One Reason

~Chapter Seven~

"We have to show the police-" Dustin grabs ahold of my phone heading towards the door. I quickly grab his forearm, stopping him.

"We can't-"

"Why not, Michelle? This can help find who did this to Louis." Dustin turns to me. His eyes on me made me stutter.

"T-the person said if we tell the police," I look over at Hannah. Her face still red from crying. "Or Hannah is next."

"So what?" Dustin says, yanking his arm out of my grip.

"Um, I don't know, cause they are threatening to kill me! If it was Michelle being threatened would you tell the police!?" Hannah stands from the couch.

"Listen, none of us will die. We will show the police and they will keep an eye on you. Like witness protection. I don't know," Dustin says leaving the room. Being stopped by the officer. "I need to see the sheriff. I have a video of the killer."

The door closes after Dustin as they escort him down the hallway. Why would he not listen to me?

I turn to Hannah as she sits back onto the couch next to Tori.

"Who ever this person is, they are sick and won't get away with this." Tori says, wrapping her arms around.

"I hope they rot in hell."

-

Once the school was lifted from the lockdown everyone was free to go home. Dustin came back to hand me my phone. Hannah was already taken home by her mom. The police said they will send a car to over to watch her house for any activity. Lance walked Hannah out to her mom but never came back to the lounge.

"My dads here. I'll see you guys later." Tori stands from the couch, walking to the door leaving Dustin and me to ourselves. We sat next to each other on the couch.

"You don't have to wait with me." I lay my head back on the couch, closing my eyes. A hand grabs ahold mine causing my eyes to open.

"With what happened, I'm not leaving you alone." His voice was soft, like a whisper. I nod to him, closing my eyes again.

The room feel silent, outside the sound of lockers opening and closing, students talking, and people racing to leave. We were closed off from the craziness of the outside. I felt safe in here with Dustin even if there was a killer on the loose.

My begins to ring, my eyes open reading, mom. I answer, "mom?"

"I'm here." My mom says through the phone.

"Okay coming." I hang up, standing from the couch. I turn back to Dustin, holding my hand out to him. He grabs it standing up.

We made our way over to the door, opening the door to the craziness of reality. We began to push our way past people who blocked the halls. Dustin stayed ahead on me, making a path for me to follow.

The front office was cluttered with worried parents and crying students. We got out of there fast. Dustin opens the front doors, letting me ahead. I see my mom parked in the distance.

"I'll talk to you tonight." Dustin says with a smile as he kisses my forehead before walking off to the student parking lot.

I smile at him, walking off to my mom's car. Once I get to the car I open it, sitting down in the passenger seat.

"Sweetie, I am sorry about Louis. He was a good boy." My says as I quickly respond to her.

"I don't want to talk about it right now. Okay?"

She goes silent, as well as the rest of the ride home. Silence.

-

Dinner was as silent. Not much talking happened between my mother and me. Dinner was simple, chicken and rice. I barely touched my food. I was so disturbed by Louis's body to take a bite of my food.

"I think I'm going to go to bed early. I have had a long day." I say standing up from the table, pushing in my chair.

"Okay. Your father will be home in an hour. I'll make sure to tell him when he gets home so he doesn't wake you up," I nod to her staring my way to the stairs. "I love you."

"I love you too." I say, making my way up the stairs. I reach the top turning right heading down the hallway. My room on the left, walking in I shut the door after me.

I place my phone down on my desk, starting to get unchanged. I walk over to my dresser grabbing out shorts and a t-shirt. A loud thud comes from outside. I turn walking over to my open window looking around. I quickly close my curtains. Probably just a deer. Or the killer?

I change into my shorts and t-shirt before grabbing my phone from the desk. I shoot Hannah a text

'How you holding up? Going to school tmw?'

I walk over to my bed, sitting down on the edge waiting for her response.

'Bad and no. I can't.'

'I understand. I'll help you in the class you miss. Gn.'

I place my phone down on my side table, climbing into bed.

This day has been awful. This week has been awful. Two deaths. Threats of more deaths. What has this town come to?

I slowly begin to drift off into a deep sleep.

-

My slumber had been interrupted by the sound of my phone ringing. I open my eyes, my room being dark only being lit by my phone screen. I turn on my side, sitting up grabbing my phone seeing a text from unknown,

'Help me choose.'

I text back, confused.

'Choose what?'

Suddenly another text pops up.

'Which one to spread to the whole school tomorrow.'

Next two image files were sent. I click on the first, waiting for the image to load.

A picture of me from outside my window, in my underwear. I turn to the window remembering the thud I heard. I look back at my phone sliding to the next picture.

A picture taken of Tori from outside her bedroom window, in her underwear.

'Pick.'

I angrily text back the number,

'Go to hell'

'10:45am'