Pattern

Chapter Twenty-Two

"It's not as exciting as it sounds, it's more like feeling guilty because you're not solving anything fast enough, and staring at disgusting dead bodies. I'm seriously rethinking becoming a cop."

"Really?" Madi was astonished. "But, like a few weeks back you said that since you were a kid, you've wanted to be one."

"I know," I sighed. "But .. it's hard, Mads, it's really hard."

"Aw, no," She said, pulling me into a quick hug. "I'm sorry, Prude. It'll be okay, though." 

I didn't believe her for a second.

We moved to sit down beside Dylan and Esther, who were both chatting animatedly, clearly unaffected by the sadness that was dragging me down, slowly but surely. Then Avery appeared, and without asking, sat down beside me. Even the chatters were shocked into silence. He didn't even look at them, but turned straight to me. "How'd it go?"

"Uh." I waited a minute, until Madi got a conversation going between the three. Then I sighed. "It was shit, actually. She denied everything, then shouted at me to get out. I'm fairly sure she hates me, but she's definitely connected, whether she knows it or not."

Avery nodded, taking an apple from his bag and biting into it. "So, what do we do now?"

I blinked. "I have no idea, enlighten me?"

He pretended to be in deep thought. "Oh, I know, we prevent every schoolgirl from going outside tomorrow, and assign them a bodyguard?"

He was joking, but it was better than letting everyone go about their day. Surely someone else had seen the connection. Why hadn't my dad put out a warning or something?

"Fine, I'll tell my class. They hate me already," I sighed. "You tell yours, you've no reputation to lose."

He grinned. "That's true, maybe they won't think I'm the killer anymore."

"At least the police don't."

He frowned at me. "Don't you have lunch?" 

I shook my head. "I forgot to bring it. I know, I'm sixteen, I should be able to remember it all by myself. I just had a lot on my mind."

He held out the half-eaten apple. "Want some?"

I glared at him and got up, making sure to smack him with my bag as I left.

--

"Way to freak out every girl in the class," Madi said through the phone. I had her on speaker while I attempted agelbra. "They probably all think it's you."

I rolled my eyes. "I've been the Antichrist since I started hanging out with Avery, Mads. Well, maybe it'll save some poor girl from getting kidnapped."

"Yes, but walking into Maths, screaming 'No girls go home alone tomorrow, because the murderer always strikes on a Tuesday!' was not the way to do it." My best friend had a point.

"It sounded better in my head," I murmured. 

"So, how's Avery?" Madi changed the subject, probably for the best. "You two seem all close again."

"We are," I admitted. "I don't know, Mads.. I really like hanging out with him, but that's it really."

"Seriously? No electricity or anything?"

I thought back to when I'd hugged him, when he'd winked, when he'd caught me, and the way he grinned teasingly, like he knew me better than I knew myself.

"Okay, maybe a little."

"Oh my gawd! You do like him, you really do!" Madi seemed to be having a fangirl fit. I hadn't liked anyone in nearly a year. But, of course, now that there was a potiental someone, he had to be hated by everyone, ever.

"I don't know," I sighed. "I'm not sure I want to, either."

"The people who insist they won't always fall the hardest, Prude."

"I'm hanging up now, goodnight."

"Don't lie to yourself!" She shouted before the call cut off.

--

I overslept, waking up with a Maths book on my chest. Then I stared at the alarm, blinking a few times to make sure I was reading it correctly.

8:23am.

"Goddammit!" I shouted, rolling out of bed, and grabbing clothes to put on before searching for my bag and leaving the house.

I knew I was late, but I wasn't too worried about a teacher shouting at me. I was a lot more worried about the fact it was Tuesday - another girl was set to go missing today. Ms. Lawless had told me nothing but I was certain she was keeping something from us, which made her all the more suspicious. I had always thought she was just a victim, but it was starting to seem like that wasn't the case.

A car pulled up behind me, but I was too engrossed in texting Madi "I'll be there in five" to notice, since she had rung me twice, asking to walk together. I was probably going to be run over.

The message sent just as I passed by the lane near Avery's house - and a hand grabbed my arm, pulling me back until I nearly lost my balance. I cried out, and my mouth was smothered in a strong smelling cloth - I immediately knew to hold my breath, and struggled with my phone in hand, trying to speed dial someone, anyone, but I was getting weaker, even though I kicked and lashed out at my attacker. He dragged me back, into the lane, and I was desperately trying to scream, but the cloth was covering my mouth and I couldn't.

Within a few seconds, I had collapsed, my body growing heavy, my eyes fluttering into unconciousness.

But I could feel the fear rising inside of me.

I knew what had happened, and I knew what happened next.