you're next | dolan twins

o n e

My bloodshot eyes stare up at the ceiling fan going round and round. It's a motion that I have been following for the past four nights.

Sleeping has been very minimal since Saturday. Every time I close my eyes I see her dead body on the cold ground. The fact that I found one of my best friends in that state will forever haunt me.

Who would do that to her? I gulp as I watch the fan go around for the hundredth time. My alarm clock is bound to go off any minute yet I force my eyes to close, which is a terrible idea.

"I can't believe Amanda is dead!" Nicole cries as she stands next to me. Her sobs are loud as she runs her hand through her long brown hair. "How did this happen?"

"I don't know." My eyes stay fixed on the police cars and ambulance who surround the party.

"This doesn't feel real. One minute she's here and the next she's not." Nicole shakes her head in disbelief.

"Where is everybody?" I slowly ask her.

"I don't know." Her tiny voice squeaks.

"Rachel!" Ethan yells as he runs over to me. Jeremy is following close behind him, a worried look is on his face. "There you are." My boyfriend pulls me into a tight hug, it's the most comforting hug he has ever given me. "I have been looking for you all night."

"I'm okay." My emotionless voice tells him. I wrap my arms around his body and gently close my eyes.

"How the fuck could something like this happen?" Jeremy stares at the ambulance.

"We need to get the hell away from this house. Whoever killed Amanda could still be here." Ethan tightens his grips on me. Half of the party left the second I announced she was found dead.

"How is this happening?" Nicole continues to cry. "I feel like I'm in a nightmare."

"Kelsey is all messed up. I mean, a girl was murdered at her house." Jeremy's eyes move toward Kelsey and Zachary. They both look distraught as a cop asks them questions.

I watch as Alex slowly walks over to the four of us. He places his jacket around Nicole's shoulders and wraps his arm around her. "Everyone left. The police are questioning students."

"Where's your brother?" Jeremy asks Ethan.

"I have no idea. I haven't seen him in awhile." He replies.

"Do you think he left?" Alex asks as he comforts Nicole.

"I hope not." Ethan looks back at me and I shrug my shoulders. I know Grayson was pissed at me but he wouldn't lash out enough to murder somebody, right?

"Does Amanda's parent know?" Nicole speaks up.

"I heard the police called them." Jeremy sighs as he looks down at the ground.

"Ethan." Grayson's voice calls out in the distance. I snap my head to look in his direction. He's walking over to us, his eyes lock with mine and I quickly look away. "What the hell is going on?"

"You don't know?" Ethan flashes him a confused look. "Amanda was murdered."

"What?" He yells as his face drops.

"Rachel found her body in the woods." Alex explains.

Grayson looks into my broken eyes. I look away again and stare at my heels. I can't look at him, especially now.

"Let's get out of here." His husky voice whispers.

"Nobody's going anywhere." Crystal approaches our little circle, crossing her arms over her chest. "The cops plan on questioning everyone."