How to Survive to 18

4 Days Prior (part 1)

As Kai, Allie, and I go into the underbrush of my backyard I don't even look back at my own home. I feel awful for leaving my family, but I feel like I must, and I know that this was the right decision. My neighborhood is a pretty old place and has a lot of abandoned shacks around it, practically covered in forests and hills. When we were younger the three of us would always go to this one shack, The Night-owl we called it so that no one knew and yeah the name is dumb but we were 10 when we made that.

We decided to go there now as well, since we know its ins and outs like the back of our hands and no one else knows about it. We got there after about 20 minutes of walking, and Kai rolling, and got inside to huddle and make a plan. I tell them about Rebeccas escape and my pendant being taken. Which they ask me about once more, "About the pendent, why have you not mentioned it? We remember what you said a few nights ago, but Nina, you know you can trust us."

"Yeah I know that, I just didn't want to burden you guys with more useless information, and besides she's gone, it just didn't feel necessary to be said." I say looking down. Embarrassed.

"We respect that" Is all Allie said, while Kai put his hand on my shoulder and pressed gently.

Ally suddenly got up and smacked her hands together, looking at us like new soldiers. She started talking about what she thought we should do, Kai and I gave some constructive criticism and we came up with the most simple plan ever, but also dangerous... we need to go to Rebecca's house.

So we all got up, I went first since I knew the direction to her house from these parts of the woods, the other two following close behind. Then, after a few minutes of traveling I stopped dead in my tracks and stared to my right. There was her house, a two story plain box house, painted pink with white accents on every edge. Her mother was an archatect before she died, and she was actually the one to build it for her two kids; Rebecca, the youngest, and Ezmour, an older brother who is now off in Graduate school somewhere.

We looked at each other and then back at the house, the time was still dark and with everyone sleeping, very quiet. I genuinely felt fear in that moment, thinking what the hell are we doing? But we knew this was the only option. Our plan was to go in and see if Rebecca is home, if not, see if my necklace is there. Ally rolling Kai by the wheelchair handles and me shushing them at every turn we crept close. The house has a little back door which they always have unlocked, and tonight it was also unlocked. We couldn't all go in though, since Kai was in a wheelchair he couldn't walk up the stairs, and it would be dumb to leave him alone out here too. So we decided last minute that only I will go in, while Ally stays with Kai.

I quietly open the door and slip through into their white granite kitchen. I look around as my eyes adjust to the weirdly reddish glow of the room, walking backward toward the stove I stop and look at the knife holders. I think to myself if I should take one, but that thought quickly dissolves in the sudden realization that one of the knives is missing. And to some this would be completely normal, however not in this family. They are perfectionists to the point that even their fence outside is cleaned daily, their shower heads are designer, and their white granite kitchen, well for sure the most spectacular place in all of town. I knew that someone grabbed a knife.

I then hear a small thud from upstairs and hunch down behind the kitchen island. Sitting with my back against the cabinets I listen close, my whole body is as stiff as a stone. I hear footsteps coming down the stairs, one by one I count. Then nothing, the figure stopped, I hear a meow. At that moment I look out and its just their house cat, Fluffy. Phew oh thank God...

"Hi Fluffy" I say and softly pet his white generous fur. A small purr comes from him, and a shadow moves behind him. My heart aches and my mind disappears into madness. I think to myself that I had to make it up, there couldn't have been a shadow moving behind him. I brush it off, thinking, no hoping that I had just imagined it.

I walk to the staircase the cat just came from and glance up, no one there. So I grad the railing and walk upstairs, and when I get to the last step I look left to right hoping to see and be able to distinguish Rebecca's door. All the doors are white except for one which is pink, has to be her's. Slowly tiptoeing I walk up to her door and push it open. My lungs close up as the door makes a louder than expected creek which sounds like the classic sound from horror movies. I slip in undetected and look around the room, a classic room for a popular girl. Girly and fashionable, but the only weird thing is a big box that looks like it should belong to a witch, not a teen. It's right in the middle of the bedroom and I feel its aura, dark.

I kneel down next to it and put my hands on top, feeling its cool metal and textured wood. I make my way down to the latches and open them, pulling the lid up. I take a glance inside and gasp. All I can see is photos of me, Ally, and Kai. Though the only pictures of them are when we are all together. I look through them, cycling through them.

A picture of me jogging (as I do in the morning)

A picture of me at lunch

A picture of me at my locker talking with Ally

A picture of me.. sleeping

etc.

What the fuck is all this? Why the hell does Rebecca have these? When? I'm even sleeping in one..

"Do you like them?" I hear a small tender voice say behind me. I turn and am faced with the standing figure of Rebecca, she is wearing a black skirt with a white blouse that's partly unbuttoned, and I manage to see my pendant on around her neck. With some black flats and in her right hand, a knife. I fall back on my bottom and feel like I can't breath, nothing will come out my mouth as she slowly walks toward me.

"I've been watching you for years Nina" she chuckles,"You see, I got tired of you not reciprocating my love for you, I got tired of you not seeing me, I got tired of not being with you"

"Rebecca stop, put the knife down" I manage to say with all my strength, but she doesn't, she comes closer and drops on her knees right in front of me. Now I'm sitting on my bottom with my arms propping me up from behind and her in front of me on her knees holding a knife.

"I know you can't bear another day without me as well Nina. I'm just trying to help you see that." She whispered as now she is on all four crawling over me. I'm on my back, and she's on top. She holds the knife so that the tip is on my chin, forcing me to look her directly in the eyes. It's so sharp, I feel like my chin is bleeding a little.

"I love you Nina" I gulp, swallowing what felt like a pound of spit. I once again feel like a deer in the headlights, I can't move, I can't do anything.

How have I never noticed this before? I remembered her saying that she's been doing this for years, how many? I'm so confused in this moment, and scared. Why has she always been so mean to all of us if she says she loves me, and why would she try and kill me that night? Is she going to finish the job now?

All these questions rush through my head at the speed of light, I can't process them. My hands are sweating and my whole body is hot, I feel like I have a fever. I blink and look back into her eyes and she her smile, the next thing I know is her lips on mine. I feel her kiss me, she kisses me with a passion. I keep my eyes open not knowing how I should be reacting to all this. I don't kiss her back though I don't think she's noticed. I suddenly hear a yelp of pain and her body falls on my chest, I see blood running fast from her head onto my shirt. I look to my side and see a bloody rock that was thrown by someone, I look back at the doorframe and there, standing, breathing heavy is Ally. She runs over to me and pushes Rebecca's body off me, grabs me by the arm and we run out of the house toward Kai.

We all as a group run and roll deep into the woods, never turning back.

.....................................................................................................................................

Author's Note:

It feels good to be writing again! Sorry for the long pause, school has been really hectic with the first quarter ending and all. But I think this part was worth waiting for, honestly I surprised myself with what I wrote. Can't wait for you guys to see part 2 of 4 Days Prior! It'll be really good ;)
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- Sincerely June