My Beautiful Murder

Jessica Wread stood alone in the deserted parking lot of her county’s preferred mall. It was ten-thirty on a Thursday night, and the vivacious blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty had just finished a grueling six-hour shift at one of the mall’s fashion retailers. Only one day of high school remained; soon her nights would be late night parties instead of eerie late night shifts. Returning to reality, her slim fingers fumbled for the keys to her car, a sweet sixteen gift from her very loving and very wealthy parents. Unsuccessful in the search for her keys, she stood, defeated, in the poorly lit parking lot. As anyone alone in the dark would, she had the distinct feeling that someone – somewhere – was watching her. 

Jessica couldn’t help thinking that the person watching could very well be the man who handled the mall’s security cameras. Little did she know there were no cameras in this parking lot. In reality, a greasy, overweight security guard was not the one watching her. Instead, the eyes pouring over Jessica were those of a lone figure standing in shadows across the lot. Abandoning the search for her keys, she groaned, knowing she would have to use the spare that her father insisted on her having. She hated when that man was right, but got down on her bare knees to retrieve the key underneath the car. To Jessica’s dismay, her jean shorts and loose tank top were perfect for her minimum-effort job, but not for crawling around on the pavement.

Across the parking lot, the figure stood silently, watching the entire scene play out before her. This figure was stunning. Her flawless porcelain face was framed by long, fiery red hair. Behind thick black sunglasses, her intense emerald green eyes continued to stare at Jessica.  Tired of watching, her tall, slender frame began walking towards the sight before her, her black stilettos gliding soundlessly over the blacktop. The girl reached Jessica in a few moments, going very fast, very calmly. She was made for this--she was Annie. 

Adrenaline was coursing through Jessica’s veins due to the lack of lighting and security, but even her heightened senses couldn’t detect the shallow breath of a person behind her. The only sounds Jessica heard was the sound of traffic passing by in the distance.  “Hello Jess,” Annie said, her voice smooth and rich like fine Chinese silk. Jessica jumped so violently that she hit her head on the car. Once she recollected herself, she turned around to face the intruder-like presence. She let out a sigh of relief upon seeing who is was.

“Oh, it’s just you, Annie! My God, I thought it was some man coming out to rape or kidnap me!” she exclaimed, her hand clutching at her wildly beating heart. Upon hearing this, Annie’s blood red lips stretched even further across her already-bared teeth. “Well you’re lucky that it’s just little old me,” she replied with an intense gleam in her eye. Annie’s gloved hand reaching into her right pocket. Jessica nodded in agreement, but stopped suddenly as she saw the shift in her companion.  Jessica looked at her strangely. “Did you get caught up in the sales and miss your bus, or is your car on the other side of the lot? Is it broken down, do you need a ride?” Jessica’s thoughts were going quicker than normal; she hadn’t realized that her body had detected the imminent danger.

Annie just smiled good-naturedly and shrugged. Jessica finally took the time to study Annie, and realized her strange attire. The full black outfit was strange enough, not to mention that an overcoat, leather gloves, sky-high heels, and black sunglasses during a warm summer night made no sense at all. Her hand fluttered backwards for her car door nervously. Annie looked at Jessica, feigning confusion. “What did I do wrong Jess?” she asked, her facial expression going to that of extreme sadness. “Did I start a rumor about you that made you the laughing stock of the whole school?” She asked, her voice getting angrier. Jessica looked at her in confusion. She had never started one single rumor in her short sixteen and a half years, nor had she been the target of one.

“But- but I never started a rumor about you…” she replied, her eyes now narrowing in on the right pocket, something in it was long, her mind jumped to all those shows on staying safe, she should have listened. Annie laughed; it was no longer warm and false. It was cold. It was real. It was dangerous. Jessica realized she was in danger. Her muscles tensed—she needed to run, but Annie wasn’t going to let that happen. “You know you did Jessie, so why don’t you stop being a bitch and tell me the truth!” Annie screamed. Jessica flinched. “Did you do it to steal my boyfriend!?” Annie continued, referring to the boy who just broke up with her. 

Jessica began to tear up, her hands still fumbling to get the door open. “I never did anything like that,” she replied, finally getting the key into the lock and turning it. She began opening the door, when Annie’s hand smacked into the window, pushing the door closed. “What’s wrong Jessie? Getting sick of my company?” She asked.

Jessica shook her head. “I-I have a curfew!”

“Not anymore,” Annie snarled. Jessica paused and licked her lips. Something wasn’t right, she needed to get out. What was she talking about!?

“I wanna go home, leave me alone, you’re crazy!” she exclaimed with conviction. 

“Good.” Annie whispered. She pulled the knife concealed in her right pocket only seconds ago. Before Jessica could scream, her throat was slit, and her body went still. Luckily, everything happened so fast that she couldn’t have possibly felt pain, much to her attacker’s dismay. Annie sidestepped the blood, allowing Jessica’s limp body to fall to the ground. Her now-dull blue eyes stared unseeing at the dark, brooding clouds overhead. Thunder crashed in the distance. Rain would wash away the blood, and any possible evidence left behind. Annie touched Jessica’s face ever so slightly. “Goodbye, Jess.” With that, Annie got up and walked to the end of the parking lot, disappearing back under the shadows of the trees.