A Murder In Thornville

Chapter 1

   The quiet whispers fill the school as news of the earlier incident travels through the halls of Thornville High. The sobs of students can be heard as they mourn for the loss of a friend. The loss of a stranger. The loss of a girl from their homeroom. Even without knowing her, the fact that someone so young, so normal had been killed causes everyone to feel distressed and to cry for her. You never think things like this actually happen. It just seems so surreal, the fact that someone just like you, a student who goes to school everyday and just seems so normal, was murdered. It seems almost as if it is straight out of a movie or a book. But its not. It is something that actually happened, and does happen all the time. You just never expect it to happen to you. In your small town where everybody knows everybody.

Her name was Violet. She was a sweet girl, always had her nose in a book. I didn't really know her but I had a few classes with her. She was extremely smart. But now that doesn't matter does it? She's dead. She was murdered with no evidence as to why. She will never get to graduate or go to college, she won't ever get a job or see her family again. Why did this happen? Why her?

As I stand by my locker I stare at hers right down the hall from mine. Its filled with letters and flowers for her and her family. Oh God, her family. I cant even imagine what they are going through right now. How do you deal with something like this? Do you ever get over it?

   Suddenly my thoughts are interrupted by my friend, Olivia coming up to me. "Hey Lexi, how you holding up?" she asks. Her medium length raven black hair and electric blue eyes contrast with my long blonde hair and grey eyes. "Could be better," I respond "What about you?" She sighs before responding, "Same here, I still cant completely wrap my mind around the fact that this happened." I nod my head in understanding as three of our other friends walk over to us. Sara, Lukas, and Xavier.

   Sara was a tall redhead with emerald green eyes and freckles dotting her cheeks and nose. Lukas was a tall brunette with chocolate brown eyes and black framed glasses, he is the smartest of the group. Xavier had chocolate brown skin with black hair and dark brown eyes, he was the tallest of the group being 6'4". Olivia, Lukas, and I have known each other since we were kids because we lived on the same street. We met Sara in 3rd grade when she had moved here from New York and Xavier in 7th when he moved in with his mom after his parents divorced.

   Now we are all in our senior year of high school and have only grown closer. "Hey guys." Sara says. You can tell from her puffy cheeks and red eyes that she had been crying. Although she is the strongest and most feisty one in the group, the subject of loss is very sensitive to her. Olivia immediately hugged her when she saw her tear streaked face while I pulled tissues out of my bag for her. "Thanks Lex." I shot her a warm smile and turned my attention back to Violets locker. Its been a few days since the incident and the school and Violets family allowed for us to come to school and leave notes or bring flowers to her locker. The idea is sweet but I'm kind of surprised they allowed it since it was so recent.

   I was once again brought out of my thoughts when I received a notification on my phone. At the same time multiple beeps were heard throughout the school as everyone received a message alerting us of an anonymous post in our schools website. It is basically like a school paper but everyone can write on it if they get permission from school editors who wrote the main news about our school. I opened my phone along with everyone else and clicked open the post.

"The roses have wilted,

The violets are dead,

The demons run circles.

Round and Round in my head."

-anonymous

   I freeze in shock. Who would post something like this? Is this supposed to be some type of joke? I lifted my head trying to figure out who did it but all I see are equally shocked and some disgusted faces. I hear Olivia murmur  Oh my gosh under her breath as she reads the poem. Xavier speaks what everyone is thinking when he asks loud enough for everyone to hear, "Who wrote this? Whoever it is you are sick and this isn't funny." Collected murmurs of agreement come from the crowd.

  Not long after this people begin to leave and go home as the day turns to night and sun turns to moon. I part with my friends and begin the ten minute walk home thinking about this weeks events and how different things will be around school on Monday morning. We can only hope things begin to get better soon and the friends and family of Violet can find a way to cope with the tragic loss.