Rain.

There seemed to be no end of it when you lived in the secluded town of Evalyn Cove.

"Not enough cute girls or wild parties"

"This place is like a prison, I can't wait to move out of here for college"

"The sooner the better"

Voices and silent complaints began to elevate as the rain pounded harder on the roof of the high school. The amount of whining from my other classmates seemed to equal the number of rain droplets that slid off the dreary windows.

I kept my head down and continued to pack my things after stepping out of my last class. I held no interest in the conversations of the other girls and I hurried to leave the depressing hallway.

I swung my bag over my shoulder and rushed down the crowded path.

Occupied by my thoughts, I hadn't noticed I bumped into a tall girl. Her things flew out of her arms and scattered on the floor in one great mess. She grumbled under her breath and I faintly heard a vulgar word absentmindedly slip from her mouth. I sighed and bent down to help her.

"Thanks..."

A quick reply was all I managed to hear as the girl left and briskly turned a corner. Momentarily confused by her odd eagerness, I almost missed the horrid scream and sobbing of a girl near the window.

Everyone rushed to her side and I blankly stared at the corner of the hall before following behind. It wasn't like me to get involved, but something in the back of my mind urged me to see what the commotion was about. "What's that smell?... It's coming from that locker!", I heard.

A curious group huddled around the fear-sickened girl and tried to comprehend her inaudible speech. I noticed her shaking finger pointing to her locker and instinct drove me to force the door open.

To everyone's horror, a corpse flopped onto the ground and landed with a thud. Rotting blood pooled around the body and a dreadful stench swirled from the locker and clung to the air around us. Girls and guys alike covered their noses and recoiled themselves from the scene. I took a step forward and lifted the dead girl's lifeless body. I noticed her eyes were rolled back unnaturally and her skin held a freezing touch. Bumps and bruises clouded her face but not enough to hide her identity.

"Someone murdered one of the Quaker twins!"

* * *

The rain continued to pour down on us.
It gave off a misty fog which engulfed the high school in a melancholy bleakness.

Policemen huddled around the exits and prevented the students from escaping. The teachers shouted angry remarks at the officials as they tried to comprehend the situation.

I merely stood in the middle of the hallway. I was staring down at my hands and for the briefest moment, I could feel the girl's cold, dead body once again in my embrace. The sight of a corpse was enough to send a shiver down anyone's spine, but oddly enough, I didn't feel scared or traumatized like the rest of the girls. If anything I felt like this was a rare opportunity. My chance at relieving the wave of desperation that clung to everyone who desired to end their tedious lives with a chance at exhilaration.

The staff and student body were lead to the gymnasium by brooding officers who watched their every move. When everyone was settled down, a man stepped onto the podium and raised a microphone to his chin.

"I'm sure you all know who I am, this is a fairly small town, but to the few of you who don't, my name is Deputy Richard Owens. My team here has taken protocol and put this high school under lockdown due to the misfortunate events of a murder. No one is allowed to leave for if they do, we might lose our suspects and possibly the one responsible for the murder of Caphony Quaker."

When Officer Owens lowered his microphone, a choir of rants exploded from the room. Both students and teachers rose from their seats and howled with rage. I, however, contained my composure.

My attention had drifted off into the background and I had caught a glimpse of a pale, slender girl sobbing into the chest of a concerned policewoman. Her long blonde hair and beautiful features sent a flutter of butterflies to my stomach. It was the victim's twin. Identical by comparison. The mere resemblance was enough to bring back the cold, dull touch of the dead girl's body again into my infallible memory.

"Are you freaking insane! You can't keep us cooped up in the same building with a murderer!"

"I'm calling my parents and forcing a lawsuit on you!

"Let us go, we're innocent!"

I snapped out of my daze as the student's protests echoed through the dimly lit gymnasium. The cold sensation of death faded and I no longer acknowledged it as a more interesting feeling swept over me...curiosity.

A smirk crawled onto my face and the sight of seeing chaos take over so quickly, made me question the police officer's motives. Surely he can't solve this mystery with such a commotion from the school's denizens. "Everyone settle down. No harm will come to any of you. We have the situation under control, all I ask is for all of you to remain seated in this gym. Thank you for your cooperation." Once those words slipped from the officer's mouth, a string of curse words was shouted from the students and possibly from some of the teachers.

I crossed my legs and grinned from ear to ear. "Stay seated? I don't know the meaning of that." I retorted under my breath and quietly walked towards the door. I noticed a few students pleading with the policeman who guarded the doorway and the sight sent a smile in my direction. I shook my head and stealthily walked around the preoccupied officer with a swift dash to the door.

I was out and about in the hallways in a matter of seconds. I began prowling around the many floors of the high school to find a clue the police might have overlooked.

"Hey! What are you doing?!"

My head spun around and instantly caught sight of the owner of the voice. My memory flickered and I soon realized it was the victim's boyfriend. I forced a smile soon after. "Just getting some water," I replied innocently. The boyfriend's left eyebrow twitched and a frown spread across his face to the sound of my excuse. "I don't care, you have to go back to the gym before you get yourself in trouble." The strong teen latched his hand onto my wrist and dragged me back to the dreaded gymnasium.

"I can't. I need to see the crime scene."

My protest was nothing more than a mere whisper, but surprisingly the boy heard me. His shoulders tensed and he was soon clutching mine. "I swear to god if you so much as lie to me, I'll kill you!" The jock's scowl was menacing, but his words didn't have the same effect. They actually sent my lips into a devious curve and a light chuckle escaped the confines of my politeness. "You can only disgrace the dead so much, huh? Calm down, I'm not lying. Haven't you heard? I'm Nicola Morgan, if anyone is going to solve this case it's me." The teen's eyes widened and his reaction sparked hope in me. He was hesitant at first, but after a moment of debating, he gently released my shoulders.

"I'll let you go, only if I can come too."

A growl gnawed at my throat once I heard the unreasonable response from the jock. I sighed and decided to acknowledge his concern for his girlfriend. That's when a light went off in my head. "No, but you can help. Caleb Mahogany, the lucky boyfriend to the beautiful, but average, Caphony Quaker... how much do you know about her daily routine?" My sudden take on the situation sent Caleb into confusion, but he reluctantly nodded his head and complied. "Yesterday was Wednesday. The only day of the week where she doesn't have soccer practice. Her sister Madelyn is the only person who can give her a ride home, she usually sits in the bleachers while waiting on her. Madelyn's cheer practice ends around 6, I think. That's all I know."

I nodded solemnly and took deep consideration for Caleb's words. "Good, that'll do. Now run along, can't have you exposing me." My response was short and simple but it was enough for Caleb to understand. He didn't bother me with any more protest and only nodded before leaving.

I was once again left alone in the desolate halls.

I breathed a heavy sigh and tried to make use of Caleb's explanation. If he was right then Caphony must have left the school around six o'clock in the afternoon with her sister. The only other person who could confirm this was Madelyn, but at the moment I doubt she'd want to have an intelligent conversation with a stranger like me. "Hm... what to do.." I twiddled my thumbs as I tried to revise a new plan, but I immediately started spacing out and staring absentmindedly at the window.

I saw my reflection and everything behind me. Only more walls. A white abyss and nothing more.

However, for a brief moment, I hadn't seen anything relevant, until I saw a blink of light. My head slowly turned around and my gaze rose to the ceiling where a small, peering camera stuck to a corner. "The surveillance system... that could work... too bad I don't know where it is and how to get passed the policemen no doubtlessly guarding it."

Defeat seemed imminent and the cruel thought of it almost sent a wave of distraught towards me.

However, a familiar face popped into the scene.
It was the same girl I had bumped into in the hallway. At the moment her name had slipped my mind, but right now it was clear who she was. A notorious thief that strived on pick-pocketing passing strangers and unfortunate classmates. Joel Peterson, the criminal I needed to do the crime for me.

"Hey! Joel! Do you want money?" The girl's dull features came into view as she looked over her shoulder and noticed me. A frown followed once she noticed who I was. I jogged up to her and ignored how she must have gotten out of the gym without raising suspicion. "I'll pay you whatever you want if you get me into the surveillance room." At the sound of my request, her eyebrows shot up and a sly smirk spread across her face. "As much as I want, are you sure?" I quickly nodded my head and handed her my wallet without hesitation.

Her smile widened and she was swift to lead me down the hall in seconds.

Joel had caused a commotion and provoked the guards to run after her, allowing me to sneak right in. What she had done for me wasn't worth all the money I lost, but at this point, materialistic needs weren't important to me, especially when I had gained access to my ticket to success.

I searched the cameras and the saved video files vigorously as I focused on one solemn date and time: April 5 at 6:00 PM.

I entered the numbers and patiently waited for the computer to process it, but once the screen had popped up, it sent anxiety coursing through my body. My eyes widened and my mouth gaped open at the result.

Video Footage Not Found.

The incredulous words were clear on the screen and it was enough to keep me glued to my spot. I would have stayed in that position, hunched forward and motionless, if it wasn't for the horde of policemen who came flooding into the room.

My thoughts were trying to piece themselves together as if they were a difficult jigsaw puzzle. My eyes were wide open and disbelief seemed to cloud over them as the police officers forcefully dragged me out of the room. I heard angry shouting from above and assumed I was being scolded at by the police.

To be frank, they're words seemed foreign to me. At this point, I had lost my reasoning and the ability to comprehend. The officers had dumped me off at the cursed gym whose walls seemed to mock my efforts. I sluggishly walked to the bleachers and sat down without giving much thought to who was beside me. I slumped forward and rested my elbows on my knees as I clutched my aching head in utter defeat.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

My eyebrow twitched as I heard the unbearably annoying sound of someone tapping their foot against the ground. I raised my head with a frown and noticed an anxious guy twiddling his thumbs. He seemed to be in deep thought. I didn't really think much of it since all the students seemed to be acting the same, but what was odd about him was that he kept hugging his bag close to his chest. The guy even seemed familiar.

If I hadn't known better, I'd say he was Madelyn's boyfriend Eric. "Shouldn't you be the one comforting the victim's sister?" I scooted closer to Eric and peered suspiciously into his face. He smiled wryly and shook his head politely, but something told me his expression was forced.

"We actually broke up a few days ago, I'd just make things worse," Eric responded as he scratched his head timidly. I nodded my head and looked to the other side of the gym to find Madelyn's crying figure. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get into your personal business, but since we're on the topic, do you mind if I ask why you two broke up?" Eric cleared his throat awkwardly and continued to fake his smile. "Ah yeah, she dumped me because...well, she said I wasn't nearly as hot as the new quarterback that transferred here last week. She even laughed at my attempts to persuade her to reconsider...it was a tough day for me.." I nodded my head again and rested my hand on his shoulder.

"Words are only words, they only mean something when we give it meaning," I mumbled under my breath and surprisingly enough my comfort sent a real smile to Eric's face. "Thank you... You know, you're different. I guess there's a reason behind why you're the smartest girl at this school. Thank you, really, that was nice." I gave Eric a bright smile and patted his back gently. "This is a cruel place. It's isolated from the outside world and it feels like a prison to most people. I guess the only way to entertain ourselves is by causing problems and insignificant rivalries. It's almost sad... We're all corrupted, included myself, of course, I even took pleasure in today's murder."

The shy boy nodded his head and took his turn to pat his hand on my back.

I faintly smiled in return to Eric's comfort, but at the moment it seemed trivial. "But even as corrupted as I am, at least I have the decency to respect the dead. If I were to murder someone, I wouldn't shove their body into a place where the whole world could see them in their most vulnerable state. I'd bury the body, not humiliate it even in death. You're sick." Eric's eyes shot open and he started to back away from me in utter fear and disbelief. "I don't know what you're talking about! I didn't kill anybody?!" I muffled a laugh and began to stalk my way closer to the fleeing boy.

"You stole the surveillance footage from last night. I'll bet all my savings that it's in your bag... but if you still want to ramble on about being innocent, then hand me the bag." I reached out my hand and waited patiently for Eric to hand it over.

It was a wild guess and I didn't expect to be right.

However, Eric's soft features turned dark and he was soon glaring daggers at me. "Get the hell away from me!" He shouted and tried to run off, but I tripped him and he fell to the floor. I shook my head and snatched the bag. Sure enough, a platinum-colored disk was in the front pocket. "You killed the wrong twin, didn't you? Yes, it all makes sense now. Why kill someone you have no interest in? Why kill her on Wednesdays of all days? The one day she's around possible witnesses?..." My smile widened and I took a step closer to come face to face with Eric's trembling body.

He seemed like he was on the verge of hitting me, but one punch wouldn't be enough to quiet me. "But of course you know that that's why you chose a day where Madelyn had practice. You knew her daily routine, you knew she'd head off to her car to drive herself home while everyone else boarded the bus", I paused and knitted my eyebrows in disappointment.

"You tried to kill Madelyn Quaker... you killed the wrong twin..." I mumbled the appalling words and stared down at the nervous ex-boyfriend. "All because she chose someone cuter?" My hands were trembling and rage began to seep through my veins.

I couldn't believe my own words and to see Eric without shame to admit it was even worse. I grunted and grabbed hold of his collar to shove him closer to me. "I hope it was worth it. I hope you don't regret this a few years from now... I truly hope you never remember my words or think too much of them... Enjoy prison, see if your looks matter then." I release my grip and let his body slump to the ground. All Eric could do was stare up at me with watery eyes.

I turned around and shoved my hands into my pockets as I walked down the bleachers. I even caught a glimpse of Caleb. Sitting down with hopeful eyes that I'll be able to shed light on this mystery. I let a sigh escape from my lips as I thought about his reaction. "This is too much excitement for me to bear...", as I mumbled those words in deep regret, I looked back to Eric from over my shoulder and reflected on the murder of Caphony Quaker.

"Nefas Morte... Nefas Morte... Nefas Morte..."