No Choice But Murder

2

We drove for hours. Or what felt like hours. The news reporters had made it seem closer than it really was. Eventually we found it. Forest Creek was at the end of a lonely street with 11 houses in the middle of nowhere. We discovered there was nothing surroundings these houses but trees and roads for miles yet.

Carter parked the car on a yellow line on the main road. 'I'd rather get a ticket than park on that street.'

'No one asked you to.' hissed Farah. We got out the car and trudged our way to the side of the road. 'Crap! Its freezing.' she said, wrapping her arms around herself and shivering. 'Let's go then.'

We started to walk to the close of the Forest Creek, James leading the way. 'This is cool.' He whispered, turning around and stopping.

'Then why are you whispering?'

'And why did you stop?'

'Hey, guys!' James looked hurt as he turned around again. Farah rolled those wretched eyeballs of hers and I instantly felt guilt. I stopped in my tracks, so Carter could catch up. By then, James and Farah were very far down the road.

'Are you ok?' I asked him. He had this strange look on his face, a mix between anger and sadness. He didn't look up at me as we carried on walking together down the never-ending road.

'It's nothing.' He muttered, turning to look at the houses on the other side of the road. It was gone past midnight, but the lights were on in all the rooms. Carter mumbled to himself and shook his head.

'Are you sure you're ok?' I said, smiling. If I had to coax it out of him, I'd have to seem more inviting. I looked ahead to see where James and Farah had got to. Their silhouettes were still, waiting for us. I could see Farah tapping her foot on the ground. 'Because if you aren't, you can tell me before we reach the others.'

'IT'S NOTHING.' Carter snapped. He stopped and scowled at me. Then he shook his head, laughed and hurried off towards the others. I stood there, too embarrassed to walk to the rest of them.

'OI HURRY UP KEIRA! WHY ARE YOU STANDING THERE LIKE A PUMPKIN?!' He yelled, waving his arms in the air like this was a rave. I could see James' silhouette sitting on the ground and Farah was leaning against the brick wall. They were tired and would want to go home soon. I quickly ran down to join them.

'God, what took you so long?' Farah said, glaring at me with her hands on her hips. She looked so fed up with me. 'You were standing there, staring at us, for a good ten minutes! If you're seriously scared, why'd you suggest this, hm? We could be home, comfy on the sofa, wrapped in blankets and eating ice cream, telling scary stories and nicking Cicely's candy rather than be out in the cold and wet in this dark, murderous road in the middle of nowhere. You are just so jealous, Keira Harmer! Of me and don't I know it! You're jealous because I come up with the good plans and ideas and everyone loves me for it and you just show up to the table with nothing. You're jealous because I am the one who made you and you were nothing before you started talking to me. You suggested this stupid idea, you brought us here, because you are jealous, Keira Harmer and there's nothing more to it. There's no room for jealousy in our little group, so you can either accept you're jealous of me or make your own way home. Either way, we're going.' She stooped to grab James' hand and pull him up, both staring at me expectantly. I looked at the ground. I couldn't look Farah in the face. 'Well?' she said, tapping her foot and crossing her arms. Her eyes were full of pure anger and hatred. 'I'm not jealous,' I barely whispered, knowing she was right.

They started to make their way to the car, leaving me behind.