TW: Once again, this chapter is very intense!
I was now face to face with my best friends killer.
Who said I was next.
Candace stood next to Nicki, facing me as I sat on the bed.
"Why did you do it?"
That was all I could ask Candace.
Just why?
Candace, who looked like a damn beauty queen a light pink sundress dress, said, "Mila was not a good person, Cassidy. You were so blind to it. You followed her around like a little puppy dog, who thought she could do no wrong. Everyone was blind to her ways! But I wasn't. She constantly tried to make me look like I was stupid. But guess who had the last laugh?"
There was something that was diabolical to the way that Candace was talking.
She's insane. Absolutely fucking insane.
Candace looked at Nicki, who laughed.
"Nic...why the fuck are you laughing?" I asked her.
"I would watch the way you speak to her." Candace said to me, "You're already next for me to kill. But I could make it a lot more painful."
"And how exactly do you plan on killing me?" I asked Candace. I was numb at this point.
Candace then reached over and opened up the closet door. Nicki moved to the side, and she grabbed a gun out of the closet.
I found my heart pound.
No.
"We'll just make it looked like you did it yourself." Candace said, "Poor Cassidy couldn't handle the death of her best friend."
No. No. No. My family can't think I did that to myself. My friends. Daisy. Oh god...Daisy can't think I did that.
"Candace...you cannot be this evil." I said, trying to be as calm as I possibly could.
"Evil? I did everyone a favor by offing Mila. I've been much happier without her around. Nicki, haven't you?" Candace turned to Nicki.
"I have been. Mila was a bitch. She deserved it." Nicki said, "Cassidy, we did you a favor."
A favor? You killed my best friend.
I shook my head. I needed to buy time. Figure out how to get out of this fucking mess.
Figure out how to get out alive.
"How?" I asked, "How did you even do this? Mila was smart. If you tried to trick her, she must've known something was up."
"Mila was smart, sure. But she wasn't smarter than me." Candace said, "She constantly liked to think she was smarter than me. But anyway- Cassidy- you were my ammo."
"What are you talking about?" I responded, trying to think of ways I could get up and grab the gun.
"Before I explain- I see you eyeing the gun in my hand. If you even dare to get up, I will shoot you. Immediately." Candace narrowed her eyes at me.
"I-I'll stay still." I said, my mouth going dry.
"Good." Candace gave me a maniacal smile, "Anyway- Nicki told Mila that you were crying in the kitchen. That you were upset about your ex. Mila immediately came down to comfort you. Or so she thought it was you. That's when I did it. Swung the baseball bat- provided by Nicki- and I knew the second she dropped to the floor- she was gone."
I felt my heart sink.
I'm so sorry, Mila. I'm so sorry you died thinking you were going to go comfort me.
I then turned to Nicki.
"And what was your excuse? Why did you help Candace with this?"
Nicki looked like she was about to speak, when Candace said, "Nicki felt the same as me about Mila. It was just better to get rid of her. Not the first time I've done it to a bitch." Candace then looked at me, "And it won't be the last time either."
"You've killed someone before Mila?" I asked.
"One of my best friends from high school- Jennifer- died of an 'accident'." Candace said, "Turns out- I was the accident. She was a lot like Mila. Everyone was better off without her."
"I'm not better off without Mila." I said back to Candace.
She lifted the gun a bit, in a threatening motion.
"Keep talking like that- and this will be over much sooner than you think." she said.
Nicki was just standing there, looking between the two of us. I still could hardly believe that she took part in this.
"How long did you have this planned out?" I asked Candace, calmly.
"Oh- I've been wanting to do this to Mila from the first time we hung out. I knew she deserved it." Candace spoke, "Nicki and I discussed it a bit as well last year, in our dorm room. How things would be better off if Mila just wasn't here. But about a week before I ended her- she stepped over the line a bit too far. She insulted my intelligence- but saying that maybe I should consider switching my major from Nursing. And she made it very known to Nicki that she would always be your best friend, Cassidy. And no one else could come close. That's when we decided- enough was enough."
Candace's expression darkened as she said the last part- "enough was enough."
"You could've just stopped being friends with her, you know?" I said to Candace.
"Where's the fun in that?" Candace said.
What a fucking psychopath.
"And now- since you know too much- I'm going to have no choice but to kill you, Cassidy." Candace said, "Kind of a shame, right? You were much sweeter than your best friend."
I felt my heart pounding.
This couldn't be it. No fucking way. I was NOT about to die right now. Without everyone knowing the truth about what happened to Mila.
Think, Cassidy. Think. How can I get out of this?
Can I climb out the window? No. Candace will shoot me.
If only I had a...weapon.
My mind flashed back to Serena, in our bedroom, holding the gun she had. And then saying she was keeping it under her bed.
The gun. I have to get to the gun.
And I have to think fast.
"Candace...I understand my fate. I'm trapped. But I have one favor to ask." I said, as calmly as I possibly could.
This is it. I will be dead or alive in the matter of a minute.
"And what would that be?" Candace asked me.
I made up a lie on the spot.
"I was writing a scrapbook to Daisy...to tell her how much she means to me before school lets out for the summer. Something sentimental." I said, my heart pounding, "I was keeping it under Serena's bed, so Daisy wouldn't find it. Can I at least write one last note in there for her?"
Will this work?
Candace looked like she was debating it.
"Let her." Nicki said to Candace, "Just let her do this."
Candace looked from Nicki, back to me. She then lifted the gun up.
I felt my breath hitch.
No.
"You can do it." Candace said, "But I will be holding this up the whole time. And I'm not afraid to use it."
I nodded, and got up. I then walked over to Serena's bed, and knelt down. I knew the gun would be there- legally, she couldn't bring it across state lines into New Jersey.
I saw the gun in plain sight under the bed.
Thank you, Christian. For teaching me how to use one.
I had to act fast. I quickly grabbed the gun. I then stood up.
Before either Nicki or Candace could act, I shouted, "This is for killing my best friend you sick, twisted, bitch."'
And then I fired right at Candace.
Without a second thought.
And at the same time- I heard sirens.