Cursed Footsteps

Chapter 1

"Thank you." Jenna smiled at the young boy, fourteen at most, who was handing her the daily news.

"There's- There's something big." He stuttered. 

"Something big?" Jenna repeated. Stan never stuttered in front of everyone. She'd seen him around before, even the town's burliest guard didn't make him afraid.

Jenna was in her middle twenties and a friendly office worker, causing the boy to warm up to her in the first few days of her newspaper order. They usually had a few sentences exchanged, and when it got cold, Jenna would invite him in for a drink of something warm. Jenna liked those days. Stan was good company and he made her feel a little bit more connected to the outside world since she was quite the introvert.

Stan lingered on her doorstep for a little while longer, before turning to leave.

"You seem shook up, perhaps a cup of hot chocolate?" Jenna asked. It was spring, but you couldn't deny it; chocolate was delicious no matter what.

"No, no it's fine, I'd better get going," Stan said, forcing a smile on his face.

"Oh, it's alright," Jenna replied, hiding her disappointment. She was curious about what had made Stan so nervous. "See you!"

Stan left without a word.

——

Coffee in hand, Jenna sat down at the dining table and opened up the newspaper Stan was so anxious while giving her.

Former Hamilton Middle Student Found Dead

Jenna gasped, her cup slamming onto the table and staining the newspaper. Jenna ignored the spreading brown stain and read on, 'Jane Doe ID'ed as Cecilia Burlew, a twenty-seven-year-old waitress at Rosie's Diner.' 

"Oh my god. Cecilia." Jenna said. Years of piled up guilt came tumbling out, along with Jenna's last encounter with Cecilia. It replayed in her head like a never-ending loop.

"Cece! Cecilia! Wait up!" Jenna called out to her friend, Cecilia Burlew, who was walking in long strides.

"No, Jenna, I don't want to talk to you. Not today." Cecilia said angrily, quickening her pace.

"Cece, please! I didn't mean to-" Jenna started.

"Didn't mean what?" Cecilia scoffed. "Get me in trouble? Try harder, Jenna."

"I'm so sorry, I didn't want any of this to happen. I swear, I didn't do it on purpose, and your name slipped out by accident." Jenna explained desperately.

"Forget it, Jenna. Go and be a good girl. I solemnly hope your future friends don't get in as much trouble as me." Cecilia said, turning around to face her. Cecilia opened the door for herself and slammed it in Jenna's face. She bit back a tear.

That was the last few weeks of middle school, and she hadn't seen Cecilia since.

"I'm sorry, Cece." Jenna murmured.

She folded the newspaper into a half, but had she stuck and read longer, she might have noticed the thing that made Stan so nervous.

——

That day, Jenna found it particularly hard to concentrate. Her mind kept wandering on to the memories of Cecilia and herself, some of the nice memories, some of them quite the opposite.

"Hey, Jenna, are you okay?" Alex Edner asked as he caught her looking out the window.

"What? Oh, no, I'm fine." Jenna said, turning her head back to the computer.

"This doesn't have anything to do with the body they found in the diner, does it? The former Hamilton student?" Alex asked, his hazel eyes filling with concern.

She turned around to face him. "Apart from the fact I spent my middle school years there, no," Jenna said quickly. "I'm fine, alright, Alex? You don't need to worry about me."

"If you say so," Alex said, but the look of doubt on his face said it, he obviously didn't believe her.

Jenna turned away from him and back to her computer. She felt sick to her stomach, who would do such a thing? She'd been hoping she'd see Cecilia again, to apologize for letting her name slip.

"Hey, Jenna. Wanna go for a short ride?" Cecilia hissed to Jenna, whose attention was on Ms. Riccolitte, who was teaching them how to use semi-colons.

"Short ride?" Jenna asked. Did Cece want to leave when they were supposed to be in class?

"Yeah. My brother doesn't mind. He can take us out for a spin."  Cecilia's eyes twinkled mischievously.

Jenna's eye twinkled in delight. "Really?" She asked. Cecilia winked at her. She'd never skipped class before. And middle school was important. But...

The invitation was there, and Jenna couldn't bring herself to refuse it.

"Ok."  Jenna agreed. Cecilia gave her a small pat on the back, before excusing them both to the bathroom.

"And we're out!" Cecilia cheered, as soon as they pulled away from the school.

And later that day, Jenna and Cecilia snuck back in the school building. Jenna was shocked by the experience. The short ride had been anything but short, and in all honesty, Jenna was feeling a bit dazed from how fast the car zoomed off.

Cecilia, her brother, and his friends started smoking and even offered Jenna a puff. Obviously, she refused. Who did they think she was?

It was Cecilia's unfortunate day to be caught leaving the school grounds with Jenna. They'd both been dragged to the principal's office. Cecilia refused to say anything and Jenna just looked at the floor nervously, picking at her fingernails.

"Cecilia, you can leave." Principal Tang said. "Jenna, stay."

After Cecilia had left, Principal Tang asked Jenna again and again, until she finally spilled the beans. The smoking, the speeding, the sneaking out; they'd gotten Cece expelled.

A single tear trickled down Jenna's cheek, and she used her hand to wipe it away. Nearby, she could see Alex's eyes on her. He hadn't missed a thing. 

"I'm fine, really." She said, giving him a forced reassuring smile.

"Jenna, you know I'm here for you, right?" Alex replied, his big hazel eyes full of concern.

"Yeah." She said with a weak smile on her face. She turned back to her computer, ending the conversation.

 She knew Alex cared about her, maybe more than she'd expected, but that was what made it awkward. When they first met in the office, they'd bonded quite quickly, even going out for lunch a couple times. But over time, Alex grew distant, like he didn't have anything else to say. It had morphed into this awkwardness.

Jenna shook her head, hoping to drain to thoughts and to concentrate on her job. If this report wasn't on her bosses' desk by tonight, Jenna was as good as unemployed.