed off as the forensic team covered Jessica's body with a white sheet and hoisted her into a body bag.

"What happens now?" I asked the officer timidly.

"We call her parents. They have the right to know what happened here. We also call your legal guardian, since we have recently found out that your mother is in Peru, we contacted your grandmother." Officer Wilson offered me an apologetic smile as I scoffed loudly, he rose an eyebrow at this. I gave him a sheepish grin and he mumbled something as he departed from my front lawn.

"Well played, Lilith." Alec took the place of Officer Wilson and I glared.

"Only one time, Alec. You owe me." I raised a finger, jabbing it into his chest.

He caught my finger in his hand and kissed it lightly. "It will be worth it."

I grimaced and pulled my hand away from his grasp. "What will be worth it?"

"Everything." Alec disappeared without another word, leaving a chilling breeze behind him.

ANOTHER UPDATE FOR LE FABULOUS PEOPLE! THANKS FOR GIVING THIS BOOK A TRY AND STICKING WITH IT. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT! LOVE YA!
- ely

P.S.
I decided I would do this weird/interesting thing where I would give a fun fact of the day along with the QOTC. SO YEAH 😂

QOTC
Does anyone like the band All Time Low?

• fact of the day •
I actually dreamt the plot of this book. It was mind blowing. once I woke up, I was ready to write 😂

SOTC
Nightmares - All Time Low

^ this song is a must listen. 90% of the lyrics relate to this book almost perfectly.

SHOUTOUT TO JELLYFACE3 FOR MAKING SUCH A BEAUTIFUL COVER. THANKS FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE CONTEST!!

JELLYFACE3

/DONT/FORGET/TO\

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