When Corpses Lie

Hatred Ace

- Ah, fuck! - I said, pretending to be in pain. I had to be dramatic, or else it would be obvious that she didn't shot me. - You shot me.

- And I will do it again if I have to.

- Just calm down.

- I won't. You guys messed with life and now I'll mess with yours. - Thomas just threw himself at her. He had become a man of action. He disarmed her in an instant and jabbed her arm in her back. Pushing her forward, he opened the front door and threw her out his lawn, saying:

- The Police will handle this. And this is now mine. - I showed up at the front door and said:

- That was a close one. But you missed me. - I revealed my unharmed shoulder.

- This doesn't end here. Your demise will never end.

- Oh, just talk like a normal person. - Thomas said, shutting the gate and the door on her face.

- Since when are you a badass? - I asked. His boldness was through the roof. He had changed since the last time we had met, one month before.

- Well, I've been training.

- For what? - He just shrugged his shoulders and went back in the house.

- Oh my God, are you ok? - Hannah said.
- Yeah, why wouldn't I?

- You got shot!

- The wall got shot... - I said, pointing to the bullet hole. She just hugged me.

- I think we had enough excitement for today. I'm going to bed. - said Danielle.

- I agree. - said Charles. - I'm off too.

- Not me though. - said Frank. - I need a fucking cigarette after this shit. Is she still out there?

- No, we kicked her out.

- Ok, I'm off.

He took his pack of cigarettes and his lighter and he went to the front lawn.

- I will go with him. - Laura took off and me, Hannah, Melissa, Thomas, Robert, June, Stan, Louise and John were left.

- If you guys want, I can serve some drinks outside.

- I only need whiskey. - I said.

- Even though that seems relaxing, I'm just gonna get some sleep. - said Hannah.

- Yeah, Imma have to turn down the invite too. I need to work a little bit and then I'm going to bed. - Stan seemed tired, but he was trying his best to stay awake. A ten seconds pause followed that and then Thomas broke the silence:

- Well, the rest of you can go outside. I will get the drink tray after I put this thing away.

- Stan, can I have a word with you? - said Robert. The two backed away but my curiosity was through the roof. I followed them two to the door to the office. I'm glad they left the door open, because the room was soundproof and I wouldn't have heard them if they were with the door shut. - Look, I just want to say that I don't want there to be any awkwardness between us. You're the main witness in a case against my father but I don't care. I didn't like him anyway, and our friendship is more important, ok?

- Yeah, man. Thanks. I was worried about that. By the way, can you bring me a glass of whiskey when Thomas serves you?

- Sure. - he said leaving the room. I snuck into the bathroom, so he wouldn't notice me. 

He went into the back and then I followed. After a while, Thomas brought the tray, served 6 glasses and then went to the bathroom. Me and Robert went to the office, to bring Stan's glass to him. My only wish was that we had checked if he was there 5 minutes before.

We opened the door and found him laying on the floor, face down, leaking blood from his head. His files and Hannah's were on the table, his files with blood. A broken trophy was on the ground, and was probably the murder weapon. We both froze at that second. Robert dropped the glass with whiskey and mumbled:

- Holy shit. - I came back to reality. My friend was dead. Either Stella had done it, or we were in a mansion with a maniac.

I noticed a note on the floor, inside his hand. I picked it up and read it out loud.

- "My friends, revenge has been served. I will no longer have to deal with Stan's bullshit. I will no longer be seen as a coward. I will no longer be victim of forgetfulness. I will from now on control your lifes. You will be the puppets, and I the puppeteer. Now, you'll get a taste of your medicine." - The note was signed "Hatred Ace", but it wasn't over. - "Post Scriptum: if you try to leave this house I will hunt you. The only way you can leave is if you catch me. Good luck!"

We both froze at that momemt. What was going on on that house?