Dancing in the Oaks

Vengeance

I went back inside just as the stars began to twinkle in the sky. Nick ran to the store to pick up some animal feed that I had forgotten to get. He needed to run anyway because Red Reed Dairy needed some more feed as well. Before Nick was going to go home I decided to make a nice dinner. He really only comes over every few days for an hour or so to make sure I am alright. We usually have just been talking about the mystery. Nothing more has been solved. As soon as I put the chicken in the oven a knock was heard at the door. I found my feet quietly making their way over to the window where I could secretly take a peak. A tall, slender woman stood at the door. It almost seemed as if she looked like Berry. Her eye structure was the same. Her body wore black, so it made it even harder for me to figure it out. The woman had on a long jacket that covered her thighs. It appeared as if her facial expressions were agitated or angry.

I decided to walk away so I wouldn't have to be spotted. A few minutes later another knock was heard on the back door. I could not believe it. I ignored it. Next few minutes there were knocks at the front door again. It sounded as if glass shattered towards the west side of the house. I just decided to hide in the corner.

One step after another could be heard. Quiet chuckling could be heard as the steps got closer. I could see a shadow tower over the counter. The figure bent over and pulled my hair. It hurt so bad. It hurt the front side of my head. "Norah! This is it! Goodbye!" The voice yelled.

"You know, I'm not gonna fight anymore. Whoever you are, I'm so disappointed in you. Berry, I'm sure it's you. Don't do this anymore. You're hurting more than solving. Trust me on this." I tried to remain calm. Not acting vulnerable seemed like the best method.

Her grasp became even harder as she pulled my small frame across the wooden floors while pulling my hair. I screamed in pain, yet the figure didn't seem to care. As my bottom was dragging across the wood floor my body was not fighting. I thought that I would let her do what she needed to do. "Hush!"

"You... have hurt the entire town. Do not hurt more people." I screamed. "This is dumb. Just please drop this whole thing. I am begging you."

"I found out some fake news Norah! You and Nick are dating. Wow! You are taking my best friend. I cannot believe that." She kicked my face. My nose hurt so bad and it began to bleed. I just lied there curled into a ball.

I started crying. "He was never your best friend, he couldn't be! He would never be! I've heard it from Nick and Jonathan Schneider. You are the killer! I know what you've done. Don't put blame on anyone besides yourself and your little schemes. So don't tell me who- who was it before you?" I was somewhere between alive and dying.

"Nick's father and... how do you know Jonathan Schneider?" She screamed at my face.

"Oh I know him alright. I know him. You know, that's gotta be... he's your cousin. He tried to stop you and Dareck. You guys didn't listen! How the heck did you get by-" She tied my hair tightly around the railing pole. "Who was it from? Who was also associated with y'all!?" She tried to tie my arms up too.

"You wanna know who killed Dareck? It was me! You wanna know who killed both Nancy's? Dareck. You know who killed the Schmidt's? Dareck. No! He's not my cousin. You know who murdered the 12 in your basement? Dareck." She yelled at me.

I was confused. "Yes. That timeline doesn't make sense. That's.. you're lying. I know the face of a liar Berry! You can't get by with this one. I do not think that Dareck did it." I struggled to breathe as she restrained my arms even further.

Her voice became increasingly loud. Since I could not bear loud noises anymore this was making me highly emotional. "Exactly. I never killed anyone. Okay. Those journals were decoyed by Dareck. I never killed Dareck. He did it to himself. He was convicted and killed... In fact I was just trying to be friends with Nick. As for Schneider, he is my best friend. He's not my cousin. You've destroyed my..." She slapped my face with her hand. She is such a bad tempered individual.