The Unexpected

Chapter 27 (Pt 2)

She didn't say anything for a second, but looked down at the knife in her hand then back to me. “Liar,” she whispered so quietly I didn't hear her at first.

“No, Tia, I'm not-”

Her eyes flashed as she screamed. “Liar! You're nothing but a dirty, lying, ugly pig!”

Then, with knife raised and mouth open in a terrifying war-cry, Tia hurled herself at me.

I went back on my promise to myself; I dodged, and I ran.

Instead of heading farther into the trees I turned left, thinking it would take me back to the house- closer to help. Tia's enraged scream, which reverberated through the foliage, was soon followed by running steps.

“Ricki!” she yelled, sounding too close.

Somewhere in the back of my mind I expected to wake up, like I was just having a nightmare of that night. I mean, it all matched up- a pursuer I now knew was Tia, trees blurring past, the thump of feet pounding the dirt. Except now the mist had turned to rain pelting the leaves.

Except this time, I was tackled from behind; I was falling, but I couldn't wake up no matter how hard I pinched myself.

Tia and I hit the ground hard, our bodies tumbling a few feet before coming to a stop. I had barely made it to my feet when I was yanked back down roughly, and I my mind struggled to keep up as suddenly Tia was on top of me.

I struggled frantically despite the rocks cutting into my back, despite the fact that Tia's knees were holding my arms down and I wasn't strong enough to throw her off. Despite knowing Aaden was going to be too late.

“Tsk tsk.” Tia clicked her tongue and cocked her head to the side as if realizing something. “Look where fate has lead us. I'm finally getting my revenge, and you and your little boyfriend are helpless to stop me. I wonder,” -Tia ran her finger along the edge of the knife- “how long it will take him to get over you once you're out of the picture. I'm sure it won't be soon before he'll come running back to me.”

“Aaden was never with you,” I spat, attempting to yank my arm free. Nothing would have given me more pleasure at that moment than to slap her.

Tia smirked down at me. “Drop the act, Ricki. I know you and Zachary met behind my back.”

I stilled, shocked. “What are you talking about?”

“Now Ricki, don't be so surprised that I know about your meetings with him.” Tia leaned closer, like she was about to share a venomous secret. “He broke up with me right after I caught you two in the locker room together. He left me for you.” Her voice rose again. “He left me for you!”

Seeing that this was going downhill fast, I quickly spoke up. “No, Tia, that wasn't me in the locker room. I am not with Zachary.”

“You went to the dance after I warned you not to,” Tia continued, like she hadn't heard me. “I had to do something about that.”

“So you tried to kill Emma?! You're cra-” Tia dug her knee harder into my arm, causing me to gasp in pain.

“I tried to kill you,” she hissed, “but you didn't leave with her. I had to throw together another plan. Lucky for me you were stupid enough not to try to start the car after I told you it was out of gas, and then even more dumb to follow me into the woods. That didn't work either, thanks to the weird new guy.”

“So you lured me out here,” I grit out, “to finish the job.”

“Do you know how hard you are to kill?” Tia replied, and then leaned closer. Her short hair, which had been stuck up from our struggle, moved like a black curtain to frame her face. Her mask had fallen off sometime in the time we had been out here, freeing her wild, wide eyes to cut through the dark.