Rivalry

Chapter 5

-Liz POV-

Hmm... So Jeff... Jeff the killer. Sounds about right.

Wait a minute, what am I thinking??? There's no proof! For all I know, that could've been a dream. But.... If it was, then why am I constantly checking over my shoulder? Why did his grip feel so real? Why-

"Ey Dandelion! You ok there?" I snap to attention as Bret waves a hand in front of my face.

"I'm just fine you dork" I reply, slightly pushing him off the sidewalk.

"So remind us again why we're going to your house?" Sophie inquires for the fifth time.

"Aren't I fun enough to hang out with?" I answer with a chuckle. "And besides, I wanted to get started on that group project for English. Better to just have it out of the way."

"Ok... You sure you're ok? You seem anxious"

"Sophie, I'm fine" But am I? Am I just having them over because I don't feel safe at home with just my brother...? God I'm selfish.

"Well, I'm not" Bret announces.

"Pfft, we knew that from day one!" Sophie counters with a chuckle.

Bret dramatically rolls his eyes and continues "No, I mean actually finishing the assignment. I kinda zoned out halfway into the lesson. Edgar Allen Poe is so boring!"

"Hey, excuse me? The Tell Tale Heart was quite gory. I'm sure you could easily draw a guy hiding a dismembered body under floorboards" I suggest.

"Eh, still not that motivated to work."

"You had better be" I reply to him, shooting a glare.

"Or what?" He chuckles.

"Or you'll be facing rage in its element!" Sophie warns with a laugh.

"I'll take my chances" He announces, flashing a grin. Next thing I know, he snatches my glasses and sprints off.

"BRET!!!!" Sophie and I yell in sync. Geez, do boys ever learn?

•••

After twenty minutes of Sophie guiding me down the street, blindly tackling Bret to retrieve my glasses, and a quick snack break, we're all ready to get started.

But as luck will have it, I can't focus. Of course.

I let out a sigh. This isn't going anywhere fast. I feel the need to do something else. But what can I use as an excuse....

"Hey Bret, Sophie. I'm heading to Cassie's house to get her caught up on what she missed today."

"She won't do any of the work" Sophie warns.

"Meh. I'm just trying to be nice. I'll be back in a bit!" I announce, grabbing my backpack and heading out.

Yeah, a good walk is exactly what I need.

•••••••••

-Cassie POV-

I didn't get much sleep last night. By now, I've stolen an old really tiny-screened TV the size of a tablet from my brothers room and am using that instead in mine. I haven't come out, though my mom hounds me.

There's something really off. This game...it's absorbing, and yet it's haunting.

I sigh. I was finally able to get off of it a few minutes ago. I've just unplugged the whole thing. My hair's a mess, I haven't showered in three days, and I've slept in my clothes as usual, but for a few days straight, which doesn't help.

I hear two voices talking downstairs, but I ignore it. Mom's probably having some friends over. Suddenly, I realize footsteps are leading up the stairs.

The door flings open. A astonished Liz stands there. "What the hell..." she mutters, seeing my messy room and my startled out-of-order self.

"What are you doing in my room?!" I half-yell, sitting up fast. "Are you ok?! Do you need a doctor? Because by the looks of it you pulled an all nighter playing that video game! And I brought you the work for today," she authoritatively snaps, throwing the papers down on my bed.

"I'm completely fine, now get out of my room! And fine, before you start bitching about it, I'll do my research for the project. Happy now? Good, get the fuck out of my room!!"

"Not until you start on the project, where I can see you."

I sigh. I suddenly feel a presence in the room. I recognize this feeling...it's been here since an hour or two after I started playing Majora's mask.

Liz suddenly looks very, very uncomfortable. "I...um...better go...I'll call later...so that we can work on our project...bye!" she stutters, backing up slowly towards the door. Next I know she's racing away.

I shiver, truly scared now that I know it isn't just me. I try to get up and head downstairs towards the computer there, but something stops me and turns my head towards the mini TV and the Xbox. Next I know, I'm playing the haunted game again.