Turning the key in the keyhole, hearing the familiar 'click' of the lock unlocking and opening the door to his house after a long and confusing day of school. Walking into the small cul de sac, he is greeted with the scent of warm pot roast smacking him in the face, making him inhale deeper as he sinks in the welcoming smell of mother's cooking. He walks deeper into the house, Vanessa shuts the door behind them, following him into the house too.
"What's cookin' Sheryl?" Vanessa says as they reach the kitchen
"Oh, hello Vanessa! And its pot roast. You're staying for dinner, right?" Sheryl exclaimed with excitement looking to Vanessa for an answer.
"Well I am now! Can't miss out on pot roast!" Vanessa chimes giving Sheryl a cheeky, bright smile. Vanessa looks to Jake for some sort or approval. He gives a small side smirk.
"Good, the more the merrier." He began, "Plus, we got homework to discuss. C'mon Nessa." He finishes, grabbing Vanessa's wrist and dragging her upstairs to his room.
"Dinner starts at 6!" Sheryl yells after them. Only to be answered by the slam of Jake's door.
Jake goes over everything that just happened in the parking lot not too long ago. What did she mean by "killing someone"? I can't do that! That's crazy! She's crazy! I got to tell Nessa. I Got to get this weight of my chest. Letting go of a breath he didn't know he was holding, he looks to Vanessa who is on her phone, very concentrated on whatever is displayed on her small, blue screen.
"Am I crazy Nessa?" Jake blurts, taking Vanessa by surprise.
"Uh..what? No? I don't think you're crazy. You're just weird." Vanessa laughs, her smile immediately deflating when she realizes he was serious. "No Jake, you're not crazy...why?" She questions, worried as to where this is headed.
"Abby found me again, after I stormed off today..and." He quietly starts, stopping himself, thinking if her wants to tell her about what she said.I can tell her anything, she can help. He thinks.
"And...what? What happened?" Vanessa questions in confusion. Watching Jake lick his lips and run his hands through his hair in nervousness.
"And... She said that she wanted me to kill someone." He finally whispers, making sure only him and Vanessa can hear what is being said, he can't risk having his mom overhear and freak out.
"I'm sorry...Vanessa laughs, clasping her hands together and looking back up at him. "SHE SAID WHAT?! JAKE! WHAT THE HELL IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!" She yells in hushed tones. She stands up and walks over to him and puts her waist length hair into a ponytail in stress and nervousness. She places her hands on the his shoulders feeling the warmth under her palms, standing so close to him, she can smell the sweet smell of his faint cologne, almost making her knees weak. She's had feelings for him for a while, but she knows he doesn't feel the same. But right now is not the time to think about herself, she wants to get to the bottom of this craziness. She looks him deep into his brown eyes,
"What else did she say?" She insisted, almost demanding him to tell her.
Looking back into Vanessa's candy green apple eyes, he gulps and looks down at his Nikes, feeling fear rise up into his eyes, fogging them. Blinking the fear away and looking back up at Vanessa who has her determination painted on her face.
"She told me that she needs me to kill someone who did her wrong, I guess, that's all she said, but I just don't understand why she chose me." He admits. Searching her face for some sort of empathy and understanding. Which he quickly finds. Vanessa is always there for him and he isn't surprised that she is willing to understand. It's the kind of person she is.
He breaks away from her grasp and walks towards his window. Opening it to relieve the suffocating tension in the room. Breathing the crisp air deeply into his lungs as he shivers from both fear and the cold fall air that has been invited into the room. He stands there for a couple of minutes, while she stands in the same spot watching him in utter shock, hands running through her hair as she tries to sort this out herself. Looking back out the window, His stomach plummets to the ground beneath his feet, his heart beating so fast. He feels it may break out of his chest.
Abby is standing just under his second-story window.
He quickly crouches under the window. Out of her view and motions to Vanessa that she is right outside the window. She crouches down herself and crawls over to where he sits.
"She is right outside the window" he explains pointing up to the window with his shaky thumb.
Quickly but stealthily. Vanessa lifts her head over the window seal just enough to look out the window.
Nothing. She sees nothing.
"Jake! There is literally no one out there!" Vanessa huffs, getting ready to stand back up before being quickly pulled down again.
"She left?" Jake questions as he himself lifts his head just enough to look outside again. To where his fears have been confirmed. There she is. Standing in the same spot she was before. Not moving a single muscle. She isn't even blinking. Jake pulls Vanessa up with him and storms out of his room and down the stairs.
"Where you guys going?" Sheryl asks behind them as he didn't stop to answer her. He opened the front door and slammed it behind them. Leaving his mom speechless.
Abby sees them rushing toward her. Giving Jake a mischievous grin. She spins on her heel and walks the opposite direction. Expecting them to follow them.
"Where are we going Jake?" Vanessa asks in terror ripping his arm loose from his grasp, rubbing the faint soreness he left from the pressure.
Jake looks back at Vanessa who has now stopped behind him. Then he looks back at Abby who has disappeared. Again. Looking back at Vanessa, he sees her.
"Stay here. Tell my mom I'll be back in time for dinner." he says in a rush of words, mumbling and stuttering. Leaving Vanessa in the dust as he runs after Abby. After about 20 minutes of running his lungs are on fire and his legs are Jell-O.
He follows her to an isolated barn not far from his house, where she disappears in the dark. What he hears next makes the hair on his neck stand straight up.
YOU ARE READING
Murder Me a favor
Mystery / ThrillerA short story about a guy named Jake who is a Jr in high school who has been approached by a girl named Abby. Who has a spine chilling favor to ask of him. But Abby isn't who Jake thought she was Can Jake follow through with her request? Or will he...
