The Forgotten

Well, Raven, What Do You Have to Say?

My blood turns cold. Not today. People haven't even gotten over Jess. This is his day. Now these people, whoever they are, are just being cruel. I mean, it's one thing to stab someone (metaphorically), but to twist the weapon around their heart. Just plain cruel.

"Who...who was it?" I ask, trying to keep myself calm and composure. It's Shain's turn to lose it. I've got to be sane enough to stop her from doing something stupid.

Trust me, people who are grieving often attempt to do really stupid things. Like revenge...like murder...like suicide. My job is to prevent Shain going through with any of those things, or worse.. Is there anything worse?

Shain shakes her head. She swallows and seems about ready to explain. Then she starts crying in full form, covering her face with her hands.

I try to pat her affectionately. As it's not doing much good, I stop after three or four attempts. Very short attempts though. I've never had to make someone feel better. At the Forgotten Compound, people didn't exactly trust each other with issues. They went psycho on anyone who tried to comfort them.

As you can guess, there weren't many sets of friends. There wasn't any trust.

Suddenly Shain says, "It was...it was...I can't do it!" She closes her eyes. I decide to change tactics.

"How did you find out?" I ask. gently She opens her eyes and looks at me for a decently long amount of time before speaking.

"They were on my porch, sprawled across the front steps when I came home. They were clearly trying to get in when they....they..." I frown.

"Why didn't you go home after the funeral?" I ask.  She puts her head in her hands.

"I went to where Rubin's staying. I wanted to talk to him, about Jess. They were hanging out the night he...well...you know." I nod. I know exactly what happened. They separated. Jess came up to the roof. Someone jumped him. I'll never forget.

Shain continues, "He told me that Jess went looking for you, how strange?"

I realize where she's going. She knows I was on the roof. She knows Jess went up there. I came down before his body was found. I had ample time to commit and cover up murder. I'd suspect myself too.

I don't tell her any of this though. Instead I smile and ask civilly, "And?" Shain huffs.

"Did he find you?" I consider.

"Yes, he did,' I admit. "He found me talking to Will up there. He was mad, so Will went back downstairs and I spoke to him. He was furious I was having an 'intimate' moment with Will. I reminded him that you two had an affair and he liked you.

"He admitted this, but he persisted that you two weren't going to start dating until you got out of jail. I called him a jerk, and I believe some other things--can't remember, doesn't matter. Then I went back to the party."

Shain doesn't look entirely convinced. She reaches into her back and pulls out an envelope.

"This was sent by Janessa Cromwell to...to..." She must be talking about the victim then. I wish she'd just up and say it. She bites her lip. Then she continues, "She sent it to Tabitha."

Shain's little sister.

I swallow. No wonder Shain's so torn up. Her sister get's whacked the same day her boyfriend was buried. Now that is cruel.

"I'm so sorry,' I tell her. She laughs.

"Oh, I'm not so sure about that,' she replies. I frown.

"What was in the envelope?" I ask. I can tell something big was in it. Not size wise, information wise.

Shain pulls out pictures and holds back a sob.

It's a body. Their long blonde hair is mangled with blood. So is her very tight, very short pink dress. A knife is sticking out of their neck, the most probably cause of the blood. Her green eyes are unfocused and staring.

This person is dead. I know that for sure; anyone could tell. Besides the knife in the neck, they have multiple other punctures. They were stabbed at least seven times. No one could survive that.

What makes that worse? I recognize the victim's face. It's not Tabitha, who I expected to see. I never expected this.

It's my face.

This is Raven...and this is how she died.

And now Shain knows not just that she's dead, but that I'm here, alive.

"Well, Raven, what do you have to say?" Shain asks toxically.