the boarders

Valentina

As Valentina and Octavia reached the bottom of the stairs, they saw someone that they hadn't seen in years crouched on the ground in front of them.

"Aurelia!" Octavia screamed, as herself and Valentina went to hug her. "What have you done?" Cried Valentina,  hugging her friend, who felt limp and horribly lifeless in her arms.

Katie had made herself comfortable on an old chest of drawers, and started swinging her fishnet-clad legs. Valentina always knew she had a slutty side, but a killer? "She's drugged." Yawned Katie, examining her long, red, acrylic nails.

Valentina noticed the raw, red marks on Aurelia's arms and glared at her. "What has Aurelia ever done to you?" She said, through tears, as Octavia held her. To both of the girl's surprise, Katie started laughing hysterically, as if someone had told a really funny joke; but then she started laughing manically, reminding Valentina of one of those evil clowns that she saw in horror movies.

"What has SHE done to me?" Katie laughed, slipping off of the chest of drawers and stepping towards them. "Where shall I fucking start?" Valentina and Octavia surrounded Aurelia, terrified that Katie would hurt her again. But Katie didn't seem like she wanted to hurt Aurelia again, or at least for the time being; as she started to tell the girls about Aurelia's influence on her life.

"It all started when I joined the school, I doubt either of you would remember me, I had braces and glasses. In short I was a laughing stock and an obvious joke. Aurelia saw me as an easy target, and started to pick on me. First of all it was harmless, but then she started to bully me, it got worse and I told my mum about it, and my mum went late at night to Aurelia's house and said she was going to burn it down, but luckily Aurelia's mum stopped her." Katie then started to cry, huge tears that cascaded down her face like a miniature version of Niagara Falls.

"Aurelia said she'd tell everyone about how crazy my mum is if I wasn't her personal slave for life and did everything she said. She made me kill a man that wouldn't stop pestering her and I had to lie to everyone! I just wanted to be fucking normal for once." Katie cried, her head in her hands.

However, neither Octavia or Valentina felt sorry for her, Aurelia was insane, but Katie was even crazier for going though with it.

Katie suddenly lunged towards them, as if she was going to attack, but the slam of the door opening behind her; stopped her.

"Hello darling." Said a tall woman in her thirties, but could easily pass as younger, in an over-the-top blond wig on top of her head, exactly the same shade as Aurelia's hair.

Valentina clamped a hand over her mouth, whilst Octavia screamed.

The woman was Ellen Cody.

"Hi mum, we've got guests!" Smiled Katie, linking arms with Ellen Cody, who smiled, showing a full mouth of razor sharp, white teeth. "Fabulous!" Laughed Ellen Cody, shaking off her blond wig and throwing it on Aurelia's drugged up body. "Cake or tea?"

Valentina knew that this woman must be insane, and whispered to Octavia that they should do something. Octavia felt around in her pocket and remembered that she had a pocketknife that her father had given her in case she ever needed it.

"All this time we thought we saw Aurelia, when it was really you!" Screamed Valentina, tears streaming down her face. They'd trusted Ellen Cody, confided in her and as for Katie, Valentina thought she'd made a friend for life, when in fact she'd lied.

Octavia flicked open the pocketknife and grabbed Valentina's hand; pointing the tip to Ellen Cody and Katie. "Don't come any closer!" Valentina said, her voice trembling.

Katie laughed and grabbed Octavia's wrists, making her drop the knife on the floor, and Ellen Cody squeezed Valentina's neck, making her drop to the floor, before doing the same to Octavia, and tying their hands together, before making sure to tape over their mouths.