Heart's Games

Heart's Games|Chapter 27: If The Cat Is Lucky

Chapter 27: If The Cat Is Lucky

"Kate," Jerome said in a whispered tone. His voice was so gentle, as if to not hurt anyone. Maybe he was trying to fit into the burst of the moment. "Is that blood?"

"It's not recent," Grace said from behind. That's when I noticed that Claire, Gracie, Whitney, and Fanny had just reached us.

"Oh, my-" Before Whitney could start yelling, Jerome grabbed her from behind and covered her mouth with his arm.

Whitney looked terrified, and that was when I noticed how far we've come. We used to look like that a long time ago. But after all we've been through, everything seems...normal. Even though it is not. Nothing is normal anymore. It's simply usual. That day I discovered the significant difference between normal and usual. Whitney's reaction was normal. Ours was...well...usual.

"Whatever you do, don't yell," Gracie demanded.

"Where's Bryan?" Claire asked, looking a bit concerned. Before anyone could answer, she ran over to the computer area to find him.

Whitney began to mumble something, but you could not understand due to Jerome's arms covering her mouth. She looked so scared but mad at the same time. I think her expression was scarier than the dried blood.

"Whatever you do, don't let her go," Gracie told Jerome.

But right after those words, Jerome whined and Ow! and let Whitney free.

"Do you not understand me?" Grace asked in her Duh! tone.

"She bit me!" Jerome said in a high-pitched voice, trying to defend his fail.

The blonde stared at me square in the eyes. Her eyes were watery as she began to shake. Pointing an accusing finger at me, she said, "You need to tell me what is going on. Now!"

Out of all the nerve-wracking moments I've had in my life, this one was by far the worst. The last thing I needed was a thrilling prodigious blonde trying to get information out of me. Because this, whether I like it or not, is something I can't have many people helping me with. I already have these friends of mine risking their lives. Maybe Whitney was witty, but I already have a Sherlock Holmes and a blonde; in other words, I don't need- much less want- Whitney to be involved.

"I don't," I said, my voice firm as stone. But if I were to think that she was going to give up that easily- which I totally didn't- I was wrong.

"How do you plan listening to the recordings, Katherine? You're stuck here in the middle of Washington! How 'bout you take advantage of what you have? You'd have me and I have a Walkman. That would be the smartest thing to do." She had a crazy smile on. But deep in her brown eyes, you could spot the anxiety she had. She was hiding something, and I wasn't scared. If anything, I was anxious as well.

"Don't do it, Kate. Don't give into her," Jerome said.

But I wasn't looking at Jerome. I was focused on Whitney. Her crazy smile had faded. She had a frown; it was easy to tell she was scared. "You know, for a member of the drama club, you sure have a lot to work on." My lips lifted into a smile. "I know, Whitney, that you're not simply a curious girl. You know much more than you make us believe. And you're scared now that you see this isn't a silly little game. You know something and it is killing you to know the whole story."

Grace and Fanny seemed to notice where I was going with this. They smiled at me and they decided to stand by me. Gracie stood by my left before saying, "You know, curiosity can kill the cat."

From my right, Fanny said, "If the cat is lucky."

Whitney, though, was not your ordinary cat. She was more like a tiger. Fierce and strong. Fast and wild. Clever and vicious. But while Whitney was all that by herself, we were all that and more together. Whether I like to admit it or not, we make a pretty good team.