Hidden Flames

Chapter 3

[Thompson House]

Juliette laid in her bed, staring at the new guitar her parents bought her for Christmas. It sat untouched, the red, shiny bow still on it. Juliette hadn't played a single note of music since she was shot. Music was once her happy place but every time she tried to play, it became a reminder of what she went through months prior.

She stared at that guitar, hoping it would spark something in her, give her the passion she once had back, "Fuck it" Juliette muttered to herself

Juliette hopped off of her bed, striding towards the guitar. She picked it up, twirling it in her hands slightly before sitting back on the bed. She grabbed out her songbook and flipped to the page she never thought she'd go back to. The song she wrote about the one person she wished she could forget.

Noa fucking Olivar.

Juliette took a breath, placing her hands on the strings, "She looks at me, I fake a smile so she won't see. That I want and I'm needing everything that we should be. I'll bet he's handsome, that boy she talks about. And he's got everything that I have to live without" 

She strummed the guitar, "She talks to me, I laugh cause it's just so funny. But I can't even see anyone when she's with me. She says she's so in love, she's finally got it right. I wonder if she knows she's all I think about at night" 

"She's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar. The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star. She's the song in the car I keep singing, don't know why I do" 

Juliette pushed back the tears that threatened to fall, "She walks by me, can she tell that I can't breathe? And there she goes, so perfectly, the kind of flawless I wish I could be. He'd better hold her tight, give her all his love. Look in those beautiful eyes and know he's lucky cause" 

"She's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar" She took a breath, getting lost in the song, "The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star. She's the song in the car I keep singing, don't know why I do" 

"So I drive home alone, as I turn out the light. I'll put her picture down and maybe get some sleep tonight" 

"Cause she's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar. The only one who's got enough of me to break my heart. She's the song in the car I keep singing, don't know why I do. She's the time taken up, but there's never enough. And she's all that I need to fall into" She strums the last few cords, "She looks at me, I fake a smile so she won't see" 

[Thursday - Dr. Sullivan's Office]

The girls are all sitting in Dr. Sullivan's office, the radio on for them to listen to the verdict of Archie Waters' trial, "After a month-long trial and a week of deliberations, multiple murdered Archie Waters, AKA 'A', has received the maximum sentence possible, the death penalty" They all looked at one another, "When carried out, this will be the first execution to take place in the state of Pennsylvania since 1999. For the families of Archie's ten known victims, the nightmare's finally—" Dr. Sullivan turned the radio off

"So, the verdict is in" She sat in her chair, "Archie Waters is on death row. There will be no escape from a low-security mental institution in this horror sequel. I hope this news brings a modicum of comfort, at least. The question for us is, now that we know A's status, would you like to continue our sessions or suspend group?" She asked the teenagers

They looked at one another before Imogen spoke up, "Personally, I'd like to keep meeting. Alone, or in group" She said

"Same. I might need some help figuring out who I am, if I'm not a prima ballerina" Faran said