The Murderer's Experiment

Chapter One; The Calm Before the Storm

"That's it. I'm not going," I flop back onto my bed, turning over to open my laptop when a hand presses down on the lid. Alice turns to look at her friend,"Mara. I don't have anything to wear."

Mara rolls her eyes,"It's not prom, Alice. Just throw on some jeans that make your ass look good and anything but a T-shirt." Mara pauses before walking out of my room,"And please, throw on some flats at least."

* * *

I stand uncomfortably behind Mara as she knocks on the door belonging to the house that is hosting the party. I can practically already smell the alcohol and angst from outside of the door, and a headache was already beginning to form from the loud pounding of the bass in the song.

The door of the house swings open, revealing one of many drunk and sweaty college kids.

"Suh ladies," he slurs and leans against the doorframe for support.

"We brought beer," Mara holds up two twelve packs of Budlight, and the dude grins. Of course.

"Right on in," the dude moves to the side, letting us enter. The guy closes the door behind us,"Bathroom is upstairs, alcohol and snacks in the kitchen, and some dudes are getting high in the basement."

"Thanks," I mumble, glancing around nervously.

The party is not what I was expecting, or what Mara was probably expecting, for that matter.

"Is this the afterparty or something? Where is everyone at?" Mara leans over and whispers to me.

"Everybody is out back, if that's what you were wondering," a voice suddenly speaks behind the us, making Mara jump. I take an involuntary step forward before turning around.

He looked familiar, maybe we share a class together.

"I'm Darren," he puts his hand out.

"Mara Matthews," she smiles sweetly as she always does, shaking his hand.

I look away from him, hopefully avoiding an awkward hand shake. Out of the corner of my eye I see him slowly retreat his hand and I sigh of relief.

"Alright, well I think we're going to head to the back then," Mara nudges my shoulder, beckoning me to follow her.

My head begins to scream 'ESCAPE ESCAPE'. I wanted to do anything, ANYTHING but go in the back and be trapped in a sea of bodies overflowing with hormones.

"I, um, actually I have to use the restroom," I turn to Mara,"I'll meet you outside. Excuse me."

I turn around, quickly walking away and up the stairs. After a couple of wrong doors and startled couples, I finally find the bathroom, and it's surprisingly vacant.

I quickly close the door, locking it behind me. I breathe a sigh of relief, leaning on the door for a second before walking up to the sink.

I turn on the faucet, scooping up some cold water and splashing it onto my face. It's a method that sort of brings me back to reality and adds some sort of clarity. Usually I'm not like this, but parties have a way of shaking up my nerves.

"Okay, Alice, it's fine. They are just people, it is just alcohol, it's fine," I shake my head, reaching the door and unlocking it. I open it and surprise fills me for a short few seconds,"Darren? Do you need to use the restroom or . . . ?"

He sends me a smile, making a red flag shoot up in my head,"No, I just came to make sure you were okay. Mara sent me."

I refrain from furrowing my eyebrows, not wanting to show my suspicion. Why wouldn't Mara come get me herself?

"Okay, well, I'm fine. We should go join her now," I push past him and walk a few feet before he grabs me by the wrist, making me spin around instantly,"What gives, dude?"

"Sorry, I just wanted us two to hang out for a little bit," Darren smiles again. That smile has probably worked on many other girls, but it sure as hell won't get me.

"I came here with my friend to have a good time. Now, if you'd excuse me," I try to wrench my wrist from his hand, but his steely grip is locked on my arm. "Let. Me. Go."

"You know, I was really hoping we could get to know each other," Darren starts dragging me toward a bedroom, and my pulse instantly raises.

I helplessly beat at his arm and kick his legs, but to no avail.

As soon as he drags me into the room, I instantly begin to scan for possible weapons. I notice an empty glass beer bottle sitting on the bed side table and a plan formulates in my head.

He shoves me onto the bed, and then begins to search his pockets for a condom. This is when I reach for the bottle. I sit up in order to reach his head, then grabbing the skinnier end of the bottle and bringing the thicker part over his head before he can react. He seems dazed for a second, almost forming my name in his mouth before literally falling to the floor.

I breathe heavily from the adrenaline, and then exit the bedroom, passing a few people as I go down the stairs.

I race through the house and out into the yard frantically searching for Mara. I spot her at the corner of the yard, seemingly trapped in an awkward conversation with some random dude.

I push my way through the groups of people scattered across the yard, finally reaching Mara.

"Mara, we have to go. Like now," Mara turns to look at me concern instantly filling her when she sees my worried features.

Mara turns to the guy she was talking to,"Sorry, gotta go. Maybe next time."

Mara and I quickly walk to the closed gate of the backyard, undoing the latch and walking to my car.

* * *

"So, you gonna tell me why we had to leave?" Mara places her hands on her hips and turns to face me as soon as we enter our apartment.

I look out her, contemplating on telling her or not. I sigh,"You know that guy that talked to us when we first got there?"

"Darren?" she questions.

I nod my head,"Well, after I left the bathroom, he was outside of the door. He said that you sent him up to check on me." I pause, still curious if that was the truth or not.

"He sent me outside because he said he was hungry and needed another beer," Mara clarifies. "I never said anything about checking up on you."

"Anyways, he asked me to stay with him and I said no. He grabbed my arm and wouldn't let me go, and then he started dragging me to the bedroom. Well, there was a glass beer bottle in there so I took it while he was looking for a condom and knocked him out."

"Okay, two things. One, you're a badass. Two, what a douchebag! I should have known he was staying behind to fuck with you. I'm sorry, Al," she walks up to me, embracing me in a quick hug.

"It wasn't your fault anyway, Mara. He would have found a time and a way. If it wasn't me, it could have been another girl," I respond and let go of her.

"Yeah, good thing my best friend is a ninja," she laughs and I roll my eyes.

"Ninja is a bit much," I giggle and start walking to the kitchen.

"Alright, I'm heading to bed Al. That was a wild 20 minute outing."