Hidden Flames

Chapter 5

[Still at Dance]

Tabby rushed up to Imogen, "Imogen, we have to go" She urged, but Imogen remained still, "We have to go. Imogen!" Tabby insisted

Finally, Tabby pulled Imogen away, and they began to walk frantically through the halls, "That did not just fucking happen" Tabby muttered

"I've never seen a dead body before...except online" Mouse said quietly

"The sound, it wasn't like in the movies. Her bones..." Tabby's voice trailed off

They stopped walking, staring at each other, "Imogen, what the hell happened? What did you see?" Faran demanded

"I don't know...um...I saw Karen up in the rafters" Imogen recounted

"So did we" Mouse affirmed

"She had...had a bucket" Imogen revealed

"Like in Carrie?" Tabby asked, wide-eyed

"And there was someone else...up there with her, a man in a mask" Imogen continued, taking a shaky breath, "He...he pushed her"

"A mask like from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre?" Tabby questioned

"I've seen that dude" Noa interjected

"Me too" Juliette added

"Same. The text we all got...from A" Faran noted

"One bully down. Karen. It has to be" Tabby concluded

Imogen looked down at her arms, now stained with Karen's blood, "She didn't fall. She was murdered" Imogen said softly, as they all stared at each other in complete shock

[Juliette's House]

As Juliette walked through the front door, she was immediately greeted by the sight of her parents sitting on the couch. Her dad looked worried, while her mom had that piercing look of concern mixed with frustration. They both stood as she closed the door behind her.

"What happened, Juliette?" Her mom asked, her voice already tinged with that accusatory tone she always had

Juliette sighed, trying to keep her emotions in check, "I don't want to talk about it, Mom" She said

Her dad stepped forward, using a softer approach, "Juliette, we're just worried. We heard about Karen..."

"Please" Juliette interrupted, her voice trembling, "I really don't want to talk about it"

Her mom crossed her arms, not letting up, "Juliette, you can't just avoid this. You need to tell us what happened. Were you involved?" She accused

That last question snapped something inside Juliette, "Involved? Seriously, Mom? Do you really think I'd be involved in something like this?" She shouted, her voice echoing through the house

Her mom's eyes widened in surprise at her outburst, "Juliette, don't raise your voice at me. You need to—"

"I need to what, Mom? Be perfect? Always have it together? Maybe I just need a break from all this pressure!" Juliette yelled, her emotions spilling over

Her mother was quick to react to the truthful words her daughter at spewed at her. Hadley's hand raised just as quickly as Juliette regretted her words. The sound of Hadley's hand hitting her daughter's cheek was deafening. Juliette could've swore the whole neighborhood heard it.

Juliette's hand flew to her face, unshed tears finally spilling over, "Hadley!" Her father yelled but was ignored

Hadley looked her daughter in the eyes, "Never speak to me like that again" She said through thin lips