According to the battery clock that Josh held tightly, they had about 4 minutes until 3 AM.
Waiting
Waiting
Waiting
Tyler, Josh, and I held our guns out in front of us. Shaking hands gripped sweaty triggers.
Waiting
Waiting
BOOM
Right on time.
This time Three AM held a small shimmery irredescent dagger in his left hand. He was grinning wildly. I wasn't afraid.
"GoOd tO sEe YoU aGaiN LiTtlE oNes. I'm SoOo sOrRy aBoUt rYaN aNd BrEnDoN! ThAt mUsT fEeL tErRibLe, kNoWiNg YOU toOk BrEnDoN dOwNsTaiRs WiTh A gUn, knOwiNg RyAn cOuLd VeRy wEll bE dOwN tHeRe. I MeaN iN rEaLiTy, iT wAs ReAllY yOu tHat KilLed hIm, yOu GavE bRenDoN a WeaPon aNd tOoK hiM tO sEe HiS dEaD bOyFriEnd! Of cOuRsE hE wOulD kill hImSelF oVeR it! I hoPe YoU cAn lIVe wItH yOuRsElVes kNowInG YOU kiLLeD yOuR bEsT fRiEnD!!" Three AM taunted. His gravelly, unsteady voice shaking the ground and tensing the air.
"Stop that. We know what you're doing." Josh cocked his gun. Three AM didn't even flinch at the click.
"AnD wHaT eXaCtLy Am I dOiNg DuCkY? BeSiDeS stAtInG tHe TruTh?"
Was he right? We're we, I, responsible for Brendon's death? Oh god, I killed him. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have brought Bren down there, with the risk of seeing Ryan dead. But of course I had no idea Ryan WAS down there... so how could it be my fault?
"You're playing with our minds. We know it wasn't our fault for Brendon dying. He just happened to have a gun, and Ryan happened to be down there." Josh responded, a hint of fear in his voice.
"BuT yOu GaVe HiM tHe GuN dIdNt YoU?" Three AM shot back, the smile on his face growing inhumanly wider.
He's right. It is my fault. I can't live with myself knowing I killed Brendon.
"Stop! That's not true! We didn't murder Brendon!" Tyler argued defensively.
"BuT yOu wErE iNvOlVed AnD rEsPoNsAbLe fOr hIs SuiCiDe, wErEnT yOu?"
"No!" Tyler yelled.
Yes. I thought.
"Fuck off! Stop trying to minipulate us!" Josh stomped his foot stubornly and put his free hand on his hip.
"I'm so sorry." That was what I murmured under my breath before I stepped up to Three AM, only about 2 feet away.
"Melanie?! What the fuck?!" Josh exclaimed
"He's right. I loaded the gun and gave it to Brendon. I took him to the basement, knowing there was any possibility of Ryan being dead down there. I took that risk and it got them killed. I'm so sorry." I whispered loud enough for for everyone to hear.
It was me. I can't live like this.
"What the actual fuck Mel! He's trying to do this! He's making you think this is your fault but it's not! It's a game to him! Don't listen!" Tyler cried out, not daring to step any closer though.
"YoUrE dOiNg ThE rIgHt ThInG MeLaNiE. NOoNE WhO KiLlS tHeIr FrIeNdS DeSeRvEs To LiVe." Three AM looked into my eyes with deep sympathy. I couldn't tell if it was fake or not, but I believe his words.
I really don't deserve to live, after doing that.
"MEL! STOP LISTENING TO HIM! HES PLAYING WITH YOUR HEAD!"
"Kill me."
The knife sunk into my neck, just above my left collarbone. Warm, thick liquid spilled out.
Finally. I can't live like this anymore. Stuck in this house, killing my friends. Ashley is gone, so what the point of life now anyway?
I buckled and stumbled to the floor.
"MELANIE!"
"NO!"
"MEL!"
"MEL WHYD YOU LISTEN!"
"GET UP MELANIE!"
"PLEASE!"
"yOu dId ThE rIgHt ThiNg."
I did the right thing.
I heard a gunshot, but Three AMs blurry figure poofed away with a BOOM before anything hit him.
My hearing and vision fizzed out.
I felt strong arms lift me up and cold fingers touch my neck where the blade had been.
I did the right thing.
And everything went numb.
And everything was gone.
