Kalani was awake but her eyes were still closed. I don't want to get out of bed! What day is it? And my alarm should've woken me up. Somethings fishy around here then. Wait, why is my bed so uncomfortable? Kalani wondered as she yawned but a piece of tape was covering her mouth which made it difficult. She attempted to reach up and and rip it off groggily but her hands were tied behind her. It's alright its probably just the Word Squad. Wait, the Word squad? She panicked.
Kalani's eyes shot open and standing infront of her in a diamond formation were six figures, four of which were unmasked which included Josh, Nia, JoJo and Brandon. "Brandon!" Kalani went to yell but the tape muffled her. She had forgotten to visit him in hospital and must've missed his release date. The person in the front and on that persons right were the only ones with a mask.
The person infront, which Kalani immediately knew was the leader, approached Kalani and ripped the tape off of her mouth as she winced in pain. Brandon went to run over to her but the leader, turned around and muttered something at him and he looked straight ahead the entire time.
"Merry Christmas Kalani! It's almost Christmas isn't it? About a week away? Well, we all have a gift for you!" Nia passed the leader a colourful, Christmassy box and they handed it to Kalani. She raised an eyebrow at the box then motioned to her hands. "Oh, of course!" They said as Josh handed them a pair of scissors.
They cut the rope and Kalanis hands were free except for a piece of ribbon bonding her hands together like a pair of shoes in a store. She managed to open the box and found the gift rather disturbing. What the hell is this? What type of present is this? "I thought this was your job." She remarked attempting to give the box back as she realised what they were trying to do.
"No, it really isn't. I'm only in year nine so I am not legally aloud to have an occupation. But of course you knew that! But, I guess you're going to die anyway so I'll let you in on a little secret. I've killed five people and I can only kill one more then I won't get lifetime in prison but go to a mental hospital! But if I kill seven, I'll get thrown in the mental hospital forever. So, you see my dear, you'll be staying captive until you use the present." Selfish much! But, this is coming from someone who has killed five people Kalani! Geez I'm dumb sometimes.
"No way." Kalani shook her head and desperately looked at Brandon. He kept looking straight ahead and she realised she'd already hurt him enough and him helping her would just make it worse.
The leader was full of rage and was upset of how their perfect plan was crumbling. Why wouldn't she want to kill herself? It'd be better then fearing your life every other second! She always ruined everything anyway. They thought. In a moment of anger, they grabbed the present which was a knife out of the box and put it through Kalanis chest. "No ceremony for you!" Kalanis world was turning darker and darker as Kalani heard a lot of cussing coming from the leader as they wailed about why they did that.
Then Kalanis mind went blank and she slipped into a peaceful sleep which she desperately needed and had wanted for a while.
***
Chloe sat underneath the same tree which she fainted under as she drank a bottle of water. "I'm really sorry, Chloe. I had no idea." Jaycee said for the five hundredth time. "It's ok Jayc, I forgot about it myself and now it's back." Jaycee put a supportive arm around her as Chloe then came to her senses.
"Anyway, what happened with you? How'd you escape?" Jaycee looked down in shame and took a deep breath. "Well, you've been so nice to me I guess you deserve to know the truth.
"When you were being tested and Kalani was thrown into a cell, I was also being tested and when they realised who I was, they went to call my mum. But I screamed and begged them not to, so they didn't. But they had to call someone so I suggested Taylor, but she didn't answer. So we tried grandma and she picked me up.
"But, of course she told mum and dad and they demanded to see me. So, I attempted to run off but she locked me in a room tied to a chair so I couldn't escape. But when this morning rolled around, she came in all happy with this dress picked out and asked me to get dressed and do my hair nice for church. So I did and ended up here."
Chloe felt sorry for the girl and put a supportive arm around her. "Well, I'm meant to be shipped off to the mental hospital today but Kalani and I slept under the stars last night and when I woke up she was gone. So I went on a walk to try and find her but ended up here." Chloe shrugged.
Jaycees eyes widened, "We have to go find her!" She stood up and looked around. "What about your grandma? Won't she be worried?" Chloe asked concerned. "Screw grandma! I want to find Kalani!" Chloe went to laugh but realised it wasn't the time.
Chloe then stood up and she directed her to the shack and they arrived not out of breath, as they used to compete against each other in sporting competitions in school. "Here it is!" Chloe said as she went to turn the doorknob as Jaycee shrunk back in fear. "Sorry, I've just, never seen this sort of thing before and don't want to end up traumatised."
Chloe gave a comforting smile then commented, "I've seen these types of things before and I'm fine!" Jaycee gave a judgemental glance and Chloe realised it probably wasn't the best advice. "Well, the best advice I can give is to take a deep breath as we open the door and when we see whatever is inside, breath out and tell yourself it's only a movie." Jaycee nodded and agreed to go in.
Chloe twisted the doorknob and heard Jaycee take a deep breath. But the shack was empty except for an opened box which was wrapped in Christmas paper. Chloe was confused and walked over but was careful not to touch anything.
Inside of the box was a knife with blood streaked across the blade with a note attatched.
Word count! For Chloe and Jaycee!
Chloe: 50 words, then you're gone.
Jaycee: 17 words, then you're gone. Oh and Jaycee? I've been tracking you since you've been found by Taylor.
Yours sincerely, Taylor aka a member of the Word Squad. Thank you Taylor!
Jaycee gasped in shocked and despair. "Taylor was always the jealous type. But why would she backstab me like this?" Chloe shook her head. "The only people in this game are backstabbers. But this one, has helped us. We only have to figure out the leader then all of this is over!"
{ true point Chloe, true point indeed. Happy New Year! }
