A Night To Remember

Seven: Requiem of an Anne

A piercing pain shot through my chest, I glanced up. Their malicious gaze looked back at me. If I wasn't dying now, I definitely was once their knife raised again; burying itself in my chest. I staggered back, I tried to make out their face; but just as I saw them, my vision went blurry. Their taunting voice filled my ears as I blacked out.

My alarm blared, forcing me awake. My heart was pounding in my chest and I took a deep breath to calm myself down.

Just a dream, Indiana, just a dream.

I sat up, silencing my alarm as I grabbed my phone. My calendar reminded me it was only a few days until my birthday. My mother seemed adamant about the party or whatever she was planning last night. I couldn't quite remember the last proper birthday I had; probably my tenth.

It wasn't like birthdays were illegal in my household, I just never went through the effort of planning one. Neither did my family; until now, apparently.

Still shrouded in darkness, I got out of bed. The fall air blew through my window, moving my curtains a little from the force of the gust. I shivered and quickly closed the window, before flicking my lights on. I wondered if Raymond was already awake, but knowing them they probably didn't even sleep last night at all.

It took me a moment to properly get ready, but once I did I heard some movement in the hallway. I opened the door slightly and noticed Raymond leaving their room. We made eye contact for a moment before I closed my door once again.

~~~

The walk to school was dreary and quiet. The season called for much shorter days, which meant the sun was barely rising as we started our journey towards the academic hellscape that was middle school. Typically I hated walking in the dark, but it was easier when Raymond was there.

Once again, sitting down in the cafeteria I was greeted by the chaotic cacophony of noise from my friends. Seems like every day that passes the louder everyone gets.

"Okay, sure," Allan said with an amused smirk, clearly engaged in banter with Asher. Asher looked unamused as they glanced at him.

"What? My opinion is correct and you just have to accept that," they said in a mock dramatic tone. Sho gave me a smile as he noticed that Raymond and I entered.

Allan snapped their head towards me and spoke.

"Indie, tell Asher that Heathers is superior to Mean Girls," they said quickly. Asher rolled their eyes in a frustrated manner.

"Not even been here for a minute and you're already dragging me into your argument," I said exhaustedly, sitting down between Asher and Sho.

"It is a valid statement," Allan said firmly.

Raymond paused, sitting across from me. They glanced around and spoke after a moment.

"Where's Anne?"

It only occurred to me after Raymond brought it up, that Anne was nowhere to be found. Maybe her bus was delayed?

"Did her bus fall behind?" Sho asked as if reading my mind. We all exchanged confused glances for a brief moment. Allan shook his head.

"No, my bus came a little after hers. She rides route ten, right?" Allan asked. I nodded. I noticed Raymond checking something on their phone. They seemed uncharacteristically nervous. I glanced at them as they stood up from their seat.

"I'll be right back," they said quickly, before taking their leave.

I watched them go with a neutral expression. Something was wrong. Something was really wrong.

~~~

Panic flooded through Raymond. Stumbling into an empty classroom, they leaned against the wall and desperately tried to calm down.

Breathe, Raymond. Breathe.

Forcing themself to look back at their phone, albeit with shaky hands, they froze upon reading it once again.

Today at 7:42 AM

Anne: It's a shame.
Anne: I gave you a choice, Raymond.
Anne: Don't expect to be seeing Anne again.
Anne: She's with me now.
Attached Image

Raymond's breathing was forced and uneven, their phone nearly falling from their hands. It wasn't the words they were afraid of. It wasn't whoever had sent them. It was the photo.

Seeing a photo of your friend's dead body fucks you up a bit.