Finding Mercedes.

Is Grace dead?

We had been in England for over a week, we were hiding out in a little hotel just outside Chester. Mercedes wouldn't let me leave the room, it was too risky and she didn't want to go back into the village. There was a pro, we got take out nearly every night since there was no way either of us were going to risk taking a step closer to the village. It was 8:33 in the morning, I was laying awake with my back to Mercedes and I knew she was laying with her back against mine and I guessed she was awake too.
"Mercy," I whispered, she didn't reply and I waited a few seconds before opening my mouth again. "Are you awake?" I asked.
"No," She replied, I rolled over to face her and she turned to lay on her back, staring straight at the roof.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"When am I not," Mercedes smirked and she smiled at me.
"When I'm not around," I joked, which made Mercedes smile a little more.
"I'm going to jump in the shower, then we'll talk okay?" Mercedes suggested.
"Alright, be quick I want to jump in after you," I smiled. Mercedes didn't like us on the news, so I waited until I heard the pitter patter of the water drops on the shower floor. I pulled myself lamely up on the bed and switched the T.V. on.

Three months on and missing Chester girl Ellie-Anna McQueen has not been found. Traces of her blood were found on the streets of her local village, and a knife which is thought to be a murder weapon was found in a pillow case in a dump near the entrance to the town. Two missing people, Lindsey Butterfield and Freddie Roscoe are wanted in connection with Ellie-Anna and Mercedes disappearance.
This is now a murder investigation.

I quickly shut off the T.V. I stood up and looked out of the window, hiding behind the curtain. The only view was a small street with a few shops and lots of people traipsing up and down the street. I rearranged the curtains so they were closed and I was positive nobody could see inside the room.
"I'm out the shower, if you want to jump in?" Mercedes shouted through, I opened the door to see her standing dripping wet wrapped in a towel, combing her long thick hair.
"Are we going home today?" I begged, I had asked ever day for the past week.
"Just get in the shower and stop begging like some homeless dog," Mercedes demanded, leaving the bathroom with the hair dryer in her hands.
"Technically we are homeless dogs," I smirked, shutting the door behind me. I turned the shower on, brushed my hair and undressed from the bra and shorts I was wearing.

Once I was out the shower, I placed the hotel dressing gown over me and walked into the main room, I used the hair dryer, which didn't take two minuets because my hair was so easy to dry. Mercedes was sitting beside the kettle which was beside the wardrobe. She was making us both a cup of tea. Mercedes was wearing a black dress with huge black heels, a gold chain necklace and gold earrings. Her hair was still dyed blonde on the ends and they were curled into two big curls.
"I've picked you an outfit," Mercedes smiled, showing me a white dress which was hanging on a hanger, there was a silver chain necklace hanging around the metal part of the hanger, I already had earrings in and the shoes were dark blue with a mirror heal.
"Thanks," I replied, shocked and confused about why she had gotten out an outfit for me.
"Let me do your hair," She offered.
"It's alright, I can do it," I smiled, taking a sip of the boiling hot tea which she had just placed in front of me. I threw the dress on and zipped it up, it wasn't straight like Mercedes' was it was baggy with see through sleeves and bottom. I liked it. In the end I gave up and Mercedes began curling my hair, she was better at it than I was. Unlike hers who was only one curl on each side, mine was lots of littler ones which gave my hair lots if volume.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"Put this on," Mercedes told me, passing me a bright pink lip stick, hers was red.
"Now what?" I asked, after doing that.
"Get in this photo, we're printing it off and leaving one around the village when we go home," Mercedes smiled.
"We're going home? For real?" I gasped.
"For real, but on a low profile that's for sure," Mercedes said.
"Why? Can we not just stay in the house like we're doing now?" I asked, it seem simple enough.
"Don't be stupid, Ellie-Anna. Not only will we get arrested but so will Nana, Mum, Jacqui, Porsche, Celine and Lockie and that isn't good. We're going on a quick visit, to see Grace and maybe any one of the McQueens if we bump into them. Remember it's our lives on the line here," Mercedes lectured.
"Alright," I sighed.
"Is that clear?" Mercedes double checked.
"Yes," I moaned, before posing for the photo. She took a few because they were mostly really terrible ones.
"I'm going downstairs to get the car started, join me in a minuet - don't let anyone see you alright," She lectured, before slamming the door closed behind her. I sighed and looked at myself in the mirror, if anything I had gained weight since all we had been doing was sitting and eating. I made sure everything was switched off including the lights before walking down the corridor and out into the car park in front of me. Mercedes had drove the Ferrari right up to the door so I could just run and get straight in it.
"Anyone see you?" She asked and I shook my head.
"Don't think so," I replied.
"Put these on," She said, passing me the sunglass. She put her foot on the pedal so fast we shot off down the motor way.

Less than 10 minuets later, we arrived at a sigh that had 'Hollyoaks Village,' printed on it. I felt nervous and the hair on my arms was standing up.
"Don't be so nervous, this was your wish," Mercedes laughed, placing her hand on my thigh. We drove passed Leigh Road, our old street. Mercedes parked the car behind the dog in the pond, since the garage was closed and nobody was around.
"Keep your glasses on and avoid contact with anyone accept family and Grace," Mercedes whispered and we boldly walked through the village. Nt very many people noticed us, we had our heads down and everyone was too busy on their phones to notice. I opened the bottom entrance to the loft, Mercedes shut it behind her and we both walked up the stairs side by side.
"Grace, how good to see you," Mercedes smiled.
"Mercedes, Ellie-Anna," She gasped.
"Bet this is a surprise and a half," I smirked.
"It is, and not even a decent surprise," Grace inwardly smirked back.
"Less of that attitude, Grace, we basically own your life," Mercedes threatened.
"No Mercedes I own your life, you'll be the one going to jail when the truth comes out, not me," Grace laughed. She stood up and walked over to the fire exit, where she leaned over the edge of the balcony and looked down at the ground. Mercedes and I reluctantly followed her. We all knew that Grace would get arrested as well.
"You want to be careful dangling yourself over the edge of there, you might fall," Mercedes told Grace.
"I wont fall unless someone pushes me," Grace sternly said. She turned around, I noticed her shoes were heels that could easily get caught in the metal floor. "Why are you here?" She then asked.
"Ellie-Anna's 17, she's been stabbed and shipped off to somewhere in the middle of nowhere, she misses her family and so frankly so do I," Mercedes hissed.
"Look, I thought we had an agreement?" Grace scoffed.
"We did and it's not like we're walking around bold as brass," I replied.
"You do realise you can't go and visit your family, they'll go straight to the cops you fools," Grace smirked, going to walk back inside. Mercedes grabbed her and shoved her against the railings.
"Be careful," I whispered.
"Listen to your sister Mercedes, she's clearly got her head screwed on," Grace smirked, as Mercedes held her over he barrier. Mercedes let go of Grace and turned around.
"We should go, before anything goes wrong," I suggested and Mercedes nodded.
"Next time someone kills you, stay dead," Grace warned.
"You never know, someone might come and kill you for real," Mercedes laughed.
"Doubt it," Grace inwardly groaned.
"I wouldn't be so sure," Mercedes snapped, shoving Grace backwards. Grace's shoe got caught between two metal bars on the floor, she tumbled over the bar and shortly followed a loud thump. Mercedes looked at me and neither of us said anything. I took a few steps towards the bar and looked over the edge. Grace was laying on her back, her arms and legs were spread out and she looked so lifeless.
"Is she dead?" Mercedes whispered and I just turned and looked at her.