It Happened, Again

Majorica's house was quite far away from their hostel and Basil's house. It was in the richer side of Mel's Town, quite close to Jason's and Parker's houses. Alyssa parked her car outside the elegant apartment building where Majorica and her sister, Tanya, lived.

"Wow," Basil mumbled from the other side of the car, her eyes wide as she stared at the building. Alyssa patted her back softly. "Don't worry, you'll be fine."

Basil gulped, before lightly shaking her head. Her voice was soft and meek as she said, "I've only been to a sleepover-slash-party once before. And let's say, that hadn't gone too well. I only came here because of Majorica and because... I wanted to get over my fear."

Alyysa looked at Basil as the setting sun cast it's last rays of sunlight on her. She really did look scared. Alyssa didn't know what had happened before. Sure, she was curious, but she didn't ask. Basil would tell her when she was ready. And she certainly wasn't then.

Majorica and her friends gave them a warm welcome.

But what shocked Alyssa was... Parker and a few other guys were present there, too. Even 'the new student' was there. Weirdly enough, Alyssa couldn't help scanning their faces. If Parker was there, then maybe ... But no. Jason wasn't there, it seemed.

"Sorry," Majorica mouthed to Alyssa and Basil. "Lyra invited the guys, too."

No wonder... But Basil looked like she was ready to bolt. Alyssa slung her hand over Basil's shoulder. "Hey, it's okay."

When they were at a safe distance from the others, Basil finally whispered back. "But that damned guy is here, too! I hate him!"

Alyysa knew very well who 'that damned guy' was.

She didn't know what was or had been going on between Basil and Parker. But as the days passed by, he only seemed to get more and more obsessed with her, while she kept digging deeper into her shell.

Majorica arranged blankets for everyone and they ended up in a tight circle in one of her rooms. Tanya, her sister, ended up on one side of Alyssa while Basil on the other. Thankfully, there was no drinking or smoking involved. They all just talked late into the night. Mostly about Hollywood and school gossip. Of course, crushes were mentioned, and for Basil's sake, Alyssa was glad Parker's crush hadn't come up.

Alyssa also talked a lot with Tanya, the most popular girl in their school and one year their junior. She was incredibly open and friendly, if a bit too innocent or naive. But Alyssa was sure a friendship had already been formed between them.

By two in the morning, everyone was dead asleep. Except Alyssa. She found herself in dire need of going to the washroom. Damn.

Trying not to trip over a blanket or someone's leg, Alyssa tiptoed out. But she failed to notice that one of their friends were missing from that room...

In the gigantic house, it was hard finding a washroom. Alyssa roamed about till she reached the balcony. And there, she saw a silhouette standing against the railing. A jolt went through Alyssa's body. Who could it be? A thief? Or perhaps...a killer? Maybe Ken Evans had come after her?!

Alyssa was about to scream when she remembered... It couldn't be him. He was dead. "Who's there?" she asked, somewhat relieved but not fully so.

Looked like it was merely Karson Magellan, the person who'd saved her from becoming 'the new student' for ever. He had come to Mel's Town just over two months ago. He was very friendly, as far as Alyssa could say. He was in almost all of Alyssa's classes so she'd often talked to him. And he somehow became friends with Parker so he was in her same friends circle, too.

Karson had brown ruffled hair with electric blue eyes, rather like Alyssa's own yet somewhat different in its own way. He was incredibly good looking, without a doubt, though he looked rather young for his age, with his goofy cuteness. Alyssa wouldn't have guessed that he was in Class 11 if she hadn't known that already.

Alyssa sighed with relief when she saw him. At least it wasn't a creepy thief.

"Couldn't sleep?" Karson asked on seeing her. He cocked his head, analyzing her.

"I was searching for the washroom," she replied.

Karson, looking rather amused, pointed to the door right across the hall. Alyssa blushed. How stupid of her to have missed it.

When she came back, she saw that he was still sitting there, looking deep in thought. They started talking and before long, they were both chatting late into the night. Karson didn't have to introduce himself. Everyone knew him, though no one knew why he'd left his elite school in New York to come to Dilbert High School. he was the son of the famous artist, Fiona, after all.

As they sat talking, Karson all of a sudden went off-track and asked her, "Alyssa, what's your mother's name?"

His face was serious. Alyssa looked at him in surprise, her breathing stopping. Could it be that he had figured out?

But before she could respond, a loud scream penetrated the air. They looked at each other in shock. Hadn't it sounded like Majorica herself?

They rushed back to their room, and the scene which met their eyes was horrifying.

Blood covered the floor as Tanya lay with her throat sliced from ear to ear. She was dead. Majorica was hysterically weeping over the body of her gone sister. Everybody was dead still, except for her and Basil, who was throwing up on the floor. Parker knelt beside her, patting her back and whispering in her ear.

Alyssa felt the tears and the pain. And the familiar gore hit her hard. A girl was dead.

Majorica was screaming and crying hard. Karson immediately rung up the police and the ambulance. Alyssa staggered forward, her feelings crushing her like a heavy tide. She felt the familiar vagueness take over. And then...

Everything went dark.