The Maison Series: Book 1

Untitled Part 9

"And in local news, the missing child Jessica Fuentes' body was found after the long and painful three month search." Matt turned up the volume.

"How goes the morning?" Ray had come down for the first time since last night.

"They found Jessica's body, and the killer." Matt replied, picking up his backpack.

"That's terrible. I'm gonna wake up Niko before she's late for school." Ray left and shook the snoring lump in his bed. A swift kick to the knee made him fall.

"Ah, Niko. Wake up." his voice held the pain he felt. Niko immediately snapped awake.

"I'm up!" she got tangled in the sheets and fell. Ray laughed as he untangled her.

"Come on, girl, get dressed. I'll walk you to school." he freed her of the sheet.

"No. Shep's gonna be there." she grumbled at him.

"Come on. If he goes near you, hurt him. That'll work." he smiled. Niko frowned and got dressed in a black shirt and shredded gray jeans complete with her new and super dark glittery purple eye-shadow. He was working on his car so she knew he wouldn't be able to walk her.

"Ready." she grabbed her death metal draw-string backpack and walked out the door with the two twins.

"Yay! NiNi take us to school!" they jumped and ran around her in circles.

"That's right, cuties. Hold my hand, we're crossing the street." she looked both ways before moving. She was unaware of the silent followers watching her every movement.

"Alright you two, you better be good today. I love you both and I'll be here to pick you up after." she gave each of them a kiss on the forehead before standing up to leave. One of the workers noticed her and he went to talk with her before she left.

"Hey Niko." it was Josh from the ice-cream shop.

"I didn't know you work here. What happened to the ice-cream?" she asked.

"Oh, my dad needed an extra worker here so I'm now a proud employee of the Teddy Bear Day Care Program." he said unenthusiastically.

"Interesting. Oh, I gotta go, my school starts soon. I'll text you when I get out and maybe we could hang out for a bit." she smiled and gave him a quick hug before leaving.

"Made it!" she ran into someone.

"Watch it." he said.

"Sor- oh. It's you. Never mind." and with that Niko walked past him and to her class although he had every class with her. She groaned and took a seat in the farthest back corner of the room. At the end of the bell, Niko went into the closest bathroom to make sure her make up was fine. She walked out and Shep immediately approached her.

"Uh, hi. I know you don't like me, but here, I know you like this." he handed her a bottle of her favorite soda.

"Thanks, sorry I was mean to you earlier." she drank the entire bottle.

"It's alright." he smiled.

"Whoa. I feel all dizzy and tired." Niko tried to walk away but she hit a wall and fell to the floor unconscious. Shep stood over her body with a creepy smile, laughing.

"Niko, Niko, Niko. You should know better. You see, I drugged the soda and now I can do whatever I want with you, and you can't stop me." Shep hid her and texted Ray saying she would be going to a friend's house to study. After he sent it, Shep threw the phone into the trash, unknowing that the ringer was on. He waited until the entire school was empty and then left with Niko over his shoulder like a lifeless ragdoll with her arms and legs dangling from her body.