Free Divine Vices by Melissa Parkin

to pull off
something.
    “Satisfied?”
I asked.
    “Let’s
just get out of here,” said Stacy. “This place is still creepy.”
    The
sounds of the theatrically sinister music from the gym still echoed down the
hallway as we exited the bathroom. A low grumble resonated behind us and we
immediately whipped around, Stacy aiming the flashlight out into the empty
corridor.
    “I’m
gonna kill Trish,” murmured Gwen. “This is ridiculous.”
    I
pulled out my cell and flipped the cover open to help illuminate the hall a
little more as we all turned and slinked forward. I held the phone out behind
us to keep a lookout in back as Stacy shone the way ahead. Another low growl
rumbled, and it proved to be the last straw for us all. We bolted down the
corridor, but Stacy and I both crashed into Gwen as she came to a sudden halt.
    “Meyer!
What the hell?!” said Stacy, fixing herself from the collision.
    “Gwen,
what’s with you?” I asked, pulling myself off the ground as well.
    We
both came to her side, our lights shining across the occupied floor in front of
us.
    “Oh
my God!” screamed Stacy, taking sight to Trish who was sitting slumped up
against a locker.
    Thick
red liquid seeped down her cheeks from under her motionless open eyes, dripping
down her neck and chin onto the front of her shirt. Gwen slowly knelt down and
Stacy and I both hesitantly stepped away. She tremblingly brought her hand to
the side of Trish’s neck, hoping to find a pulse. Just as she pressed her
fingers onto her flesh, Trish’s arm shot up and quickly snatched hold of Gwen.
    We
all screamed, and Stacy and I almost fell as we both leapt back in a panic,
only to feel a firm leather-bound gloved hand take hold of each of our
shoulders from behind. We spun around and aimed our lights up, irradiating a
pair of burning blue eyes hidden behind a stark white burlap sack mask.
    The
three of us cried out in sheer terror, and that’s when we heard it. Trish
suddenly burst out into laughter, releasing her grip on Gwen. The looming
stranger in front of Stacy and me gave into the amusement as well, pulling off
the mask to reveal to us that it was just Chloe.
    “You
jerks!” snapped Gwen, shoving Trish over as the two climbed off the floor.
    “Oh,
you should have seen your guys’ faces,” cried Trish, still recovering from her
hysterics. “That was priceless!”
    I
couldn’t help but at least chuckle. “Gotta give it to you on that one. You play
dead well.”
    “Why,
thank you,” she said, wrapping an arm around Gwen and me lightly.
    “That
wasn’t funny!” declared Stacy, pushing through us as she irately headed back to
the gym.
    “Don’t
listen to her,” I said. “That deserves proper kudos. Very well done, ladies.”
    Chloe
pulled the gloves off her polished hands and tossed them and the sack over to
Trish. “Too bad Stacy’s not gonna let this one go.”
    “Yeah,
she will, at least by tomorrow. It’s customary for there to be some Homecoming
shenanigans,” assured Gwen. “Just be leery of what she might do at the ceremony
later.”
    “Ceremony?”
I queried, already knowing no one would clue me in on the details. “Yeah, yeah.
Later. I get it.”

    I
watched the minute hand circle around the steel wire guarded clock with a
crimson red glow from the EXIT sign that hung just a few feet away. The rest of
the gym was dark and still, only the sounds of some other restless sleepers
tossing and turning notifying me that I was not left alone. Eventually, my
eyelids grew heavy, and 1:17 was the last thing I saw before my lethargy
slipped me into a slumber.
    A
gentle nudge to my shoulder shook me from my sleep though, and I awoke to find
Gwen’s hand draped over my mouth to ensure that I wouldn’t scream from her
rousing.
    “It’s
time,” she whispered.
    I
pulled myself out of my sleeping bag as Gwen and Stacy continued to awaken
everyone else. Trish was lurking around Miss Tipton, trying delicately to reach
over her to grab the keys