The dreadful day had arrived, and Vivian's anxiety was palpable as Emily knocked incessantly on the door. Vivian stood frozen behind it, debating whether to open it or not. The relentless knocking only heightened her nerves.
"What the heck is this?" her father snapped, noticing her hesitation. "what are you doing?? You haven't seen the door!" With a rough shove, he pushed her aside and opened the door himself. His entire demeanor shifted as soon as he saw Emily.
"Ah, my love, sweetheart," he cooed, his voice dripping with forced affection.
Emily smiled brightly. "I've been knocking for a while, Uncle," she exclaimed, casting a quick, knowing glance at Vivian. Her father shot a sharp look at Vivian before turning his attention back to Emily, escorting her into the house with exaggerated warmth.
Inside, Vivian's mother was on the couch, peeling apples. As soon as she saw Emily, she started to rise, intending to retreat to the kitchen, but Emily was quicker. She moved towards her, but something in her mother's disheveled state made Emily pause.
"Auntie, are you okay?" Emily asked, her voice laced with faux concern as she studied the weary lines and scars on Vivian's mother's face.
"Yes, yes," Vivian's mother stammered, her voice shaky as she tried to hide her embarrassment.
Vivian's father intervened quickly, ushering Emily further into the living room and telling her to make herself at home. "Vivian, get something for Emily to eat," he ordered sharply.
Emily began to protest, but her father insisted, leaving her no choice but to comply.
As Vivian headed to the kitchen, she heard them laughing about something, the sound of her father's forced joviality mixing with Emily's sweet, yet sinister, voice.
When Vivian returned with a tray of cookies and tea, she overheard Emily saying, "Yes, Uncle, I'm her only friend. She doesn't interact with anyone." She glanced at Vivian with a smirk.
As she set the tray down, her father's voice cut through the room. "Emily's having a party at the end of this month, and she needs a hand. You're going to help her."
"But, Dad—" Vivian began, her voice trembling.
"What?" he snapped, glaring at her.
"It's in the evening…" Vivian trailed off, her voice barely a whisper.
"So what?" His tone was sharp, leaving no room for argument. "It's close by. Emily dear, When she's ready, I'll send her brother to pick her up. Just let me know when Vain will get free"
Emily beamed with happiness. "Yes, Uncle! I'll definitely let you know."
Without another word, Emily stood up, claiming she was already late. "You didn't take anything," Vivian's father reminded her.
Emily bent down, picked up a cookie, and with a playful smile, said, "For you only, Uncle." Vivian's father smiled—a smile vivian rarely saw on his face.
Emily hugged him goodbye, then turned to Vivian, leaning in close to whisper in her ear, "See you then." The words sent a shiver down Vivian's spine. Emily then called out to Vivian's mother in the kitchen, who had been hiding there all along, to bid her goodbye before leaving.
The days following Emily's visit were filled with dread for Vivian. The entire class already knew about her attending Emily's party, and the thought of it made her heart race with anxiety.
ONE WEEK BEFORE THE PARTY
Vivian was sitting alone in class, her head bent down during the break time, lost in her thoughts, when she heard a familiar voice.
"Hey…"
She ignored it at first, assuming it wasn't directed at her. But then the voice called out louder, "Hey, Vivian!"
She looked up, squinting as her eyes adjusted to the light after being in her dark headspace. "Yes?" she mumbled, rubbing her eyes to clear her vision.
"You're going to the party?" the voice asked again. She looked around but saw no one in front or behind her. Then, the voice came from her side, "Here!"
She turned and saw a boy looking at her. "Who are you?" Vivian asked, still feeling out of touch with her surroundings.
The boy reclined in his chair, looking at her with an expression of disbelief. "Stop acting like this, Vivian," he said, his voice carrying a hint of frustration. "Are you going to the party?"
Before Vivian could respond, another boy burst into the room. "Max! Ms. Sophi is calling for you," he shouted.
"Okay, coming," Max called back. As the other boy left, Max turned back to Vivian, his expression serious. "If you're thinking of going, I'm warning you—don't. She's not planning anything good."
With that, he left the classroom, leaving Vivian even more confused and anxious. She vaguely remembered him as the boy who had watched her when she put the baby bird back in its nest, but his warning only added to the turmoil in her mind. She was already tense, and now Max's cryptic message only deepened her unease. But what could she do? Her father had already ordered her to go.
THE DAY OF THE PARTY
The day of the party arrived, and Vivian found herself standing outside Emily's house, feeling like she was walking into a trap. Emily greeted her with an unsettling warmth, grabbing her bags and things before saying, "Let's go."
Vivian was shocked. "Where?"
Emily laughed, her tone light but with an undercurrent of something darker. "What do you mean, where? We're going to the party!"
"But…" Vivian began, but Emily was already pulling her out the door and onto the road.
Emily walked quickly, dragging Vivian along and urging her to keep up. They soon arrived at a small, bar-like eatery where a group of girls was preparing a room. The place was decorated in glittery pink, everything looking overly cheesy and juvenile. Vivian felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her.
She didn't recognize any of the girls. Emily immediately dropped her bags and joined them in the preparations, leaving Vivian to fill balloons. The atmosphere was chaotic, with everyone rushing to get things ready. Suddenly, a girl burst into the room.
"They're here! They're here! Be quick!" she shouted, causing the girls to scramble, hiding the mess and standing in a straight line.
A girl entered with three boys, one of whom had his eyes covered. When they pulled the blindfold off, everyone started chanting a birthday song. Vivian regretted following her father's orders more than ever at that moment. She wanted to leave, but one of the girls who had brought the boys blocked her way.
"Where are you going? The party has just started," the girl said, forcing Vivian back into her seat.
They cut the cake and started a karaoke session. Everyone seemed to be having fun—everyone except Vivian, who sat in a corner, clutching a pom-pom and counting its strips to distract herself. Then, a boy approached her.
He didn't look like he was her age; he was older, more intimidating. His close presence made her uncomfortable, and she glanced around, realizing with a sinking feeling that she was alone with the three boys.
Her heart pounded in her chest. This was her worst nightmare—the day of her first kill. The memory flooded back, sharp and vivid, the devils looming over her, as she clenched her fist, shutting her eyes and trying hard not to forget or to forget, she didn't know...