7 Days of Darkness

Chapter 7 - Hurt

Day 5

Justin:

There's only a few of us left. Rachel was killed last night but no one knows how. She wasn't killed by the mafia because her neck had been slit. Everyone else had been killed by gunshot so someone else had done it.

"Someone is hiding something." Tanner said from across the circle. "We need to start thinking about who is suspicious and not just randomly lynch people."

"Tanner's right." Piped up Chloe. "We need to know where people were each night. We all know that Rachel wasn't killed by the mafia so we have to know where people were the nights of Travis and Charles's deaths."

The first person to speak was Harry. He stepped forwards and spoke nervously. "Why can't we just leave this mess and go back home? I'm sure none of us want to be here!"

"We can't." Victor said. "Someone popped the car tires, and unless you want to walk miles through the desert you're stuck here. So let's get to finding this murderer."

"He's right." I said stepping forwards as well. "Let's start with you Harry. Where were you when Charles was killed?"

Harry stepped back and fiddled with his fingers. "I-I was in my house. Writing in my diary. You can check the dates if you want." He handed me a leather cover book with a black strap keeping it closed. I removed the strap and sure enough, there was the entry dates to 2 days ago. There were many scribbles and scratched out words inside. This must've taken him some time.

"He's telling the truth." I said handing the book down to Lois who was standing right beside me. With very smooth movements she took the book and opened it to the same page. Lois was wearing a long sleeved shirt that was baggy around her arms and allowed me to see a small slip of paper, loosely hidden near her wrist. That gave me some suspicions and I got an idea.

"Where were you when Charles was killed Lois?" I asked, crossing my arms. Lois quickly turned her head to face me, her eyes were wide and she looked nervous.

"I was with Victor and Lily in our house. Ask them, they will confirm." I nodded my head suspiciously and looked at Victor and Lily who were both nodding their heads.

"Alright." I said, my plan was starting to take action. "I think Chloe wants to see that book."

Lois closed the diary and started walking towards Chloe who was standing on the opposite end of the circle. As she took her first step, I stuck my foot out, and Lois came down to the ground with a slight yelp. She fell down and flung her arms in all directions, throwing the diary and knocking out the slip of paper which had slid clean out of her sleeve. I picked it up before Lois could and unfolded it to reveal a letter signed with four signatures.

Lois hit her head on the ground in frustration as I read the letter out loud. There wasn't much information on it, but one line read: "I want the population down to zero by Saturday. No excuses." The signatures were too difficult to make out exactly who had signed the note, but according to Lois's frustration, I'd say she was in on it.

Victor quickly came to help Lois back up from the dirt and stared at me in horror. "Justin, please. Lois is innocent. I swear!"

Before I could answer, Harry spoke up. "Victor you heard what the letter said. Lois deserves to be hanged."

Victor immediately turned to Harry and shouted. "You shut up!!" He yelled, pointing a finger at Harry's face. "Lois is as innocent as Travis was!" But Lois already knew her fate. She stepped up to the gallows and motioned for Chi to come finish the job. Chi backed away and shook his head, refusing to pull the lever. I could see the tears in his eyes as well as Lily's and Victor's. Victor had said that the four of them grew up together. It must be heartbreaking to find out that Lois was keeping secrets from the rest of them.

"Lois! No, you can't!" Victor cried as John held him back from running up to the noose as well.

"I want this to be a fair trial." Stated Lois as she wrapped the noose around her neck. "All who vote innocent please raise your hand." Chi, Lily and Victor, who had managed to control his rage, all rose their hands. "All who vote guilty please raise your hand." Stated Lois who was now holding back tears of her own. The other 5 of us rose our hands.

Victor looked in terror at Lois who was looking right back into his fearful eyes. "Lois no, please! You don't have to do this! We can work it out!"

Lois, still looking straight into Victor's big brown eyes put her hand on the lever that would sentence her demise. Her breath was cut short by her soft crying and her makeup had been smudged from her tears. She grasped the lever and whispered with one last breath. "I love you." As she pulled the lever to end her life.

Victor screamed with rage and despair and attempted to run towards the gallows but was stopped by the huge arms of John that were wrapped around his body. He yelled in pain and I saw the others crying as well. Chloe was ducking into Tanner's shoulder and Chi and Lily were hugging tightly, both sobbing from the loss of their friend. Even John had shed a few tears.

Victor quickly realized that John was too strong for him, and he crumpled to the ground in despair and started sobbing. I walked over to him to try and help but before I could get there he turned to face me with burning hatred in his eyes. "You son of a bitch! You did this! You killed her!" John, once again trapped Victor and started heading towards Victor's house. "I'll kill you! You hear me?! You're dead!" As John hauled Victor indoors, everyone else started heading back to their own places, and I was left in the middle of town square. I felt pain and sorrow. Victor had become my friend, and now I betrayed him. My heart aches and I found myself becoming short of breath. I headed back to my house and thought for a minute. "Am I the real murderer?"