Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-35973449-20180625045115

Glitter

Quick! I have to be Quick! I had to start over the blood kept getting on the paper. It's okay though because I decided to use my phone instead. I don't like my voice but you'll have to deal with it. I'm sorry about that. I fed my cats and they're in the other room so that shouldn't be a problem either. I left them a big bag of food and filled the sink full of water. They're nice cats, they like tuna but try not to feed them too much or they'll get sick. Picket is the light gray one and Pocket is the black and white one. I'm sure they'll find good homes.

Don't try looking through my stuff the answers aren't there. I deleted everything on my computer and burned everything else. Please donate my clothes if you can. Tell my sister that I still love her. Okay, I know... I have to hurry. Sorry, I just wanted to get some things in before I begin.

It was at the party that it all happened. Actually, scratch that it was before that. Sorry about that I ran out of pills and needed to do something else to numb the pain.

Her name was Janice. She wasn't really my friend but I did know her. I had two classes with her. She was quiet for the most part. She was overweight but I don't really care about that stuff. She had long black hair and she always wore it down. She wasn't really into fashion but it's not like she wore sweatpants or anything. She mostly wore dark jeans and a light colored t-shirt. She carried around an army green backpack. It had duct tape on it. She was one of those people that got into college on grants loans and scholarships.

I think it started in sociology class. We were talking about poverty in America. You know, those discussions that we're supposed to have but can get pretty heated easily. Most of the class was talking about what to do with homeless people and the programs that already existed. This blonde girl wearing a pink t-shirt with glitter on it suddenly yelled out, “we could always euthanize them!” Her name was Lucy. She pared herself with a group of three other girls.

The group never paid attention in class and always wore the latest fashion. Their hair and nails always seemed flawless. The group was walking real life stereotype of young people with money. I bet they had videos with “First world problems.”

Anyways, Janice didn't like the comment. She quickly gathered her things and left the room, stomping her cheap tennis shoes across the even cheaper mauve carpet. Later that day, I saw the group of four girls around her talking. Janice looked angry. I wanted to stop and say something but I had to get on the bus or I'd miss it.

A week went by, I didn't see the girls bother Janice. In sociology class, our Professor gave us a new assignment. We were supposed to create a project to help our local community in some form or fashion.

One day a barrage of pink and gold glitter fliers appeared all over campus. The fliers were an announcement for a canned food drive on campus at the main building. The next day I walked to the main building with a donation.

There was a giant booth in front of the stairs at the main building. A large picture of a deranged older man was placed at the front of the booth on a sandwich board. It was black and white and the man was wearing a smock. He was holding a sign that said his first and last name with a number on it. I quickly figured out that the picture was from a prison.

There was a pink banner stapled to the front of the table that read, “Help the homeless.” In big gold letters. The four girls were sitting around the booth, taking cans and placing them in cardboard boxes. A young Hispanic man was taking the full boxes to the back of a beaten down red pick up. I put my two cans on the table and turned to leave but one of the girls stopped me.

"Don't leave yet! We need to tell you about the homeless man in need we decided to help." She said in a fake gleeful tone. I gave her a shrug. She continued in a high pitched enthusiastic voice, "This man is a heroin addict. He's also a convicted felon, like three times! He lives at the city shelter. Oh, and he's Janice's Daddy! You know who that is, don't you? She stated more than asked.

I took a step back dumbfounded by their atrocity. "Janice's Dad?" I asked my voice shaking. The girl nodded like a bobblehead. "Yeah, see we're helping out the poor." Her smile was all perfect white teeth like that of a joyful pig rolling in its own filth.

I didn't know what to do. I was overcome with this urge to punch the girl in the face. I contained clenched my fists and contained my anger. Tears grew in the corners of my eyes. I gave out a weak, “okay,” and fled the area. I ended up sitting in the cafeteria debating about finding Janice or at least calling campus security or finding our instructor. As it happens I didn't have to act. The cafeteria was buzzing with the news. I overheard people say that the booth was still up but that they made the girls take down the picture and stop talking about Janice's Dad. People were arguing over the truth. If that really was Janice's father or if the girls had chosen some random stranger.

I had to pass the main area of campus to get to my next class. The girls were gone. Instead, the Hispanic man was sitting at the booth in their place. He looked annoyed but he was still taking cans from people.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">That day Janice didn't come to sociology class or the other class we shared. She didn't come the day after that and the day after that. Posters went up, pictures of Janice with a number and information about her last known whereabouts. Janice was missing.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">A month went by. Everyone forgot about the incident. Another month went by and everyone forgot about Janice. It was getting close to the summer break and I was looking forward to it. I had some extra money set aside to buy a new computer game. I was planning on taking a few weeks to binge my new game. I was sitting on a bench waiting for the bus when Darren approached me. He was handsome and way out of my league. I didn't know much about him but I knew that his family was well off and that he was part of the elite crowd. It didn't concern me much though. When I saw him at school he always seemed to be focused on his work rather than hanging out or playing on his phone.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Hey.” He said in a deep tone.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I couldn't help it, I blushed and smiled. I thought I was grown up enough to not have these silly school girl crushes. “Hey yourself.” I managed to eek out.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">He put his hand in his pocket. “So there's this party...”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I sighed and adjusted my backpack. "Okay, what do you need to be completed before the break?"

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">He chuckled, “Oh no! It's not like that. I mean you're smart and all... Look I think you're different and I can get into that. If you want to go as friends that's cool too.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“What!? No! I'll go!” I said a little too rushed and a little too intense.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">He smiled, “Okay, text me your address and I'll pick you up. It's tomorrow at seven.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I returned his smile, “sure, sure. Just promise me one thing?”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">He raised a dark brown eyebrow, "and what would that be?"

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">It was my turn to laugh, “promise me that this isn't some Carrie recreation. I'm not going to end up washing pig blood out of my hair, am I?”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Darren chuckled, “no. First, I'm not that clever. Second, I'm not that cruel.” He shrugged, “I don't know you very well and I'd like to, you know, change that.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">"Okay, I'll text you then," I said still smiling.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Yeah, I admit it. I knew something was wrong. I get that college isn't High School but people are still immature. I was pretty sure he thought I was a virgin and he was trying to score or something. Or that I'd get to the party and end up utterly humiliated.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I decide to still go and settled on rules of engagement, just in case. Even if I was going to end up being humiliated I wasn't going to allow them to enjoy it. I wouldn't run away if something got dumped on me. Instead, I'd confront them and smear them in whatever they covered me with. I'd hug Darren and I'd yell something like, "Hey, I just thought you wanted to join me." I wouldn't accept any drinks I didn't make or didn't know what was in it. I called my sister and promised to call her every other hour. If I didn't she would call the police. I had pepper spray in my purse along with my makeup and a ziplock bag of wet wipes.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">After all that was done, I did the stereotypical girl thing of picking out the right outfit. Yeah, by the time I was done my bed and floor were covered in clothes. I decided to wear a dark blue sundress. It was classy but still cute. I wore black flats just in case I needed to run. I wore my hair up in a messy bun and curled long strands that hung out. I wore a silver comb in my hair, it glittered when the light hit it.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I was just finishing when my phone rang. It was an unknown number so I ignored it. It immediately rang again. Again, I ignored it thinking "the spam bots are out tonight." It continued to ring until I turned the ringer off.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I was looking at myself in my bedroom mirror when the sound of glass caused me to jump. I ran out to my living room. One of my windows was broken. A large black rock was near the leg of my coffee table. I quickly grabbed a broom and swept the glass into a pile. My cats were already sniffing the air. I ran to a kitchen drawer and pulled out some duct tape. I taped two cardboard boxes to the wall to cover up the window. I'd have to get in touch with my landlord the next day but at least my cats wouldn't get out.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">After I tossed the glass, I bent over and picked up the rock. I turned it over in my hand on the other side was "Don't go," written in white paint. I put the rock on my kitchen counter. I was shaken but then I remembered the kids who broke three windows yesterday in the downstairs apartment. They left paper notes everywhere with creepy sayings like, "My mom ate a rat once." I thought that they were arrested but shrugged it off. I would talk to my landlord and file a complaint.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Darren arrived about a half hour later. He was wearing a black button up shirt with a black and red tie. He looked good, I had to catch and force myself to stop smiling. When our Uber arrived he opened the passenger door to let me in first. It was romantic and nice. I still felt like I was in some fluttery honey soaked romcom. We drove for awhile and we talked. Mostly about games. I found out that he liked first person shooters and I talked about mysteries.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I thought Darren had the wrong address when the car pulled to a stop. We stood in front of a large windowless gray concrete building. I asked Darren if he had the right address, he said he did. Darren said that it was a good location. It was isolated but still in the city. If the music got loud there was no one to complain. I hesitantly texted my sister the address.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Darren pulled open a heavy metal door and I stepped into the building. The door slammed shut causing me to jump a little. Darren took my arm in his and we walked forward.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“It used to be a factory.” Darren spoke, “Lucy's father owns it.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I balked at his response. I was not happy with his choice of company. I stopped walking and clutched my purse. I debated about turning around and going home.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“What's wrong?” Darren asked.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I bit my lip and shook my head. “Lucy is here? With her friends, right?” I asked in a distraught tone.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Yeah.” Darren said and then he put his hands on my shoulders, I felt a wave of confused excitement and agitation. “Look, we can leave in a bit if you feel uncomfortable. I know what the girls did and I don't agree with it. Just try it, okay?” Darren spoke, he was gentle and soothing.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I tightened my lips into a smile. “Okay.” I responded.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Darren moved aside sheet of pink shimmering streamers and we walked into the large room. The floors were concrete. I made a note to not trip on the large cracks running across the floor. The dingy walls were mostly hidden by massive shimmering pink banners. Two long tables were covered in purple cloths and sat parallel to each other. In the middle of one table were several platters of food. Gleaming white porcelain plates surrounded the food. The other table was full of various liquor bottles and glass cups. A large crystal punch bowl was filled with pink liquid and lemons. I made a mental note to not drink from it. I was glad that a few plastic bottles still had juice labels on them. At the ends of the tables sat a medium sized speaker.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I gulped hard and held onto Darren's arm. In the middle of the floor stood the four girls with their dates. Darren introduced me, it was a little awkward but the girls didn't really seem to care. They were too busy arguing over which song to play first.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The party started and the group crowded around the drink table. I found a bottle of vodka and poured myself a drink, I added some orange juice from one of the labeled bottles. We all started drinking and dancing. Despite my earlier feelings I was having a good time. Darren held me close during a slow song. I put my head on his shoulder and smiled.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Your phone is beeping.” Darren's voice broke my enlightenment.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Hm?” I said and then stopped dancing. I gazed over to the direction of my phone. Lucy was holding it in her hand and she was shouting something at me.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Crap, I need to call my sister.” I said to Darren.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Is she sick?” He asked concern causing his forehead to wrinkle.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I smiled, “Not that I know of.” I replied.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">His eyebrows raised, “oh, safe call. Good call, I'll have you know I'm incredibly dangerous.” Darren joked.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I giggled, “are you?”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">His hand struck out and he grabbed my hand. He spun me in a circle and whispered in my ear. “Yes, dangerous when dancing.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I laughed loudly, “I believe it.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I took my phone from Lucy and gave her a quick, “thank you.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Lucy directed me towards the hallway that lead to the bathroom. The hallway was dimly lit, the brick walls were scratched and covered in dust. Something was clanking in the dark but I couldn't figure out what it was. It sounded like metal hitting metal. I brushed it off and figured it was probably remnants of the factory.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">It didn't take me too long to find the bathroom. All of the mirrors were broken but there were no shards of glass on the floor or sinks. The doors of the stalls were laying in a pile on the floor. However, the room looked like it had been recently cleaned. I chose the cleanest looking toilet to use, which was at the very end of the stalls, and then called my sister. She was happy that I was having a good time. I told her that I would call her again in a few hours and that I loved her.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I stepped out of the stall and something caught my eye. The bathroom was long and filled with about fifteen stalls I moved closer to the black thing that was under one of the sinks. It was fuzzy. I moved closer bent down and looked under the sink. It was a lumpy black furry ball. I saw a broom in the corner of the room. I grabbed it and pushed the ball out. I screamed. It was a dead rat. I starred at it unable to look away. I had flipped it over and it's gray guts were spilling onto the floor a seam of dark red blood oozed out of the thing and onto the cracked tiled floor. I held back the bile rising out of my stomach.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I stepped back from the thing only to scream again. It echoed in the bathroom and made my ears hurt. On one of the cracked mirrors was a message written: "Don't go." The ink was dripping and it ran down the mirror into the sink. It was red, no it couldn't be ink. It was too thick. Someone had written on the mirror in rat blood.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I ran to the door but it was shut. I tried to pull it open but it wouldn't budge. Finally, on the third try, it screeched open leaving a giant welt on the tile floor. I ran down the hall and into the main room. I slipped on the floor luckily, I caught myself with my hands. I looked down my hands were covered in gold glitter. Darren came to me and helped me to stand. I tried to catch my breath but it was coming in ragged.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“There's a dead rat!” I managed to yell.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Darren chuckled, "It's okay, calm down. It's an abandoned factory there's going to be dead rats."

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">"Oh my god that's disgusting! Go throw it away or something!" One of the girls shouted. I laid my hands on Darren's arms to steady myself. "No, no. There's a message written on the mirror. In blood Darren! In fucking rat's blood!" I hollered my ears throbbing.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“What!? Bro, we gotta check this out!” One of the guys said.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Darren pulled me into his chest and hugged me. “It's okay, we'll go see. We'll handle this.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I watched Darren and the four other guys walk towards the hall. I sat down in a cheap metal chair. One of the girls handed me a drink. “Here, drink this you'll feel better.” She said.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I took a gulp, it was straight vodka. I coughed and took a deep breath in. I looked up at her and she was covered in gold glitter. I furrowed my eyebrows and glances around the room. Everything was covered in a sheet of fine gold glitter.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">"What did I miss," I said quizzically. It seems like such a stupid question now. I mean who cares? When some stranger has written a message in rat blood on a bathroom mirror in an isolated abandoned factory. I guess I wanted to break the tension.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">"Oh my god. You totally missed it, girl. Lucy's Dad is so amazing! The disco ball exploded and all this gold glitter came down and covered everything. It's totally okay though because Lucy says it's edible." The girl shook her hair and small flecks of glitter floated in the air.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I couldn't help myself I laughed. “You blew up the disco ball?”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Lucy nodded her gold encrusted head emphatically.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">This only caused me to laugh again.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The boys returned shortly after and Darren slid a chair next to me and sat down.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Did you find anyone?” I asked.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Okay, don't freak out. We all believe you. We do but...” Darren began but I cut him off, “it's gone isn't it?” I asked feeling my anger prickle.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Yeah.” Darren simple replied.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I stood up slowly and shook my head. “Well, okay thanks for a good time everyone but this is where I go home. Sorry, I'm not up for being the entertainment tonight. Darren, I'm calling an Uber.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Darren grabbed my hand, “no, that's not... We're not screwing with you.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I pulled my hand away. “No, no I get. I don't belong in your little club. I'm middle class and should know my place. How dare I.” I said sarcastically.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">"Um, no. First, I wouldn't pull a prank on you because you've done nothing to us. We just thought you were super shy. Second, we know you're not totally poor but who cares. Third, we all know what you've been doing for Darren. I mean even though he pays you." Lucy stated in a matter of fact way.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I sighed, “and you were using this party to ask me the same thing?” I asked feeling defeated.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">"Oh, no honey. We already have people for that. I mean my gardener took my Spanish class for me. Seriously, girl, we were just curious." Lucy replied.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I nodded my head, my anger subsided, and a gave them a smile. "Okay, I believe you. But there was still a message on that mirror and I'm so not staying here. Why don't we all just stay together and chill for a bit until our rides get here?" Darren hugged me, "I hate to say it Lucy but she's got a point. Besides its summer break, this is only the start."

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Lucy nodded her head and glitter fell to her shoulders. “Good point! Hey, tomorrow whose up for boating and sunbathing!?” She shouted and threw her arms up into the air. All of them nodded and let out excited cheers.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Darren took out his phone and started the uber app. “Come on.” He said frustrated and then shook his phone. “What's wrong?” I asked.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">"The reception in here is shit," Darren replied. "I'm going outside."

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I grabbed his arm. "Let's all go outside or at least near the door," I said.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">He smiled, “you're so smart.” He replied and we all walked to the door together. Darren pushed but the door wouldn't budge. He pushed again this time with his shoulder.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“What the fuck!?” Darren exclaimed.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Come on bro.” one of the guys stated and pushed with him. Still, the door wouldn't move. All five guys decided to push against the door but it remained steadfast.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Is there another exit?” Darren asked Lucy.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Lucy shrugged. “I don't think so.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">"There's got to be some sort of bay area or loading dock," I said.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I turned around stopped in mid step. “Duh, my phone worked in the bathroom. I'll call my sister, she'll be pissed but she'll get us out.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“How about this time we all go together?” Darren asked.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I nodded my head, “good idea.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Together we all walked back to the bathroom. The rat was still there, Darren kicked it back under the sink with his foot.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Thanks,” I said.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">"No problem," Darren replied.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I looked at the mirror, no blood. Maybe I just imagined it? But what could have closed the door?

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I was relieved, two of the guys were holding the heavy metal door open. I went to the last stall and tried to call my sister. The signal had been weak when I called but now there was no signal.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">"Damn," I said.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Can I?” Darren asked. I handed him my phone and he stood on the toilet. He put the phone high into the air and still there was no signal. “Fuck!” He exclaimed and got down from the toilet.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Everyone took their turn trying to get a signal in the bathroom. Nothing.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">"Alright, let's go explore boys and girls," Darren said disparaged.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">There were several hallways that branched off from the main room. We ended up taking the hallway next to the bathroom. Thankfully most of the lights were working. We walked through a doorway into what looked like an old break room. Inside the room were two old cheap plastic tables. There were a few metal chairs around the tables. A large soda machine stood at one wall, broken and empty.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Can we sit down?” One of the girls said.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">One of the guys took off his jacket and put it on the chair for the girl and she sat down. She suddenly looked tired but I thought it might have been all the alcohol.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">"I know this is going to sound bad but I think we need to break off into groups," Darren spoke up.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Um, wait. Remember, that's a bad idea? How can a billion horror movies be wrong?” I said with a slight tang of sarcasm.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Darren smiled and rolled his eyes. “Look there's ten of us we'll go in two teams of five. That's still a big group.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">He had a point. “Okay, you're right.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">We split up. Darren and I went together with three other people into another hallway. We all agreed to yell “Hot dog,” if anyone was in trouble. It was Darren's idea to lighten the mood, it worked.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The hallway we walked through took a left turn and then a right. It seemed like the other hallways. Cracked walls, dust, and a cracked floor. It was empty. No doors or windows. Every now and then someone would look down at their phone to check for a signal.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">We reached a supply room. It was filled with tall empty shelves. The kind you would see in a mechanic shop. We searched the room but there were no other doors or windows. Discouraged we turned around and tracked back to the break room. The five of us sat down at the table and waited. A short time later the other group appeared. They were carrying one of the girls. She was gasping for breath. They slid her into a chair and she coughed. Thick red gleaming liquid dripped down from her lips onto her chin.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“What the hell happened!?” I asked.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“She just started coughing and then she fell over. She puked everywhere.” One of the guys said.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“What was she drinking?” I asked staring at the red liquid dribbling down her chin.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“I think that's cranberry juice.” One of the girls said.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Yeah, pretty sure she was drinking vodka and cranberry juice.” Another girl stated.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“How much did you drink?” I asked the girl. She ran her hand across her lips smearing red vomit across her skin.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“A lot. I drank a lot.” She replied coughed and spit onto the floor.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I stopped myself from rolling my eyes, “do you at least feel better?”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">She nodded her head slowly, “sorry.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“It's okay. You just scared us a bit.” I replied and one of the girls padded her back gently.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Did you guys find anything?” Darren asked.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“We found the loading dock area but no way out. The doors were all locked. What about you guys?” One of the young men asked.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Darren shook his head, “we found another room but no windows no doors, nothing.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Shit.” The same guy stated.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Wait, what about your sister?” Darren asked.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Yeah, don't you have some sort of safe call?” Lucy asked.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I checked the time on my phone. I was supposed to call her in an hour and a half. If I didn't call she would call the police. A thought occurred to me. She might wait to call the police because she knew I was having a good time but she'd eventually call. No one wanted to involve the police because some of us were under age. However, with no usable cell reception and no other exists it seemed like our only option.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">A chair squeaked as Darren skidded it across the floor. “I guess we wait then.” He calmly stated.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">"As long as we all stay together I guess it will be okay. Maybe, the message wasn't real? I was scared and I've been drinking so...” I trailed off.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Yeah, maybe.” Darren replied.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The girl who had thrown up cleared her throat and spat towards the corner of the room. “Hey guys, I need something to drink.” The girl spoke and licked her shiny red lips.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“We could go back to the other room.” Lucy offered.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Yeah, that's better then sitting here waiting.” One of the boys exclaimed.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Everyone nodded their heads in agreement.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">We all stood up and left the break room together. Someone offered their arm to the girl who threw up but she didn't need it. I walked behind everyone with Darren. We headed down the hall. The light was dim but still light enough to see what was in front of you. When we neared the end of the hall one of the guys let out a small gasp and jerked back towards the group. He fell into the crowd causing two girls to fall down.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“What the fuck bro!?” One of the guys hollered.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The guy who had gasped pointed at the wall. In thick red letters were the words, “I warned you.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">"Get behind us, we'll go in first," Darren said and the boys made a wall that the girls got behind. I took out my pepper spray and handed it to Darren, “Here.” I said.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">"Thanks." He replied and we all moved slowly forward.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">We entered the main room, the boys cautiously fanned out into a line. The room hadn't changed. Everything was still covered in fine gold glitter. The chairs were still in the same places and the food was barely touched. The bottles hadn't moved. The walls were empty of strange fear-inducing messages.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">All of us girls stayed by the table with the drinks while the guys checked under the tables and in the corners of the room. They came back with nothing.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">"I didn't just imagine it," I said my voice shaking.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">"There's someone here," Darren confirmed.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">"Who the hell would mess with us!?" Lucy said angrily.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“I don't know,” one of the girls stated.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Suddenly, the girl who had puked before started coughing heavily. She dropped from her chair onto her knees to the floor. Thick red glittery liquid spewed from her lips and splattered the floor soaking the knees of her dress.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Oh my god! Eww, Chrissy!” Lucy exclaimed. “You could at least have warned us.” She continued and rolled her eyes.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Chrissy coughed hard and gasped in between coughs. “Something's wrong.” She managed to spit out. Her voice ragged and filled with exhaustion.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">She coughed again, it was raspy and deep. Her shoulders heaved as she covered the floor in red vomit. Another set of chest raking coughs poured from her and she gasped from breath. “I... Can't...” She tried to speak. Her date rushed to her side and started pounding on her back. There was a sick gurgling sound and a sharp crack. Chrissy dropped into the pool of partially digested cranberry juice and liquor. Her legs struck out and flailed several times before abruptly stopping. Her body lied horrifically still.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Darren acted quickly. He dropped to her body and turned her over. Her face and hands were covered in thick red substance. Her hands had curled in on themselves like a a dried up withered cluster of vines. Darren tried to pry her hands apart but they seemed stuck together to her chest. He wiped his hands on the sides of his pants tilted her head back and began to breathe into her mouth. His fingers pushed back her wet matted blonde hair to search for a pulse.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">He struck out and grabbed her date's hand. He shoved it under her hands. The guy instinctively jumped back.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Darren shot him an angered look. “Put your hands like this, over her chest, and push when I tell you to.” Darren clasped his hands together one of top of the other and crammed the man's hands under Chrissy's on top of her chest.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Darren exhaled into her mouth again and told the guy to “push.” He pushed Darren counted and breathed into her mouth again. One of the girls was screaming, the rest were crying.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Breathe Chrissy, Breathe,” Lucy was softly repeating while tears ran down her glitter plastered skin.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I sat there solid and shocked. I didn't know what to do. Fear held me in my chair. A coldness began in my hands and spread through out my fingers causing them to ache. I swallowed my own hysteric scream knowing it wouldn't help. My eyes blurred with fresh tears. I couldn't call anyone, there was no help. There was nothing I could do.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">After awhile Darren stopped. “She's gone.” He solemnly announced.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">One of the girls let out a loud cry and all of them began to bawl.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“How?” “Did she choke?” “What?” I stammered softly.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Darren came over to me and held me tight. “It's okay. It will be okay.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Lucy stood up sometime later and removed the bottles from one table to another. The other girls joined her. She removed the purple tablecloth and slipped it slowly over the body. Chrissy's date was tenderly weeping over her body.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I turned my head from the body and noticed Jessica scratching her upper arm. I thought it was a nervous reaction but her skin was glowing red mixed with glitter. I stood up and then sat next to her. “You need to stop.” I gently suggested and patted her knee.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">She stared at me, “stop what?”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I put my hand on her arm. "You're bleeding, you need to stop scratching," I replied still in a gentle tone.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">She looked at her nails, they were full of red glitter. “Thanks, I didn't even notice.” She replied he voice sullen sounding defeated, she let out a small cough.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">We all sat in silence eyes glued in disbelief at the body. I'm not sure how much time had gone by when we heard it. A seemingly deafening pounding on the front door. Suddenly, the room was filled with bright lights and loud voices. One was calling my name. Another voice was ordering everyone to put their hands up.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">We all complied. Questions were asked, blankets and warm coffee was issued. The body was removed on a stretcher. We were safe.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">All of us were loaded into a various police cars and taken to the hospital. Jessica was breathing hard her hands were clenched and she was starring straight at an officer without blinking. An EMS worker called it shock.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Later after we were cleared to go home I got a call from Jessica. She said that Chrissy died of an asthma attack. Jessica was crying her voice was cracked and rough. She told me that Chrissy had suffered from Bulimia. Apparently, this weakened her lungs and her esophagus. No one knew about the side effects, not even Chrissy.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Chrissy was buried less than a week later. It was a closed casket wake. I was glad to see a lot of people attend the funeral. It made me feel some sort of peace knowing that she had so many people that cared for her.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">In all of my shock and grief, I didn't notice the one person that wasn't there. Jessica.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Another week passed and I was well into the summer break. Darren and I started dating almost every day. We saw movies together and went to new restaurants, he showed me his game console and we played games together. He actually managed to get me hooked into a first person shooter. Our relationship was developing despite the terrible incident we had faced together.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">It was three am when my phone rang. I rolled over to my nightstand picked up the phone and didn't recognize the number. I ignored it. A few minutes later it rang again. I sighed and picked up the phone in a dreamy sleep filled voice, I called out, "Hello?"

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">A thick ragged throaty voice met mine, “it's Jessica.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I sat up, “Jessica? What's wrong?” I asked sleep fleeing from me.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Help me. Downstairs. Come, please.” Jessica murmured with each word she gasped for breath.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">"I'm coming!" I spoke quickly and jumped out of bed. I tossed on some sweatpants and my flip-flops. I rushed out of my apartment slamming the door in the process. I ran outside into the summer air and searched for Jessica. A hooded figure was slumped against the far wall of the complex. It saw me and slunk back into the shadows. I walked slowly towards it.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">"Jessica?" I asked in the open air.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">A pained moan answered me. I reached the corner and turned. The figure was curled over against the wall. “Don't come near.” It barely sounded human.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Okay, okay. Just tell me what's wrong?” I asked my hands in front of me.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The figure coughed and lurched against the wall. “We killed them.” It gasped.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“You what?” I asked and stepped towards the figure.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">"I said... Don't" It screamed at me.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The figure then let out a new wave of coughs and vomited onto the ground. The grass glistened like it was painted. "I just wanted someone to know." The figure coughed out and suddenly collapsed to the wet ground. A smear of thick red glittering substance marred the sandy brown stone wall.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I rapidly knelt over the figure and turned it away from the wall. A foreign sound rumbled inside and shook loose something primal, something terrified, something without hope, it finally passed my lips ripping them wide open. My ears rang, my heart raced and I trembled.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Her face was mangled like someone animal gashed and tore at the skin. Her eyes were white, dead eyes glistening like Chrissy's. A piece of light brown hair was plastered to the side of her dark purple sweatshirt. Her hands were curled like an elderly geriatric with advanced arthritis, her finger tips were covered in gleaming red chunks.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I felt the world spin around me. The air seemed to be squeezed from my chest. My stomach lurched. Blackness ebbed my vision then invaded clouding into nothingness.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I woke up sometime later to flashes of red and blue lights. I blinked, my eyes were raw and dry. My throat felt like sandpaper, and my head beat in time with my heart rate. There were people everywhere. Two men wearing blue gloves and white pressed shirts picked up the body and placed her on a gurney. A man was talking to me but his voice sounded muted and unreal.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I slowly sat up. “What happened?” It was a stupid question spurred by disbelief.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I was brought to a local hospital stuck checked and questioned. Jessica's parents were waiting for me at the hospital exit but I had no answers to give them. That thing in the alley way didn't seem like Jessica.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Darren was there with open arms, I gladly fell into them my tears spilling onto his shirt. I didn't go to Jessica's funeral. Instead, I was given a bottle of sedatives and an appointment with a counselor.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Two days later Tanya was found at a friend's house in her basement. Her skin was ripped and pulled open, her eyes were white and her hands had become claws.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Lucy died at the hospital a day later. In the same fashion, only this time connected to tubes machines and monitors. For all of their testing she still died in a horrific battle against her own body, with no answers. They checked me again at the hospital but I didn't seem to have any of the odd symptoms as the other girls. So, I was left alone.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Barry, Dennis, John, and Glen were found together at a cabin. The place was so bad they had to condemn it. I didn't bother with the details, I didn't want to.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The factory was boarded off and quarantined. Men in funny looking blobs of white tested samples taken from the floor, walls, tables, food and liquids. They didn't find anything.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Strangely enough two bodies were found about a block away from the factory in the alleyway connected to the local homeless shelter. The bodies were recovered from a dumpster that was no longer used. The cause of death was determined and a murder suicide. They found two bullet holes. The names were reveled a few days later. It was Janice and her father. It was determined that Janice had shot and killed her father then committed suicide. This happened three days after her suddenly disappearance.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I started scratching three days ago. It's only a matter of time. I don't know where Darren is, he stopping speaking to me after the boys were found. He won't answer my calls or texts. He didn't come back to class. I think other people are getting sick. I saw my neighbor scratching the other day, her skin was shiny like glitter. I could just be going insane, I think I'm getting there. I think that's what happened to the others. I tried putting up signs so when you find my body no one touches it.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I'm tired now. I can't stop scratching and it's making me so tired. I tried to cut the skin off but it didn't work. It still itches. I'm coughing now, it sparkles. It looks kind of pretty though, the sparkle. Like a streamer of red glitter. Hey, take care of my cats, will you? They're good cats. I got to go. My eyes hurt, I think I'm going to try removing my eyelids first though. It will be harder. My fingers aren't working normally now. They started to curve. Hey, if you see Darren tell him I said it's not his fault. I think I love him. Or would have. Remember the cats, okay?

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<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"> <ac_metadata title="Glitter, (Needs review, it&#039;s been re-worked.)"> </ac_metadata>