My Fiction Fix #01

Writing Idea #49: Dead Friend's Life

CHAPTER 1

I stared at the casket without even purely knowing or being able to describe what I was feeling. Caitlin Marin was my best friend. Quirky and outgoing, I was the introvert she took under her thumb in first grade and then the little pacts we made from then on, our own little coven where sometimes comparing grades motivated us to study harder, we weren't like those girls who dressed for Halloween to get drunk and party. Every Friday night wasn't about how many guys we could kiss, it was about academic decathlon, colleges in the future. Everything that would've outshined all others at the dumb school I attended.

She was one of the students who got caught in the cross-fire of the shooting that touch one news.

Or so it was thought to be a shooting. It wasn't a shooting, yet the Department of Defence, a security district that shut the school down just a week ago and while other students could afford to go to the only other remotely local school in town, I was struggling. Because all I could think about was Caitlin. She was obliterated, I saw it with my own eyes. The Thing that did this to her, it died at the hand of a man who's eyes I could never forget. Considering they were red eyes. He may have taken the vengeance I felt when I looked at the creature who killed her. I close my eyes. Neither of my parents were around, they were big travellers and decided taking my two older brothers with them at the time was the best idea. So my aunt had popped in every now and then. That's why Caitlin and her parents were my rock. She was an only child.

A hand squeezes mine, her Mother, Davina curls me into her chest, her embrace cold with the long coat she wore. I sniffle, embracing her while her Dad, Brendon wraps his arms around us both. The difference between Caitlin and myself-her family had money. But I never cared about that, sure most sleepovers were at her place because her family had a theatre in their own home. Caitlin was the bravest of us.

I stare at the casket as it's lowered. She never deserved this, she deserved to grow old, have a family, watch her kids grow. Davina rubs my shoulder while Brendon leads us away, their guards flanking each of us before I see my Aunt in the distance and I don't think as I run to her. She wraps me in her embrace, "Emily, thank you for coming." I hear Davina say behind me softly. Brendon next to her while I close my eyes and lean against my Aunt, wiping my eyes furiously, I hated crying.

My Aunt Emily rubs my back, "I'm sorry for your loss, Davina." She whispers to her, rubbing my shoulders.

"Thank you, Emily. Why don't you both come over for dinner?" Davina asks us both.

I look at her, "Every-time I'll ever go over, all I'll think about is Caitlin. I'm sorry, I can't...yet." I whisper, swallowing, folding my arms and turning away while Brendon wraps his arms around me in a fatherly embrace.

"You don't have to explain, Evangeline. When you are ready, kiddo." He tells me, I sniffle and nod. Aunt Emily gives Davina a hug before opening the door to our car, I hug Davina one last time too before getting in. Aunt Emily sighs as we get in.

"Those two care about you a lot, Evie." She murmurs in the cold air of the car as she drives.

I look to her, "I just lost my only friend. Her life taken away from her. They lost their daughter." Is all I can think to say, "She didn't deserve that. I don't even know why she stepped out of that classroom in the first place." I breathe out, shaking my head, eyes glassed over,

Aunt Emily looks at me gently, "I don't know, honey. I've contacted both your parents. They want to come home, along with your brothers."

"Tell them not to bother." I mutter.

"Don't be like that, Evie. They're your parents." He soft tone only weakens more, she's upset, I can hear it in her voice, it won't waver like mine does, I only shake my head.