The Haunting

Chapter 17

Elizabeth sighed in frustration as the police came to the sorority house again.

They searched through Meredith's room, demolishing her closet and personal belongings and messing up the bed she once neatly made. But that was a long time ago, and that bed's never gonna have an owner plop down in frustration whenever she gave up with her geometry homework ever again the same way Meredith did.

“Be careful with that,” Elizabeth barked as the policeman accidentally dropped a stack of Meredith's photos and drawings.

She thought about the time when she drew her friend a penis. The police will probably see that.

She didn't know whether to be laughing or nervous because expulsion was threatening.

Vanessa was out again, on another date with her dashing Romeo, whoever he was again, and Noelle was with some guy named Bradley.

Elizabeth felt a pang of jealousy hit her. It seemed as though she was singled-out mainly because she was, well, single. Meredith would've been supporting her, though. Even though she wasn't single herself.

“Did this girl have any problems before she died?”

A policeman asked Elizabeth, who shook her head and said,

“No, not that any of us knew of. Meredith was a kind girl who was always cheerful and happy. She didn't have any enemies. Everyone liked her.”

“Well.... did she have a boyfriend?”

“Yeah, she did. I think his name's Daniel. Yeah. Daniel Hendricks. I think they're still together. She rarely talked about him. But when she did, it was always about her going on dates. She was a humble person.”

The police raised his eyebrows. Then,

“When was the last time they saw each other?”

Elizabeth thought about it.

“Oh.. I actually don't know.”

The policeman nodded.

“Alright, chief. We have a boyfriend in the puzzle now.”

Elizabeth watched the chief of police nod back. He made his way out of the room when Elizabeth noticed the old English style journal in his hands.

“Hey,” she yelled, nearly grabbing the book, “that's Meredith's diary! What the heck are you doing?”

The chief looked at her in an astounded way.

“We need to investigate this to examine the deceased girl's state of mind. We need to see if-”

“Meredith is NOT mentally ill! She's not suicidal or schizophrenic, if you really need to know!”

“Listen, we need this psychological evidence-”

“-psychological evidence?! You're invading her privacy!!!”

“You don't know what you're dealing with here.”

“Yes I do! Just leave her stuff alone!”

“Would you like to return to the station with us.. as our prisoner?”

Elizabeth stomped her foot. “You can't do that!”

“Yes we can,” the police threatened, glaring into her deep green eyes.

Elizabeth spotted Heidi walking down the hallway to her room.

“I'm not the one you should arrest!” she yelled. “SHE is!”

She pointed at Heidi and looked at her with hate and bitterness. Heidi just stared back at her.

“Well?” the police inquired sarcastically.

“Her,” Elizabeth suggested, pointing at the red haired girl.

“I'm sorry?” Heidi asked.

“You better be!” Elizabeth yelled. “Why were you in the bathroom?!”

“Me?” Heidi raised her eyebrows, her voice sounding greasier than ever. “I was just re-dying my hair.”

“Oh,” Elizabeth said sarcastically. “Oh okay. Okay.. is it to cover up all that blood in your hair? Hmm?”

“Enough,” the policeman grunted. “We're taking Ms. Meredith's diary for examination.”

Elizabeth watched hopelessly as they walked out of the sorority house. She glared as Heidi slowly made her way into her room, her elf-like eyes flashing through the door slit.

Then she disappeared into her room, her red hair leaving a smell of toxins and grease in its wake.