Red Ribbon

Chapter 1

'It was here. Taking a deep breath, he looked behind him, ready.'

"Kailynn!" The sound of my mother's voice caused me to jump, sending my book tumbling to the ground. Sighing, I stand and pick it up, placing a bookmark in my page and tossing it on the bed.
I exit my room, knowing that calling back to her would do nothing. The sound of my footsteps echo throughout the halls and on the stairs as I make my way to the living room. "Hey, mom. What's up?" I ask, fidgeting with my butterfly necklace. My sister and I had matching necklaces, mom bought them for us when we were little.

I looked around the room, taking in the scene I've seen a billion times. The same old house. We've lived here since I was a kid. Various pictures hung on the dark blue walls, ranging from baby pictures to school pictures to vacation photos. A small smile crossed my face as fond memories came back to me.

I didn't get to reminisce long though, as mom snapped me out of my thoughts. "Your sister will be home soon," she states, a grin bigger than Koro-Sensei's on her face. I smile as well, practically vibrating with excitement.

I haven't seen my sister for the better part of two years now. She's off at college and hasn't been able to make it back yet. Exams and all, you know. But she's finally coming home!

I rush back upstairs to change into something other than my pjs, and settle for a set of ripped skinny jeans, a green t-shirt that had the Triforce on the front, a black and white flannel, and my vans.

There's a knock at the door and I dash downstairs, practically running into the door. I throw it open with a huge smile, ready to greet my sister

However, it's not my sister standing there. It's a man. One I've never seen before.

"Can I help you?" I ask, confused.

"Officer Harris, local P.D. Are you Eleanor Whitman's sister?" He asks me.

I nod, dread filling my stomach. "Did something happen to Ele?"

He simply stares at me and sighs. "May I come in?"

I nod and step back, motioning to the living room. He nods and steps into the room and begins talking with mom. I just stand there, waiting for someone to tell me what's going on. But my heart drops to my stomach. Something happened. I know it. The fear and dread spread, and soon I was shaking.

Eventually, they come back out to me. Mom had been crying. Her eyes were all puffy and red, and she looked like she was barely holding it together. The officer motioned for us to follow him, so we did.

Once we arrive at our destination, I jump out of the car and run back to officer Harris. "Where is she?" I ask, frantic. I have to find her. She better be okay. I surveyed the area around me. Nothing but fields for miles.

He motions for us to follow, which we do. He leads us through the field. We walk for a few minutes, then finally stop. A sinking feeling in my chest, I clench my jaw and step forward.

But nothing in the world could have prepared me for what I saw.

It's horrific. There's blood. So much blood. A body lays on the ground, limbs twisted at unnatural angles, ribcage crushed, face beaten to be almost unrecognizable. A little butterfly necklace was fastened around the corpse's neck. Tied around her right wrist was a red ribbon.

I didn't even realize that a scream left me as I ran forward and dropped beside her, hands hovering just above her mangled face.
"Ele.... Oh god, Ele..." I mutter. One of her eyes stares up at me, cloudy and dull. Devoid of life.

I stand and run about ten feet away, making sure to be on the other side of the police tape so i don't contaminate the scene any more than i already have. Then, I hurl. Oh god, she's dead. My sister is dead. She...

Once I'm done heaving my guts out, I return to my place beside the man. "What... What happened?" I whisper, closing my eyes. I don't want to see it. I want this all to just be a nightmare.

I pinch myself to try and wake up, but to no avail. This is reality. And in this reality, Ele is dead.