I remember my mother once tried explaining to me how the world wanted to be beautiful - women all wanted flawless skin and perfect hair. That was how they could tell if they were pretty enough. As if it was who they were instead of just a costume they put on.
I didn't tell Brusk anything, but secretly, I missed my scars. They were a part of me. I'm glad I still have the dimple in my cheek - Justin always loved to tease me about it. But the complex network of scars are missing. It won't ever be the same. They are replaced by a smooth, boring blank slate of skin that I don't want to look at anymore.
If this is what it means to be beautiful, then I would rather be real.
When Jane Madarang's neighbor Natalie kills herself and leaves behind cryptic instructions, it's up to Jane and her classmates to unearth deadly secrets.
*****
Natalie Driscoll is dead.
She threw herself out a window and left her neighbor Jane to unravel their town's darkest secrets. Following Natalie's instructions leads Jane to three other high school students who all have something to hide. The four of them must carry out Natalie's final errand while solving the mysteries written in her diary. But the secrets they unearth may be far more dangerous than what they ever imagined.
Content and/or trigger warning: This story contains scenes of suicide, violence and murder that may be triggering for some readers.
[[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]