Curse Of The Virgin Canvas **HIATUS**

A Lunatic's Lament

*Annabelle*

His touch disappeared as soon as it came. I turned around to look at him, but his back was turned to me. I frowned, taking a few steps away, incase he exploded. Ryder ran a hand through his hair and exhaled deeply.

"I'm sorry, Annabelle..." He said quietly. "I think we should refrain from such intimacies."

I felt my chest tighten. For a dead girl, I sure did feel like I was still alive.

"I understand, Ryder." I mustered out.

He looked at me, sorrow filling his eyes. I simply nodded and sighed quietly, shuffling my feet momentarily. I walked past him and continued on to the park. Lillie was swinging on one of the swings in the corner of the park.

"Annabelle!" Ryder called after me. I ignored it and kept walking. I felt a whoosh of air beside me.

"You!" A female voice barked. "Can you see me?!"

I looked in her direction casually and nodded. She had long wavy brown hair and bright green eyes. She had on a black cocktail dress and a tight black choker. I wondered silently if she was a prostitute.

"Thank god!" She groaned. "Someone who can see me."

I simply stayed silent, still wondering about her mortal life.

"You don't talk much do you?" She asked.

No, and you don't seem to be quiet. I thought.

"Who are you?" I heard Ryder question a few feet behind me. I rolled my eyes and began walking away, only to bump into someone. A boy, no older than me. I looked up at his face and began stepping backwards, out of instinct.

"Annabelle, darling. I thought you'd be happy to see me." The boy said, advancing toward me.

The more I looked at him, the more I wished I never dated him. He had sandy brown hair, pale blue eyes, a muscular build. The typical jock attitude. Daniel Powell.

"Remind me why I would be happy to see the prick who exiled me from school and turned everyone against me." I spat. "How did you die?"

"Overdose." he shrugged. I used the needle one too many times.

"You were a user?!" I growled, stopping my movement.

"Yes, and I loved it." Daniel smiled smugly. "Almost as much as I loved destroying you, cookie."

Fury built up inside me. I moved to punch him square in the jaw but the girl I ran into before got in the way.

"Don't!" She begged. "Don't hurt him!"

I looked at her a little more closely and recognized her as one of the cheerleaders, Chloe Davis. I frowned, feeling bad about thinking she was a prostitute. I liked her, she was nice to me even after what Daniel did. I felt a hand grab my arm and pull me back quickly.

"What? Not gonna let her have any fun, Death?" Daniel teased.

"Sorry, but she's in better hands." Ryder hissed. The ground around them rumbled. Daniel looked at the ground around him while Chloe gripped his jacket sleeve, whimpering. I looked at Ryder.

Cracks formed in the ground, opening it up into a small pit. Smoke billowed out around the pair before it wrapped around their ankles and pulled them over the edge. Chloe lost her grip and tumbled down the red, blistering hot cavern. Daniel was clawing on the edge for dear afterlife, a menacing glare plastered to his features.

"What's happening?!" He growled at us.

"You're judgement has been settled. You're set to burn in hell." Ryder stated grimly.

"No... No. NO!" Daniel repeated. He was pulled down into the pit. His screams echoed out up until it closed.

I took a deep, shaky breath and fell back on the grass.