Rossie has gone straight to her house after her tiff with Emma and Jess. She walked swiftly. Her facial expressions were highly discordant. Taking large footsteps, she reached her home. Seeing Rossie enter the house, her Mom called her from behind,
"Rossie, I have made snacks for you. Come and have them!"
But Rossie didn't pay heed to what her mother was saying. Her feet didn't stop except until she reached her room. Once she was in her room, she locked the door and turned around. At the very next moment, she leaned back at the door and slowly started sitting on the ground. She insulted her Best Friend at her face. It wasn't easy for her to handle.
"How heartbroken Jessie might be! What have I done!" Rossie held her head in both of her hands.
"You know you aren't alone Jess. You have your best friends around. If someone would dare say a thing about you, I swear I will smack his face off." Ross heard herself consolidating Jessie.
Out of anger and helplessness her eyes started to shed tears.
However, suddenly, all voices disappeared and the scene of her open bedroom window flashed in her head. The photo of someone's body hanging on the ceiling fan.
Ross lifted her head with a quick gesture and tried to normalize herself by taking deep breaths. All of sudden, she heard a knock at the glass pane. She felt horrendous. It wasn't a usual thing to have a window knock at the sheriff's house and window guest appearances haven't been proved to be quite pleasant for Rossie. So, she tried to take a glance from a safe distance. Keeping a rolled newspaper handle that she picked up from the study table, in her hands, she went towards the window and carefully opened the clip. Swiftly, she made a move and opened the glass door. As the window unlocked and the scene behind the glass became clearer, Ross saw that there was nothing outside except the lonely balcony and then scenic sunset. She was puzzled. Her brow raised when she noticed something shimmer at one corner of her balcony. Ross went in that direction to check the shimmery object out. However, when she bent upon it and picked it up, her eyes widened in surprise. It was her locket. Ross' hand involuntarily touched her bare neck. Ross knew she hadn't been wearing the locket since morning. Before leaving for school she took it off and locked it inside one of her study table drawers.
So, now, the huge and quite obvious question was how did the locket get there. However, when was still in the middle of her astonishment, she figured there was a note hanging with the locket. It read :
"Seeing your locket you might have well understood my approach.
If I could take your beloved belongings from your room,
I can easily approach your beloved relations from your life too.
You are safe now as you did what I said, but there's more to what I want from you.
I will spare the details until you reach Park Street, Lane 11.
And don't you dare tell anyone about our meet up or this note.
Or else you will be responsible for what comes next.
See you midnight, Sneakster."
Yours,
You know who.
Rossie got goosebumps as she read the note. The note was a pure threat. Ross realised she has gotten herself into a bad game. But it wasn't her fault. It all just happened.
She was still standing shocked, halfway in her balcony looking at the threat note with tears in her eyes, when she heard a knock on the door. Her mom called out for her. She tried to twist the knob and open the door. But it was locked from inside.
Ross got the time she needed to compose herself before she could face her mother. So she quickly wiped her cheeks cleaning any trace of tears and harshly rubbed her already reddened nose. And making her voice as normal as she could she went towards her bed and shouted,
"I am not feeling well, Mom. I just wanna rest today. I am going to sleep. Please don't bother me today," her voice trembled but she tried to keep her accent firm.
Immediately, she heard the worried voice of her mom,
"What happened Rossie dear? Have you been crying? Let me in. Maybe I can help you out. See your friend Emma is waiting downstairs for you. Come meet her." Stacy said dearly.
All of a sudden the door opened wide. Stacy saw Ross standing with her hands on her waist and with fierce expressions.
"Why is she here? What did you tell her? Tell her I am not home. Or even better tell her to stay away from me for a while. Just leave me alone. Don't put me into trials." And while saying this Rossie's voice grieved.
Ross told her mom to go and slammed the door in anger and helplessness.
"God! Help me!" She looked up and murmured to herself getting back towards her bedside table.
Then she looked back at the chit that was lying crushed in her fist.
"God knows what I am up to now!" Ross sighed. She was anxious, worried, angry, frightened, all at the same time. But at times, there are some incidents that are unexpected to happen, yet helpful and pleasant. Maybe Ross was waiting for such an unexpected one to happen with her.
Nevertheless, as she was cooking up her plans of sneaking out at midnight, her mom hesitatingly faced Emma who was anxious to see her friend.
"She refused to come down, right? I knew she would. Can I go in Ross' room? Will it be okay with you? I need to talk to her." Emma said with anger filled in her accent. She was furious or maybe hurt. Or perhaps both.
"I am really sorry, child! I don't know what happened between you two, but I think you should give her some space. I am not telling you that you leave her alone. Come have a seat. I wanted to give you some advice." Stacy said in her usual soft tone and signalled her to sit at the nearby couch.
"Listen, I am not saying this as Rosalind's Mom. Rather, I am saying this because I honour you as my daughter. I have always valued you like one. You know what the best person in the world is?" asked Stacy politely.
Emma nodded left right, innocently saying no.
"The best person is the most patient and well mannered one. You know why I am telling this to you? Because conquering a friend's anger is not so easy. You might know that anger is the weapon of the devil. And when your friend becomes the devil's leverage, it has to be handled with care. Or else, friendships are ruined. Hearts are broken. And relationships tear apart. I saw Ross today the way I haven't seen her before. Well mannered people understand each other. You need to develop patience and solve all your friend's problems from a distance they might realize. For your friendship is more precious than your credit taking." Stacy explained Emma the lessons of perseverance. Stacy waved a hand of love on Emma's head. These lessons would prove to help her out with most of the problems she is going to face in her coming days.
Emma quitely nodded and gave a pale smile. She understood she would have to wait a while if she needed answers from Rossie. And all that time Emma has to spend on finding the reason for the night everything started i.e. the night of Rossie's scream. And she knew one person who could help her out with it.
Meanwhile, upstairs, in Rossie's room, Rossie could be seen packing a small backpack. On her bed side table lain the heart shaped locket carved 'R' on it, quietly witnessing all the proceedings.
Darkness has creeped out and has been successful in swallowing the shining sun. It was jet black. The slightest of illumination that existed has now disappeared. And this night has many more secrets yet to reveal.