Margret felt a tad bit hazy as she woke up. She had no idea why she had a kink in her neck. She rose a little, supporting herself with an elbow and massaging her neck with her other hand. Struggling to open her eyes, she wondered why couldn't feel her pillow, or why her bed felt hard like the floor, and why her shirt felt soaked. Slowly, she opened her eyes to a shocking realization.
The cold eyes of a lifeless Sylvester staring back at her!
She became fully awake instantly. Sickened by a pool of blood all over her, she quickly jumped to her feet, tossing the stretched arm of the body wayward. She started walking backward, her steps in sync with the rhythm her pounding heart was making till she reached the bookshelf separating her from the wall. Immediately, images began flashing to her head, and the pounding in her chest increased with every horror she saw. The horror of what she had done.
* * *
It was very unlikely for Margret to ever miss school. She was the most serious student among the four girls and although that Friday there was nothing academic to do in school because of the big football game their school had against Lakeville to determine the champion of the Interschool football cup competition, they had all agreed the evening before to be in school to watch together their school try to make history by winning for the first time.
It was already starting to be a sunny afternoon. The sun was lashing its rays on the grass of the open field and the players as well as a few of the spectators couldn't find shade but it didn't bother anyone, the atmosphere was perfect. The game was already fifteen minutes in and Margret has not responded to any of their texts and calls and they were getting worried
"Have you tried her number again?" Joana asked June, trying to raise her voice above the cheering and the music that came from the trumpets and drums. Her worry over Margret divided her attention from watching and cheering on her boyfriend.
"Yeah, still nothing," June answered. She was the most worried of the three girls. Ever since that night, she felt that something was going to happen, that it wasn't over yet. And that feeling terrified her.
She shrugged. No matter what happens she had to conceal her fears, for Joana's sake. For her sake.
She turned to Grace who was absent-minded.
"How about you?"
Grace, hearing June, withdrew her eyes from who they were watching, Veronica. Like June, she had imagined things weren't over with Veronica and she made it her duty to watch the new girl every time she had the chance.
"What?" She had asked looking at June, then immediately remembered Margret. She threw a glance at the phone and realized Margret was calling. "Oh! She's calling."
June and Joana both heaved sighs in relief.
Grace put the phone to her ear.
"Hello? Babe where have--"
"Help! Please, come to my house. Now!" Margret said with a shaky voice then hung up.
"What's going on?" Joanna asked.
"We have to leave now. C'mon."
* * *
Sneaking out of school was quite easier than they thought. They had a lecture-free week that week because of their extracurricular activities and the big game. And at that time, the gateman didn't care who walked into the school or who left. No questions asked.
They quickly boarded a shuttle taking them to Margret's street and walked the rest of the way to her front door.
No one responded to Margret's door when the girls knocked and Grace with so much impatience in her had kicked the door open to find Sylvester lying on the floor, a pool of dry blood on the rug surrounding his body, and a frightened Margret who had as much blood on her too.
"My God!" Joana exclaimed at the horror before her eyes.
June covered her gaping mouth with her hands to prevent herself from screaming. Her worst fears were coming true.
Grace, although shocked, was the only one whose mind was still active. She turned her eyes from the lifeless body to Margret.
"Has anybody been here?"
Margret didn't answer.
"Is anyone else at home? Your mum? Baby Stanl--" Her eyes opened widely at the realization of Baby Stanley's wail upstairs. "Oh my God, Baby Stanley!"
June and Joana's minds came rushing back but were too slow to react as Grace ran up the stairs as fast as she could, locating the room through his high-pitched cry which got louder as she got closer to the room. She swung the unlocked door wide open then rushed in to pick the baby up.
She placed her hands on his head feeling his temperature. Her heart sunk at the burning sensation she felt. The poor boy could have been crying all morning, she thought.
She started rocking and patting Stanley to calm him down as she made her way back to her friends.
Margret remained the way Grace had left her. Numb.
"I killed him." She said speaking for the first time.
"What no! You couldn't hurt a fly. Something must be wrong somewhere." Joana said reaching for her friend but was brushed off immediately.
"No. I killed him the exact way I said I would." Margret said withdrawing her shaking fingers from Joana's. "I'm a Murderer."
Joana became more confused.
"How did you say you would?" She asked in bewilderment. "What exactly is going on here?"
June froze at the thought of her sister finding out about the game but was saved by an unexpected turn of events.
"That's not what you should be worried about now. You can ask questions later." Veronica said.
The girls were both surprised and alarmed at her presence.
"How are you here?" Grace asked.
"I overheard you guys at the game and sensed something was up. So I followed you guys here... Plus you left the door open." She said with a disappointed expression on her face. She shut the door and turned back to everyone.
"So, I'm guessing that's Sylvester huh?"
Grace felt angry at once.
"You are enjoying this, aren't you?" She said, trying her best not to startle Stanley who was already calm. "And why do you feel like you are a part of this all of a sudden."
"Because I'm your only option in making sure your dear friend Margret doesn't spend the rest of her young life in jail."
The rest remained perplexed.
Veronica sighed.
"How quick were you guys to forget my murder mystery skills? I can help you solve this."
"Help my foot!" Joana yelled. She left Margret's side to confront her. "For all, we know you probably have a hand in all of this."
"So what are you trying to say, that I killed someone I never met in my life?" She said glaring at Joana.
"Still, my friends have been acting weird since your stupid party, and now this... I'm sure It's all your fault."
Something sparked inside Veronica.
"Bitch please it was even yours--" She started at first but stopped.
She wanted to argue but knew it was of no use. There would just end up passing blames till there was enough for everyone and that would just be a waste of time. The time that they were running out of. She sighed again.
"Look we don't have enough time, do you want my help or not?"
Joana was about to return with a harsh statement but June backed her off.
"Jo, she has a point." She chimed, placing her hands on her sister's shoulder.
"So you trust her?"
"No I don't, but as she said, we don't know what to do. We have been standing here for minutes without doing anything. Time is running out. Let's hear what she has to say."
Joana threw glances at Grace and Margret who showed their approval.
"Fine," Joana said. "What do we do now?"
Veronica let out a short breath and walked into the view of everyone in the living room. Her mind was off like a flash.
"We have to get rid of his body, and the knife too... Made it look like he skipped town."
She walked up to Margret.
"Do you know where your mum keeps her expensive jewelry, or where she stashes her money in the house?"
Margret didn't answer.
"Margret!" Veronica said, shaking her. "You have to pull yourself together if you want to make this work."
Margret nodded and Veronica beamed a smile back at her.
"So do you know where she keeps those things?"
"Yeah, in a box under her bed."
"Good, go get them. And get out of those bloody clothes too... Now."
Margret felt like herself again. She nodded and went up the stairs.
Veronica turned to the rest.
"Okay, now we have to clean the entire room, leave no trace of blood or anything." As she was talking her eyes caught the body on the floor again. "We have to wrap him up in the rug. Come on." She said then walked over to the body.
The rest were shocked to see how she took charge of the whole situation. They watched in awe as she bent down ready for action.
Veronica raised her head.
"Guys, come on!"
With that June and Joana joined her folding up Sylvester's body in the rug while Grace, with the baby in her hand, watched and commended their efforts as they struggled each time they turned the rug over.
They stood uprightly immediately after, their panting audible throughout the room.
"Okay," Veronica said holding her breath. "We still have to leave this place spotlessly clean... And feed the baby too."
"I'll handle that," Margret said, taking Stanley off Grace's hands. "Thank you." She said to Grace who smiled in return.
She had changed from her pajamas into a Jean skirt and a checkered shirt which she left open, showing her black tank top. She handed nylon containing the previous attire over to Veronica.
"I'm guessing this needs to go too."
"Yes," Veronica answered, tossing the bag to the corner where the body has been rolled too. "We can't get him out of here without raising any suspicions, we need a ride."
"But none of us have a car," June said, stating the obvious.
"My Uncle Kim does." Veronica replied "And I can go home, get the car and other things we need to get rid of Sylvester and be back while you guys clean this place up. Grace, you are with me."
"Why her?" Joana asked in skepticism.
"You want me and you alone in a car right now?"
"Veronica is right, it's best I go with her," Grace said.
"Alright then, we will come back as soon as we can. Good luck." Veronica finally said then left the house with Grace.
Outside the door, as they walked to the main road, Grace had pulled her back.
"This changes nothing, we're still angry at you."
"I know," Veronica replied, giving away no expression on her face. She turned back to the road calling on the motorcycle that rode past them.
"Bike!"