Cremated Chains.

Chapter Fourteen: Risky Relationships.

Sweat and cologne wafted through the air, creating an unpleasant aroma that compelled everyone to turn up the air conditioning. A blast of cool air and mechanical thrums surrounded the mob of people, washing away the unpleasant fragrance to make room for the scrumptious scents approaching from the food table.

A burst of colours sifted through the main character's line of sight as she made her way through the room, deciding to move towards the basement.

Being at a party surrounded by strangers and friends proved to make the movie's characters forget about the killer on loose, but Cassidy presumed that was what such a movie needed for the killer to sneak into the house.

It was quite ironic, really, the same occasion and environment that made the first person die allowed the characters to let down their hair.

Cassidy presumed it was easier for people to let their mask fade away when they were surrounded by groups of strangers and mutual friends, and the continuous stream of boisterous chatter helped loosen up the only logical presence in the movie.

The main character had been more than pleased to join in on the festivities, hosting games of truth or dare and turning up the music for her guests to dance their fill. However, that all seemed to fade away as the killer finally made his move, jumping into the frame and repeatedly stabbing the love interest.

Raina was the first one to react, her popcorn slightly dropping onto the couch as the Hijabi let out a surprised squeak. Cassidy and Cameron laughed at her reaction, watching as Valerie too cowered away from the screen. It was Timothy who didn't have any reaction, simply leaning back in his seat with a bored expression.

Over the past two hours, the group of five had completed one horror movie and moved onto another, this one being more comical than the previous film. Everyone seemed to be having a great time as they either cowered in fear or stared in intrigue.

All except Cassidy, who was constantly reminded of the note each time she attempted to loosen up and have a good time.

She had to admit her new friend group's mannerisms were contagious, and the brunette skater found herself wedged between Raina and Valerie with various snacks scattered across the table in front of them. Yet the temptations of a carefree day out were subdued by her assailant's appearance, and nothing seemed to make Cassidy feel as free as she was during her arrival.

Regardless of her sour mood, she still had a good enough time to have a giddy smile plastered across her features, her exuberant behaviour carrying on throughout the evening, and remaining when her sister arrived three hours later.

Cassidy's aberrant behaviour, sleazy gait and dorky smile compelled Alexandra to presume there had been alcohol involved, bringing forth an abominable frown from the older sibling. However, she knew her younger sister well enough to toss those thoughts out the window as the siblings drove back to their house.

Overall the day had been one to remember, and Cassidy wished to continue with such get-togethers.

So it was a real shame for all of that to come crashing down when Timothy arrived at school with his right wrist bandaged up with gauze.

His blonde hair was negligently tossed around, the 'I just rolled out of bed' look being complete with the dark bags underneath his eyes and the loose tie hanging across his neck compared to his usual pristine uniform.

"What happened?"

The question had surfaced before Cassidy could stop herself, causing Valerie and Raina to turn towards the boy in question.

"I'm not really sure, when I returned home on Saturday I noticed my hand hurt a lot so mum stopped at the doctor's office. He said my wrist must've banged against some sort of metal causing bruising and a disturbance to the bone, nothing severe."

Or maybe my psychotic kidnapper decided to hurt you as my punishment for playing it safe and not rushing towards him like a terrified mouse awaiting his beck and call.

A sigh escaped the brunette as she watched Valerie examine his hand, asking questions regarding the wound as they made their way to form class. It seemed she couldn't even have a weekend without her kidnapper pulling another stunt, but Cassidy didn't have much time to mull over that as they reached their classroom.

Mr Diovani's room had been decorated in an outrageous riot of colours as the year ten class assembled for form time. The teenagers had witnessed the sight several times throughout their two weeks at Briston High, yet none of them had grown familiar with the decorative room.

Every inch of the walls had a new poster, due date or certificate plastered over it, each of them moulding into a gigantic monster of numbers and letters. Contrary to popular belief, the sight brought about smiles on the twenty-something teenagers' faces as they each searched for a new slip of paper to gaze at.

After all, what was a better way to pass the first half-an-hour of school than to examine their surroundings?

"So, Cass, have you been around St Briston yet?"

Raina quickly cut to the chase, the smirk shared between her and the Hawaiian blonde being observed by Cassidy.

"No. I told you guys my family was too busy to go about town."

"Oh, but you have to look at the sights eventually!"

Valerie's sudden exclamation had her two companions frantically gazing around them to ensure no one had heard her. Enough drama circulated their group with each pupil having various opinions over Cassidy's and Raina's shadowed past, thus they didn't need nor require the extra attention.

Somehow the students of Briston High had gotten wind of her father's passing, and while most of them didn't react to it, Cassidy could see how their attitude towards her was now stained with pity. Thus they didn't need their class spreading gossip about her being too gloomy to go around town.

A dirty look was sent Valerie's way as Raina and Cassidy once again turned back, satisfied with their observations.

"It doesn't really matter whether or not I go around town. I'll do it eventually."

This elicited a pout from the brunette's Muslim friend as Raina twirled the end of her scarf around her fingers, finally cutting to the chase.

"But something special is happening this weekend and our group's already gotten permission to go together."

Blue met hazel as Cassidy threw her chocolate brown locks over her shoulder, her eyes catching Cameron's gaze as she sought some sort of confirmation. When he simply nodded excitedly the brunette skater turned back towards her female friends with a sigh, already dreading her reply.

"I'm busy this weekend."

This concluded the trio's current topic as each of them discussed other matters, eager to continue their conversations. Unbeknownst to Cassidy, her friends hadn't quite given up yet and sought other ways to convince her.

After her hellacious experience with her kidnapper, Cassidy welcomed any form of happiness she was offered, going as far as to volunteer at her mother's workplace to converse with children undergoing treatment to satisfy her need to help others and herself. Which was why she herself was quite surprised at her reluctance to engage in such an invitation.

While Cassidy had a great time that weekend, she couldn't risk putting her new friends in danger simply for a little time to hang out. Timothy's injury strengthened her resolve as she persistently denied their invitation to go around town, claiming she had other things to do.

It was true that her friend group made Cassidy feel better than she had in quite some time, but that seemed to be the problem. On the other hand, if she was so keen on welcoming people and things that exuded optimism into her life, why did she turn down an opportunity to be with the only group that made her feel better?

A groan escaped her lips as Cassidy lay down on her bed, mulling over her options.

Her hesitance was well placed, but she couldn't help but wonder if the real reason had something to do with her excruciating experiences throughout the previous years. Or more specifically, the saboteur of her life.

If the previous note had threatened someone she wasn't close to, the brunette skater wouldn't be as frightened as she was now. The worst part was her four friends were oblivious to her past, thus she couldn't warn them about anything without talking about everything that happened throughout the past year.

That discussion, however, would only make things worse and possibly make them face the same fate as her father.

With a defeated sigh Cassidy reluctantly walked past the dark stairs of the Carlone house, approaching the grey couch Alexandra lounged upon. A smile grazed the dancer's face as she leisurely ate from her ice-cream bowl, the chocolate and butterscotch moulding together as brown eyes examined Cassidy's form.

She couldn't contain the huff that exited her lips as Cassidy plopped onto the sofa, pushing her sister's feet a little closer to her to make room for herself.

"What, did you fail a test?"

Cassidy rolled her eyes and smiled at her sister before turning towards the movie playing on screen, a shake of her head answering Alexandra's question. The brunette skater continued watching the movie for a few moments, but eventually caved and decided to talk about her problems.

It was no surprise when Cassidy turned her body completely towards her sister's while the commercial breaks flashed across the screen, after all, they both were aware she had an affinity for speaking her mind quite quickly.

"I feel like everything I do, all the relationships I make, the people I meet, are all dictated or affected by my kidnapper. Like I can't risk being friends with someone because I'm scared he'll hurt that person."

At this Alexandra abandoned her food, placing the bowl onto the glass table and scooting her body closer to her sister's. She took a moment to reply, sincerely considering the best answer before speaking.

"I know what happened to you is unimaginable and its effects seem interminable, but you've got to realise the more you let him affect you, the more he succeeds. You shouldn't let your k********g dominate your life."

Cassidy contemplated this for quite some time, allowing herself to look over each option.

She could either allow him to continue dictating her life, or she could move forward and face his little plans. With a nod the skater stood up and retreated to her room, seeking solace in her music as she contemplated the series of events she would put in place.

Don't overthink it!

With that thought Cassidy fetched out her phone, typing a quick text to Raina's i********: account, the green circle beside her user indicating the artist was currently online.

What did you have in mind for the weekend?

Cassidy had to await the reply for about a minute but fondly smiled at her screen as she gazed at the little sentence.

There is a carnival that takes place annually around this time. It's happening on Sunday.

At this, she hesitated, scared about being in such a crowded place. The logical side of her mind cautioned her, but her heart trusted Valerie and Raina, that trust allowed Cassidy to agree to their plans.

Where is it?

I'll pick you up with Cameron.

Cassidy nodded before realizing the artist couldn't see her reaction, making her glide her fingers over the keyboard to type a quick 'okay'.

Everything felt good and well, she was finally moving forward and getting back to the person she used to be. But as always, he decided to strike at the moment that would leave the greatest impact.

The pillows were puffed up, the blanket folded and the sheets cleaned, all she had to do was quickly finish her night routine before heading to bed.

Humming along to a random song Cassidy quickly cleansed her face, getting rid of the dry skin and washing away any cosmetics or creams she had on. Chocolate brown hair formed a curtain as she bent down, cupping water in her hands as she splashed it across her face one final time.

When she was done the teen briefly turned away from her sink to grab a few tissues.

With her daily night routine commenced, Cassidy tossed the moist wad of tissues into the trash and began to walk out of the bathroom. But just as she reached for the doorknob, the brunette skater was rooted in her spot.

The reason for her delay to bed was quite simple and evident by the bold red and black hues in front of her.

There, in the centre of her bathroom's mirror, was a message written by whiteboard markers, the neat and tidy lettering bringing forth feelings of paranoia and anxiety.

I'm quite offended, I thought the injury was a clear message to stay away from them.

A scream built up in the back of her throat, the deafening sound pushing against her throat like water flowing through a broken dam.

Cassidy wanted to scream and cry, to punch the mirror and contact the police or even her sister. But she knew what happened the last time she attempted such a stunt, her father died.

She couldn't help but reminisce on his death, a sob replacing her scream as Antonin's dead body flashed through her inner eye.

An arm coated in a litter of scratches pushed past the white sheet, the b****y fingertips dripping her father's blood onto the concrete. The police and paramedics had advised her against looking at his body, but she had to know his condition, had to realise what she did to him. Directly or indirectly be damned.

A pale hand reached forth, clutching the sheet and pulling it away from her father's body: quick and effective, like ripping off a bandaid.

Screams echoed across her as Cassidy knelt over, gagging at the prominent scent of blood and flesh. It took her a moment to recover enough to stop, and another to repeat her previous chorus of screeches.

His left eye had been pierced. That was the first thing Cassidy could focus on, the gory veins protruding from his socket as a mess of red and white covered his blue eyes. She averted her gaze, not allowing herself to glance at the eyeball, or lack therefore of, for a second longer than necessary.

A regretful gasp escaped her throat as Cassidy's eyes zeroed in on the gash right below his heart, the large, gaping wound coating his abdomen in crimson as blood dripped down, the trail leading to his final major wound. His right leg.

The limb itself wasn't that gruesome, but its internal condition and numerous injuries painted a vividly eerie picture. The knee had been dislocated when the car crashed into the pole, the socket slipping loose and causing the bottom half of her father's leg to hang off towards the side abnormally.

It seemed wherever she looked there was a new injury to gaze upon. Whether it be the series of jagged cuts across his abdomen, his bloodied arms and back from when his body was dragged across the pavement coated in glass, or the copious amounts of blood oozing forth from his eye and cut lip.

Antonin Carlone had been ruined. And it was all because she had made the mistake of informing her father of her predicament.

Of believing that no one would go as far as to hurt her father as part of a s******c game.

Cassidy would lounge in hell for a thousand days before she allowed someone dear to her to undergo the same experience, especially someone who she was beginning to befriend. Her budding friendship with Raina wasn't enough to cause such a reaction, but she knew the lines her kidnapper had aimlessly drawn, and she refused to cross them.

She would indeed meet the group that weekend, after all, she couldn't cancel the plans right after agreeing to them, but would refrain from getting to close them. For their sake.

It was quite unfortunate that the one occasion she was looking forward to ended up changing into the occasion throughout which she would have to be cautious, but Cassidy believed she could handle it.

I guess my plan will have to be put into motion faster than I anticipated.