Empty Game

Prologue

     High school isn't bad. In fact, it's the most fun I've had my entire school career. For three high school years it's been a breeze. Straight A's fill my report cards, I volunteer at the local animal kennel, I involve myself in several extracurriculars, and it seemed the rest of high school would treat me just as well until I graduated and started life in college.

     Of course, that had been the plan. I hadn't expected my favorite teacher to be found dead due to the occult serial killings that had recently plagued our town, nor had I expected my relationship with my best friend to turn tattered and toxic over the summer.

     It didn't seem like things could get any worse my senior year, until my loving parents could no longer feel a spark between them and decided to mutually split, leaving me caught in between them. My parents loved me dearly, but an agreement was made that my mother would have primary custody over me as my father's job required lots of time being spent away.

     He allowed us to reside in the house until he got back from his latest business trip which could take anywhere from 1-3 months, and until then my mother was saving up to be able to move out somewhere else. Most likely in a sunny beach-side hut she'd wanted from her youth. Life was slowly turning to shambles.

     School had only been in session for about a week before another killing took place that set a curfew over the town. This small notch in the cult's belt had taken place under a large library in the town, proving further that no one could be safe. It seemed more and more like the police didn't know how to find the people up to the grisly deaths, and it put everyone on edge.

     With the library closed down for inspection, the students of my school really had nowhere else to study in peace besides home, or the few quiet cafés scattered around. This brought a slightly more cheerful aura around due to the calming atmosphere of a nice hangout place where everyone could forget things for a short time.

     Even with the danger around every corner, my mom still let me volunteer at the kennel when I had time which served as my own safe haven. The various dogs and cats didn't understand the terror and dread of serial killings, they were just happy to be pet and cared for.

     When a dog looks at you with joy and wags its tail, all you see is the cheerful innocence of the creature, and you can hide away in a bubble of peace for awhile. In my case, around two hours at most before having to head "home" to do homework and socialize with my mom.

     I've always had a good relationship with my mother. We've never fought like most teenagers do with their parents. We share a mutual respect for eachother, and I'd even call her my friend most days. We know each other inside and out. It always helps when you can come home after a long day and vent to a friend, then go to a personalized room to finish the day with homework.

     Now, I wouldn't consider myself a pessimist, but I wouldn't exactly say I'm an optimist either. With the grim way this year has been looking, my usually bright mood has dampened a little and things are looking bleak, but I try to see a rainbow through the thick rain clouds. If not for myself, the people around me then. Few people have noticed, the ones that haven't are those dealing with the same thing. The school counselor is booked with teens all day, every day. And I don't have the heart to speak to my mom about the things that have been going on.

     Then there's the case of my best friend who's kept minimum contact with me since the end of junior year for mysterious circumstances. She hasn't talked to me in the hallways since school started, and whenever I try shooting her a message, it's always the same "Busy, TTYL", although later never seems to come. The strangest thing is that she doesn't hang out around anyone else seemingly. You'd think that if a former best friend just drops contact, she's found someone else to fill your place, but that hasn't seemed to be the case.

     Regardless, I have other people to study and talk with. None seem to just click like we had, though. I'd refused to give up hope yet.  I still thought nothing less of her than my best friend, and my arms would always be open. But it had been hitting especially hard as of late.

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     Lying in my bed curled up in a comforter brought all these thoughts to me. Life was changing, evolving, and fragility was taking hold. I could only build myself up so much every day, and I was running out of blocks.

     I succumbed further into the warmth of my blankets in the dark room, and my heart beat slowed when tiredness took hold. My head was growing fuzzy just as the faint sound of my phone buzzing broke through the thick air.

     Lazily stretching my arm out to grab it, I brought the device to my face seeing "Sherri <3" and instantly snapped back awake. It was just a quick swipe right before her message was brought into view, and my heart caught in my throat.

We need 2 talk. Meet me at Clara's Café 2morrow morning.

     My fingers lightly hovered over my keyboard for a few seconds before typing back "Okay" and setting the phone on my nightstand. Knots tied themself into my stomach as I rolled back over and curled up, squeezing my eyes shut.

     Sleep would be hard to come by with the accumulating stress, but eventually I drifted off into the most peaceful sleep I'd get for awhile, hoping that things might be turning out soon for the better.