Dark Cupid

Chapter 3

"What happened after that?" Jodie asked, munching on her bar of chocolate.

"I said yes." I replied.
"You said yes?!" Broke out all the four girls in chaos.
I nodded.

Yes, I'd said yes to Stanley's proposal. There was no reason to say no and quite a few, no wait, quite a lot to say yes. Stanley had gotten up from his knees, grinned really broad and taken me in by my hand. I could see that he was happy, really happy. For the rest of the party, we didn't really talk.

The boys kept pestering Stanley for the story, and he kept whispering, "Not now, after the party." I had done the same when the girls kept pestering me. At the end, when the guys were leaving, Stanley quickly gave me a peck on the lips and grinned broad and whispered, "Thank you for being mine." And then he'd walked away.

After that, the five of us changed into pyjamas and I'd finally given them the story they wanted while having some chocolate that Jodie prepared.

"Everything has changed so much. I feel so complete." I said, smiling and staring at my bar of chocolate. All the girls wooed teasingly. Megan, who had finished three bars of chocolate by then said, "Since when have you liked Stanley?"
"Start of Sophomore year, when I moved here." I replied.
"Yeah, and I was the first friend you made." Said Jodie, "I'd always known you had a thing for Stanley."
"Anyone would have known that you like him, just looking at the way you stare at him." Emma laughed.
"So you finally got your boy?" Grinned Rachel. I smiled to myself and said,
"Yeah, I guess."

***

16th January, 2017

I rushed to class. I knew he'd be waiting. Surely, he was.
"You're late, lab partner." He smiled at me.
"I'm sorry, what are we working on today?"
He passed me a small container identical to his own and replied, "Flatworms."
"What?" I asked.
"Flatworms. That's the topic for today. And that's what's in that container." He replied.
I laughed and said, "Oh sorry, didn't catch that.

***

That day went on pretty good. Me and Stanley, having fun. The next day is when the trouble started. Stanley didn't show up at school. I got worried. I rushed home and texted Stanley.

Felicia: Stanley? Where have you been? Why weren't you at school today?

No reply. Kept getting me worried. I went upstairs, took a shower and came downstairs for lunch. We'd decided on family lunch since it was a day off for both of my parents.

"Hey, honey?" Dad said while reading his newspaper, "Did you know Jessica D'bel?"
"Jess? Yeah, she's from school. We're on the same track team. Wait." I caught what he said, " What do you mean by 'Did I know?' I still do know her, she's a close friend!"
"I'm sorry, Fel." He said and handed me the newspaper.

It showed her picture on the front page, blood oozing out of her stomach with the headline Girl Found Dead In The Woods Near 'Wild Cats High School'. That was the name of my high school. And that was her picture. Jess's picture. I went on to read what was written.

The police found the body at 12, one hour before the final bell of the school. It clearly appears to be a murder. A guy was spotted running away, probably a student, when the police reached the crime scene. He was wearing a black shirt, muscular body and brown hair, probably also the murderer. The victim has been recognised as Jessica D'bel. A ring was found clutched in her hand, with the initials S.W. marked on it. The police appreciates anyone who comes forward to help.

A picture of the ring was attached next to the piece of news. Oh, no. Please God, no. I had lost Jessica. Forever. I couldn't think. Nothing clicked. Nothing at all. I just dumped the newspaper on the table and said in a cracking voice, "Dad, I need to use the washroom. I'll be right back."
"Honey, are you okay?" Dad asked.
"Yes."

I rushed upstairs and broke down. I dialled Stanley's number. It was switched off. I broke down more. Why couldn't I reach Stanley when I needed him so bad? My phone rang. I looked at it hopefully.

But it wasn't him. Rachel calling, it showed. I picked up the call. She heard me sniffing and said, "I'm so sorry, Felicia. I know you and Jessica were close."
I didn't answer. She continued, "Moreover, you got together with Stanley like just two days ago. All of this might've come as a shock."
I was startled. "Wait, what? How's Stanley involved in this?"
"What? You didn't know? They spotted a student running away from the crime scene. And Stanley didn't show up to school today."
"And what does that prove anyway? It doesn't mean that it was Stanley."

"No, Felicia, no. It isn't just that. That ring that the police found, it belonged to him."
Goosebumps ran down my spine. I stammered, "W...what?"
"Yes. S.W. Remember? Stanley Web. We've seen him wearing the ring a million times."
I gulped.
"And Felicia, I hate to tell you this but Stanley's phone is off. And someone took his name when they saw the picture of the ring, I heard, someone from the school. So it looks like the police is after him now. When they couldn't reach his phone, they went to his place, and guess what? He isn't home either."

"Stanley is in trouble." I said.
"Pretty much. But he deserves it." Said Rachel.
"You believe them?"
"It's evidence, Felicia."

I cut the call. Stanley couldn't have done it. He just couldn't have. I kept lying in my room after I had some lunch when mom forced me to. Tears kept dropping. It was around eve when I decided to get up. I couldn't just lie there and do nothing. Stanley would never kill anyone. There was no reason to.

I went downstairs and told mom, "I'm going out, mom. I feel a bit uneasy."
"Be home before it gets late. And don't go near the woods."
"Okay, mom. I'm not going there. As if I'd get killed if I do."
"You may, you know."

I rushed out. The sky wasn't very clear. It was going to rain. I was sure.
I started walking towards the woods, I don't know why. I just hoped to find Stanley there I think. On the way, I ran into Roger.
"Hey Felicia!" He said in his husky voice.
"Hey Roger. What are you doing here?"
"Just out for a walk. All this shit about Stanley being a murderer, I just can't swallow it even if it is true."
"It can't be true, Roger. You know Stanley."
"There's evidence against him, girl. Moreover, I haven't been able to reach his phone since last night."
"I know."
"See you then?"
"Sure."

I walked away from Roger. Nobody really believed in Stanley. Even my own brain kept blaming him. But my heart, won't just give in. I walked all the way to the woods till the police won't let anyone enter beyond. It was officially marked as a crime scene.

I turned to go back home. I'd walked 200 metres away from the woods. That area of the town was abandoned. Apparently, it caught fire or something some years ago. Since then nobody came to stay there.

Suddenly, someone caught me from the back, held my mouth so I couldn't scream and ushered me in a building. He pushed my against a wall and said, "Don't scream when I open your mouth."
I nodded and he let go of his hand covering my mouth.
"Stanley" I spoke just one word, just the name of the guy standing in front of me.

End of chapter three! So this is where the story really begins. Keep reading to find out what happens next.

Like, share, comment.

And please, follow me.

Thank you for your support!

Love, Kaninika xoxo