>>> 10:36 PM <<<

Delirious POV:

"Evan." I said, sliding over next to him, inches away from him, on the bed.
"Jonathan." he said, looking down at me.
He had no shirt on, and I was so close to him that I could almost feel his body heat.
"I love you." I said.
He smiled.
"Miracles really do happen, don't they?"
I laughed.
"They do. But I have a question." I sat up next to him.
"Ask away." he said.
"How'd you know I liked you, too?"
"I didn't know for sure," He admitted.
"But what if I hadn't? What if it would've ruined our friendship?" I asked.
"Then I would just keep telling you I love you, but I wouldn't make it awkward. It's only weird when you deliberately want it to be." he said, holding my hand.
I smiled. "You didn't answer."
"I love you more." he said, kissing my forehead.
"No way." I said, shaking my head.
He smiled.
"You don't know how much I love you, so how do you know?" he asked.
I shrugged and laughed, nervously.
"But I can always show you how much I love you."
He got on top of me and smiled.
I blushed and laughed, still nervous.

And that's when we heard a loud bang.

Marilyn POV:

"If you mess this up, Keegan, I swear to hell I'll fucking..." kids helped him into the window.
"I won't, sis, I won't. I'll do it, and I'll come right back out, safe. I promise."
He smiled.
I sighed.
"I love you." I said.
"I love you, too, Lily." he said.
I kissed his forehead as he turned around and he dove into the window.

Keegan POV:

These beach houses were huge.
The floor was lines with wooden panels and the walls were white with lots of windows; there were long, lanterned hallways.
I smiled at the light.
Now that I was in the house, I felt warm.
I was preparing for days for this, when Del-Marilyn would wake me up really late and we would go gather clothes; we'd get a rope, tape, rags... Everything we thought we'd need.
A pistol.
It felt heavy in my pocket and I grew nervous even though my sister had given me lessons with it before.
I was still a horrific shooter.
I'd grow better though.
I planned to.
I walked to a room.
It looked like a bedroom.
There was a man in there, with a thin beard.
I turned around and walked through the kitchen to the dining room.
There was a hallway leading to a door.
I walked very quietly down the hallway and opened the door.
Under the moonlight was a pale skinned girl with silky purple hair and royal blue eyes.
Her red lips and her black eyelashes were part of her without makeup and she slept in a gray nightgown.
I gasped at her beauty.
This was the girl I was supposed to kill?!
How?!
Why would I...?
I walked over to her and kneeled beside her bed, listening to her breathe.
She was so beautiful.
A new feeling washed through me.
Desire.
Wanting.
And something warm. I had no name for it.
Marilyn had wanted me to hurt this girl and to end her...
But the only thing I wanted to happen was for her to never wake up, for me to sit there forever, beside her, watching her and taking in her beauty and never disturbing her.
But then I realized that if Marilyn got impatient enough, she'd seriously hurt me, and then come and kill the girl herself.
I sighed and then shook the girl.
She tossed over and looked at me.
She screamed and kicked back until I put my hand over her mouth.
"Shhh, shhh." I said.
She quivered in my hands and they grew wet as tears fell on them.
She was terrified.
"I'm not going to hurt you. I promise." I said, groping her tighter.
She moaned and cried out as she kicked me.
"Listen, I'm just going to take you somewhere, okay? I'll give you answers. You'll know what's happening with your friends. You'll know what's going on. And then we can stop it. But I need help. I can't do it alone." I said, holding her hand.
She paused.

Skylar POV:

I can still save my friends?
I could keep this from happening to them...?
I paused and thought.
The boy had loosened me a little since I calmed.
I didn't know if I could trust this boy.
But right now, it was the only thing I could do.
It was my only choice.
I thought about screaming for Brian, but he'd just get hurt, too.
Whatever was coming for my friends was huge.
And we couldn't stop it.
Unless this boy was right.
I was in his lap, shaking, terrified.
"Are you going to scream?" he whispered, calmly.
I shook my head.
He let go of my mouth and I opened my mouth like I was going to shout.
He quickly put his hand back over my mouth again.
I laughed.

Teegan POV:

I was confused.
Why is she...Laughing??
I moved my hand again.
"I was just kidding." her pale blue eyes somehow smiled.
I sighed and laughed, nervously, too.
"Let's go." I told her, remembering Marilyn outside again.
She sighed and stood up.
I carried her outside and prepared to face Marilyn.

Marilyn POV:

I wasn't mad until he started taking so fucking long.
What the fuck, Keegan? Hurry the hell up.
Suddenly I saw Keegan, holding something, jump down from the window and land on his two feet.
"What are you holding?" I asked.
He looked up at me.
"Marilyn, you're going to be mad, but I couldn't hurt-"
"I'll do it myself then." I said, pointing the gun at the girl's forehead, ready to kill her.
"Mari-"
I pulled the trigger, but Keegan pushed the gun out of my hand before it hit anyone, and it fell to the ground, while the stray bullet ricocheted off the tree.
The girl was pale, terrified.
"What the HELL ARE YOU DOING?! I TOLD YOU TO KILL HER!" I demanded, grabbing his collar.
"Listen, Marilyn. I couldn't do it. She's a girl..."
"You'll kill other girls. I'll make you." I said, pushing him down and grabbing out another gun.
"Lily! Stop! Please!" he said.
I shook my head.
"I gave you one job, Aiden." I told him.
"I'm sorry! But I have a feeling! I know... I feel like this girl will somehow change our future. I feel like she'll make things better for us, Lily." he said.
I looked down at him, shaking, breathing frantically.
There's no way to make things better, Marilyn. Do it. Now.
I shook my head at the voice.
Keegan stood up and took my gun away from my stiff hand.
"She could change this, Marilyn." he said.
I didn't want change. I didn't see why it was necessary.
But "Fine." I still said.
We loaded up into the car.
What was I to do with this girl?