The Devil In Disguise

Jordan's Funeral

The morning of Jordan's funeral arrived shrouded in a gray, somber mist, as though the world itself mourned her loss. Gianina moved through the motions of the day, dressing in a simple black dress, her heart weighed down by the dread that had settled there for weeks. Today wasn't just about saying goodbye to Jordan—it was also a painful reminder of the horrors that had invaded her life, a truth she still carried alone.

Since that morning with the killer in her room, messages from the devil-faced figure had continued to flood her phone. Every day, a new taunt appeared on her screen, each one more twisted than the last. He called her "his," taunted her with promises that he would return, and reminded her that her silence was the only thing keeping her friends safe.

Today's message came just before she left for the funeral:

Will you cry today, GG? Will you weep for Jordan? You'll shed even more tears before this is over. - Devil.

The words haunted her, casting a chill over her that no amount of warmth could dispel. She slipped her phone into her bag, forcing herself to push the fear aside. Today was about honoring Jordan, being there for her parents, and being the friend she had always promised to be.

The funeral home was packed, the air heavy with grief and the quiet murmur of condolences. Friends, family, classmates—all gathered to pay their respects to a girl who had been full of life, now taken too soon. Jordan's parents stood near the entrance, faces pale and etched with lines of sorrow that seemed to age them by years. Gianina took a deep breath, gathering her courage as she approached them.

"Mr. and Mrs. Smith," she said softly, her voice trembling with emotion. "I'm so sorry... I wish there were words to make this easier."

Mrs. Smith's face crumpled as she looked at Gianina, tears filling her eyes. "Thank you, GG," she whispered, reaching out to squeeze Gianina's hand. "Jordan loved you so much. You were like a sister to her."

Her heart clenched, the weight of the words hitting her with an intensity she hadn't expected. Jordan had been her closest friend, her confidante, and now she was gone, leaving a void that could never be filled. She fought back her own tears, knowing that she needed to stay strong for them.

"She was like a sister to me too," Gianina replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll miss her every day."

Mr. Smith nodded, his face set in a mask of stoic grief. "It's comforting to know she had friends like you, GG. Friends who truly cared."

Gianina nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Always," she promised.

The service began soon after, and Gianina sat with her friends in the pews, her gaze fixed on the casket at the front of the room. The weight of Jordan's absence pressed down on her, the reality of her friend's death settling in with a finality that felt suffocating. Cal sat beside her, his face drawn, his hands clenched tightly in his lap. She reached out, placing a comforting hand on his arm, but he remained still, his gaze distant.

As the eulogies were delivered, Gianina felt her emotions rise, a mix of sorrow and anger bubbling up within her. She wanted to scream, to rail against the injustice of it all. But instead, she remained silent, letting the tears flow freely as she said her own quiet goodbye.

After the service, the group returned to her house, seeking comfort in each other's presence. They sat in the living room, the weight of the day settling over them as they shared quiet memories of Jordan, clinging to the last remnants of the life they'd once known.

But the tension was palpable, a simmering energy that had been building for weeks. Cal sat across from Marcus, his gaze sharp, almost challenging. There was something in his eyes that made Gianina uneasy, a dark glint she hadn't seen before.

Marcus noticed it too, his own posture tensing as he returned Cal's stare. "What's your problem, man?" he asked, his tone clipped.

Cal shrugged, a hint of a smirk playing at his lips. "No problem. Just wondering how long it'll take before you mess things up with GG. Again."

Gianina's heart skipped a beat, her gaze flicking between them. "Cal, don't..."

But he ignored her, leaning forward with a taunting smile. "It's just... funny, isn't it? You act like you're this perfect boyfriend, but you're so wrapped up in your own ego that you can't even see what's right in front of you."

Marcus's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing as he glared at Cal. "Careful, Cal. You're walking a fine line."

"Or what?" Cal shot back, his voice laced with sarcasm. "You'll show me that dark side you keep hidden away? Go ahead, let's see it."

Gianina's heart pounded as she watched the exchange, a sense of dread settling over her. She had never seen Marcus like this—his face hard, his fists clenched as he fought to keep his anger in check. But Cal seemed intent on pushing him, his gaze steady, a taunting challenge in his eyes.

"Stop it, both of you!" Gianina pleaded, stepping between them. But they ignored her, their focus locked on each other, their tension finally boiling over.

Marcus took a step forward, his voice low and dangerous. "You have no idea what you're talking about, Cal. You think you're some kind of hero, but you're just as messed up as the rest of us."

Cal's smirk widened, his gaze flickering to Gianina for a brief moment before returning to Marcus. "At least I don't pretend to be something I'm not," he sneered. "You're just a fraud, hiding behind a nice-guy act while you keep secrets from the people who trust you."

Gianina's heart sank, a cold fear settling in her stomach as she realized that Cal was trying to provoke Marcus, to draw out a side of him she hadn't seen before. And, to her horror, it was working.

In a flash, Marcus lunged at Cal, shoving him back with a force that sent them both crashing into the coffee table. Gianina gasped, reaching out to pull them apart, but they were locked in a struggle, their movements a blur of fists and anger.

"Stop it!" she cried, her voice trembling as she tried to get between them. "This isn't helping anything!"

But they ignored her, their rage blinding them to everything else. Cal's taunts grew sharper, each one cutting deeper, his words laced with a bitterness that Gianina hadn't seen before.

"Look at you," Cal sneered, shoving Marcus back. "So desperate to keep up appearances, but you're nothing but a liar. How do you think GG would feel if she knew the real you?"

Marcus's face twisted in anger, his hands clenching into fists as he fought to keep control. But Cal pushed harder, his gaze fixed on Gianina as if daring her to see the truth he was trying to expose.

Gianina's heart pounded, her mind racing as she watched the scene unfold. She had always seen Marcus as her protector, her safe place. But now, as she looked into his eyes, she saw a darkness she hadn't noticed before, a raw anger that made her stomach twist.

In that moment, Cal looked at her, his gaze steady, a silent message in his eyes. See? This is who he really is.

"Enough!" Gianina shouted, her voice breaking as she stepped between them, forcing them apart. "Stop this, both of you. We're supposed to be friends."

For a moment, they both froze, their breaths heavy, their eyes locked on each other with a mix of resentment and rage. Then, slowly, they stepped back, each of them calming as the weight of Gianina's words sank in.

Cal looked away, his expression softening as the anger faded from his eyes. "I'm sorry, GG," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just... I can't stand to see you hurt."

Marcus said nothing, his gaze averted as he took a deep breath, his hands unclenching as he regained control. But Gianina could see the hurt in his eyes, the pain Cal's words had stirred within him.

The silence that followed was heavy, each of them weighed down by the unspoken truths that lingered between them. Gianina felt a tear slip down her cheek, her heart aching as she looked at her friends, feeling the rift that had grown between them.

"I need you both," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I can't do this alone."

They nodded, their expressions softened by regret, but Gianina knew that something had shifted, a fracture that couldn't be ignored. The darkness they had tried to keep at bay had finally surfaced, and there was no going back.