As We Lie Dying by: Jess Watkins
As We Lie Dying by Jess Watkins.
“Come on, Mads. You’re missing out on all
the fun.” Hannah spun my chair around so that I was facing her. She
was dressed in a short black dress and high heels that made her tower
over me. She was wearing more make up than usual but it was Hannah’s
hair that made me gasp.
“Hannah, what the hell happened to your
hair?”
Hannah’s straight, blonde hair which had once
fallen to her waist now stopped abruptly at her chin in a harsh bob.
Running her fingers through the short length of
her hair, she replied, “Adam said it would look better shorter so I
cut it.”
My hands clenched into fists and I gritted my
teeth. Adam had a lot to answer for. He was Hannah’s new boyfriend
and the reason she had gone from a quiet, sweet girl to a loud and
sometimes obnoxious party girl. She would do whatever he wanted –
if he told her to jump there was no doubt that Hannah would ask ‘how
high?’. I didn’t know what she saw in him – Adam was an
arrogant douchebag who thought that the world revolved around him and
Hannah deserved better. Much better.
“Please come out with us.” Hannah pouted
and put her hands on her narrow hips. “You’re missing out on all
the fun.”
I arched an eyebrow. Going out and getting
drunk was not my idea of fun. I would much rather stay in and feed my
obsession of George Clooney by watching a DVD or two . . . or three.
“No thanks.” I turned back around to my
desk and picked up my pen in preparation of finishing my worksheet.
“You have fun though.” I had given up trying to stop Hannah from
throwing her life away – she had once been the best student in our
year but now she was failing each module, mainly because she went out
partying with Adam and his friends nearly every night.
“Madison,” Hannah moaned. “You always
stay in. The guys really want you to come out with us.”
Snorting, I said sarcastically, “Well that
changes everything . . .” I looked at Hannah over my shoulder.
“There is nothing you can say that will make me change my mind,
Han.”
“Fine. Enjoy your evening.” She stomped out
of the room and I dropped my head onto the wooden desk. With a sigh I
straightened up and got back to work.
Half an hour later I was finished. Smiling to
myself, I grabbed my complete box set of ER and went into the living
room.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile
before.”
Jumping at the voice, I fumbled with the box of
DVDs which I fortunately didn’t drop. I turned to see Rob one of
Adam’s friends lounging on the sofa. His arms were behind his head,
his gangly legs hanging off the edge of the cushions. Rob’s muddy
brown eyes were full of amusement as I gaped at him. Running a hand
through his messy brown hair he sat up, saying, “You should smile
more often. It makes you look even more beautiful.”
I clutched the DVDs to my chest as a blush
worked its way across my cheeks.
“What are you doing here, Rob? Why aren’t
you with the others?” I didn’t bother to hide my annoyance.
How long had he been here?
“I didn’t want to go out with the others
and when Hannah said that you were staying here I thought I’d keep
you company.” His lips twisted in a low grin which only served to
make him creepier. Rob was average looking and not particularly
muscular but at times there was something predatory about him. Adam
was the same.
“I don’t want your company. Go home.”
“Are you sure?” Rob asked getting to his
feet. He walked over to me, stopping when he was within touching
distance. “You must get lonely with Hannah being out most of the
time.”
“And whose fault is that?” I snapped. “Ever
since you, Adam and the rest of your gang came along she’s turned
into a completely different person!”
Surprised at my outburst, Rob replied, “You
think we’re in a gang?”
“That’s not what I meant!” Crying out in
frustration, I grabbed his arm and shoved Rob towards the door. Tears
were stinging my eyes and I didn’t want Rob to be here when they
inevitably started falling.
“Just go.” My voice cracked and I yanked
the front door open. “Please,” I whispered, focusing on the
carpet.
“Madison,” Rob said gently as he closed the
door. He brushed strands of dark hair behind my ear before cupping my
cheek.
I met his gaze and was unable to stop a sob
from escaping. Rob pulled me into his arms and stroked my back
muttering soothing words.
“Come on,” he said after a while. He led me
over to the sofa and draped a blanket over me. Hearing the ER theme
tune I realised that Rob had taken the box set from me and put an
episode on. “Do you want anything to eat or drink?”
“Ice cream, please.” I wiped the tears from
my cheeks.
“Here you go.” Rob joined me on the sofa
and handed me a carton of vanilla ice cream with a spoon already in
it.
“Thanks.” My eyes were fixed on the TV as I
ate a spoonful and I immediately relaxed when George Clooney appeared
on screen.
I must have fallen asleep at one point because
when someone tried to prise the ice cream from my hand my eyelids
shot open.
“Whazgoinon?” I mumbled, rubbing my eyes.
“You fell asleep,” Rob told me with a
smile. He had a hand on my waist and I was leaning against him.
“Ugh, what time is it?” I asked, moving
away.
“Nearly one.”
Struggling to my feet, I said, “I should go
to bed.”
“Whoa there.” Rob slipped an arm around me
when I stumbled. “You okay?
“Mmm.”
“You look like you’re still half asleep.”
He chuckled. “Come on.” Rob lifted me into his arms and carried
me into my room.
“I can walk,” I protested sleepily.
“Really?” Rob placed me on my bed and
covered me with the duvet. “It’s too late now anyway.”
Burying my face in the pillow I thanked him.
Rob stroked my hair, saying, “You’re
welcome. Sleep well, Madison.” His lips grazed my cheek and the
next thing I knew I was asleep.
A knock roused me from my sleep and I
reluctantly opened my eyes. Sunlight was streaming through the
windows and a glance at the clock on my wooden bedside table told me
why. It was eleven o’clock. Groaning I forced myself out of bed
when there was another rap on the door.
“Oh.” I had opened the door to be
confronted by Rob. “What are you doing here?”
“Good morning to you too.” He beamed as I
blinked blearily at him. “I bought you breakfast,” Rob told me,
shaking a brown paper bag at me. “Can I come in?”
“Umm I suppose so.” Rob stepped inside and
closed the door behind him. “I’m going to have a quick shower.
Make yourself at home.”
After the quickest shower ever, I dressed in
jeans and a hoodie. Rob was in the kitchen leaning against the
counter.
“Here you go,” he said, handing me the
brown bag I’d seen him carrying earlier.
I peered inside. There were three croissants.
“Thanks. How did you know?”
Rob shrugged. “Hannah told me that you love
France.”
It was true. I did. I always went on holiday
there and was planning on living in France when I graduated.
“She said that your parents retired there.”
I was about to take a bite of one of the
croissants but paused. “Yeah they did.”
“I’m sorry they died.”
“It’s okay. It was a while ago now.” My
parents had had me late in life. They had always called me Madison
the Miracle.
“Do you have any plans for today?” Rob
asked.
Shrugging, I finished off the first croissant
and started on another, saying in between bites, “I need to go over
some coursework.”
“Would that be the coursework that you
finished two weeks ago?” He grinned. Strangely this time I didn’t
find it as creepy.
“Umm no . . .”
“Come out with me,” Rob said, trailing a
finger down my arm. For a second his muddy brown eyes looked black.
When I hesitated, he asked, “What are you so worried about?”
I licked the crumbs from my lips and placed the
bag with the last remaining croissant on the side. “Why should I go
somewhere with you? I don’t even know you.” I scowled, crossing
my arms.
Rob reached out and took my hand. Caressing my
fingers, he said, “Don’t you want to get to know me?”
“Not really.”
“Ouch. That’s harsh. What is it you’re
scared of?” Rob tilted his head to the side. “I’m not like
Adam.”
“Well that’s good to know,” I said,
rolling my eyes.
“Madison, look at me.”
Reluctantly doing as he said, I asked, “What?”
“Why not give me a chance? What have you got
to lose?” Rob smiled, holding my hand tightly. “If you don’t
want to see me again afterwards then I’ll leave you alone. I
promise.”
I stared down at our joined hands surprised
that I hadn’t pulled away. “Okay.”
“No way! You really did that?” I gaped at
Rob who was holding the door to my building open.
Chuckling, he followed me inside, saying, “I
did.”
“But what did she say?”
“She asked what the bucket was for,” Rob
replied with a smile.
I laughed so hard that I doubled over, unable
to breathe. “Oh . . . my . . . God! That’s the . . . funniest
thing I’ve . . . ever heard!” I wheezed. We reached the door to
my flat and I withdrew my key.
“What do you think then?” Rob placed a hand
on the door and leaning close enough that his warm breath tickled my
cheeks.
“About what?” I asked, finding my eyes
drawn to Rob’s lips. Why had I thought he was average looking? He
was actually quite attractive and having spent practically the whole
day with Rob, I now knew that he was nothing like Adam.
“Do you want to see me again?”
Meeting his eyes, I said, “I would like
that.”
“You had fun then?” he asked, his tone
playful.
“Surprisingly yes I did.”
Rob took my hands in his and asked with a grin,
“So you’ll come to the Halloween party tomorrow?”
Hannah had been raving about Adam’s Halloween
party for weeks. I hadn’t been planning on going though.
Sensing my wariness, Rob said, “Come on,
it’ll be fun. If you don’t like it I’ll bring you home.”
I bit my lip and after a while sighed. “Okay.”
“Don’t forget to wear a costume,” he
reminded me, pressing a quick kiss to my jaw. “See you tomorrow.”
“I’m so glad you decided to come!” Hannah
squealed as we ascended the steps to the huge house in front of us.
The garden was covered in fake spider webs and skeletons were sat
haphazardly in the long grass.
I tugged at the bottom of my short dress,
wishing that I hadn’t let Hannah talk me into wearing the angel
costume. Hannah herself was dressed as the devil in a red top and
miniskirt with horns, a tail and a pitchfork. Knocking on the front
door, Hannah flashed me a grin. I adjusted my halo, the feathers on
my wings brushing my arms.
The door opened with a groan to reveal an empty
hallway.
“Come on.” Hannah giggled, grabbing my hand
and yanking me inside.
There didn’t appear to be anyone around and
the house was silent as Hannah skipped down the corridor dragging me
along after her.
“Are you sure this is the right place?” I
asked, swatting aside plastic spiders and cobwebs.
Suddenly my hand was torn from Hannah’s and I
was pulled into another room.
“Good evening, Madison,” Rob greeted me.
His face was painted white and he was wearing a
cape and fangs.
“Hey.” I gazed around the mostly empty room
and spotted a bed. “Where are we?”
“This is my room.”
“And why am I in here?” I asked.
Moving over to the bed, Rob gestured for me to
follow. “You don’t want to go out there,” he said almost
bitterly as he sat down and retrieved a bottle and two glasses from
the floor.
“Why not?”
Rob gazed at me, his lips pressed into a thin
line. “Here.” He handed me one of the glasses and filled it with
amber liquid.
I took a sip and flinched at the strong taste.
Turning the drink in his hand, Rob said, “I
shouldn’t have asked you to come.”
“What do you mean?” I asked hurt.
With a sigh, he placed a hand on my knee. “I
know you don’t like Adam. You’re right not to. He’s . . . he’s
not a good person. I’m not either.”
“What are you talking about, Rob?” Was he
drunk? “How much have you had to drink?”
“Not enough,” he muttered, wiping the white
face paint off. Draining the glass he set it down on the wooden
floorboards and took my face in his hands. “I’ve made a stupid
mistake, Madison. Can you forgive me?” He was definitely drunk.
“Of course I do. You should have some water.
Let’s go to the kitchen.” I stood up but Rob’s hands went to my
hips and he pulled me back down.
“No,” Rob said gripping me tightly. “You
can’t go out there.”
“Why not?” I asked warily. He was starting
to worry me. Had I been wrong? Was Rob just as insufferable as Adam?
“Rob, you’re hurting me.”
A piercing scream echoed through the house and
the blood drained from his face.
“Rob,” I whispered, aware that I was
trembling. “That sounded like . . .” I trailed off unable to say
my best friend’s name.
“We have to get you out of here.” He
propelled me towards the window which he hurriedly slid open. “Leave
now.”
“What about Hannah?” There was no way I was
going without her.
Rob’s brown eyes were wide. “There’s no
time. Madison, GO!”
“Where is she going, brother?”
Spinning around, I gasped at the sight of Adam
standing in the doorway. He was dressed in a skeleton costume and was
grinning manically. Were Rob and Adam brothers?
“Where’s Hannah?” I demanded, stepping
towards him.
Rob’s hand grabbed my wrist and he yanked me
backwards against his chest.
“Please don’t do this, Adam. She doesn’t
need to be involved.”
Snarling, Adam cried, “Yes she does. It has
to be tonight. You know that, little brother. You swore to
resurrect him just like I did.”
“We can find someone else,” Rob protested.
“Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for her.”
Adam looked me up and down with an expression that could have curdled
milk. “She’s nothing. She’s a human.”
The way he said it made it sound like Adam
wasn’t human himself. I glanced at Rob to find him glaring at his
brother.
“Please,” he begged.
“You disgust me,” Adam spat.
That was when he launched himself across the
room at us. Rob managed to knock him aside and I ran towards the
door. Someone yanked on my leg and I went flying. My head was smashed
against something solid and I was knocked unconscious.
I was laying on something hard and cold and my
arms and legs were tied together. Opening my eyes I winced at the
pain in my head.
“Look, she’s awake.”
The voice came from my left. Hannah was
restrained in a similar fashion to me on a huge stone, Adam hovering
beside her. He lowered his mouth to Hannah’s ear.
“Who shall I kill first? Hmm?”
Hannah’s whimper bounced around the cavern
and tears rolled down her already tearstained cheeks.
“Please don’t hurt us. I love you.”
Torches flickered in their brackets on the
stone walls and there was a strange symbol drawn on the ground.
“Love,” Adam spat pulling a long, shiny
knife from his waistband. “It’s not love, you fool. I made you
think you were in love with me. It was a lie.”
“No,” Hannah moaned, heartbroken.
“Yes, my sweet, but don’t worry; your
deaths are not in vain. They will bring our brother back to life and
then we will wreak havoc on this world.” There was a third brother?
Without warning, Adam plunged the knife into
Hannah’s stomach and screams filled the air.
“No! Hannah!” I tugged against the ropes
that bound my wrists and legs together but only served to cut myself.
“Hannah,” I sobbed. Her breathing was shallow and her blood was
dripping on the ground.
“Now it’s your turn,” Adam told me
gleefully. His skin was turning black and his teeth were pointed.
Maybe he really wasn’t human.
I resumed my attempt to escape as he descended
on me.
“Why are you doing this?”
“I told you.” He took my chin forcefully in
his hand and squeezed. “Your sacrifices will save my brother. He
was killed by a witch but this will bring him back and then we will
all be together again. A family.”
The knife tore through my dress and skin and
blood swelled from the wound. Crying out in pain, I watched as a
figure darted into the room and barrelled Adam over. I could hear
them fighting but didn’t turn to see what was happening. My gaze
was fixed on Hannah whose eyes rolled backwards as her chest stilled.
Oh God. This couldn’t be happening. It had to
be a nightmare. It had to.
“Madison.” Rob was stood over me, clutching
his chest. A thick, black liquid ran trails down his neck and he was
pale. “I’m so sorry.” He tore the cape from his back and
pressed it to my belly to stop the bleeding. “Stay with me. An
ambulance is on its way. Just stay here with me.”
“I’m not sure I have a choice,” I
murmured.
I was cold. So cold. The room was growing
darker and Rob wasn’t in focus.
“Madison. Look at me, Madison.” Rob’s
hand was on my cheek and then his lips were on mine. “Stay with me.
Please.”
The darkness enveloped me as I breathed my last
breath.
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ReplyDeleteThank you so much for being on my blog! Loved the story. Thank you for sharing. And a big thank you for offering your book. Have a great day. Happy Halloween.
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