The Perils of Friendship

The End

The walk home was quieter than usual, and I would catch Jasmine sneaking a peak over her shoulder every now and then. When we got to my house, I made us some quesadillas and put on Netflix. After a while of watching One Day at A Time, we both got over the weirdness of the day and started our own little karaoke night. It being a Friday, we convinced our parents to let her spend the night at my house. At about midnight, we started making plans for Halloween and Valentine's Day, which I was looking forward to because they were elaborate and evil.

"I didn't do it!" I screamed, waking up from a memory. I looked at the clock and like usual, it was three am in the morning and I was up. "You know that's Witching Hour, right? That means you're a witch, just like your whore of a mother. " My drunken father's words played in my head. I looked over to Jazz only to find her makeshift bed empty. I got up to get a late-night snack and wait for Jazz to get out of the bathroom, but as I passed the bathroom, I found it empty. I grabbed two slices of pie and went back to the room. I set the food down on the nightstand and was about to start my search for my crazy best friend when something grazed my ankle. I screamed and turned on the light.

"What the hell, Jazz? Why are you under the bed and why did you scare me like that?" I whisper-shouted at her.

"I'm sorry, but he's here. I saw him. He broke in and he's looking for me. Can't you hear his footsteps?" She questioned, her voice full of worry and fear.

Jazz and I went to Alyssa's room, so I could make sure she was okay. I took my blades from under my pillow just in case there really was a man in here. I did a quick check around the house only to find everything in order. No sign of forced entry or any opening. This was the last straw. I took my parents' keys, carried Alyssa to the car (with the help of Jazz), and drove to see a shrink. I set up an appointment for Jazz on the way there. We arrived a few hours early and ended up taking a nap.

The doctor said that it was probably just a lack of nutrients. She kept pleading to me that she wasn't crazy or nutrient-deficient. That this was real, but I didn't believe her. Now I wish I did.

***

I opened my eyes groggily. I tried to move, but I couldn't. I was restrained, and my muscles were much too weak. I really need to get in shape.

"Good, you're up. Now we can get to business." A menacing voice said.

"Why didn't you just kill me when you had the chance?" I questioned with as much venom as I could muster up at the time.

"Where's the fun in that? Then I wouldn't be able to see the life leave your eyes or hear you scream and beg for mercy." He smirked, speaking in a playful tone.

"If you're gonna talk the talk, then you better walk the walk. Don't be a wuss. Untie me and make it a fair fight. Unless you're scared of a little girl," I spat.

"Mouthy one, aren't you? I guess we'll just have to fix that." He barked. He ripped off some duct tape and tried to put it over my mouth, but I bit him. 

"Son of a- That's it." He bellowed. He raised his fist and then...

***

The police said she ran away and she'd come back in a few days. Weeks passed, and they came back, but not with good news. They said they found her body, but I didn't believe it. Not even when they showed me it down at the morgue so I could identify her. I didn't identify her, but her mom did. It wasn't her, I know it wasn't. It couldn't be, it just couldn't! I ran out of the morgue, tears streaming down my face. I ran faster than I've ran before. When I finally stopped, I didn't know where I was anymore. I tried my phone, but it was dead and who would I even call? Usually I would call Jazz, but she wasn't going to answer. I wandered around for hours trying to find my way back. The sun was setting and I stumbled upon some people graffitiing. I slowly baked away, but I tripped and there was a loud bang. Damn! They saw me. Some took off running, but one came towards me.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stumble upon you guys. I was just trying to-"I tried to reason before he snapped at me.

"Shut it!" He snarled, "you're not gonna say anything to the cops, got it?"

"I promise I won't say anything." I reassured him.

"Good because-"

"Watch it, Ty! Stop messing with the poor girl," a girl in the shadows commanded. She emerged from the shadows, exposing her light, clear skin and black, wavy hair. Her brown eyes glistened in the light. She continued, "I'm sorry about him. He just likes to pretend to be all big and bad when really, he's just a sweetheart who couldn't even hurt a fly. I'm Bay and you've already met Ty, my boyfriend."

He chuckled at his girlfriend and turned to me, "sorry about that. I can't let Bay get caught or hurt. I love her, and I don't want to lose her. Besides, if she gets caught, then the cops would take her away, depriving the city of her beautiful masterpieces." He pointed to a picture of an angry looking girl holding a hammer. It is beautiful and there's something so hypnotizing about it. Why is she so angry? What's her story?

"Need help finding home? I know this place pretty well and I wouldn't mind helping. It's the least I could do after you had to put up with him," Bay piped in and motioned to Ty with a smirk on her face.

"Yes, please. I just need to know where I am and which direction is New Haven" I shyly told her.

"You're a long way from home," Ty and Bay said simultaneously, laughing afterwards.

"It's about fifteen miles East. I can take you if you don't want to walk. Plus, it saves you from getting in some trouble with the cops or being picked up by some weirdo." Bay informed me. After giving her a worrisome look, she continued, "We're not going to hurt you. We're cool, well, I am at least."

"I heard that and I take offense," Ty hollered at us as he was cleaning up their supplies and packing it away in a cerulean blue jeep. We both giggled and for some reason, I took her offer. Fifteen miles is a long way to walk and I could really use the company. I tried to reason with myself.