Sweet But Deadly

Cause In Rebellion...

Doll Master told me to stop digging but like Britney Spears, my idol, once sang Cause In Rebellion there's a sparkle of truth. 

It is now Thursday and I am in school. Walking down the hallway and it's weird to be back to be honest. I needed to come back though because staying at home alone with my own thoughts was hurting me to no limits. It's been three days since I found Hope's body and Doll Master started torturing me. It can't be Nicki doing all this to me. It can't be. 

I hate having to suspect her but her phone call last night was at a weird timing. Stefan Forbes, who I know from middle school, comes up to me. So I stop walking. He stands in front of me and then they give me a hug. They then say to me "I am so sorry for your loss. It must be terrible." 

His pronouns are he/they. 

"Thank you, Stef. It's just been a mess to be honest." We then start talking together. 

They then smile at me and say "It won't be a walk in the park. It takes time." 

He coughs and continues "If it helps with your investigation on who did it. I over-heard two people in Little Susie's ranting about how you and Hope ruined their chances or something two days before she went missing and then they said to get rid of one of you." 

This gets my attention. Is Doll Master a team? That would make everything worse for me because it's two against one. I am complete and utter screwed if that's the case, it be like two vampires against a defenceless human. My mind is already jam packed as it is, I don't need this added stress. I know this isn't they fault, Stefan just's trying to help me. And I like them for that. 

So I ask him the million dollar question "Do you remember the two people in the diner?" 

He shakes their head and goes "No, I don't but I'll try and remember for you." then he walks off leaving me with even more questions. 

I respond "Thank you, Stef." then my phone pings. I need to put my phone on silent because I'm tired of that ping. I look at my phone and my heart races. Someones been watching me from one of the classrooms. This game is making me look over my shoulder at all times. My right hand starts to sweat but all I see is Hope's blood so I quickly wipe it off as I start to feel sick because of the anxiety. 

'I told you to stop digging, Courtney.' The text reads and it ends with 'Doll Master.' 

With a worried face, I look around and see the hallway behind me to nothing. 

Then the announcer turns on and Principle White speaks down the phone "Can Courtney Marin please come to the office as Detective Fitz-Amobi wants to speak to her." 

My anxiety is not having a good day today. I take a deep breath and start walking to the office. 

-

"Hello, Miss Marin. How have you been?" Detective Fitz-Amobi asks me. 

I take a sip of the water and look up at her "Not good. Have you gotten any further with the investigation?" 

"We have." Thank god "The station got this video posted to us." Oh shit, hope it's not that video. She puts the dvd into the player and before she plays it Detective Fitz-Amobi starts to explain "It's off Hope Louise and we seem to think it was taken the night she went missing. It's the same top she was wearing when she was found. She's talking to someone who we think she was having a fling with." Hope never told me that. She usually told me everything so why did she hide this from me? 

Great! More questions. 

Detective Fitz-Amobi then plays the video. Seeing Hope alive again makes my heart reach my throat and tears reach my eyes. I take a quick look at my hands and her blood is back again so I have to wipe them. I hate this, I'm not in a good place at all. She notices this and comes over and sits next to me. "You are doing well, Courtney." The detective says to me as she holds onto my hands.