Chapter 3 SMOKES AND MIRRORS

"Are you coming with us?"

I averted my gaze on the book I'm currently reading and look at Lei who's playing a mobile game on her phone.

I arched a brow. "Where?"

"On the outing, obviously."

My face crumpled. "I already told you this for like a million times. Unlike you and our classmates, I don't have the luxury of time and money to join your profligacy."

She stopped playing and grinned at me. "I'm sorry dear, but you'll come with us whether you like it or not."

I gave her an annoyed look. "Then what's the point of asking me?"

She shrugged her shoulders.

"Stop pestering me, okay? I have more important things to do," I snapped at her.

She's been bugging me to join their outing, even though I already told her my withholding. And seriously, my head hurts already listening to her continuous whining.

But of course, she's Lei, her attitude might be different from Amber, but they have one thing in common. What they want, they will have it. Just like now, she's been bothering me again while I'm reviewing my notes. We have an exam later for god's sake!

"Why though? If you're still worrying about your expenses, I told you to leave it to me. And I can handle your bitch of a mother if she refuses as well." I laugh a bit on her last remarks. She knows the cold feud between me and my mother.

I let out a deep sigh and look at her with a serious face. "Lei, even if I want to come with you, I really can't. If it's not obvious to you, Amber doesn't like me. The only reason why I can't come along with y'all is because we're best friends, but if it is not the case, they wouldn't let even a single strand of my hair gets near them," I explained.

Seeing that I'm now serious, she dropped her phone and looks at me with a gloomy face. "But I want you to join, it's been a long time since we go out together in a trip," she said, sulking.

I didn't bother to reply because she will not listen anyways. This woman is a hard-headed bitch.

"Is your decision final? You will not come with us for real?"

I shook my head while my attention was still fixed on the book I'm reading.

"Fine, if you won't come, I'll just sell this, I feel like this is kind of expensive. What do you think, Lauren?"

I immediately raised my head to see what she was referring to. My eyes widened at the stuff she was holding, it's the bracelet that my Dad gave me on my 12th birthday!

"How the fuck did you get that?" I asked her, my voice rising out of irritation.

She sticks her tongue like a child and shows a playful grin. "None of your business, Ms. Lauren Brienne Lewis."

I glared at her. "Lorelei, give it back to me!"

That bracelet is very important to me, it has a sentimental value. That's the last memory of my deceased father before he left us.

"No, I won't give this to you not unless you'll come and join the outing. You wouldn't like seeing this in someone's wrist, if this is indeed important to you, don't you?" She simpered and look at me.

This cunning bitch is getting in my nerves.

"What now, Lauren? I'm waiting for your answer.

I tightly close my eyes and compose my self. I look at her with an irked expression.

"Fine, I'll come with you. Now, give me that freaking bracelet and let me read in peace."

"Yey! I know that you can't refuse my charm. God, how can I be so smart and beautiful at the same time?" She praised herself and smiled like a psycho.

Remind me how did I end up being best friend with this crazy woman.

I rolled my eyes. "Sorry to burst your bubble but you have no charm at all. You just black-mailed me, dimwit. Now give me back my anklet."

"Whatever you say Lauren."

"Whatever my ass. Just hand me that bracelet."

She grinned devilishly. "No. You think you can fool me? This precious little thing will be mine till weekend."

That infuriates me more. "What the hell is wrong with you?! Lei, I'm serious, give me back my bracelet."

I was about to pull her hair but she immediately dashed out of the room. I shake my head and just go back on reviewing. I wish that lunatic would fall down the stairs. Kidding.

The entire week days flew quickly and it's already Friday. Nothing really special happened.

Just like what was already planned, we'll be having an outing tomorrow. I'm still a bit hesitant going out with them because those stinkers might drive me away again. Though Lorelei already informed them and according to her, they have no violent reaction about my company, except Amber, which I'm definitely not surprise, I'm still not comfortable of the idea spending time with them.

The night breeze brushes upon my skin, my fingers fiddling on the hem of my clothes as I fix the things that I will bring tomorrow. To be honest, I'm quite excited because this is probably the first after a very long time that I will go out of town.

Tiny droplets of rain drizzled upon the rooftop, serving as the music of the silent night. A slight shiver run down my spine as the cold wind brush upon my skin.

The corpse of the man who allegedly committed suicide came back to my memory. The strange black rose really made me perplexed. It's also mystifying why his death did not cause any ruckus the other day. The entire university doesn't seem bothered about it. Really bewildering.

I shrug those thoughts away before zipping my bag. I look at the wall clock inside my room, it's already ten in the evening. My body fell in the mattress and I decided to pull myself into a deep and long slumber. I need to wake up early.

I close my eyes. I'm stressing myself too much on things that should not concern me at all.

THIRD PERSON'S POINT OF VIEW

"I wonder what they are doing right now, without having the slightest idea of the dark journey waiting ahead of them."

She was staring outside the window. The beautiful blue shade of the sky is beginning to darken into gravel-grey. Large pillows of cloud were forming, blotting out the gold color of the sun.

A certain photo suddenly caught her attention. Her eyes glistened with tears. "I'm going to make them pay for what they have done. I want to witness their last breath. I want to hear their pleas and cries. They will taste excruciating pain in my hands, I want to see them suffer and beg for their useless lives," she said flatly that would probably give shiver to anyone who will hear it. Her voice is stern, lifeless and void of any emotion.

She averted her eyes on the photo and gaze over the dark sky outside. The stars look like a multitude of sly pearls that adorns the night sky, and it's not less inferior to the ethereal glow of the moon.

"How about you? Make sure that everything is going according to our plan. We can't mess this up." She gave him a quick glance.

He nodded before sipping the coffee he's drinking. "I am ready for a long time. I've been itching to cut the veins on their neck and watch them suffer."

She laughed before sitting down next to him. "You always impress me on how you manage to keep your anger and get along with those bastards."

He scoffed. "You don't know how much I restrain myself every time I'm with them. The smile on their faces ticks me off. Their meretricious attitude makes it hard for me to control my wrath. I badly want to stab their heart and gouge their eyes out." His breathing became heavy, fingers twitching every now and then as he dangerously spout those words.

Her eyes flickered with immense fury. "Those things will not be enough to pay for their debts. I want to hear their cries of anguish. I want to witness their bodies bathing in blood. I don't know where they get the insolence to rejoice when someone suffers because of them," she said with the same amount of animosity.

Silence hover between them.

"Enjoy and have fun as long as you want, as long as you have time. Let's see if you can still laugh when the scythe of demise dig in your flesh. I can't wait to see tears streaming down your eyes," he thought to himself.

A smirk appeared on his lips as he stares into the gloom of the night. "We will kill all of you in the most painful way possible."