[ Elena's POV ]

The bell rang, as fast as a bullet. I sighed in relief like a weight was lifted off my back. The windows outside provided a backdrop of the beautiful sun-kissed hills, provided with pink hues and carmine red skies, The lush green hills. A glimpse of serenity and hope.

Ever since Andy Willowbrook transferred into my high school, My entire body grew suspicious of him. As if my brain was shouting to investigate him, he had just a different, aura. A one with a dark, grimed lament enveloped him. I looked over the beautiful backdrop at the window once again before I left. This feeling I can't resist, the feeling I am doomed to perish too.

He always wore a black, hooded jacket. He had cold-as-ice eyes, white as the snow, bristling through the meadow. Brushed brown hair, wavy as the sea. Dropping through the sandy shores. And a buttoned-up gray polo. He's your typical rich-cold guy. But I'm not even sure about anything.

My best friend, Alaska slapped me out of my floating thoughts inside my head. She scoffed in annoyance as she crossed her tan-skinned arms and held up her black leather backpack.

" Hey girlie, ARE YOU HAVING A CRUSH ON THAT DUMB MYSTERIOUS BOY? Like, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT HIM, but he screams out, MURDERER! "

I mean, she was correct. His mischievous yet lamented aura just gives me bone-dropping shivers down my body. I sighed in annoyance back at Alaska and slapped her back lightly.

" Of course not! I mean, Yeah he does give these vibes. " I bristled my hair away from my face as I said that.

I crossed my arms as I puffed for air. Biting my lips, we continued to walk down the hallways; the sound of the tapping of my black leather shoes engulfed the silence of the ambiance of the hallway. I walked down a flight of stairs, and we encountered Andy; he gently combed his hair and then went into an eerie hallway.

The abandoned school garden outside had a run-down gazebo. It's wood chipping off from years of neglect, the tiles falling off at any moment. Huge chunks of materials were missing, it looked like it was ruined by a hurricane and tornado at the same time.

The flowers, once serene, and a glimpse of a blossoming spring. A testament to the serenity, the sun once bathing it like soap, soothing through the bushes, and the mind. But, It withered and died out, due to years of endless neglect. It is unsettled, yet it symbolizes a haunting reminder that something never lasts forever.

Just as I was about to leave away with Alaska, Andy rushed through me at bullet-point speed. My life flashed through my eyes, as he held up a knife and threw it at Alaska. It slashed through her face, and she went down to the floor. I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my chest and the last thing I saw through... Was a tranquilizer dart. I grew light-headed; the darkness surrounded my vision in lighting-fast precision. And I knocked, faint away through the ground with a roared thud.

A voice had awokened me, as I felt a grip through my shoulder. The only things surrounding me were a wooden table and a dim, white light. Occasionally flickering and barely even standing. I could see the cracks in the light bulb as I saw it, and the darkness enveloped through the palpable atmosphere even more.

My heart was an echoing drum, beating like never before as I heard the Mysterious man speak. His voice was grumpy and raspy, yet showed young elegance. From what I can tell, he was in his early 20s.

" So.... Elana Warrington, Right? Elana. Such a nice name. "

My heart was beating faster as I heard that sentence. How did he know my name?! Whatever. I felt the shadows envelop me, I was shocked to my core as my heart dropped to my stomach. I instantly turned pale, and beads of tears slowly balled out. I knocked my hand through the desk and shouted back

" SHUT UP! JUST GO AWAY, WHERE'S ALASKA? WHERE IS SHE? I'm not afraid to use these fists! "

The person, enveloped by shadows leaned in by the wooden table. It creaked like it was worn out, and I could see the wood chipping off. I could see a glimpse of his face, which was a grinning smirk. That made me angrier; my fists were clenched. And just as I was about to punch him, he effortlessly pinned my hand down to the desk.

" You better watch your mouth, Miss. " He said as he leaned in closer, It turned out... It was Andy! I should've not followed him... Damn it. I felt so stupid, my mouth was wide open. Pupils dilated, the pure definition of shock. I didn't even move, as only the look in his eyes sent shivers down my spine. But I mustered up the courage to speak amongst my flabbergasted self.

" Yeah, So what?! " I said sheepishly, yet. The unease shivering through me wasn't wearing off, he just smirked more and pinned both of my hands down with ease.

" You watch your mouth young lady, or else I'll cut your tongue off. "

Andy said as he showed off a knife spun it around effortlessly, and then stabbed it near my hand. Luckily, I wasn't hit. It sent goosebumps through my body; I shrieked in surprise and nervousness and accidentally knocked off the chair I was sitting in. I bit my lips.

He said next, his grin and smile still wide on his face. I wanted to wipe it off right now, but the situation I was in, I could've never.

" Oh, don't you worry... Don't worry. Just, Shut up. Listen. I need you to be my... Partner-in-crime. For the murders. "

Right, I was about to open my mouth once again, and he blocked it. He smirked once again, he was enjoying emotionally teasing me, Or of what I consider. Torture.

" I'm guessing you were about to say No. Usually, People who say No will have a knife stuck through their throat and.. "

He'd imitate a neck-slash using his hand while grinning, then pretending to be dead. He was mocking his victims. He was his method of evil. But.. I was luckily still alive and speaking right now, breathing and conscious!

He said once again repeatedly.
" But.. I'm feeling merciful today. Instead of the usual method of slashing their necks until they die, I'll just hold your friend hostage; She'll suffer a... Let's say... Boiled alive slowly and repeatedly. Then I'll feed her remains to my dogs... You get the point. Blah blah. "

I can't imagine that, I bit my lips, tapping on the run-down wooden table. My mind was racing, do I have to help a serial killer? With Alaska's Life? Or do I have to decline and live with the fact that I caused my own best friend's death... No one would believe me if Andy Willowbrook was a serial killer. He seduced everyone at school!

I was at the corner of my chair but after a few minutes of thinking. It clicked. I should just, help him instead! I can escape with both Alaska's and My life. I snapped my fingers and then slammed my two hands on the wooden table.

" Bring it on! I'm not afraid of nothin'! " I said, trying to act brave and tough against him. He smirked and then gestured to follow him; I followed him quickly. Our shoes collide with the wooden floorboards, creaking through. I was about
to go on my first killing spree with Andy. And whether or not I should be feeling guilty, at least Alaska will live.

Andy suddenly held my rose-pink cheeks and gave me a seducing look. He held my strands of hair, overlapping my face. He smiled at me seductively, but I... Enjoyed his embrace? No, Elana. You can focus, just focus!

I pushed him off my chest, yet He still wouldn't let go. I gasped for air as I got away from him, yet he got closer. He put his hand on my shoulder and grinned in amusement.

" Did you know why I spared you with your life when we were in that dark room?... " He said calmly. He smiled slightly as we continued walking down the hallway.

He soothed his hand through my hair. The warm embrace engulfed me like tides in an ocean wave; I felt flattered and serene in his presence. Am I... Being manipulated?... No. I want more of this sensation; I want more of it.

He said once again, in a more demure and regal voice.
” Because of your uncontrollable beauty. No one will think that your working for me because of your appearance. ”

I blushed frantically, but why am I growing attached to him already... We continued walking down the hallways, the sounds of our footsteps aligning through the ambience, Andy looked into a door up ahead.

” Our victims will be inside here. So, You know... Sophia right? ”

Sophia, My arch nemesis. I hated her since kindergarten. She did all sorts of terrible things to my friends, myself and others. She's the popular girl in class, and always somehow gets away with it just because of her ”perfect” grades. Which was gained by blackmailed nerds, her ”acts of kindness” which were only in-front of a camera and she can turn to Satan himself after school.

I didn't hesitate; I shall murder her. After grabbing the materials used for the murder, Which was provided by Andy. I walked through the desolate living quarters, a series of brown, intricately carved doors, polished wooden tiles made my footsteps smoother and flow within the ambience, and a large window. Which reveals the beautiful, sun kissed hills and the pink hues of sunset. I wish I was in these living quarters.

The plan was simple; Ambush her from her back, swiftly take her out with a baseball bat and dispose of the body by throwing it near the garbage dump in the backyard of these living quarters. Hopefully, All goes well and the plan is successful.

I heard footsteps coming from the entrance, as I quickly hid inside a corner. Where Sophia calmly walked in, unsuspecting. The perfect time to attack, but I gotta wait for her to enter her room so she can be inside with me only, and no screams shall be heard from her. Andy was pretty smart as a serial killer, you know?

She unlocked her dorm door, and I dashed through the hallways before quickly kicking her all the way to the wooden floor, but just before I was about to hit her with my baseball bat, she suddenly opened one of the cabinets in her bedroom, and let out a loaded revolver. She shoots through the air, it echoes and whirls through the bedroom. I luckily evaded it, and she quickly gets back and goes to the opposite corner

She smirked. ” I've been waiting for you! I knew you were gonna target me eventually, Dumb killer! Don't think I haven't read the news. ”

She continued shooting relentlessly, it was a shooting range at her disposal. But my perseverance easily shined through the dim disadvantage which was palpable in the air. I lunged at her, before whacking her with my baseball bat. She let out a scream, as she let out her revolver again and shot me directly in my right arm.

I grabbed my wound as my baseball bat fell to the ground, but the motivating words of Andy echoed through my mind.

” A beauty would never suffice against a cowardly, mean girl. ”

” If you die, I'll just also kill Alaska. ”

I charged straight first, blind fury and rage engulfed me. I screamed at the top of my lungs before slamming myself into her, knocking her down  the wooden tiles and sending her tightly gripped revolver swooshing through the air. It clanged through the wooden floorboards like it was the sound of victory to me. I effortlessly slammed Sophia against the bed, before beating her up.

Every single punch, I made sure it was torture for her. I laughed at her bloody, bruised face. The satisfaction of murder and killing engulfed me rapidly. Slamming her face to the concrete wall as I continued to attack her without any sign of stopping, I finally got her down on the floor forcefully as I dropped her down, blood was gushing everywhere on her. Bruises everywhere, her face was unrecognizable, and missing teeth. The once, ”perfect” self was gone.

I laughed at her, uncontrollably. This sensation, the satisfaction of murder... I need it. And I shall not dissapoint my beloved Andy... Not anymore. I looked around my surroundings, and beginning to steal everything inside, stuffing it inside a duffle bag. Suddenly, I heard knocking on the door.

Shit. Someone's here.