• Blood dripped from his fingertips. His chest slowly rose with his shallow breathing. Grimacing, he lifted his head and stared into the eyes of his newly found enemy. She simply smiled back, his blood smeared across her tiny face. Her features were so small and delicate there was no question that no one would believe what she had just done.
    Red curls shaped her round face and freckles dotted across her red cheeks. Her chocolate brown eyes (burning with blood lust) shone brightly in the dark gym she had him in. She was wearing the same blue-green dress she had worn for her senior prom but a month ago. It was beautiful then. But now it was tattered and torn and obscured in blood.
    He took a deep breath – the taste of iron filling his mouth- and closed his eyes. He tried to speak but it had become a challenge. The pain blocked out everything that used to come naturally. His voice came in shallow rasps. “Why-“ he stopped and coughed up some blood. He tried again. “Why. . . are you doing this to me?” He asked through his teeth.
    A new sound was heard. Something like a low growling mixed with rusty wind chimes. Squinting, trying to see past the blood in his eyes, he found that she was laughing. She shook her head in disbelief and looked up to the Heavens. “My sweet, naïve little friend.” She paused to put a ‘caring’ hand on his badly bruised cheek. “Don’t tell me you forgot what you did to me?” He simply glared at her, his blue eyes icy.
    The smile was gone from her face, now replaced with a snarl. Her eyes had become like fire and her hands like claws. Fresh blood coursed through his wrists where the bindings had bitten into his skin. His breath was coming quicker now as his gaze locked with hers. “You have to remember. . .” It was more of a question. She searched his face. When she saw no sign of a response, she snapped and thrust the knife into into his shoulder. His eyes widened and his pupils grew small while his mouth lay open in silent pain.
    Her body began to shake. That menacing smile had returned to her quivering lips. She clutched her stomach and let out a shriek of horrifying laughter –the sound echoing off the gym walls. Even so, her eyes were wide with sadness and tears streamed down her face. They dripped from her chin and landed on her blood-covered dress.
    Stumbling foreword, she grabbed the knife and tore it out of his shoulder. This time his scream could be heard, ending with a choking breath. His head fell foreword. She took that opportunity to grab his hair and forced him to look into her eyes. Her face was composed again. “Naïve.” She repeated in a soft whisper. He tried to move his face away but he was out of energy.
    “That night at the prom. . .” she said a little louder, but still barely audible. Recognition flashed through his eyes. Her smile grew wider and she let his head fall. It lolled there for a mere second then sagged like a rag dolls.
    Her senior prom. . .
    ***
    “Oh honey! You look beautiful! Absolutely beautiful!” Her mother’s blue eyes were sparkling at the sight of her daughters dress. “Mom, please.” she said, but she loved the attention. When she reached the end of the hallway she stood with her head held high. Her mother clapped.
    A knock sounded at the front door, interrupting her moment of fame. Flipping her perfectly styled hair, she walked to the door, ever so slowly, her hips swaying with each step. The door opened to show a well-built boy with messy blonde hair. A goofy smile was plastered on his face.
    Her mother stepped behind her daughter and smiled back. “Ah, Brandon. Come on in.” Her mother spoke. He hesitated a moment then took a weary step foreword. The smile returned to his lips and he handed his date some flowers. She took them with a grimace. “You’re wearing too much cologne again.” She stated matter-of-factly. Her mother took the flowers into the kitchen. Brandon’s eyes widened at her remark. He waved a hand in front of his face at an attempt to lessen the smell. “Sorry hon.”
    She wrapped her arm around his in time for her mother to come back with a camera. “Alright, you love birds. Get on out of here and paaartay!” She laughed at her own joke. When they started to walk away she snapped her fingers. “Oh, and Jaiden went ahead of you. So try and keep an eye out for him.” She dug her fingers into Brandon’s, which gave a wince in reply. She turned to object but her mom was talking again. “He is your brother. Show some respect.” Without replying, she dragged Brandon to the car. When they got to the end of the drive she waited for him to open the door for her. He took the hint and motioned her to enter. She did and she closed the door herself.
    She didn't wait for him to open the door when they arrived and walked towards the double doors. Flashing lights and loud music welcomed her. Bodies were moving to the beat, everyone of them closely knit together. Her eyes were having a hard time adjusting. She kept bumping into people and the noise became a numbing sensation. Something grabbed onto her arm and spun her around. She came face to face with a panting Brandon. “Where did you go? I couldn't find you.” He gasped. She just shrugged him off.
    A slow song started to play and most of the couples walked off the floor. Brandon grabbed her arm and spun her close to him. Wrapping his arms around her waist they began to sway to the music. Secretly, he dug into his pocket. Light flashed off the metal of the blade.
    “Mia!” A voice called. She turned in the direction she heard her name. She spotted the freshman’s brown hair bobbing in the crowd, running towards her – and fast. “Jaiden what are you doing here? This is for the seniors!” Emphasis on the senior. “He has a knife, Mia!” He yelled. Mia grabbed hold of his arm but he pulled away and pointed at Brandon. “You! You stay away from my sister, you hear?!” Brandon moved to tower over Jaiden’s smaller form. “So this is your brother?” He asked to Mia, but still looked Jaiden dead in the eye. A crowd had started to form around the commotion.
    It was as if everything had stopped. The eye of the storm. Both boys just stayed there in a gunslinger moment. The sudden movement made a few couples jump. “Alright everyone, clear out!” Teachers and security guards began pushing unwilling kids to the doors. Mia looked around the room, watching everyone’s faces. Some were confused, some angry, but almost everyone’s face was laughing in some way. Laughing at her. Murmurs were heard around her. She knew what the meaning behind that was.
    She clenched her fists and turned to yell at the stupid boys who ruined her night. The night that was going to be the best night of her life! She would be prom queen, people would adore her, she would be the center of attention, and – ahh – the boys would drool over her (as if they don't do that already). When her body was turned completely she saw no one. The boys had already been escorted off the premises.
    ***
    The blade pierced into his stomach. He gasped in pain once more. “You nearly killed me that day. . .” she whispered. She was almost sobbing. “If you hadn’t been stopped-” her voice cracked. She took a breath and continued, holding her stomach once again. “That was going to be the day . . . If you hadn’t interfered. . .” she let her voice wonder. She twisted the blade. Leaning foreword, her lips were next to his ear.
    “Ill miss you. . .little brother.”
    With one more twist of the blade, Jaiden was dead.