SHUT UP SIMON --- an interactive reader insert

00

"It began as a prank; and ended in murder."

"Fantastic choice." Heather Watkins was an ordinary girl. Ordinary family, ordinary friends, ordinary life. "I love this one." 

"It's trash." Of course Heather didn't WANT to work late, but she needed to. You see, her mom spent all of the gas money on scratch tickets, again. But now she stood in front of a cocky dark-haired lady who didn't enjoy her input on the book."Low-brow horror."

Heather's face fell from the half-hearted smile into a deadpan. 

"It's for my stepdaughter." The rude woman smiled.

Heather sighed, wondering why she agreed to work at B. Dalton's when she could have worked with one of her best friends, Ryan, who worked in a store across the mall. "That'll be $2.95."

The woman handed the listed price and Heather opened the cash register, gathering her change. She handed the book to the woman, including the change and receipt. "Thank you for shopping at B. Dalton's." She said sarcastically. "And have a nice night!" She gave the woman the finger as she walked out of the bookstore. 

"Attention shoppers," A man on the PA spoke, "The Shadyside Mall is now closed. The Shadyside Mall is now closed." 

Heather Turned off the lights to the shop then sighed. It was finally over, soon she would get to sit on the couch and watch horror movies with (name), her adoptive sister.  The telephone started to ring, resulting in her jumping, startled.  She groaned, answering the phone. "Hello, this is B. Dalton's. We're closed." 

"Okay, since when do you work late?" 

It was Ryan. Her best friend, someone she could count on. 

"Since my mom used her last paycheck on scratch tickets instead of the gas bill." And suddenly the line went dead. "Hello? Ryan? Ryan? Are you there? Ryan? Hello?" She wore a face of confusion. She set the phone down, beginning to look for her friend. "Hello~ Ryan!"

She walked out of the shop and into the empty mall. Nothing. No one. Not a single soul.

CLANG

 She gasped, quickly turning around only to find the janitor. 

"G'night." He said as he walked into a small closet. Heather let out a sigh of relief. She rubbed the back of her neck, slightly embarrassed as to why she got so scared. 

Then she heard a sing-song voice from behind her. "All alone now~!" 

"Jesus Christ!" She turned around, scared, only to find Ryan.  

 He let out a laugh. Amused by her being startled. 

"Ryan! What the hell, dude!" She let out a sigh of anger. 

Ryan was holding an inflatable doll and a drink. "Forgive me." He said with a sly grin. 

"I do need a ride tonight." She said taking the drink from him. 

"That's what she said..." He said groping the doll's breasts. 

"You are disgusting." She said with a chuckle. "And, yes, I don't want to walk home alone." She took a sip from the drink.