The party was, surprisingly enough, the Sheriff's idea. Something about Lena
needing to get out of the house and relax. That's what he'd referred to it as. Relaxing.
"You need to have fun, kid." He'd said. "Get out, make friends, relax every once
in a while. Be a damn kid for once." It was one of those nights where he'd be home,
buried up to his neck in paper work anyway. So if she went for even an hour or two
and wanted to come back home, he'd pick her up. But the deal was that she had to
at least try first.
Which was why Lena currently found herself sandwiched in between various juniors
and seniors, attempting to be gentle as she nudged her way through gyrating hips
and sloshing red solo cups. It hadn't even been twenty minutes and she could already
feel the anxiety building at the base of her spine, setting her nerves alight. The room
was too crowded. The music was too loud. If she didn't find a safe corner soon, she'd
be stuck in the middle of it all for the rest of the night.
The living room and kitchen were connected, with a large window pass-through that
they'd been using as a refill station for beer and alcohol. She could see where the
guest bathroom was, having watched a couple exit, not-so-slyly fixing their clothes
back into place. It was sure to smell rank, but she needed space. She needed air.
And the bathroom was the only place she was likely to get any of that right now.
Forcing her way through the crowd (well, it was more like dodging and ducking
around people), Lena squeezed her way into the kitchen and to the bathroom, closing
the door behind her. Clicking the lock. Closing her eyes and leaning against it, taking
a deep, shaky breath.
For a moment, her shoulders dropped. The separation of rooms made the realization
of where she was and what she was doing much more manageable. One could even
say that it put her at a temporary ease.
Until she heard the noise a soft clicking. No, a... tsking? Someone was in the
bathroom and tsking her? Face contorting in confusion, Lena opened her eyes
and... instantly regretted it.
A young woman was peeking at her from behind the shower curtain. Dark haired,
green eyed, olive skinned. She was gorgeous. Model kind of gorgeous. But there
was something about her; a strange glint in her eyes that made Lena uneasy. Then
she stepped out from the claw foot tub, one long, tan leg at a time. Barefoot. The white
lace of her dress brushing against toned knees. And... dark bruises pressed into
her throat. The dry-rotted twine of an old rope dangling from behind her. Almost as if
it was connected to her A slight shift of her dress and the noose appeared, hanging
low at her chest like a necklace. And instantly, Lena understood.
"No... no,no,no." she muttered, turning her back to the young woman. Shaky
fingers reaching for the clasp of the door's lock. Practically hyperventilating.
Practically sobbing. "Please. Please. Not here. Not now."
"Shhh..." A soft voice. A cool breath of air washing over her collarbone. Icy lips
pressing a deft kiss against the base of her neck, causing goosebumps to raise.
Cold, bloodless fingers folding over her own, pulling her hand away from the door.
But then the icy lips were replaced with an icy tongue, a slow swipe up the back of
her neck from base to hairline, and her unease skyrocketed into full blown panic.
Definitely hyperventilating now, she tried to reach for the lock again, but the fingers
wrapped around her wrist, firm and steadfast. And with a violent jolt of terror, she
realized she was being pulled backward. Away from the door. Away from escape.
On the opposite side of the door, rap music blasted loud enough to shake the walls.
Loud enough to drown out the screams. Even the few drunken stragglers who tried
the doorknob after one too many beers simply figured that the bathroom was occupied,
and instead went in search of the other two that the house contained. No one suspected
anything was wrong.
Minutes passed before the bathroom door opened again. A blonde girl named Becky
stood but a foot away, two red solo cups in hand. When she saw Lena, she extended
one out like it was an olive branch, smiling softly. She knew Lena from Chemistry class.
They often partnered up for lab projects, but they weren't really friends outside of school.
Lena wasn't exactly someone who could be considered easily approachable.
"You okay?" Becky asked. "Looked like you were ready to bolt before."
Lena took the proffered drink, free hand rubbing at her shoulder and neck as if she was
trying to knead an impossibly stubborn knot out.
"Oh I'm fantastic." She smiled back at the blonde, warm and inviting, taking a long pull
of beer from the cup. Like she hadn't had anything to drink in ages.