Death in the Woods

Chapter 3

Sarah tossed and turned the entire night. Her nerves were on edge after finding out that one of her schoolmates was dead.

When her bedside alarm rang, she got up from the bed itching to do something other than close her eyes and sleep. After going through her morning routine, she sat at the edge of her bed and went through the notifications on her phone. Her mum had already left for her morning shift at the hospital.

She looked up when she heard the dull thud of the front door opening. Thinking it was her mum who came back to the house to pick up something that she forgot, she placed her phone on the bed and went into the hall but found nobody.

Deciding that her mum had already left before she could get to her, she went to get a cup of water from the kitchen before making her way back to her room. She then continues scrolling through her phone but then again, there was a knock at the front door.

Grunting to herself and wondering who it was trying to bother her in the early hours of the morning, she made her way towards the front door while still going through her phone.

"Hi!! How may I he--" she looked up to find nobody at the threshold.

"Hello! Is anybody there?" she called out as she made her way towards the lawn. But there was no reply.

Her phone made a buzz sound signalling an incoming message. She brought her attention back to her phone and after viewing the content, ran back into the house, locking the doors and calling Clara on the phone.

***********

DO YOU BELIEVE IN SERIAL KILLERS?

"Now, this person is just a psycho. It's just someone from school trying to play a prank on you" Clara told Sarah as she sat on her bed while looking at the message on her phone.

After getting the message, Sarah called her best friend on the phone and told her about everything that happened. For the fact that she didn't want to be alone in the house because she was terrified, she begged her friend to keep her company before her mum comes back from work.

"Are you sure about that, Clara?" Sarah asked her best friend.

"You worry too much. I believe it's just a prank. Who in their right mind would want to send someone such a sick message?"

"Um... I don't know. There are many people out there who aren't in their right mind. That's why the asylum was created, " Sarah said as she plopped down on the bed.

"So you really think it's just a prank?" Sarah asked after a while.

"Of course Sarah. There was nothing threatening in the message if you noticed. It was just a question."

"Yea, you could say that. Maybe I'm just overreacting, " Sarah said causing Clara to roll her eyes at her behaviour.

"Obviously, just forget about it and ignore whatever asshole that sent you that message...

... and enough talk about psychos and serial killers, it's depressing. I've got better news for you." Clara said as her eyes got all twinkling with excitement.

"Okay, now I know you are up to no good. Your eyebrows are twitching, spill the beans, Clara."

"My eyebrows ain't twitching." She said trying to adjust herself. "Anyway, there is a party next weekend and guess who is hosting it?" She said in a sing-song voice.

"Um... the nerd book club?" Sarah replied while rising from the bed and going towards her reading desk, with the intention of completing Mrs. Bridget's assignment.

"No way! Jacob Madison is hosting the party at his family mansion. Get that into your skull and push that book aside for a minute." Clara said, while walking towards her friend and closing the book.

"Oh. I see! That's what's got you all giddy with excitement?" Sarah asked her while attempting to retrieve her book from her.

"Of course, Sarah. You know how long I have been crushing on him and now he invited me to his party. This is an opportunity for me to get to know him." she explained, while struggling to keep the book away from her friend, so she would listen to her.

"I get it that you do have an infatuation on him and your stomach is already swarming with butterflies just at the mention of his name, but, why are you telling me about the party?" She asked while raising her eyebrows in a hasty manner.

"Because you are my best friend and by obligation, you are meant to be there with me." She said.

"We would be leaving high school in about three months time, Sarah, the least you can do is to have fun with you and by obligation, you are meant to be there with me." She said.

"We would be leaving high school in about three months time, Sarah, the least you can do is to have fun with your best friend" she explained further as she made her way back towards the bed after losing the battle with her friend over the book.

"I don't know Clara, you know I am not called for the party life. I love being in my comfort zone" she said.

"Come on, Sarah, it's just for a night. We would be back by 11 pm. Just do it for your best friend. You are going to be eighteen very soon, Pwetty please" she said while pouting her lips.

"I don't even have anything to wear to a party," Sarah said attempting to negotiate her way out of it. But Clara was a step ahead of her.

"You don't need to worry about that," Clara said while standing up to go hug her best friend.