Let's Play a Game

Chapter 31:We Grew Apart

Word Count:1047

I unlock my front door. It creaks open. I walk in, the only sound is my heels clicking against hard floor.

   The house was silent and dark. Usually I found comfort in it and welcomed this silence, I treasured it. It was my little escape from all the chaos  at school and my drama filled life. Now I found it eerie and yearned for the days were sunlight seemed to fill my home with my old laughter and loving parents watching over me.

    I wondered what demons lurked in the darkness of my home. Silent horrors and bloodshed loomed in the corridors. No one had lived here since I left. I found that fact odd but I reminded myself. It's a small town, no one really moved to this town without a really good reason.

I looks back down on the message on my phone:
Pretty girls tell lies, didn't know ugly ones told them too. Time to get ready for Act I. Your costume will be delivered to you, stick to the script.

They knew, somehow they knew I had lied to Isabelle. They've been watching me. The fact that someone has been watching, stalking me. It made me want to throw up. I couldn't do it all again, I just couldn't.

I couldn't live in that constant date of fear and wondering when my life would all fall apart. And it did. Fall apart.

I walked and flicked the lights on one by one. The lights did little to comfort me. I slipped off my shoes and walked around my house. Everything seemed as I had left it this morning.

I re-explore my house. Flashbacks of me running around the house as a small child. Late nights playing board games with my parents.

And then I was older

Building pillow forts with Julian. Playing dress up with my parents clothes. Jumping around the living room, playing the floor is lava.

And then we got older

Lying outside on the cool grass looking up at the stars with him. And chatting about that days math lesson. Complaining about the amount homework we had gotten even though we were only in the third grade.

And then we got older

Julian talking endlessly about his many conspiracy theories, I could almost see myself falling in love with him at such a young age. Even at thirteen, Julian being as gangly and awkward as he was I couldn't help but found him so perfect. I could feel my twelve  year old self butterflies when we snuck out to watch fireworks. How he put his arm around me cause I was cold.

And then we grew apart.

Walking upstairs the old wooden steps creak under my weight. I saw myself sitting at the top of the stairs stalking Julian on social media and the frightened and anxious look when I got the first message.

I flick on the upstairs hall lights.  I saw myself slumped against the wall doing homework alone. I saw myself leaning over the railing and looking down at my parents fighting at the bottom of the stairs. My bedroom door was wide open. I could see myself walking out, forcing myself to attend the first day of high school. At the point it had felt like it was the end of the world.

I press my lips together and force myself to walk forwards. No one is in my room, I am all alone. Yet I can see my 14 year old self crying in the little black dress Julian had seen me in so many years ago.

A small package is sitting neatly by the foot of my bed. I hesitantly make my way to it. A dainty little card rests in top of it. In neat handwriting was written Lillian. I push my fear aside and pick it up with shaking hands.

The paper was smooth beneath my fingertips. That fact didn't do much to reassure me. I opened it, a folded piece of paper rested on it. It was a letter typed out on an old-fashioned type writer.

It read:
My Dear Lillian,

Looks like you have found my little gift. How I hope you like it so. Let's Play Pretend. Put on your costume and go to the spot. I'll be the puppet master and you be the puppet that plays with Julian's feelings. You're goal for the night is to steal a kiss, a single kiss. Have fun

Xoxo

I stared at the note in disbelief. They wanted me to play with Julian more than I already have. They were manipulating me. I wouldn't dare disobey their orders, who I knew how they'd retaliate.

I put the little card on the bed and picked up the package. Whatever was inside was wrapped neatly with brown paper. I slowly and carefully unwrapped my 'gift'.

A stack of clothes stared back at me. I laid them out over my covers. A pair of light washed skinny jeans, a black leather jacket and white collared top with some frilly design at the chest area.

It reminded me of my late grandmas porcelain doll collection. I really was their doll wasn't I?

My phone chimed, the sound made me jump. I cursed myself for being so scared of a phone notification.

iMessage
Unknown:

Play date starts at 7. Don't be late. Time for tonight's rules. If you break one everyone will know about your little encounter with the golden boy.

1. Stick to the script, stay in character

2. One kiss. No more, no less

3. You wear the costume or you wear lies for everyone to see

4. Have fun, if you try to tell anyone about me it's game over.

Xoxo

They were threatening to tell everyone how Cade almost rape me. I grit my teeth and stalk to the washroom with my 'costume'.

I decide to pair my costume with chunky heeled boots and black earrings. I look at myself in the mirror. I apply a layer of nude lipstick and some eyeliner. I really did look like some punk rock doll. I leave my hair down, grab my phone and keys, walking out the front door without a glance back. I text them back.

Game on

A/N:

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~TheaMenez