ten // 5sos

aftermath

"There's something about death that is comforting. The thought that you could die tomorrow frees you to appreciate your life now." -Angelia Jolie
It was an ordinary day. Mrs. Rivers had been preparing some brunch and the news just happened to come on. She was expecting her daughters to come back any time now, and did not expect the breaking news bulletin.
Like any mother out there, she would kill to see her daughters on the news. Doing something brilliant, such as achieving the highest marks on a test in the state, or having their drawing be the best in the nation. No mother wants to find out that her children have died from a mediocre news broadcast, especially when using a knife.
A pain grew in the area in which her heart had been placed and she lifted a hand to her chest. She leaned against the counter in agony. The childless woman grieved for her deceased children, not knowing how they died.
A worried husband descended the stairs at the sound of the cries of his spouse. The older man's worries were justified at the sight of his wife sliding down the counter. He rushed to her side and spotted the news story. His heart shattered.
-
Parents shouldn't have to bury their kids. Ever. Mrs. Jennifer Taylor could not believe what she was at the cemetery for. Her only daughter was beneath the ground she walked on and she couldn't do anything but cry. Her shaky hand gripped the red carnation tightly.
Max absolutely despised carnations. It was a wonder she didn't rise from the ground and smack her mother in the face for even bringing it around in her presence.
She wasn't a good enough mother. If she was, then Max would be here. Not at this place, but in the land of the living. She knew that her daughter wasn't an angel, but it was her daughter. Her Max. The only one who actually stayed after turning 18. Max actually cared. And that set her apart from her brothers.
She lacked the courage to lay the flower on the casket, so she kept it in her hand.
Max was the first one to die; however, she was the last one to be buried. Jennifer couldn't look at the ground anymore: it just made her too distraught. The other parents gathered around her. It took all of her courage not to attack all of them.
Hannah, Ashton's mum, had walked over to her and embraced her tightly by wrapping her arms around the grieving mother. For she understood, because she had just lost her son to the same person.
All of the "victims' " famines gathered here to mourn the loss of their beloved children not knowing how they passed. It was their plan to grieve, then seek justice for the fallen. However, justice has a way of coming out on its own.
...
Mrs. Hood hired an investigator upon learning that her child had been poisoned. She did not inform the others- not even her husband-to ensure that the information would be kept a secret. The other families settled. Settled upon knowing that their kids are dead. Rose couldn't just accept her son just died. She had to know why.
The night before the funeral, she received a call from the investigator. He got an autopsy done on her son's body and they discovered traces of a certain substance.
"What is ethylene glycol?" Rose knitted her eyebrows together when browsing through the results. The investigator pointed out the significant amount of the toxic chemical compound found in her son's system.
The investigator, Drew Torres, leaned his arm against the low hardwood table where Rose had sat. "Mrs, do you know what antifreeze is?"
Rose nodded her head slowly. "I use it to cool my engine from time to time. " A confused expression remained on the distraught woman's face. Her eyes hooded.
"Ethylene Glycol is a very sweet substance that can be fatal if swallowed in large amounts. " He stated nonchalantly and tapped on the name of the chemical compound. "This led me to believe foul play had to have been involved..."
A salty tear escaped her ducts and cascaded down her cheek. Rose wiped it away quickly and stared at the autopsy report until her eyes lost focus.
"I-" She began to speak, but cut herself off. For she had nothing to say. What could you say to something like that? How was she supposed to respond?
"The question going through my head right now," Investigator Drew paused to flip through the report. "Is who would poison your son?"
...
The silence had been broken by the screech of the investigator's tires. Mrs. Hood had not invited him, so she hadn't a clue to what he wanted from them. The families of all the victims turned their attention to the intruder.
Drew walked at a rather fast place to the group. He went up to the woman he believed to be the one he was looking for and asked her a question: "Are you Mrs. Rivers? " She nodded in confirmation and he slipped her a sheet of paper. "This was found at The Mansion; I think you would want to see this. "
She looked down at the paper with a wary glance. It was a collection of mini-notes addressed to her concerning the deaths. To her horror, it was written by her daughter:
"Dear mommie,
... Max
I didnt want this. Mommie I didnt want to hurt people. Its not my fault Max was a meanie. She calld me a brat! Daddie showd me how to youse a gun and I didn't know she'd die mommie.
I didnt mean too....
... Raven
raven is dead too. she knew about me and was going to get me in trouble with my sister. i couldn't have that, so i put a pillow in her face.
... Calum & Ashton
I tried to get them in trouble! Make everyone think it was there fault instead off my fault. If this works, i won't kill anymore I swear.
... Candace
she had to go because she stopped me mommie! I was going after calum and ashton and she got me.
... Ashton
He knew mommie! he knew it was my fault everyone dying and keeped quiet about it. He said he's going to help me....
... Calum
He got sick. That stuff you use for your cars killed him. It was on the news with a different man and I thought it was silly. "Sugar killed him!" You told me it was poyzen and not sugar.
..Luke
Stephie liked him a little too much. Why didn't she care about me more? HIs death was easy mommie.
... Stephanie
They all had to die mommie. Even stephie. I love my sissy.
-Macie Rivers"
"My daughter," Mrs. Rivers was visibly shaking. "My baby was a killer?" It is always the one no one expects that ends up to be the killer. It couldn't have been a simple getaway. They made the mistake of staying at Indianwood Mansion, a place notorious for it's murders.
Weren't they all a bit to blame? Raven should've done her research prior to suggesting a vacation at the murder house. Stephanie should've stayed home instead of bringing Macie with her. They all could've been wiser. They all could've used a bit more sense.
-
Moral: live every day like it's your last because tomorrow's never promised. The best thing is to be able to go to sleep with no regrets and having fulfilled all hopes and ambitions for the day. Dream big, and have little sub-dreams that you can complete as of right now. Also don't be an idiot, and watch your back. Do your research before staying in a suspicious place.
Alright! You've reached the end of ten! Hope you enjoyed it.
I have a few questions that I would like to be answered by you lovely people:
What was your favorite part of this book? Least favorite?
Whose death were you the most happy about and which one bothered you?
Did you guess the killer? If so, was it obvious?

@mararenas
&
@DanielleHoran1

I TOTALLY FORGOT ABOUT HIM.