It Started With Hello

Chap. 107

Moments Prior...

Niki pushed the drunk guy's hand off her neck. She was done with him. He had been a persistent shadow for the last few minutes, his hot, clammy hand on her thigh and his wet lips trying to find her neck. His stale beer breath was a thick, unpleasant cloud, and she was done with his sloppy attempts. After she pushed him, she stood up, leaving him looking up at her in a confused, drunken haze.

"Where you going, baby?" he slurred, his voice thick. It was time to find her friends and get out of this lame party. She hadn't seen any of them since this loser had cornered her when the party began, and she was getting a bad feeling.

She knew he wouldn't let her go easily, so it was time to turn on the charm. She flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder with a practiced air, giving him a syrupy smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"I'm just going to grab a drink, baby. I'll be right back. Then we can pick any room you want to... have some fun." She ran her nails slowly down his cheek, watching his lips spread into a foolish, mindless grin. She gave him one last insincere smile and turned, her heels clicking on the hard ground as she walked away, a silent promise to herself that she would not be back.

She had no intention of going back. She couldn't even remember his name. A prickle of unease had settled under her skin, telling her that this party had gone on for too long. She needed to find her friends. This party was getting out of hand, and it was getting late. Suddenly, she spotted a flash of bright blue in the crowd. Claire.

"Claire! Claire, over here!" Niki yelled, racing towards her. Claire turned around, her eyes wide with relief. They met in the middle, and Claire's words tumbled out in a panicked rush, her face pale even in the dim light. "Hey, I was just looking for you! We need to find the others and split. This party is getting out of hand. I just saw some people shooting up drugs in the back room."

Niki's eyes widened in surprise and disgust. She grabbed Claire's hand, and they began speed-walking through the house, pushing people out of their way.
"Whitney! Emma! Where are you guys!?" Claire yelled, her voice strained as she scanned left and right, her panic growing.

Claire pointed ahead, spotting Whitney in the distance, but Emma wasn't with her. "Whit! Over here!" Niki said, letting go of Claire's hand and racing toward her.

"Where's Emma?" Claire asked as Whitney ran over to them, her face a mask of worry. Niki was just passing the backyard glass door when she saw movement outside. Her head turned instinctively, and she froze, her blood turning to ice. A body was laying on the damp grass, a flash of red dress, and a person dressed in all-black baggy clothes stood over them.

The muffled thump-thump she heard was the sound of a foot stomping on something. It took only a second for her to recognize the crumpled form of her friend. It was Emma.

Claire ran into her back. "Niki, what are you doing? Why did you stop?" she asked, her voice tight with confusion, watching Niki stare, unmoving, through the glass.

Niki finally snapped out of her trance as she watched the person grab Emma's legs and drag her toward the pool. She grabbed the door handle, but it was locked tight. Claire looked out the door and saw Emma. Her eyes widened, her hands flying to cover her mouth as tears welled up. "Oh my god, Emma!"

Whitney finally joined them at the door, her eyes widening in horror as she saw Emma's limp body being pulled closer to the water. "Let go of her, you bastard!" she yelled, slamming her hands against the glass, the muffled thuds lost to the noise of the party.

"Let her go! Stop it! Let her go!" Niki screamed, her voice a raw, desperate shriek. She glared at the masked figure outside, who simply paused and laughed at them, a cold, taunting sound that made their helplessness feel like a physical blow.