On The Verge

Chapter 22- The Guilty Get Watched

——————Maddie——————

⠀⠀We silently decided that we would stay the night at Kendall's house, none of us wanting to be separated after what had happened. After quickly sending our parents an informative text telling them that we were going to have a sleepover, we focused our attention on comforting Chloe.

⠀⠀She was a wreck, and rightfully so. Josh and her had been dating for half of forever, they had been so intimate. Josh had meant the world to Chloe, and he was ripped from the depths of her heart.

⠀⠀Chloe lay on Kendall's bed, waves of tears rocking her body. I held her as she cried, stroking her hair. I softly murmured my condolences in her ear.

⠀⠀When Chloe's sobs eventually dwindled into sniffles, Nia spoke up; "We never saw that. It never happened."

⠀⠀I looked up at her in disbelief.

⠀⠀"We have to tell the police!" I cried.

⠀⠀"They told us themselves they have no suspects for Josh's case! If we tell them we found him dead, guess who'll be at the top of the suspect list?" Nia asked rhetorically.

⠀⠀Nia was right. After what happened with Paige, we couldn't afford any police contact in fear they would find out the truth about Paige's death.

⠀⠀A light ting suddenly echoed throughout the room. It was the unmistakable sound of stone upon glass. Kendall rushed to the window, drawing her previously closed curtains open. A white piece of paper was revealed plastered onto the glass with tape. I felt myself exhale nervously as Kendall read the contents of the note.

'M⃞u⃞r⃞d⃞e⃞r⃞ a⃞n⃞d⃞ n⃞o⃞w⃞ m⃞i⃞s⃞p⃞r⃞i⃞s⃞o⃞n⃞.⃞ Y⃞o⃞u⃞ g⃞i⃞r⃞l⃞s⃞ s⃞u⃞r⃞e⃞ h⃞a⃞v⃞e⃞ b⃞e⃞e⃞n⃞ n⃞a⃞u⃞g⃞h⃞t⃞y⃞!⃞'

⠀⠀"What's misprision?" Kendall asked in confusion.

⠀⠀"Concealment of information from the authorities," Nia stated bluntly. "we didn't tell the police about Josh. It's considered misprision which is a crime."

⠀⠀"Liza needs to be stopped." I clenched my teeth angrily.

⠀⠀"We need a plan." Nia decided suddenly.

⠀⠀Our desire to stop the devastating snowball effects of Paige's death was unanimous. Liza had taken things out of control, drawing straws from a glass of desperate measures. Paige's death was an accident, and Liza had taken her revenge to the next level. We knew she needed to be stopped, but how do you stop someone so conniving, so matriculate...

⠀⠀"It's like she knows our next move before we do." Kendall observed suddenly. My head snapped up, Kendall's comment triggering a realization.

⠀⠀"She's watching us." I noted incredulously.

⠀⠀How else would Liza know when to catch us at the perfect moment? How else would she know that we had found Josh's body?

⠀⠀"She's stalking us." Nia corrected, a note of fearful wonder hidden in her voice.

⠀⠀Chloe cleared her throat, drawing all eyes in her direction. Tears had dried on her soft cheeks, and fresh ones littered the corners of her eyes.

⠀⠀"I found this as we leaving the building where Josh was." She said quietly, her voice breaking and her features clenching as she said the last few words. Carefully, she unfolded a piece of paper from her pocket. My heart clenched, for every note we received seemed to unfold another dangerous situation.

'I⃞ w⃞a⃞n⃞t⃞ t⃞o⃞ m⃞a⃞k⃞e⃞ y⃞o⃞u⃞ h⃞u⃞r⃞t⃞ t⃞h⃞e⃞ w⃞a⃞y⃞ I⃞ d⃞o⃞.⃞'

⠀⠀"She killed Josh." Chloe stuttered, proving our suspicions, as she erupted into tears.