Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-35973449-20180624095856


 * Hopefully, I am following the rules and doing this correctly. I don't normally share my writting like this and it's been awhile since I written anything. Your thoughts are always apprechaited. PS, I'm glad I use Open office before typing here. There seems to be no spell check. Also, I apologize for any format fail! Hopefully, it coppies and pastes in the correct order.***

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 sweat pants or anything. She mostly wore dark jeans and a light colored t-shirt. She carried around an army green back pack. 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!” She was with this group of four girls. They never paid attention and always wore the latest fashion and their hair and nails were always done. A 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 stood up and walked out of the room. Later that day, I saw the 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 issued a new assignment. We had three choices, the first choice was to write a research paper about an organization that benefits homeless people the second was to volunteer at a local shelter and the last one was to create a project to help homeless people. We were given three weeks to get the assignment done. It wasn't a problem for me. I like to write so I wrote a research paper.

Three days before the assignment was due these fliers for a can food drive appeared on just about every inch of the campus. The paper was pink and the lettering was in purple glitter. I read the print and it said to donate in front of the main building. I brought some cans in the next day and went to the main building. There was a giant booth in front of the stairs. There was a large picture of a deranged older man in front of the booth. 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 it was a photo of someone who was arrested.

There was a banner across the table that read, “Help the homeless.” In big gold letters. The four girls were sitting at the booth and they were taking cans from people and putting them in boxes. A young Hispanic man was taking the full boxes to the back of a beaten down read 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 heroine 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 dumb founded by their atrocity. “Janice's Dad?” I asked my voice shaking. The girl nodded like a bobble head. “Yeah, see we're helping out the poor.”

I didn't know what to do. 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 discussing if it really was her Dad or some stranger the girls just happen to pick.

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.

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.

A month went by. Everyone forgot about the incident. Another month went by and everyone forgot about Janice. It was getting close to 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.

“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 back pack. “Okay, what do you need done before 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 your 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 eye brow, “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 and I'm going to have pig blood dumped on me.”

<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">

<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. I ended up tossing all that aside and settled on rules of engagement. 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 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 make up and a zip lock 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 had a black butterfly pattern across the bottom. It was classy but still cute. I wore black flats just in case I needed to run. I put my hair up in a messy bun and curled long strands that hung out. I wore a silver glittery comb in my hair. 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. I was looking at myself in the mirror when the sound of glass made me 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 land lord the next day but at least my cats wouldn't get out. 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 land lord and file a complaint.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Darren showed up on time. He was wearing a black button up shirt with a black and red tie. He had on black slacks with a white belt. He looked good, I had to catch myself and force myself to stop smiling. He even opened my the passenger side door of the uber he called. 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 we got to the building. I asked him if this was right and he said it was. He said that this was a good venue so that we wouldn't be disturbed by the cops if the music got too loud. I texted my sister the address. We walked into what looked like a large empty warehouse. Darren said that Lucy's father owned it. I balked at his response. I knew the people who were throwing the party. We entered through a large metal door into a massive room with concrete floors. The walls were covered in pink banners. There were a few tables with white table clothes covered in appetizers and drinks. I looked up at the high ceiling and was greeted with a giant mirrored disco ball.

<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. The party started and the group crowded around the drink table. I poured myself some vodka and orange juice. We started drinking and dancing. I was having a good time. I went to find the bathroom to call my sister a few hours later. Darren understood in fact he reminded me. He liked that I had a safe call.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">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 as left of remnants of the factory. It didn't take me too long to find the bathroom. The mirrors were all broken and the doors were all off the hinges laying in a pile on the floor but it looked like it had been recently cleaned. I chose the cleanest looking toilet to use, which was at the 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 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 trying 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 titled 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 flew 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 in the tile floor. I ran down the hall and into the main room. I slipped on the floor and fell but my hands caught me. 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 abandon factory there's going to be dead rats.”

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

<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">He and the four other guys went down 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 looked around, all of them were.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“What did I miss.” I said. I don't know why at the time I asked, it seemed such a stupid question now. I mean who cares? When there's a message written in rat blood. I guess I wanted to calm down.

<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 and Darren took a chair next to me.

<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 supper 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 and gave a grin. “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 it's 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. “What the fuck!?” Darren exclaimed. “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 suddenly stopped. “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 single 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. There were a few tables and fewer chairs. 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 and it did lighten the mood a bit.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The hallway we went down took a left turn and then a right. It seemed like the other hallway. Cracked walls, dust, and a cracked floor. It was empty. No doors or windows. We reached a supply room. It was filled with large empty wood and metal shelves. The kind you would see in a mechanic shop. We searched the room but there were no other doors or windows. We ended up going back to the break room. 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. Red splattered glitter dribbled down 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 the red covered glitter.

<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, “sorry.”

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

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“We found that loading dock thing but no way out. The doors were all locked. What about you guys?” One of the 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">Everyone pulled out their phones and started holding them up in the air to see if anyone could get a signal. No one wanted to call the police because some of us were underage but we all had a few friends we could call. The problem was that no one was getting any kind of reception.

<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. It was another hour and a half before I needed to call her and she might wait another hour before calling the police. “Yes, but it's going to take about two hours.”

<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 it was the alcohol and the dead rat?” I said and took a chair next to Darren. The chair was a little dirty but at that point I didn't care.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">About ten minutes passed by. The girls were busy planning a boat day. The guys were talking about some sports team I knew nothing about.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Well, nice first date huh?” Darren said softly.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I grinned, “it just means that the second will have to make up for it.” I stated and elbowed him gently.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">He ran his hand through his thick dark brown hair, “yeah. I think I'd like that.” He replied.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">After awhile one of the girls let out a loud huff. “Okay, I'm bored! Oh, let's go back to the party we can at least get something to drink and play some music.” Lucy said and jumped up from her chair.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“You want to drink after this?” Darren said and starred at Lucy dumbfounded.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Lucy put her hands on her hips, glitter shook from her body and fell onto the floor and table. “Well, yeah. What else is there to do? Besides it's not like we're going to get blitzed. Just a drink some food and music, at lower volume of course.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Darren turned his head to me, “Well?”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I shrugged, “sure, why not.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">We all stood up and left the break room. We headed down the hall. At the end of the hall one of the guys jumped back from the wall. At the top of the wall near the ceiling was another message in thick red blood, “I warned you.” It read.

<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, “here Darren.” I handed him the pepper spray. “Thanks.” He said and we all moved slowly forward.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">We entered the main room it seemed the same as before. 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 wasn't just imaging 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 angry.

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

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Suddenly, the girl who had thrown up before started coughing heavily. She knelt over and vomited all over the floor. Thick glittery red liquid splashed onto the floor and soaked into the hem of her dress.

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

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The girl coughed hard and gasped in between coughs. “Something's wrong.” Chrissy managed to spit out. She coughed again then bent forward and puked again splattering the floor. This time she fell off the chair. Her back heaved deeply in and out she coughed puked and coughed again. The guy she brought with her knelt over her. “Hey, breathe!” He shouted. A gurgling hiss escaped her lips and her feet convulsed a few times her heels hitting the concrete floor sending deep echoes into the room. He rolled Chrissy over. Her mouth was open full of glittery red substance. Her eyes had rolled inside of her head leaving a blank gleaming whiteness. Her hands were curled into that of a severely arthritic geriatric. Darren reacted quickly.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">He dropped to her body and moved tried to move her arms. They seemed to be stuck in place on her chest. He pushed past them tilted her head back and exhaled into her mouth. He moved his fingers to her neck and breathed into her mouth again. He grabbed the guy's hands and placed them under her hands. “Push when I tell you to.” Darren spoke in earnest. Darren breathed, the guy pushed. This went on for what seemed like forever. One girl was screaming, Lucy was crying, another girl was crying with her and holding her hands.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I sat there solid and shocked. I didn't know what to do. Fear held me plastered to a cheap metal chair. 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. Two girls joined her. She placed the table cloth on top of the body. The guy was weeping over her.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Jessica had been itching her arm. I thought it was a nervous reaction but her skin was glowing red mixed with glitter. I 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">Not too much later were heard a loud 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.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">We were all cleared, her death was no one's fault. Chrissy was legal to drink. In fact, none of us were given any tickets or repercussions. The factory was searched no one was found. The police chalked the messages up to some messed up prank and left it alone. Filed under human stupidity.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Chrissy was asthmatic. No one knew, it was something that devolved as a side effect of her bulimia. She was buried less than a week later. It was a closed casket wake. Everyone was there, all of her friends. Darren held my hand. We said our goodbyes even though I barely knew her. I thought it was over.

<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 summer break. Darren and I started going to the movies together and out to eat together. We were developing a relationship despite the terror we had faced. It was all starting to go so well.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">It was three am when my phone rang. I rolled over to my nightstand and didn't recognize the number. I ignored it. A few minutes later it rang again. 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 sweat pants and my flip flops. I rushed out of my apartment slamming the door in the process. I rushed 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 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 like Jessica.

<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. 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. When it did a red glittery trail was left on the sandy brown brick 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 lose 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. 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 sweat shirt. Her hands were curled up broken and the skin ripped raw. Her chest was covered in a dark shimmering liquid.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I felt the world spin around me. The air seemed to be squeezed from my chest. 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 head hurt my eyes hurt and my throat hurt. There were people everywhere. Two men wearing blue gloves and white pressed shirts picked Jessica up and placed her onto 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. Darren was there with open arms, I gladly fell into them my tears spilling onto his shirt.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I didn't go to Jessica's funeral. Instead I was given a bottle of sedatives and an appointment with a councilor. 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 there testing she still died in a horrific battle against her own body, with no answers. They check me again 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 one of the boy's father's cabin. The place was so bad it had to be condemned. The factory was searched and tested but yielded no results.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Strangely enough two bodies were found about a block away from the factory in the alley way connected to the local homeless shelter. Janice and her father had been found with two fatal gun shot wounds in an unused dumpster. They had been dead since two days into her disappearance. A homeless man who had been kicked out of the shelter discovered them when he was trying to find a place to sleep.

<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 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 eye lids first though. 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, (Unreviewed)"> </ac_metadata>