I was scared. The game came to life, Margret killed her mother's boyfriend, Grace was next and after her, I would kill my sister.
I was also terrified of what would happen when Joana finds out what I did. I knew she was going to ask me what happened that night at the party immediately we got home and I couldn't help but think she would hate me forever if I did. So I decided to start avoiding her anyway I could. I texted Margret and Grace that night immediately Joana confronted me in the living room begging them not to tell my sister anything yet. Margret didn't reply but I was sure to count on her.
I knew I couldn't avoid her forever but I did my best to stay away from them throughout the weekend. I hung around my mum and dad mostly, knowing that she couldn't bring up the topic with them around.
On Monday, I had hurriedly left the house before her even though we always walked to school together. I also couldn't bear passing through Grandpa's farm. It only brought back the images and guilt I tried to hide back.
Like we all agreed on, we did our best to act normal but to me, it wasn't normal as we weren't together as we used to. Everyone was on their own for a while until Grace and my sister started talking.
If they were talking about the party, then it was all over surely. All hell would break loose for me by free period. I decided to hide away. Call me a coward but I didn't know what else to do.
"Hey, where's Grace?"
"I don't know, she probably snuck off with Joana or something." I quickly answered her and went downstairs to hide in the sports closet.
The closet was spacious enough to contain the equipment but there wasn't enough room for me so I had to lean close to the doors.
I could hear everything that was happening on the other side but I didn't want to come out when I heard moanings outside and I also didn't want to come out when I heard Grace and Margret's voice.
"Oh, yeah. We have to go find June, Joana has a plan."
Grace's words struck me. A plan? How?
I saw myself coming out of the room. I didn't think twice about it of course.
"I'm here," I said.
"You were in there all this time?" Margret asked, raising her brows.
"Yeah, it doesn't matter. What plan are you talking about? I replied quickly, facing Grace.
"Okay since you guys are here," She said then drew a short breath, "Joana thinks Veronica is a witch and now she wants us to meet here in the chemistry lab for us to confront her." She said as quickly as she could.
"Hold on, back the fuck up," Margret raised her hand. "Veronica is a witch?"
Grace shook her head.
"We think she is and that's why we want to, and if she is we would get to know what her plan is."
The idea wasn't looking less stupid to me.
"Even if she is, how can we tell a witch to her face that she is what she is? That's suicide... And hold on, does Joana know?"
"No, we didn't get to that part."
I sighed in relief.
"I don't think she can do us anything until we have all killed the people we said we would." Margret chimed in, her face without expression.
My heart began racing.
"Yes," Grace agreed. "Look, we gotta hurry. We don't know when it'll happen."
My heartbeat became faster.
"Okay, let's go."
* * *
We got to the chemistry lab only to find Joana struggling to tie an unconscious Veronica to a chair.
"Joana, what the hell?" The three of us yelled in unison.
"Don't worry she's fine."
"What if someone comes in and sees this?" I said.
She looked at me with a bit of frustration on her face.
"Will you stop talking and help me out?... And lock the damn door!"
I guess June didn't hit Veronica as hard as she'd hit Francis. She woke up moments later.
"W-What's going on here?"
No one spoke.
"Why am I tied up?!" Her anger in her voice startled Margret and me but no one said anything still.
"Grace..." She turned to Grace who looked away.
"Look if guys aren't going to say anything--"
"See you better stop all this hard girl nonsense and confess right now!" Joana yelled, cutting her off. She was the one with the temper between the both of us. "Why is it that it's when you came into our lives that all these things started happening, you have a hand in all this."
Veronica's expression changed as her eyes got wide.
"Oh, I see what's going on. You guys think I am a witch abi?" She laughed. "Hmmm, okay yes I am a witch. What then? You'll go call your pastor for deliverance? You know what, go and tell him. And make sure you tell him about the body we buried too."
"Why won't we think you are a witch? You preyed on our friend's desire for fun and turned it into a horror show. You invited them for a fake party and then made them play a game--"
"What? Made them play a game? It's like the person that told you what happened didn't tell you everything. It was Grace's idea for us to play a game that night, and it was your sister who googled the game out for us."
Joana looked at us to affirm what Veronica said, the expression on our face said yes. She turned back to Veronica silent.
"And speaking of things that they didn't tell you, I'm sure you don't still know that June mentioned you in her game."
Remember when I said my heart was racing, now it began pounding hard.
"Huh? What's she talking about?" Joana said facing me.
"I'm so sorry."
"Your loving twin sister had a fantasy about killing you. And it was cold, literally."
Joana was stunned in shock.
"So that was why you were avoiding me because you couldn't bitch up to tell me yourself."
"I'm so sorry," I said again this time with tears in my eyes.
She scoffed then headed for the door.
"Joana please--"
"Don't follow me."
I broke down in tears immediately after she left. I had betrayed my sister and now she hates me.
"You're not a witch but you're the devil," Margret said, coming over to console me.
"Well, it was better she found out now anyway." She said without remorse. "And you know what, this thing you guys did, it's all a joke. If you wanted to know if I was a witch, why didn't you guys just stalk me at my house around midnight to catch me doing something fetish?"
"Not everyone is a mystery detective like you Veronica," Grace said.
"Yeah, no kidding. I thought you told them about our plan over the weekend and I came here only to get my head bashed and tied up to a chair."
"Wait, you were making plans with her over the weekend? When I needed you, you were with her?" Margret said leaving me.
"Margret--"
"No no, it's okay... You both deserve each other. Let's get out of here."
"Well somebody should untie me na. I don't want to be in the same room with her." Veronica said.
Margret hissed.
I wasn't angry at Grace. What I felt was a mixture of guilt and anger all directed towards myself. I didn't even know where I wanted to be at the moment. I just followed Margret's steps as she ushered me out of the room.