Betrayed

Chapter 10

"What?" Hayley twisted around and gasped. "Rope," she whispered.

"Rope?" I glanced at Ashley, who gave me an I knew it look.

Hayley glanced at us. "Someone is trying to frame me," she said.

Crystal frowned. "But you would be able to tell if someone put a piece of rope in your pocket, right?"

"Yes," Hayley admitted, "unless the person who did it is sneaky and very careful."

"That would not make a difference," I said. "You would still feel something in your pocket."

Hayley threw her arms down. "I am not the second killer!"

Ashley glanced at me and asked, "What if there was only one killer?"

Everyone except me stared at her. "What do you mean?" Andrew asked.

"Is there any actual proof that Raphael killed anyone?" she asked. "Hayley could have slipped her knife in his pocket to make us think that he was the killer."

Andrew nodded. "That could be what happened."

Hayley glanced at us in shock. "Why are you believing what the killer said?"

Ashley's jaw fell open. "I'm the killer now?"

Hayley shook her head quickly. "No, Andrew is."

"No, he's not." I stepped into the conversation.

Hayley scoffed. "When you realize that I am right, let me know." She paused. "Oh, wait, you'll be dead."

Ashley and Crystal whispered something to each other and, to my surprise, nodded.

A tear slid from my face, and Andrew turned to face Hayley, sadness in his eyes. "You have called me out in front of all of my friends, and then you accuse me of killing Xavior and Raphael, two of my best friends, as well as Owen." He shook his head. "Wow, Hayley." He walked away, and my heart broke in two.

Ashley elbowed me in the ribs. "Go follow him," she whispered, but it was not her normal tone. It was more of a we don't want you here tone.

I ran into the darkness and found him on the patio, in the middle of Raphael and Xavior. "I'm sorry, guys," he whispered, and a tear fell into Raphael's wound.

"Hey, Andrew," I said quietly, sitting down next to him.

He glanced up at me. "Do you still believe that I am not the killer?" he asked, sadness and loneliness in his voice.

"Yes," I told him. "And even if you are, I still won't abandon you. You're my friend, and I would do anything to help you."

Andrew smiled, his brown eyes overflowing with joy. "I knew I could count on you," he said. He faced Xavior and Raphael's still forms again and said, "You're not the only ones who believed me."

We stayed a few more minutes, every moment we spent there filling us with hope. Finally, Andrew stood up and stepped away from our friends. "We should get back," he said.

I nodded. "Okay." We walked back to our friends and saw that they didn't seem to miss us.

"Here comes the killer and his assistant," Hayley said mockingly.

Andrew glanced at me and we didn't answer her. Instead, I glanced at Ashley, but she wouldn't meet my gaze.

"Come on," I said, "Let's just go play another round of Manhunt."

Hayley took a step towards us. "No one died this round," she remarked. "I wonder why?" I glared at her but I didn't say anything. Andrew also stayed silent.

Hayley took another step. "Could it be because the killer and his assistant were planning their escape?" I bit my lip, wanting to reply, and remained silent.

Ashley stepped forward. "Hayley, if you are right, you are going to get yourself killed," she said.

I shot a thankful glance at Ashley, but I got a warning glare in reply. Biting my lip even harder, I stayed quiet. Andrew, however, could not. "I didn't kill anyone, and if I did, why would I kill two of my best friends and leave you guys alive?"

I buried my face in my hands and sat down on the rocky ground. "I knew it!" Hayley screamed. "You are the killer!" She lunged at Andrew, who fell to the ground beside me. Hot tears streamed down his face and he sobbed quietly.

"Hayley!" Crystal snapped.

Crystal stopped and took a step back. "I know that you think they are the killers, but attacking them makes you one, too," she told Hayley.

"Okay," Hayley said, disappointed. She glanced at us and said, "But I am watching you two."

I stood up and grabbed Andrew's wrist. "Please stop crying," I said softly.

Andrew stopped, and I helped him to his feet. He wiped his face on his shirt and asked, "Are we going to play Manhunt now?"

Crystal nodded. "Yes," she said. "I will be 'it'."

Ashley raced to the basketball court, Crystal right behind her. We watched them leave and Hayley watched us. "Hey," she said.

I peered at her over my shoulder. "Leave us alone," I said.

"Fine." Hayley ran past us as a blur of dark blue and brown.

"Let's go," Andrew said, and we took off after her.

Crystal was already in the corner when we got there. "Because there are only four people hiding, I will only count to thirty," she informed us.

We nodded. "Ready?" she asked.

Do you agree with Hayley? Could both Andrew and Natalia be killers? Let me know and keep watch for the remaining three chapters.

~Aria