Fatal Love (Short Story)

Fatal Love

Delilah’s heart pounded to the beat of her sneakers hitting the pavement. Breathing in short gasps, she made the third and final lap around the local park, ignoring everyone in her gym class that were jogging behind her. She had a mission: get to the finish line first with the fastest time.

“Delilah, wait up!” called a familiar voice from behind her.

Delilah turned her head, trying to see how far back her best friend, Britney Wesell, was. She could see Britney trying to pass another peer down the stretch a little ways from Delilah. As Delilah began to slow down, she realized that if she was to wait up for her friend, she’d never get to the end in time to be first.

Making a split-second decision, Delilah called over her shoulder, “Sorry, Brit! I’ll see you at the finish!”

With guilt pooling in her stomach, Delilah turned back to the road, her face drenched in sweat. She could see the finish from where she was standing, and Delilah knew she could make it if no one decided to make a last minute sprint to pass her.

“Come on, Delilah,” she muttered to herself, pushing her legs as far as they could go. “Just a little farther.”

With one last burst of energy, Delilah threw herself over the finish line, collapsing in the damp grass. Soon after, Britney and the rest of her classmates crossed, all looking extremely fatigued. Britney collapsed beside Delilah, slapping her across the arm. “You ass!”

“Ow,” Delilah said, rubbing her arm. “I’m sorry, okay?”

Britney rolled her bright green eyes playfully. “Uh huh. Do you really have to cross the finish first every single damn time?”

Delilah sighed loudly, running her fingers through her long blonde hair. “Yes, Brit, I do.”

“For God’s sake,” Britney groaned, throwing her arms spread-eagle on the grass.

In the distance, the school bell rang. The girl’s gym teacher told the class to jog back, and Delilah was the first one up from the ground. However this time, she decided to stay back with her friend, making up for abandoning her during the race. Since everyone was eager to get back to the school, Delilah and Britney were soon the only ones left on the worn path.

“Oh great,” Britney shook her head, throwing her hands over her head to protect her hair from the sudden rain shower. Delilah cursed under her breath, pulling the hood of her jacket over her head. Just a few minutes ago, the skies had been clear and rain-free. Now the skies were completely covered in dark clouds.

“C’mon, we should hurry.” Delilah began to jog down the path, trying to get away from the pouring rain that threatened to drench the both of them. She could hear Britney’s loud footsteps from behind her, and didn’t bother looking back until the footsteps eventually ceased.

Delilah stopped in her tracks. She turned, furrowing her eyebrows at the girl now staring into a small island of trees and bushes. “What are you doing, Brit? Do you want to be soaked?”

“Delilah?” Britney’s voice shook with fright.

“What?”

Britney’s gaze shifted from the bush to Delilah. “I think I see something.”

Now Delilah was even more confused than before. “What? Brit, what are you talking about?”

“Come here,” was all Britney said, her hands now by her sides. She shook like a leaf, and Delilah realized that it wasn’t from the cold. She was seeing something in the bush…something disturbing.

Delilah edged towards the place where Britney stood, warily looking to the area where Britney would not seem to quit staring at. She then saw what Britney was so shaken up about, and clapped her hands over her mouth in horror.