Bookview Valley 2

Chapter Seventeen: One, Two, Here We Go Again...

Tuesday, January 29th

I sit on my bed, staring at my phone. I have to message him, I just, really, don't want to. After we left the park, I came straight home and procrastinated texting Nick. I don't know how I would even start this message. Hi, sorry I accused you of murder, but would you pretty please still go see a movie with me? No, that's bad. Um, hey, Nick, I know we've had some tough times, but- That's worse, and I didn't even mention me accusing him of murder.

"You okay?" I look up at Luci enters my room.

"Not really, no," I sigh, tossing my phone onto the bed.

"What's up?"

"They're letting Nick go..."

"So, he's not the killer?"

"We don't really know that," I say, "But they can't keep him any longer."

"Oh."

"Yeah, and now my friends want me to meet up with him, talk, and try to trip him up."

"Some friends," Luci laughs, sitting next to me.

"I know," I roll my eyes, "If I die, I am so haunting them."

"You should," Luci laughs, but then turns serious, "Don't die, okay?"

"I'll try my best to stay alive," I assure him, "Anyway, I've been trying to text Nick for like, the past hour, but I don't know what to say."

"Yeah, that does seem hard," Luci peers up at the ceiling, "Maybe, 'hey Nick, I know you know that I think you're the murderer, but want to go see a movie?'"

I glare at Luci, "That's awful."

He laughs, "Yeah, it really is."

"What do I do!?" I exclaim, flopping onto my back.

"Just try to be honest, I guess," Luci says, "I'll leave you to it."

I wait til Luci leaves my room before picking my phone back up. I hesitate a moment before opening it and clicking open my messages. I find Nick's name and tap on it. It opens our conversation.

-Hey, Nick. I know everything has been...I'm sorry.

-I honestly don't even know anymore. I don't if I still think you're the...I...

-What are you trying to say, Morgan?

At least he answered, that's a good sign right?

-I'm asking if maybe you still want to go see that movie and talk? I'm ready to listen now.

-I don't know, Morgan. I mean, I understand why you've been the way you've been, but...

I stare at the phone waiting. The three little dots keep popping up and leaving. I nibble on my thumb nail, my heart pounding. Is he going to turn me down? If I can't even get him to meet me, then I can't try to trip him up in his lies.

-You know what? Fine. Tomorrow night, seven. I'll pick you up.

-That's great! Thank you, Nick. I promise, I'm listening now.

-Sure. See you then.

I put my phone away. I do kind of feel bad for this, but if he is the killer, he so deserves it.

...

Later that night...

The lights in the prison flickers, the silence deadly. The only sound is the steady breathing of over hundreds of criminals. Jamie stares up at her ceiling, contemplating everything that went wrong. The lights flicker again, and this time she slowly sits up. She stares out into the hallway through the small glass window that she was provided. She stands up, her chains rattling, as she tries to get closer in order to get a better view. She gets to the end of her chain, it yanking her back. She lets out a cough and moves back an inch. She wrestles with her straight jacket, wishing her hands were free.

Apparently, a killer can't do anything without their hands. Also, somehow, the heavy straight jacket refuses to let Jamie use her powers. Not that they're even that strong anymore, since she's far away from Bookview Valley. The lights flicker again.

"Are you here to kill me?" Jamie asks to the silence.

"No."

"Then why are you here?" Jamie scoffs.

"To free you."

"How? Being this far away from the Valley should have made you weak too," Jamie says, she squints trying to see her partner, "Unless..."

"You are correct."

"But, why?"

"Does it matter?"

"I guess not," Jamie says, turning around, "Hurry up and free me, asshole."

The voice laughs, "Always so demanding, and yet, you're the one in chains."

"Shut up," Jamie growls, "It's not my fault."

"You really just couldn't handle Morgan, could you?"

"I underestimated her," Jamie mumbles.

"Won't do that again, will you?"

"I thought you didn't want my help," Jamie rolls her eyes as the figure behind her snaps her chains.

"I need it."

"I'm sure," Jamie says, tugging off the straight jacket. When it drops to the floor she turns to face the Skeleton, "So, how do we get out of here?"

"You really are weak."

"No kidding," Jamie glares at the skull, "I'll get my magic back as soon as we get to the valley."

"I know. Until then, throw this on," The Skeleton tosses a cloak and mask at Jamie.

"Oh, I've missed this," Jamie grins. She quickly changes and turns back to the Skeleton, "Now what?"

"Now, we leave," The Skeleton says to Jamie, "Hold on to me."

"Gross," But Jamie, now in full Skeleton get up, grabs onto her partner. In the wink of a moment they both disappear into complete darkness.

...

Even later that night...

Sarah Miks was always a studious student. She would study from late at night to late in the morning. You would think, that because she studies a lot, that she would be a high placing student, but sadly, she would constantly fall asleep in class.

Tonight we find her, on her bed, with her computer open along with a couple notebooks. Soft music plays from her computer as she scribbles test notes into her notebook. Her family has been asleep for hours, but Sarah is still filled with energy as she flips the page.

"Now," Sarah mutters to herself, "I just have to not fall asleep during the test."

"Really? This is who you chose?"

Sarah looks up and around her room, "Who's there?"

"Stop judging me before I put you back."

"Whoever you are, you know it's weird to talk to yourself."

"She has a point. We sound too alike."

"The mask only has one setting."

"Everyone already knows who I am..."

The voice sighs, "Fine, but when I tell you we need to be identical, you have to use the voice."

"Whatever."

"I know that voice!" Sarah exclaims, standing up.

"Now you've alerted her."

"She was already alerted," Jamie says, stepping out of the shadows.

"Jamie? Is that you?" Sarah asks, peering at the skull mask, "But I thought you were in prison?"

"I guess I just got bored?" The Skeleton before Sarah shrugs.

"Why are you here?" Sarah asks, walking towards Jamie.

"That should be obvious," The other voice rasps in Sarah's ear, low and deadly.