The Grad Night Party Killer

The Mysterious Knife

Did I just imagine that? I ask myself the same question over and over as I speed walk into the school. There are two familiar people standing behind a table in the hallway. Jennifer Kailey, the receptionist of the main office, and Carry Kailey, Jennifer's daughter. Jennifer is has long light brown curly hair. She is wearing a white blouse and black blazer with light blue jeans. Carry as long blonde curly hair, like her mom but she has it in a ponytail. She is also wearing a regular gray T-shirt with dark jeans. I approach the table. "Hi, Mr. Gregson," Carry says. "Here is your gift back and your T-shirt you paid for."

I grab the bag and the shirt. "Thanks," I say.

I walk down the hall into the gymnasium. Along one wall are tables with televisions. One of which is currently being set up. On the other TVs, newly graduates are playing video games. Others are playing ping-pong and corn hole. I walk over to the bleachers and set my stuff down. I look into the bag. There is a gas gift card. Like I need that. I don't drive. There is also a water bottle with our school mascot on it, a wolf, and our school's name, Lakewood K-12 School. The writing and the Wolf are in blue and black, our school colors. There is also an expired gift card for Burger King. I bet no one as caught that yet.

I grab my shirt and unfold it. I read it;

LIFE IS RIGGED...
JUST DO YOUR BEST AND LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST

The "I" and the first "G" in "RIGGED" is replaced with the number 16. That is our class quote. It's nothing actually meaningful. Someone just made it up and we went with it. The letters are in black and letters are blue, the numbers are white, and the rest of the shirt is silver. I slip the shirt on, grab the container of brownies, and leave my other stuff on the bleachers as I walk away.

I approach the people setting up the last TV. "Hey, Marcus. Hey, Amelia." Marcus Jackland and Amelia Wonka are two of my closest friends. Marcus is a little heavier than I am and with short black hair. Alexis is the skinniest person you would ever meet. She is not skinny on purpose, I don't mean she doesn't work out. I'm saying she is not anorexic or bulimic. She has long brown hair with a little tint of red.

"Hey, Harvey," the two reply simultaneously.

"Having a little trouble," I ask.

"Yep," Marcus replies. "Especially since I forgot the remote for the TV at home."

"That's gotta suck."

"At the moment, yes. But Garret said he'd come over here and help after he finishes playing a round in Guitar Hero."

"Alright," I say. "I'll come back in a few minutes to see if you have progressed." I walk toward the door I entered. I turn and walk down the hall to the lunchroom. Inside is a salad bar filled with soda cans on ice. I also look at the expensive items for the graduates to bid on. There are flat screen TVs, miniature fridges, cubical shelves, and inflatable beds.

I walk into the kitchen and place the container of brownies on the counter. I walk out and grab can from salad bar. I begin to walk away to the sit when I am stopped by a sound from inside the kitchen. I turn around and see several pans swing from the hooks they hang from. There is also a sharp knife on the counter next to the cookies I placed down. "That wasn't there before," I say aloud. It doesn't look like a kitchen knife. It looks different. It has a roundish brown handle.

I am distracted by a voice outside of the kitchen. The voice is calling for me. I turn back toward the counter for a last glimpse. Another chill travels down my spine. The knife is gone.