Jessica's Dead & We're What's Left

Prologue

July 10th 2015 - 12:31
School had ended at lunch, teenagers frantically changing in any private spaces they could find and walking out of the school's gates heading towards town. Almost 600 11-18 year olds were now roaming through the streets of Ryeswood enjoying the first school-free day of the next three months. Almost everyone seemed to be heading into the main part of town with all the shopping centres and cafes but there was one student who, little did she know, would only make it so far through her summer break before it was cut short.

July 11th 2015 - 13:17
Police sirens were ringing all throughout the small town and the loud raining continued to hammer down on the houses. Four people pacing up and down in their separate homes, frantically waiting for the phone to ring and praying to the heavens that it wouldn't - but no amount of praying could prevent the inevitable. The phone rang and eyes looked up, staring but not making any attempt to stop the noise by answering. They all new what the call meant, they all knew what was coming, the news which was about to be delivered and they couldn't bear it. Each of them grabbed their coats and headed out the door into the rain, not even registering their parents protests. A storm was coming, like true pathetic fallacy there was a storm ahead and nothing could stop this and no amount of preparing could equip these four for the developments to come.
The door to the barn slammed shut as the last party arrived, "You all got the call?" the arrivee asked but all she was met with was nods. "Did you pick it up?" They all shook their heads indicating no.
One of the others managed to coax up enough courage to mutter "We all know what was going to be said though."
"You really should have picked up that call. You have no idea what we have ahead of us girls!"
"She probably just ran away as another one of her dramas or something!" another said with venom on her tongue.
"No. This time it's different. This time Jess isn't coming back."

July 12th 2015 - 9:45
The news was ablaze with the fresh new story. Every newspaper had the scoop, well part of it and they all wanted more. Every family in Ryeswood had heard the news by now and no one knew how to feel about it, not really. They all said one thing but no one could really understand how they truly felt about the recent broadcasts and headlines. Not even her four best friends in the world, even they were unsure of how to digest this information.
"What happens now?" One asked.
"Who knows....." Another retorted.
"We're finally free," a girl sighed with relief.
"Or we're finally alone," the last of them breathed whilst looking nowhere in particular, not focusing.
"We know one thing for sure and that's it," the first said.
"Oh yeah? And what's that?" The third questioned cockily.
The fourth girl turned her head sharply to face the rest of the girls "Jessica Raymond is gone, and we're what's left."