Murder in the Dark

Murder in the Dark 14

A/N: Five million years later...... I hope you enjoy anyways!

Adrenaline coursed through my veins as I evaluated my options at light speed. Option A, I could harness my inner sumo wrestler and plow through the stranger to make my grand escape. However, it looked like my competitor was upwards of six feet and I'm a measly five foot two, so that option didn't sound too appealing. Option B, I could run back into the supply closet. Trapping myself like a sitting duck in an enclosed space didn't sound like the best plan either; it wouldn't take long before the figure found me. What did that leave me with then? My limitless spunk and bravado? Well, I guess it's better than nothing.

"You better watch out, punk," I snarled. "I'm a trained martial artist and I have a black belt in Taekwondo. I can kick your butt before you even have the time to blink. Also, you should know that I've already found a way to signal the police so you better start running before they get here and--"

"Jess?" an all too familiar voice rang out.

"Jason?" I groaned, immediately deflating.

Jason started storming towards me. "What the heck are you doing out here? Didn't you hear the teachers when they told you to stay put? Why do you always have to be so annoyingly stubborn?!"

"Hey, watch it Buster," I growled, taking a step back. "Don't you take one more step or I'll--I'll kick your ass. No children will come from your loins if I have anything to do with it!"

"What's your problem? It's me, Jason."

"I know that, but you could very well be the murderer. I don't trust you," I said.

"Jess, we've known each other since kindergarten. When have I ever done something even remotely violent?" Jason slowly took a step towards me. "I know this is a really scary situation but if everyone becomes paranoid then the whole school will be just a mess of chaos, and the real murderer will be able to pick off whoever he wants." When I remained silent Jason took another cautious step towards me. "Now let me help you," he pleaded. The gap between us rapidly closed to a paltry ten feet.

"Please just stop, I--I can't, it's too hard--I don't--" I stuttered, fighting back uncontrollable sobs brought forth by the utter hopelessness of the whole situation.

In a moment Jason was at my side and enveloped me in an embrace. Panicked, I tried to fight his ironlike grasp, but for all my strength, I couldn't escape.

"Shhhhh, everything is going to be alright," Jason whispered into my ear while my small fists kept pummeling him over and over again in a rage.

Finally, I gave up fighting and collapsed to the ground, a messy pile of tears. Jason followed, and I buried my tearstained face in his chest, forgetting all of my previous animosity towards him. Right now, I just really needed a friend, and seeing that Jason was the only one around, he would have to do. We stayed that way--a pile of body parts--for what seemed like an eternity, although in all reality, it was probably only a couple minutes. I kept pushing the growing awareness that we were easy targets for the psychopath to the back of my mind. If I was going to be any help to anyone, I needed this time to recuperate. However, I finally had to face reality and disentangle myself from Jason's arms.

"Are you alright?" Jason asked, soothingly.

"I'm fine," I grunted, quickly standing to my feet as if the previous five minutes had never happened.

"Good. Now will you finally tell me what the devil you're doing here while there is a killer on the loose?" Jason shot at me, his calm exterior evaporating like mist.

"I can do whatever I want," I retorted. "I don't report to you. Now that I'm thinking about it, I should be asking you the same thing! What in the blazes are you doing roaming the halls, as you're so adamant you're not the murderer?"