Death Pool

Chapter 1

It's been three years. And three years since my mom was murdered. There is not one day where I don't think about her. The rest of my family was fine. I don't know exactly what happened, but I've heard many stories. There were victims like me. Victims that woke not knowing what had happened to our town. I heard that we were under attack, but why just this town.

One thing I had always thought was peculiar was that whoever attacked us, only killed three people. Our town is pretty big. You would think the murderer or murderers would kill more than three people, but no. Just three. I've thought about it some more and there has to be a reason.

They purposely killed the three. I haven't found a reason why because everyone I ask doesn't want to talk about it. Since the incident, everyone in town has been so paranoid. People are just waiting for another attack. Population in Woodcrest gets lower every year. I have months of research about the three people. Pictures, backgrounds, everything that can lead to that day. I've never told anyone this because they might think I'm crazy or obsessed with finding the murderer. Plus, its been three years and I'm still holding on to this, but I'm curious. I know there has to be more to this.

Since the attack, I have been having a hard time making friends. I just don't know who to trust anymore. I was scarred when I found my mom that day. I'm just known as "that girl" who's mom was murdered. I keep to myself and that's how I like it. If I even try to talk to someone at school, it becomes awkward and usually ends with them making an excuse to leave.

Everyday is the same for me. I wake up, go to school, do my homework, spend time with my family, cry a little bit over my mom, go to sleep, and repeat. School is the same also. I go to each of my classes and throughout the whole day I talk to no one. But today was different.

There was a new boy. Who was in most of my classes. He was different. Unlike everyone else, he went up and talked to me. I was sitting on a bench which was my favorite place in the entire school. It's where I think to myself. He walked over and looked up at me with his soft, caring brown eyes. Our eyes met and for a second we looked into each others eyes.

"Hi. I'm Mason," he said as he looked down, then up, and smiled.

"Hi I'm Clary," I said shyly as I smiled back.

We shook hands. I felt butterflies in my stomach. I haven't really talked to anyone at school for awhile. I studied his brown, soft looking hair. It was brushed up with some gel. I touch and hold my heart charm on my necklace I was wearing.

"I'm new here. I-I...um," he chuckled, " I saw you and I thought you looked really nice. Maybe you can show me around?"

I bite my lip. "Uh...y-yeah. Of course."

I can't stop smiling. I haven't felt this happy since..well since, you know. I showed him where all his classes were. The day went by so fast and soon enough it was lunch time.

Before I sat down at the lunch tables, I saw Mason talking to some girls. I felt like they were talking about me. The girls kept looking back at me as they whispered. I couldn't stop thinking about Mason and those girls. I bet they were telling him about my mom and saying rumors about me. I assumed Mason would rather talk to his new friends than sit down with me at lunch. So I carried on with my lunch. I took out my folder from my old, ripped up backpack.

I looked through all the research from the incident. I think about it, getting deeper and deeper into my research. Then a thought popped up in my mind. Maybe the three people were connected? The three people were Vanessa Daniels, Christine Bradford, and Jackson Montgomery. Vanessa Daniels is my mom. All of a sudden I hear someone calling my name. It was Mason. A smile came across my face, but I try to cover it up, making sure he doesn't see.

"Hey! Clary! It took me awhile to find you."

"Well, I thought you would rather hang with your other friends."

"Are you kidding? I'd rather spend time with you. What's that?"

"Oh, it's just some research for," I hesitated, "a project."

I quickly put away my research in my backpack, making sure he doesn't read it. If he did read it, I would have to explain everything and one of my worst fears would have come true. He might think I'm crazy and obsessed with the attack. I don't think I am and I just want to know who did this to my mom and why. You can't blame me. But the worst would be losing him, losing the one chance of me having a friend.

I stopped thinking about what would have happened because I knew if I kept thinking about it, I might screw things up. I stayed calm and everything went fine. We talked the rest of lunch. School was finally over and Mason and I met each other in the front of the school.

"Hey I just wanted to say thanks for today and for helping me."

"No problem."

"I was thinking. Do you-do you maybe want to hang out sometime?"

What should I say. I'm curious about him. What if he ends up being crazy or I don't know. I just met him. I don't know if I can trust him. This is exactly why I can't make friends.

I think quickly and finally blurt out, "Yeah! That would be great."

"Cool. Here's my number. I hope I see you soon," as he started to walk away.

I exhale out loudly with relief. Maybe this will help me, help me with my trust issues. I just hope I don't screw this up somehow. I really want him to be my friend.

After that I couldn't stop thinking about him. I studied his number for minutes and finally put the crinkled piece of paper on my desk in my room. I sit on my bed, looking at the paper from across. Should I? Maybe he is busy right now? I should call him later. Maybe I should wait for him to call? Wait, I'm stupid. He doesn't even have my number. I started fidgeting with my necklace. I bite my lip while still watching the paper. Finally, I jumped off my bed running with my phone to get the piece of paper. I typed in the number as fast as I could. I looked at the number on my phone screen. Then, I hit call.