Bitches Shred In Pieces

20: The Last Night

Michelle jogs through the backside of the buildings, far from the parking lot. XOXO must be hiding Tony in a less crowded place. Unsuccessfully, she heads back to the parking lot, feeling uneasy at the fact that she's alone. Is she being watched?

  The hustling of the wind makes the atmosphere eerie, like in a scary movie. But she isn't planning on dying today.

  The sudden vibration of her phone sends her flying in the air. It's a text from Joseph. Probably, he's simply looking for her.

  But it isn't a text—it's a short video. She opens it, almost throwing the phone to the ground. There's a pressure in her chest as she clicks play.

  In the video, Joseph is tied up in a swing set outside the woods. His hair is a mess and blood drips off his nose. A cloth is covering his mouth while he's trying to yell, only releasing inaudible murmurs. He's crying.

  Without thinking, she picks up her dress and stops a taxi passing by. There's no way she's wasting time.

Indeed, she's scared—but Joseph? She can't help thinking that he might die because of her.

The ride to the park near the Hush Hush woods feels like an eternity, Michelle yelling at the driver to hurry up twice.

  Is she too late?

She gets down the taxi before throwing the first dollar she takes out of her wallet.

As the cab drives away, she yells, "Joseph!"

He is still tied up in the swing, breathing heavily once he sees her.

"Everything will be alright," she whispers, trying to untie the wires from his hands and feet.

Someone yanks her from the hair before she can untie him completely. "Let go off me!"

She notices XOXO, that white, creepy mask giving her chills. Is she going to die tonight?

"Let him go!" Michelle continues to growl, hoping a random vehicle will pass by even though they are behind the playground section.

XOXO slowly paces around her, examining every detail. She can smell the scent of rubber and metal in whoever-it-is.

Waves of tears crawl down her cheeks, accelerating heartbeat heard in her ears. "Please."

How did she end here? How was she capable of killing an innocent girl and risking the lives of the ones she loves the most? Also, why did she include Lena and Tony in this? They shouldn't be suffering for her doings.

She glances at Joseph again, focusing on his green eyes—barely visible under the moon. The wind blows, the trees shake.

He is not dying today.

She punches XOXO between its legs in less than a second. He's a male, she felt it.

He kneels in the ground full of dead leaves, groaning with a hand resting in his testicles. But Michelle isn't wasting time, she sprints to Joseph, tearing the cloth off his mouth.

"Hurry, Michelle!" he yells, spitting blood. "Hurry!"

As she tries to untangle the knots from his hands, she hears XOXO slowly standing up.

"Michelle," Joseph whispers, voice cracking into tears. "Run."

"I won't leave you here," Michelle cries, fingers hurting and a nail breaking in half when she—finally—unties his hands resting on his back.

He moves them a little and grabs Michelle's cheeks with both hands, forcing eye contact with her. "Run."

She whimpers, grabbing his hand and giving it a squeeze.

"Waste no time!"

She tumbles backwards, crying as she stands up and heads towards the road. There's no way Joseph can fight XOXO with his feet tied up.

What has she done? XOXO is going to kill him, isn't he?

All these thoughts storm in her head while she goes under a red slide and continues running. Her dress is tearing apart as her legs stretch to run faster.

The streets are silent, no lights from the nearby houses are on.

"Help!" she screams, her breath weakening from too much adrenaline.

No one answers.

Are they asleep? Can't anyone hear her?

She twists her left foot in the middle of the street, not far from the old park as she would like. A pulsating pain bursts in her foot after the crack it gave. You can do this, she whispers in her head, ignoring the unbearable pain.

Can she, though? Is it worth trying when the one she loves is probably taking his last breath?

Just as she's about to release another scream for help, a strong hand tightens in her messed-up hair. He covers her mouth, feeling of cold rubber from his gloves on her lips.

Michelle tries screaming but nothing comes out. Her legs are falling asleep as he's dragging her back where they met.

Back in the park, cracking noises of the dead leaves as they step on, she sees no Joseph. Not even a drop of blood that signals his death.

"Where is he?" she asks, her hands shaking as he uncovers her mouth.

XOXO doesn't answer, instead he takes a something silver that glints with the moonlight. A knife.

"I'm sorry if this is about Karen, okay?" Michelle cries, making no effort in running with a twisted ankle. "But if you're going to hurt anyone—hurt me. Not Lena nor Tony. I just dragged them into this horrible mess when I shouldn't have."

XOXO tilts its head to the right, almost taking her words for granted.

"They don't deserve—"

The sensation of a sharp object ripping through your skin isn't noticeable at first. Maybe it's the shock that makes you ignore what is currently happening. No pain, just amazement.

After though, when the realization comes into your mind, the burning and throbbing becomes your worst nightmare. Ask Michelle as XOXO twists the sharp, piercing object inside her.

Her screams of agony can answer that question.

XOXO pulls the knife out and she drops to the ground, covering her abdomen. Her hands feel the thick, warm liquid coming out of her from the open wound.

She looks around with pleading eyes, hoping XOXO will show some mercy. But he's gone.

She's alone.

Dark spots begin to fill her eyes, ringing in her ears. She can't go now—it's too soon.

But does she have a say?

~

A\N: Spoiler: she doesn't have a say. Kisses! 💋