"Oh, god. Oh god, oh god, oh god." Savannah appeared as if she would puke.
"Calm down" April stated calmly surveying the lifeless body in the water.
"Where's Mr.G at?" Jenna asked nervously.
"The man...He's dead." Misty scarcely whispered. Her face grew as pale as the man's swollen face.
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The story of how it all came to be was one of great oddity and is not easy to recollect. It all started on a brilliant sunny afternoon. The girls charged downwards towards their original working positions at the bridge. Today's objective? Briar annihilation.
Savannah wore a vivacious grin on her face, ready to accomplish the task at hand, spinning and frolicking around as if she had lived in the forest all of her life. Misty followed quickly in pace, eagerly wanting to keep up with her friend as April seemed to not be phased by the excitement maintaining her original pace.
All the while Jenna talked continuously to Mr. G
"It's a long way down here Mr. G" Jenna said as she trampled over some weeds.
"That's right. That's right." Mr. G responded in his natural way of repeating himself.
The girls made it down to the bridge and began laboring away. Sweat perspired against their foreheads regardless of the chilly weather. Icy swirls burst from their mouths as they breathed out hot air.
"Look, why this could be the devils whip!" Misty claimed, slinging a five foot long briar to and fro.
"Ow! Don't hit me!" Jenna shrieked.
Being twins sister's the girls didn't always get along, but most of their petty arguments was seen as good entertainment from their companions.
April laughed and commented "She didn't even hit you Jenna, calm down."
"Maybe it's best you put it down. Mr. G already started up the hill to kill some of the other briars...he wouldn't want any of us getting hurt."
"You're right." Misty sighed, releasing her whip as she tossed it over the other side of the bridge- into the pile the girls had been collecting.
Suddenly a sound could be heard from the opposite direction of the high school. A whistling of a man could be heard as he descended the hills.
"Is someone coming?" Savannah asked, her bluish green eyes widening.
"It looks like a man..." April responded, squinting.
As if on cue the man appeared much closer, he paused spotting the four girls and halted his occupation.
"What are all of you doing down here?" He said accusingly.
"We're-" Savannah started, being the good kid as she was, attempting to explain right away.
"You're not suppose to be here without teacher supervision after school hours." He scowled.
"But-" Jenna began.
"No buts!" The man began charging towards the small battalion but suddenly slipped upon a rock letting out a shrill cry. April darted to catch the falling man but it was too late. His head slammed against the railing of the bridge so hard, a distinct crack could be heard. He tumbled over the edge of the railing, his legs catching on the side making his body flop. He limply struggled letting out a further screech causing him to land straight into the pile of prickly briars. Blood splattered everywhere as the thorns cut deep into his skin, ripping at his clothes and digging bloody gashes into the exposed skin. His face turned downwards into the water bubbles rose to the surface as the water filled his lungs. He breathed hard and within the minute, he didn't breath at all.
"Oh, god. Oh god, oh god, oh god." Savannah appeared as if she would puke.
"Calm down" April stated calmly surveying the lifeless body in the water.
"Where's Mr.G at?" Jenna asked nervously.
"The man...He's dead." Misty scarcely whispered. Her face grew as pale as the mans swollen face.
"Mr. G's going to kill us!" Jenna gasped. Wanting nothing more but her teachers friendship.
"He's not going to kill us-" April said. "We just have to get rid of the evidence."
"THE EVIDENCE" Savannah cried. "You make it sound as if we have committed a murder!"
"I'll be in jail until I'm thirty!" Misty wailed, swooning her arm over her eyes dramatically.
"Oh- shut up." April repeated irritated. "In ROTC they've taught me how to kill someone in multiple ways. Don't you think I know how to cover one up too?"
The three panicking girls turned to her.
"Okay...Okay then...What should we do?" Savannah asked, attempting to remain calm.
"We burn it..." April said.
"Like in the movies? Misty asked. "But he's wet-"
"Don't worry about it... I'll dry him off." April said.
"I'll go get the fuel." Jenna stated.
"Get dried pine needles, twigs, and pine cones." April demanded.
"Got it." Jenna replied, scampering off.
It didn't take long for the girls to construct and build a proper fire. April struck a match and put it to the gathered fuel. Soon a flame curled up and as April dragged the body up the bank the three girls blew on the fire to make it grow bigger.
"Oh god- I hope Mr. G doesn't come to get us." Jenna whispered.
"We have forty minutes before we go home..." Savannah whispered back.
"Move!" April warned, as she tossed the body into the growing fire.
The flames devoured the body and by half an hour the body had turned to ash. The scent of burning flesh filled the air as Misty continuously sprayed her sister's amazing perfume, given to her by Savannah.
The sickish sweet smell wafted around the area as the girls picked up the ashes and spread them all around on the ground.
"I bet this will help the plants grow better..." Savannah said as she washed her hands with the other girls in the creek water.
"I guess you could say this is kind of like... a sacrifice."
The other girls paused and looked up at their friend.
"You're right." Misty replied. "A sacrifice for mother earth."
The four girls looked up towards the horizon and all at once chanted together.
"SACRIFICE!!!"
YOU ARE READING
The Darkest Secret
Short Story"What if someone finds out?" Savannah whispered, always being the cautious one. "They won't." Misty assured her. "I mean...How could they?" On the farthest tip of North Carolina lies the small society of Lawndale. Quiet and solitude are natural attr...
