The Proxy Trials 2... Annihilation (ON HOLD)

CHAPTER 14 - She's mine.

Xandra's P.O.V

Tuesday 21 February

I walked into the living room; no one was there, not even one of the Proxies. There was no one whatsoever in the grand kitchen. The Nursery. Not even the bedrooms! It was the Third Trial all over again. A nightmare transformed into reality - holy sugar coated...crap. I didn't like this one bit.

"Hello?" I called out, and I my reply was nothing but cold, cruel silence.

My heart began to hammer just a little bit more, and I was just about to have a panic attack when I remembered the woods, but I don't remember any training schedule for Tuesdays. So I walked into the woods kind of worried - I mean, what if they just jump out and try to attack me again? Jesus Christ I will actually have an emotional breakdown because I have a thing about being all alone and isolated.

I took one step, receiving a crunch from under my left foot, then I took another step. My breathing turned ragged as I tried to catch out anyone's voices but I heard nothing. Another step, and another... I eventually ended up taking three fruitless circuits around one very large tree, hoping at least one person could just appear behind it and go 'don't be stupid, Xandra. You're not alone!'

"SURPRISE!" I squealed, terrified. Everyone - all the Selected and I think all the Creepy Pasta's I've ever laid eyes on filtered from the trees and a whole eyewatering display of multicoloured balloons and food surrounded me, and I took a deep, shaky breath in. All my friends created a band around me and grinned from ear-to-ear.

"What the f*ck is wrong with you guys?! You didn't half give me a fright!" I slapped Jeff lightly in the shoulder and he grinned, pecking me on the cheek which caused me to let out another little squeal. 

Oh, right. So it was my birthday today.

"All day yesterday when you weren't around, we had this whole birthday party idea set up for you!" Violet laughed excitedly. She threw me a small wrapped-up silver parcel, which I caught, swift in movement. "Uh...thank you?" I forced a smile.

She folded her arms. "Happy birthday Xandra. I can't believe you're bloody 16!" She dug me in the ribs and I cringed.

I tore the package open and my eyes grew when I look at what was hidden away within the pink tissue paper. A stunningly diamond quartz necklace which looked pretty expensive if I do say so myself.

"What - how did you get this?" I breathed, staring at her with awe. She shrugged, and tapped her nose. "The less you know the better, don't you think?"

I laughed, and a whole lot more presents came my way - an iPad from Jeff, a new pair of periwinkle heels from Rose, and £50 from Dawn.

"I don't know what sh*t you like!" She added.

Ben jumped on my back. "Let's eat now, I'm starving."

***

I looked at the view of the world upside down, and giggled. "Hey, hey Ben! I think I've found a raccoon!"

Hours later, our stomachs overfed and hyper-activity vanquished, everyone cosied up beneath the stars after deciding to camp out. Fireflies and the echoes of crickets buzzed within the air, and the flickering tongues of a campfire sat in the middle of all of us, guarded by Sakura and Rose.

The lot of us had downed at least a couple cans of alcohol, and were now either tipsy or wasted away sleeping. Maria and Eyeless Jack were flirting up in a tree, Jeff was downing all the lager he could like cocaine; and Dawn, Toby and Violet were in a heap, snoring gently. I laughed, everyone was a mess.

Well, I could speak. Ben and I were hung upside down on a thick tree branch, giggling at anything and everything.

Ben pointed, getting all over-excited like a little kid. "Ah, can you see them badgers?" They scampered off into the night.

I tutted. "Tsk, now look what you've done! You scared them away, silly boy." He stuck his tongue at me and I waggled mine back.

Violet opened one eye drowsily. "Can you be a bit quieter please, birthday girl? Trying to sleep here." I laughed ten times louder and gave her my middle-finger-salute to piss her off. She grumbled and shakily got up, rubbing her head.

"Ahh sh*t. I have the WORST hangover today." She clutched her brow with disgust and then her eyes glimmered with surprise. "Oh!"

She took a couple of steps forward - almost toppling over - picked up something half dug-up against a tree. Ben fell off the tree and panted shaking his head, "Is that the gift?" She nodded, frowning. What gift?

A snow-globe. It was gorgeous, all expensive and antique. "That's beautiful!" I called, "Who gave it?" She decided to ignore my question and walked up to the fire, and before anyone could stop her, she chucked it in.

"What the - ? Why the hell did you do that?"I raised an eyebrow as the flames licked the edges of the beautiful little present, leaving dark scorch marks. Violet wiped her eyes, which were glistening with tears. "I'm sorry...Masky gave this to me for my birthday but I don't want this. I don't this to even live." She crossed her arms and watched the tentative fire swallow it whole.

And just like that, it had disappeared. I joined her, lacing an arm over her frail shoulders, which were trembling a bit. "It's okay Violet, he was nothing but a jerk."

She laughed coldly. "Ha! I figured that much."

We were in silence for a bit, until Sakura stood up and walked over to me with a shiny purple box. "I forgot to give it to you earlier, happy birthday! She smiled warmly, and I returned the favour before ripping open the wrapping paper and pulling out a lace black kimono. It was long and elegant and so, so beautiful.

"Oh my go, Sakura! This is so pretty? Did you make this?!"

She nodded sheepishly. "I'm sorry, I didn't have very long to make it, but it's a token of my support to you." I ran a hand along the material, breathless.

The tranquillity was soon gone when Masky and Hoodie came dashing through the trees. Hoodie pointed up at the mansion.

"Do you lot know where E-emily is? She hasn't come d-d-down to the camp-out has she?"

I gave him a look. "What? Emily? No, we haven't seen her."

Now that he mentioned it, Emily wasn't with us all day. The pair turned to face each other with what could only be pure horror. Something was wrong.

Ben, Rose, Sakura, Violet and I dashed up to Emily's bedroom, realising she hadn't even come downstairs to say happy birthday. We stopped just outside her door looking at each other. Violet took a step forward and pushed it open slightly, so it squawked on its hinges.

Then we all gasped with shock.

All over the walls, was the same message written again and again in red stuff - THE red stuff. She's mine.

She's mine.

She's mine.

She's all mine.

And we reached the big queen-sized bed, and examined the figure of a stick person drawn in blood over the covers, with an arrow pointing to her heart.

I own.

Rose reached out gingerly and touched the damp red, her fingers came back stained as well. "Can we say Ribena?" She whispered, petrified.

We forgot about Ben, who glowered at the huge french window which was open, so the curtains danced like crazy as a violent breeze lingered in the air.

Across the open shutters spelled the words written in dripping blood.

 I own. She's all mine.