Chapter 2
Nothing like that fake sweet stuff from before.
The punk's body jerked suddenly, his eyes flying open, his pupils filled with pure, stunned terror.
He tried to speak, but only a gurgling sound came out, like something was blocking his throat.
Then his body went limp, completely still.
The strong pulse at his neck was gone.
The world went silent.
Caroline's scream got stuck in her throat, turning into a choked gasp.
Her eyes were huge. The tears frozen. All the color drained from her pretty face.
She scrambled backward on her hands and feet, leaving a sweaty trail on the floor.
Behind the curtains, through the bedroom door, muffled screams and sharp gasps slipped out.
Game over.
This was my game now.
I stood up slowly, letting the warm blood trickle down my cheek, dripping onto my shirt.
I turned to look at Caroline, now huddled against the wall, and at her friends stumbling out of their hiding places.
They all wore the same expression, pure fear.
I walked toward them. Every step felt like I was stepping on their last nerve.
They screamed, pushing and shoving each other, desperate to get out of the room that had just become a real-life nightmare.
I stopped in front of Caroline, crouched down, and with my blood-soaked hand, gave her shoulder a gentle pat.
She went rigid like she'd been shocked.
I looked into her eyes, wide and unfocused with terror.
In the gentlest voice I'd ever used, I whispered, "Don't be scared. He's really dead now. We should call the police."
The wail of sirens grew closer, ripping through the night air.
I sat on the couch like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
Caroline and her friends huddled in the corner, trembling like leaves in autumn.
The whole room was nothing but thick, cloying blood smell and dead silence.
When the cops burst in, this was what they saw.
One dead body. One guy covered in blood with empty eyes. And a bunch of people on the verge of losing their minds.
"Police. Nobody move." A sharp shout shattered the frozen air.
Caroline finally found her release.
She let out a piercing scream, pointed at me, her voice twisted and distorted. "It was him. He's the one who killed the guy. He's crazy."
A few officers rushed over and pinned me to the ground. Cold handcuffs clicked shut around my wrists.
I didn't fight. I didn't even look up.
My body trembled slightly. My teeth chattered, making a clicking sound.
I was playing it well.
A poor bastard whose sanity had been completely shattered by extreme fear and shock.
"Get them all to the station." Two cops hauled me up and dragged me out of the apartment.
In the hallway, I saw Ruby Evans.
She was in a sharp police uniform, hair tied back, eyes cutting like knives.
She was the detective captain in charge of the case, and also my high school deskmate.
Our eyes met for a second.
Hers were full of shock and something else I couldn't quite read.
I quickly looked down, avoiding her gaze, and kept playing my role as the scared-shitless victim.
The interrogation room was washed in harsh white light.
A cup of hot water sat in front of me, the steam blurring my vision.
Ruby sat across from me, pen and notebook in hand, brow furrowed.
"Roman. Look up. Look at me," Ruby said, her voice calm but carrying an authority that left no room for argument.
I slowly raised my head, my eyes still empty, lips trembling, unable to form a complete sentence. "Blood... so much blood... he... he stopped breathing..."
"Roman." Ruby pressed harder. "I know you're terrified, but you have to tell me what happened."
My body jolted like her voice had shocked me. I wrapped my arms around my head and let out a muffled sob.
I said, "It was Caroline... she called me... she said she killed someone... I... I was just trying to help her..."
"Help how?" Ruby asked. "Why did you stab him again?"