Rule Breakers

Prologue

Everything was happening in slow motion, the blood pouring out of Elle's lifeless body onto the dress I'd been looking forward to wearing all week, the distant noise of the police sirens and the terrified faces of all my friends looking down at me, the friends who normally look up to me and come to me with all their problems. Caine was talking to me, I could barely make out what he was saying. How could I after what he just done to my best friend? He began talking quicker, more worried trying to pull me away from Elle and all the others. I didn't budge, my eyes still fixed on Elle although the sight was now blurred from the tears that filled my eyes. The sirens were closer now, the blue and red flashing lights were coming through the big windows of the house we were in. Caine was yelling now, really yelling – I'd never seen him like this before.

"Thea, we have to get out of here right now! You have all her blood all over you, you'll be a suspect! Come with me, they won't find us. Thea, NOW!"

His voice was so aggressive, so angry. It terrified me, I didn't say anything and I didn't move. There was no way I was going anywhere with him, what if he did the same thing to me?

I was notified that emergency services had arrived when two middle aged paramedics began speaking to me. I could barely listen to their questions, shock taking over my whole body but I knew I had to try, for Elle's sake.

"Hello, can you hear me?" The female paramedic asked Elle. When there was no response she put all her attention on me. "Can you tell me her name, honey?"

"Eleanor Wright." My voice came out in a whisper, the paramedic nodded offering me a small smile.

"Can you tell me what happened?" I slowly nodded, unable to look her in the eye. The guilt I felt right now empowered my whole body, I should be the one lying unconscious on the floor not her. She doesn't deserve this. She was just trying to protect me from him, the man I thought I loved.

"He... he stabbed her." I stuttered, the tears filling my eyes once again. The paramedics gave each other a worried look.

"Okay, honey. We're going to have to take Eleanor with us, okay?" I let them take her praying that she'd be okay only deep down knowing she wasn't.

This was when my attention fell on Caine. I didn't notice the police enter, they must've arrived the same time as the paramedics. They were wrestling with Caine trying to put him in handcuffs, he didn't want them to, and he was fighting them - punching, kicking and yelling. I flinched seeing the rage in his eyes.

"You don't want me! It was her! That blonde slut over there, she's covered in the bitch's blood, she did it! Not me!" He spat out whilst the police got ahold of his arms, preventing him from punching anymore officers. My mouth couldn't hang any wider if it tried, was he really trying to pin this on me?

The police pulled him outside into the car. Everyone followed, including me. He was still wrestling with the officers, refusing to go with them.

"Thea, you bitch! You're supposed to love me! This is your fault not mine." He yelled, neighbouring houses now had people standing on their driveways watching the situation unfold. The people around me, my friends, were just as stunned as me. Some were crying, others were whispering, some were even filming Caine.

"I will make sure I will get out of here and when I do I'm going to fucking kill you! I mean it, bitch!"

After that, there was an eery silence. So many eyes were on me, I wanted to cry, I wanted to yell, I wanted people to get out of my face, I wanted them to stop asking me if I was okay. Because I was not okay. My boyfriend had just stabbed my best friend in the stomach and he didn't stop until there was enough blood to fill a river. I did nothing. I could've saved her, but I just stood there, useless. Please forgive me, Elle.

The police took me in for questioning straight away, they took my DNA samples, they took my dress which was now a vital piece of evidence. I didn't want to be there, I didn't want to talk about Caine, I didn't want them asking about my relationship with him, I didn't want them to question my friendship with Elle and I most certainly didn't want to relive the experience. I really didn't want to do that.

I begged the police to stop asking me questions and ask another witness from the party any more questions they had. I just wanted to be with Elle, I needed to know she was safe. I didn't even know if she was alive. Thankfully, the police were sympathetic and agreed to let me go. They had enough evidence already to prove it was Caine. He was stupid enough to leave the knife, his murder weapon, behind. One of the officers was kind enough to drive me to the hospital and as soon as pulled up outside the depressing, white, concrete building, I ran. I ran as fast as I could until I saw any sign of Elle being here, how do I know this was the hospital she was taken to? I don't. A older nurse saw me running and with a worried look on her face, stepped in front of me outstretching her arm to stop me. I did stop knowing it was useless running without knowing my destination. She smiled.

"Is there something I can help you with, my dear?" Her warm, calming voice relaxed me instantly. With a shaky breath, I told her Elle's name and what had happened. The sympathy that washed over her face as I'd finished talking said it all, it wasn't good news. I teared up instantly and with an apologetic face she leads me away from the hospital corridors, I have no idea where she's taking me but I follow her.

My heart shattered when I realised where she'd taken me. Standing there, looking into the window of a hospital room, where Elle's parents. The guilt was back. Elle's mother, Carol, was sobbing into her husband's shoulder, her father, Joe, held her close and stroked her hair in comfort. He was trying to be strong for Carol but it was hard to miss the few tears he allowed to slip down his cheek. I knew then and there that she was gone, Elle, my best friend, was dead and it was all my fault.

Caine had been jailed for life, that was the only good news I had that whole summer. The police suggested I move out of town after taking Caine's threat to kill me very seriously. I agreed instantly. A fresh start was exactly what I needed. My mother, however, was one of the most well known business woman in our town and lived off of the authority she had here, she may as well be Kim Kardashian she's that famous. Because of this, she refused to leave town not for anything or anyone. Not even her own daughter. While it hurt, I wasn't really expecting much else from her, she never really cared about me unless I was doing something to ruin her squeaky clean reputation and even when I needed her the most she didn't even try and help me through it.

That's how I ended up here, living with my Auntie Emily in her town that was at least three hours away from my own. I instantly felt a lot safer especially because my aunt and I have always been close, she knew exactly what to say to make me feel better and that meant a lot. Today I was starting a new school for my final year before university. My plan was to keep a low profile and just complete the year. No friends, no boyfriends in fact I'm not even going to talk to a teacher unless it's 100% necessary. I couldn't risk anyone recognising me and telling Caine my whereabouts even though the chances are slim.

Yes, I was going to this new school for the worst reasons but I'm actually pretty excited. They have a great photography programme which means I can really focus on my passion and it'll be even easier without any friends to distract me. I just pray that my past doesn't come back and bite me in the arse.