DEMARCATION

Fifteen

AVA

I woke up with a start as I remembered I had to check out the files. The light crawling out of the curtains made me realize that I had overslept. A look to the clock confirmed my doubt and I jumped out of the bed knowing I was going to be late for the breakfast. Within fifteen minutes I got ready which was a new record for me and by the time I opened my door the bell rang out. 'Phew... I just made it... Or Wendy might have doubted my absence like yesterday.'

I was eating my food while I tried to remember why I have dark circles even though I slept yesterday. That was when I remembered about the drink that I flushed out. It meant I had to be awake in the night and that might explain the dark circles but then why don't I remember anything.

"Ava?"

Since I was in deep thought I didn't hear their conversation until Joe called out my name.

"Huh... what?" I didn't realize the frustration until I saw Joe face that indicated he doubts I was hiding something. "I mean... wha... Sorry I was thinking about something else and didn't hear you. What were you talking about?" I hoped he would not try digging it out because I don't plan to give out anything until I can trust him.

"I was asking about Wendy. I haven't seen come out of her room today and it's locked. I tried calling her but I got no response and thought whether you might have seen her since you were the last to come." Amy responded making me uncomfortable for some reason. Hearing Wendy's name made me feel like I was forgetting something.

"Nope, I haven't seen her. Also I thought she might have came. So I didn't check on her." I can't get hold on what I was missing and that was making me frustrated. I continued eating trying to remember what I was missing and again got lost in my thoughts until Joe called out again.

"Sorry what did you ask?" I enquired giving out an apologetic look to Amy.

"It's just I was talking to Joe about our little encounter in the library but it seems he is oblivious to it?" Amy gave a look that told me she was curious about why I haven't mentioned it to him yet at the same time she don't want me to talk about the content of our conversation here.

Even though I felt like I was caught red handed I masked it perfectly and lied... "Oh that... it just left my mind and it was just about your family. So I felt like I shouldn't be talking about you to your back." I was sure that the last part has given her the warning that if she pry more about it I would disclose her fears which will alert the killer. She knew alerting the killer would only reduce her lifespan. it was confirmed that the warning reached her when she just gave an 'oh ok' and continued eating.

Even though she stopped I could felt Joe's eyes on me and I knew I will have a lot of explaining to do. It was then I remembered the bracelet that I found in my room. In the rush I found a bracelet lying in the floor of the wardrobe. In the rush I didn't give any thought to it but was sure it was not mine. But while thinking about what explanation should I give to Joe and why I was feeling an uneasiness something triggered a memory. I've seen the bracelet before... to be exact yesterday Wendy wore it and looked beautiful on her wrist.

As I came out of the trance I knew the next victim and I ran to her room praying that she should be alive. But for some reason I felt the stairs never ending. As I reached in front of her room I could hear my heart beat increasing in the eerie silence. I knew knocking won't work as Amy has tried it earlier. I knew others were coming so I called out to Jane to bring the spare key to her room. I had an idea what we might find and I hoped that it would be wrong. Within minutes Jane came and opened the door.