I pushed all my thoughts of Alice and our conversation and headed towards the path to the field. I continued walking going under the arch and headed towards the bleachers. My heart was encased in ice and I felt my breathing increase. I prayed that Annie would be there, but somehow I knew she wouldn't be. I still tried to convince myself though.
Knowing she wouldn't be there could only mean one thing. The killer really had come to school and snatched her. I shook my head and started running. I reached the field and frantically scanned it. There wasn't anyone there.
I stopped myself from panicking further until I turned and scanned the bleachers. Nothing, not a single student or teacher. More importantly there was no Annie. I ran up the bleachers looking left and right. Maybe there had been a struggle and she left something behind.
A clue, some evidence, anything I could use to get the police looking for her. I traveled up and down the bleachers systematically. Eventually I collapsed on one of the benches. I hadn't found anything. I cursed in frustration and fear.
I looked up at the sky and prayed that Annie was alright. That she was alive. I got up and started walking back to my car. I couldn't think of what to do next. I was too worried about Annie.
As I walked closer and closer to the parking lot I took out my phone. I stared at it and debated whether or not to try Annie's phone again. Even though I knew she wouldn't answer I dialed anyways. As I scrolled for Annie's number something shiny caught my eye. My heart sped up as I bent to pick up Annie's small pocket mirror she always kept in her bag.
I pushed the call button on my phone and held it up to my ear. At this point only denial was really keeping me together. I started walking again. Suddenly I stopped as I heard a phone ringing. As I stood there my ears straining I confirmed it was Annie's phone.
I started running towards the ringing phone. My heart soared as I realized it was coming from the parking lot. As I rounded the corner I halted as I spotted a blonde leaning against my car.
"Annie!" I yelled.
I raced towards her. All of my fears left me and I could almost cry. Annie was safe she was safe.
"Annie, why didn't you answer?" I asked panting.
I put my hand on her shoulder. The blonde fell to the ground and I stared in horror at the dead girl at my feet. It wasn't Annie. Even though there was no blood I knew she was dead. Clutched in her hand was Annie's phone.
I bent and ripped it out of her hands. My skin crawled as my hand made contact with that of the dead girls. I stepped back and started going through the phone. It was obvious Annie hadn't gotten any of my calls. A ping from her phone signaled a new text messaged.
I frowned as I realized it wasn't a registered number in her contacts. I tapped on it and terror swept through me. My hands shook as I read it.
"Your girlfriend is quite pretty. It'll be a shame to kill her. If you try to do anything to save her, your uncle and her mom are next. Hope you enjoyed my little surprise for you at your car. I really did have too much fun here, makes me wonder why I staged your dad's murder to begin with. Killing this way is so much more fun. I love to see the fear on the faces of those that find my prey. Zane"
I sank to my knees as cold shock came over me. I don't know how long I knelt there but the sky was well on its way to darkness before I came to my senses. I got up and put Annie's phone in my pocket. No one could ignore the situation anymore. They wouldn't be able to say there wasn't enough evidence.
There's a damn body on the ground beside my car. I had to find out how to contact the FBI. Local police couldn't do anything about the situation now. I took out my phone and called Alice. As the line rang I remembered our conversation earlier.
I almost hung up. I realized though that I needed to act normal. I didn't like how much I felt Alice was apart of this all. I really hoped she wasn't.
I groaned as I felt such a massive pounding in my head. I tried to move but couldn't. Shifting around I realized I was bound and blindfolded.
"Still alive I see."
I turned my head towards the voice but quickly regretted it. I groaned as the pain intensified.
"I wouldn't try to move, Zane seemed to have given you something strong to knock you out."
I remembered something being jabbed into my neck when the killer had caught me at school. Turning my thoughts to the present I frowned over the familiarity of the voice that had just spoken. Shock coursed through me as I realized who it was.
"Alice?" I asked in disbelief.
I heard a laugh. "Surprised I can presume. I know the feeling, I mean who would have thought the most wanted guy in school would fall for some Barbie from California."
My browed furrowed.
"Alice I don't understand. Where is all this hostility coming from?"
Alice laughed again. "Oh? You don't know?" She sighed. "Guess I'll just have to explain it to you then. I'm sure you are aware that Jace and I have known each other since we were kids. He was always the popular one while I was always on the weirder side. He was too smart to fall for any of the bitches that came to our school. That is until you showed up. I had waited for so long to approach him. I wanted us to more than just friends. I wanted to be his girlfriend, his one and only. I had a shot you know but you took it away. Now with you gone again, I'll have my chance back. He will be mine!"
My brain struggled to process everything I had just been told.
"Alice, are you saying I got abducted because you want Jace all to yourself?" Disbelief coated my voice.
Alice laughed coldly. "Funny isn't it? Nobody will ever believe that I'm the reason behind you and your dad's deaths."
I went numb, my brain frozen. I felt all the pain and grief well up inside of me. I struggled to remain rational. I couldn't begin to believe that Alice had anything to do with any of this. I felt a pang as I realized how hurt Jace will be once he finds out.
If he ever finds out. I really didn't want to die today. Given the circumstances, I'm not sure there's much I can do to survive. The odds seemed stacked against me.