Crook A Jeff the Killer story.

Some Secrets Should Stay Hidden

I breathed in and out, calming myself down.

"Conceal don't feel. Conceal don't feel." I repeated. I wore a black dress with a small black cloak that trailed a bit behind me. My gloves were black too and a bit more appropriate for the occasion. I also had on the bracelet that changed my appearance to the old me. Slender had told me that he'd implanted in the memories of the church organizers that I carried a book and a scepter down the isle when the casket was being carried to the hearse. The only downside was that I had to take off my gloves to do this. I'd practiced with a random book in my room and a candlestick several times and each time they became covered in the char burst into flames. The thing was, the fire didn't burn anything. There wasn't even a sign that it had been on fire at all.

Now as I stared at the casket that held the friend I couldn't save I recited the words Elsa had sang during 'For The First Time In Forever'

Don't let them in, don't let them see. Be the good girl you always have to be. Conceal, don't feel. Put on a show, make one wrong move and everyone will know.

Somehow I related to Elsa. We both had to hide our powers from the ones we loved, even if it meant that we couldn't get close to them. But this wasn't Frozen. I wouldn't set the whole town on fire and I wouldn't hurt Jeff. I wouldn't run off and I wouldn't change my clothes using the magic that I possess. (even though that would be pretty cool :P) I'd control my powers, and then one day I'd use them to save someone from certain death. Then I wouldn't be afraid anymore. But until that day I would wear the gloves and keep my powers a secret. Conceal don't feel. Conceal don't feel.

As the choir sang a song that I recognized as Michael Miller's version of 'I believe', I walked up to a small table that had been placed before the casket. In the front row I could see Mrs. Rodgers, Toby's mom. I slipped off my gloves with a sense of dread. With shaking hands I picked the book and the scepter ad started to walk down the aisle. My gloves pressed in between my arm and my side. The char slowly covered the bottom and started to creep up the sides. I bit my lip. After what seemed like an eternity I finally got to the place that I was supposed to set the items down. I put them down and shoved my hands back in my gloves. Breathing a sight of relief, I relaxed a bit. It was over.

After the graveyard service we came back to the church and went into a conference hall. I guess they just do that because there's a lot to talk about. I'll never really know. I spotted Mrs. Rodgers from across the room and made my why over there.

"Mrs. Rodgers?" I asked. She nodded solemnly, "My name is Jennifer. I-I was a good friend of Toby." I hugged myself as tight as I could. Mrs. Rodgers snapped her head up and listened with keen interest.

"That's odd I don't remember him having very many friends." She padded a spot next to her, "Why don't you sit down?"

"Thank you." I nodded and sat down before beginning, "You see I met him only two or three months ago. He was just so full of energy and that little twitch thing he did made him so, so adorable." My eyes brimmed with fresh tears.

"It's good to know he died with friends to mourn him." Mrs. Rodgers looked down, "He was always a bright boy. But after Lyra died he closed himself off from the rest of the world."

"After he died. So did I." I quickly and briefly hugged her and left. I exited the hall and walked down to the sanctuary. I looked at the stained glass, the delicate wood, the marble of the floor, and the giant doors that lead into a courtyard. Out the window I could see snow drifting down to earth. It was a peaceful quiet that people often don't notice. I sat down in one of the pews at the back and watched the people take down the decorations. After about five minutes Jeff found me.

"Hey." He nudged my side.

"Hey." Looked down at my hands.

"You doing okay. You look like you've seen a ghost." Jeff suddenly caught on to what he said, "Sorry. Shouldn't have said that."