In a Forest, Under a Tree Where Many Plans Were Made

Chapter Ten

🌲Always On Top🌲

"K-killed?" Asked Summer, disbelieving. Surely she had simply misheard?

But Ivy nodded quite matter-of-fact-ly.

"Yes. When she got bored of him, and felt she had done her job, she drove him to insanity and made him commit suicide. She does that: she made an old friend of mine think she was ugly and she went insane. It's like she likes to see people breaking down... But I'm like her personal lab rat, to see peoples limits. It's only a matter of time before she gets bored of that too. Then I'm dead."

Her voice was calm and flat, yet there was a tiny hint of anger. Anger for herself though, for letting herself stand by and get trampled, for letting herself ruin her own life.

"I'm... Very sorry." Said Summer. What was sorry in this situation though? Was it going to bring back the dead? In situations like these, it makes things even worse.

Ivy formed a tear in the corner of her left eye, and it sparkled behind her glasses. She quickly took her glasses off and brushed the tear away, in one practiced movement. Summer supposed it must indeed have been practiced, and this had happened many times before.

"I've tried to warn others, but they're blinded by Sharell's personality which, personally, makes me gag. It's sick, the way she kills without batting an eyelid, not caring about the lives she's ruined. Some people are like me, but just don't realise it's Sharell's fault. They gush to her, because she's pretty and well liked. I'm the only one who knows... I'm the only one who can see it, and Sharell knows it. So she turned everyone against me, made them think I was a heartless liar, and so now... No one will listen to me. And Sharell... Enjoys it. She enjoys watching my life being torn down. I can just tell."

Summer nodded earnestly. She hungered for more information. But suddenly, Ivy closed up. And she would never spill the information she had again, at least not about her personal life. Ivy knew that only led to trouble.

And Ivy knew she knew too much.

"Anyway. You have to get away from her. Don't ask me how, just leave. Keep your husband away from her too, she'll take him away. Leave. Quickly.

She's gonna get you."

Summer nodded curtly and walked quickly out of the shop. She asked a girl where Sharell lived. The girl seemed to be in awe of Summer: imagine living (albeit temporarily) with Shar-Shar, the popular Sharell! The girl pointed out directions and said

"Tell Shar that Roux said hey!!" And skipped off. Roux (pronounced R-oo) reminded Summer of a chattier Ivy, and seemed the type she would've been friends with. But obviously not now. Maybe Ivy had tried to warn her too? But this girl was far gone over Sharell.

Summer walked slowly. She and Jack couldn't leave Radnok, not now, but they couldn't stay either. Even if they stayed somewhere else, it was guaranteed Sharell would still keep up with them. Just dropping in to see how they were going? No. Dropping in to flirt with Jack? Yes. Summer was frightened. Not only for her life, but for dying without Jack loving her.

That was more frightening than anything.

She came up with something. She and Jack would pretend to leave, and then lay low somewhere else, with someone who wouldn't give them up to anyone, who wasn't friends with Sharell.

Ivy. It had to be Ivy. But what would Jack think? More importantly, what would Ivy herself think? But she had to try. Next time Sharell was out, she would convince Jack. Then all that would be left to do would be to convince Ivy, which might take a little longer. Ivy was very secretive and didn't seem to want to do anything that may bring down the wrath of Sharell. But, Ivy had warned her, and Summer had listened. If Ivy were to warn her at all, wouldn't she help to keep them safe? Summer was confused.

She finally arrived at Sharell's house, when it was just getting dark.

"Oh THERE you are Summer!! Gosh, I was just about to go out looking for you! You get strange types out at night, Jack was really worried! What a lucky girl you are to have such a sweet husband!!"

Summer laughed, and agreed while Jack put his arms around her protectively.

"You know Summer, you should've been back earlier. I was beginning to think you'd run off on me..."

There it was. Sharell had planted a tiny seed if doubt in Jacks mind. Most likely saying something like: 'Oh, she might've run off! Oh but of course not, she has YOU!'

But the seed was planted, along with a cute compliment, which seemed to say something more like:

'She's run off. But I like you, you can stay with me!'

Clever Sharell.

"Jack, you know me better than that!" Summer said, trying desperately to dig up the seed again.

"But you could've been with another man all day, then just came back at night to avoid suspicion!"

"Don't be silly! I was talking to a nice girl," Summer retorted.

Sharell instantly became interested. "Who was it? Was her name Ivy by any chance?"

Sharell had realised it may have been Ivy. Why else would Summer walk into the house with a wary eye? Sharell noticed these small things.

Summer knew it unwise to linger too long on the question, or to say 'umm,'.

"Her name was Roux, I believe. I didn't meet anyone called Ivy."

Sharell instantly relaxed, but only a little. Summer could easily be lying, she thought, but how else could she know Roux? Of course, Ivy could've told her, but Ivy hates to talk about her past, and Roux was a big part of he past.

Then again, Summer could've bumped into Roux after seeing Ivy... But who would believe Ivy? Sharell did her acting well, (or so she thought) no one could see through it, and simply thought of Ivy as jealous.

Sharell relaxed a little more into her seat, which Summer saw. It seemed Sharell was getting sloppy with acting, as there had been no threat to her for a while.

Though, sloppiness in her acting simply meant Sharell was only a little less perfect.

Say, 1 is terrible. 50 is average, and 100 is perfect. Up until now, she had always been at 100.

Now she was at 99.999

Well, it was something. But when Sharell realised, she would shoot straight back up to 100.

Maybe even higher.

Summer went to Jack that night, after Sharell giggled that they 'needed their alone time'.

"Jack. I don't like Sharell..." She started. She didn't know how else to start.

"Don't be silly. She's a lovely woman." He said dismissively.

"She's not. I ran into a woman today, who said that Sharell was evil and is trying to steal you..."

"Relax sweetie. The woman is probably jealous of Sharell, or even you. Just let it go."

Summer could only nod.

But maybe Jack was right, maybe Ivy was lying. Maybe...

She drifted into sleep.

While Sharell lay awake, a smile on her lips, knowing she would come out on top.

As always.