𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦!

The corridors were sticky and reeked of dead fish. Kids pushed one another trying to leave the building into the crisp air. “Ahhh—freedom! God it's always so gross in there.” Millie said. They walked in silence a beat, “Do you wanna walk home together?” Millie asked, twirling her hair and walking past the drop off section. Millie stared and pointed to a tall lanky man standing near the stop sign. “Who’s that guy?” Bethany asked.  He was wearing thick brown boots, paired with a black jacket and pants. “No idea! I’m sure it’s whatever. You should stop being so paranoid!” Millie laughed at her own words, turning for the direction home. “Hmm..I’m not sure . . .he’s still standing there–his head literally turned to look at us!” Bethany whispered, tugging on her friend's uniform sleeve. Millie tensed slightly, what if Bethany was right? “I’m sure it's fine Bethany. Want to hit the Chinese spot on the way home?” Millie asked while walking ahead. Bethany, hanging back, lipped, “Okay.”

​​The streets were long and cold. The concrete damp from the incoming fog. as the two girls walked the path home, Bethany felt weird, someone was there. But who? She paused a moment listening to the patterns of Millie's feet. Click-clack, click-clack. “Millie?” They stopped mid-stride, “Do you hear that?” Bethany asked, beginning to walk again.

“What? No? What’s wrong?” Millie turned around goose bumps sprung up on her arms, the hair on the back of her neck rose. “Ah–no. Nothing's wrong.” Bethany replied watching Millie shrug, rub the back of her neck and begin to walk again. Thud, thump. Bethany stopped. Something's wrong. She listened closer to Millie's heels. Click-clack, click-clack. Again. Thud, thump. Bethany turned around swiftly, and was met with nothing but the cool fall air. She felt stupid, maybe Millie was right. She was just being paranoid. Bethany turned around “Hey Mills, you’re right I am being paranoid–” thud- thump. 

Someone was following them. She quickly twisted around, threw a punch in the dark connected with a sharp chin. Bethany watched as the lanky figure’s head snapped  back and he stumbled back and fell on his end. Bethany’s breath hitched seeing the sharp glare of a knife. She paused before twisting around, her legs feeling like jello before sprinting. “Millie run!” Bethany yelled, passing her, her voice cracking. Yelling after her, “What—why? Is a murderer chasing us?” The girl joked with a smile, but took off running after her friend. “Mill’s I’m serious, Start running!” Millie caught up to Bethany, grabbing her hand and tugging her into the road. Their feet were frantic, the road seeming to go on forever. Millie's heels sounded softer. The smell of dirt and wet leaves took them out of their trance, Oak trees swaying in the cool fall breeze. “Bethany, what do we do!?” Millie hissed softly, her skin porcelain white.

“I. I don't know.” Bethany answered. She was lost. She doesn't even understand why the man had followed them. “Im scared.” Millie said, her lip starting to tremble. 

“I know–” Bethany stopped, the soft thuds of boots could be heard. Thud-thump, thud-thump. She grabbed Millie's hand before running. The sound got closer as they ran. Trees hummed, seeming in pace with the girls breathing. Millie tugged Bethany's hand, pulling her into a wooden cove. “Beth, I have an idea.” Millie said softly, before tugging a pocket knife out of her skirt, Bethany gaped. “How long have you had this on you?” She asked.

“Two years–but it doesn't really matter. Gotta be extra safe right? Millie smiled lightly. “I'm thinking we could–y’know–stab him? It's not much but I think it could work." Her voice trailed off sounding desperate. They were. “Let's see what happens.” Bethany replied.  Shuffling of feet could be heard again, but they had a plan. Oak trees whistled in the night as the girls exited the cove of trees, their faces hot. They ran to an open spot, the trees forming almost a circle. It was perfect. Both Bethany and Millie stood behind a tree, listening to the sway of the trees. 

“Do you–I mean it's based on luck–but do you think this will work?” Millie asked, twisting the small fate in her hands. “It will. I'm sure.” Bethany answered. The shuffling began, starting from the area they came from. Both girls looked over to get a look at the man. Thick brown boots were dirtied as he looked around seeming lost. They watched as the man turned around leaving the spot, both girls began taking careful steps forward. As the man was beginning to leave, Millie ran forward jumping on his back, the knife caught the light before firetruck red came out of his neck. He fell with Millie still on his back hitting the ground hard, Bethany could only watch as Millie stabbed him again and again. It seemed like hours. 

A cool fall breeze rustled leaves around their feet. Millie spoke, “A little help Beth?” Millie strained out trying her best to get up “Yeah. Sorry. Both girls stare at the body long and hard. Millie's clothes were dirtied and the blood on her hands and face were beginning to dry. “Want to get chinese food?” Bethany quietly asks. “…That sounds nice.” Millie says.

✧

GRADING: 95/100