Chapter Seven: Innocent Deaths

Soft, plush curtains were pulled apart and tied back by a string of maroon rope, allowing the mesmerising moonlight to douse the room in an enchanting glow. The room was devoid of any natural light, a string of grey fairy lights fitted across the perimeter of the ceiling and backboard of the bed being the only source of light.

The room itself was a peculiar shape, the central area was a perfect square, but that square was attached to a mini hallway of sorts, one that contained three doors. Two of them were regular wooden doors, whereas the other was a sliding mirror, leading to a closet stacked with various clothes. The first door was the entrance to the room itself, and the second door an entrance to a small bathroom.

Such a layout would take some getting used to, but the complications and absurd designs were what made the room homely to its teenage owner. While the bedroom was furnished on a meagre budget, it was full of more warmth than Cassidy had seen in many years.

The room's main flooring was covered in a fluffy white carpet, one that ran through her toes when Cassidy walked upon it, sending a tingle throughout her feet. The furniture mirrored its light hues, with one of the walls covered with custom made white bookshelves transported from her previous room.

Each of them already filled to the brim with books, adding to the cosy atmosphere the lights provided. The books ranged from romance novels to murder mysteries, from realistic comedies to documentaries and autobiographies.

At this point, Cassidy was certain she owned at least one novel from each genre.

A mini table adorned with a vase of roses, books, reading glasses, a phone, and a picture frame was placed a little way away from the majestic shelves. A full-sized bed accompanied the table, its sheets messed up with puffed up pillows, animal soft toys, and a purple blanket haphazardly tossed above it.

On the other side of the bed was the window with its lush curtains. A majestic view met Cassidy's gaze as she glanced outside the glass windows, the bedroom's second-floor position allowing her a clear view of their neighbours' houses and the club-house at the centre of their compound.

The far wall of her room was the blandest of them all.

It had no unique shelves, no complicated furniture, and no windows. This wall was solely dedicated to Cassidy's schoolwork, the only furniture being a long ebony-brown table with two shelves, dual drawers, and an open area to serve as foot space as well as a place to fit her swirly chair.

The table was already full of books and stationery items, its top currently covered with a Pearson year ten Maths book as well as an open laptop. But even though she had all the supplies she required, the brunette skater's mind didn't seem to be cooperating with her, choosing to instead drift amid her memories and peculiar ideas.

After rushing out of Lucinda's office Cassidy had speed-walked towards her house, thankfully reaching home before her mother or sister. The older Carlones were annoyed that she decided to return so early, and Alexandra had been conflicted about why her younger sister hadn't simply asked for a ride, but Cassidy didn't dare mention the argument that took place.

She was aware that it was against Lucinda's contract to talk about what transpired during their sessions, but Cassidy couldn't help but feel like her mother somehow knew what occurred during the session. Thus the teenage brunette decided to hide in her room for the remainder of the day, feigning fatigue to buy herself a little time to think.

That hadn't panned out very well as she constantly wondered whether or not she should call doctor Lucinda and apologise.

In the end, she decided to get some homework done to sway her thoughts, yet that didn't work either. An olive hand reached out to grasp the blue plastic bottle at the corner of the desk, but it stuttered and stilled as it grazed a piece of paper instead.

That was yet another thing that had been eating at her mind, the constant contemplation of whether or not she should read the note.

Cassidy hadn't bothered reading the note throughout the five hours it had been with her, making excuses to delay the inevitable. But now, she was left with nothing to do, having completed her homework a while back, and had to face the music head-on.

I haven't left, you've just arrived,

in the lion's den, in the bee's hive.

You left your home but migrated to my own.

You know the rules, and you've passed the test,

what awaits is your first quest.

It was all the same, the riddles, the tasks, the crimes, and the death.

Going through one traumatic experience is enough to last a lifetime, but she had to go through it all over again in the span of weeks. Cassidy wished she could go back to how things were before his stupid games. Before she had to worry about cynical notes, poetic riddles, deaths of her loved ones, and pain beyond measure.

She glanced sideways, seeking out her wall clock but instead being met with a picture frame of her family. Of her parents, Alex, and Cassidy with a furball known as Dory clutched in her palms. That one glance was enough to change her thought process but instead set her onto a worse path, forcing her to relive one of her most painful experiences.

Dory's death.

The beloved cat had always been Cassidy's closest companion, yet she too was taken away from the teenager, simply because she couldn't follow the rules set out for her.

Regardless of her sorrow Cassidy fought long and hard, like a soldier at war with her worst enemy, her mind. She couldn't fathom reliving her cat's death, but the battle ended with a startled yelp as she was forced to delve into the memory, recalling the day Dory was murdered.

Dory was once again lying outside her room's door as Cassidy returned from school.

The British Longhair's grey fur splayed out over the wooden floor, her tail occasionally flapping up and down.

Cassidy had often attempted training the cat to not sleep outside of doors, but it seemed to throw all those hours of hard work out the window each time. Which, among many other similar incidents, was the reason for her name: Dory, just like the forgetful fish from Nemo.

Cassidy sighed and made sure not to disturb the slumbering feline as she opened her room door wide enough for her to step in.

The bed covered in olive green sheets called to her like candy to a child, promising a delightful time, but Cassidy had quite a few tasks left before she could let herself relax.

"Shower, run over the script, and then you're free."

She nodded with finality, dropping her bag on the bed and throwing her tie and Prefect badge onto the mattress before speeding into her bathroom.

A steamy bath was run as she assembled her various skincare products on the brim of the tub, adding her bath puff and hair exfoliating products. After a long day at school, Cassidy needed some time to replenish her energy, and a bath would do just that.

After half an hour spent in the bathroom, Cassidy emerged refreshed and ready to tackle the school play she had to go over. Her role wasn't grand, but the main female protagonist's sister was quite the drama queen and she hoped to channel all the necessary emotions into her scenes.

Footsteps echoed around the house as Cassidy walked to and fro the kitchen, retrieving her bottle and a snack, to aid her in her rehearsal. However, she stuttered to a stop when she spotted Dory still lying in front of her door, in the same position.

That was when she knew that something was wrong, for Dory never stuck around one place of the house for too long without any company.

She lifted the grey British longhair in an attempt to awake her, but the little animal refused to stir. Instead, a piece of paper lying right where Dory was caught her eye.

You broke a rule. You know the consequences.

What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?

Cassidy screamed so long and hard her whole family had gathered around her before she finished. Her snacks and water bottle were scattered across the floor as she solemnly held Dory, too emotional to form a cohort sentence.

Alexandra, ever the smart-head, was the first to realize what had happened and begged their father to rush to the vet. It obviously didn't take much convincing; he had fished his car keys by the time she had finished her sentence.

Once again, Cassidy mentally begged her mind to stop as she shook her head and gripped the roots of her hair, a few brunette strands falling away from her scalp. She didn't care about her position on the floor and her back digging into the wooden desk behind her, all she wanted was to rid herself from the flashbacks. But, sadly, her mind refused to corporate.

"Please stop! Please, not again!"

But the cynical flashbacks refused to leave without being complete, so on they went, delving into yet another scene.

"Mrs Edith Carlone?"

"Yes?"

The vet gave her mother a slight motion to enter his office, not wanting to discuss Dory's condition out in the open hallway. Edith briefly looked back at Cassidy and Alexandra's sleeping forms before entering after him.

The older man gestured towards the chair on the opposite side of his own seat, settling down with a concerned look strewn across his face.

"Your cat Dory inhaled a strong dosage of rat poison, presumably from the cupboard near your basement door. We're trying our best to wake her up since her heart is still beating, but her condition is weakening."

There was a knock on the door as Alexandra walked into the office, having followed her mother and listened to the doctor.

"Do you want me to break the news to her?"

The vet, as well as Edith, couldn't cover their stricken expressions in time. There stood an eighteen-year-old girl, tears streaming down her cheeks due to her current loss, who just offered to tell her younger sister about her dead pet cat. The cat who had resided with them for the past four years.

It was peculiar to have Alexandra showcase such a sense of responsibility, but it was welcomed nonetheless. Alexandra received a nod as she walked back out, surprised to find her sister standing right behind her.

The oldest Carlone was never one to breakdown easily, but right then, as she saw her sister sobbing so hard her shoulders shook, she could swear her heart broke.

"I'm sorry Cass, they tried their best."

Cassidy didn't bother replying to her sister as she blindly nodded and knelt onto the floor outside of the office, not even bothering to approach the benches beside her. A broken sob escaped her, followed by many others as she wept for her beloved cat's murder.

Because that's what it was. It wasn't a mere accident, no it was entirely deliberate, and no one could tell her otherwise. After all, he had admitted to his crime with his stupid little note.

The next few scenes were mere flashes through her inner eye. Her father burying Dory, waking up and calling out for Dory only to realise she no longer had the responsibility to feed the cat in the morning. And finally, her sister sticking by her through it all.

One image that stuck with her was the night the vet had broken the news to their family.

That night she had chosen to sleep with her sister. They hadn't slept that night, each of them too afraid of the horrors their mind would conjure. Instead, they stayed awake and watched corny movies accompanied by a tub of ice cream and a box of tissues for when one of them broke down.

The first one to break had been Cassidy, for she had reached out assuming Dory had joined them on the couch only to meet an empty slip of leather. Alexandra had paused the movie and not said a word as Cassidy sobbed, just holding onto her sister and continuing the film when Cassidy got herself together.

As sobs wracked through the girl from her memories, they echoed in her for more than one reason.

For Dory, for her father, for her kidnapper's sudden return, for the tightly wound ropes restricting her every movement. And finally, for her lack of freedom, freedom of choice, movement, and speech, all of it was once again snatched away and placed in his hands.

In their hands, for she hadn't forgotten about his accomplice.

Finally, when she had calmed down enough to move, Cassidy drew away from her desk and walked to the bathroom with an awkward gait, washing up her face and clearing her mind. When that was done, Cassidy glanced at the wall clock indicating her episode had lasted for an hour.

No wonder it drained me.

After packing up her school materials, hanging up her uniform for the next day, and retrieving another bottle of water from the kitchen, Cassidy finally calmed down and retired to her bed earlier than usual.

She scrolled through social media until her eyes drew to her alarm clock, alerting the teenager that it was midnight and making her set aside her phone. Her blue eyes drooped low, surveying the room before completely closing, refusing to open anytime before sunrise.

Funny, I thought I saw someone's shadow outside the window.

Don't be ridiculous, your room's on the second floor and no one would climb the garage just to spy on you.

I can think of one person.

Cornflower blue eyes glared into the shadowy room and frantically swept over to the big glass windows, the sight that once calmed her now striking fear in her heart. But there was no one to be seen for miles, only city lights and a crescent moon being in her line of sight.

Cassidy attempted calming herself, playing it off as a figment of her stressed mind as she shut the curtains and checked all entrances to her room were locked, but regardless of her many precautions, she couldn't tame her racing mind.

When her form finally relaxed into a calm slumber, a set of hickory eyes could be seen through the slip of glass between each curtain, the left eye crinkling as though their owner was smirking.