No Control

The silence in the room was eerie.

None of us could get our heads around what just happened, we heard our principal being murdered.

“What the fuck!” Niall shouted, jumping to his feet.

“Oh my lord..” Alyssa cried, “They killed him!” There was another silence around the room when she said what none of us wanted to out loud.

Niall awkwardly raised his hand in the air, then all attention shifted to him, “I know this might not be the right time.. but I totally called that.”

“You insensitive ape!” Callie yelled, storming over to him.. “I can’t believe you would say tha- actually, coming from you I shouldn’t be surprised.. you’ve always been a complete twat.”

“This is the only time in my lifetime I will be saying these words, but I agree with her. You are so rude. We all just listened to the man die!” Alyssa said.

Niall snapped his head over to her, “Oh come on people, you can not tell me you’re all moral and sad about the fact that he’s gone. I feel bad that he’s gone, but I’m not going to cry about it, and if you do then you’re all a bunch of hypocrites because none of you ever gave a shit about him.”

“So if it was one of us who’s screams came from over the speakers, you would just shrug that off too?” Callie asks.

Niall looked at her dead in the eye, his gaze was taunting, “No if it was one of you’s in there, someone I actually cared about, then my reaction would be completely different.” They both hold eye contact, almost challenging each other to say something else.

“I don’t agree with the way he put it, but he’s right. The man didn’t deserve to die, and I know I sound like a dick when I say this.. but I’d rather it be him then one of you.” Harry cut in.

I was a little thrown back because I didn’t want to slap him across the face for being so insensitive, but I found myself agreeing. Nobody would rather lose their friends to someone they didn’t like anyway. He definitely didn’t deserve what he got, but I knew nobody would be shedding tears. If we did, we were all two-faced. Jesus, Niall was actually right.. and that is not something that happens often. Niall being right is like Christmas, it only comes once a year.

“What do you think happened to Ms. Roberts?” Liam asked, breaking the silence that was lingering after Harry spoke.. Niall and Callie shrugged, “What about Mr. Clark?”

“I don’t know, I didn’t hear him at all.” Harry says, and I knew that wasn’t good, “Roberts was still alive when the speaker cut off before playing that creepy ass song.” He moved his arm off of my shoulder, and for an odd reason I felt so vulnerable. In the blink of an eye, I felt a pit at the bottom of my stomach, making me feel empty almost? Not a second later, the feeling was gone and I went back to focusing to the bigger matter at hand.

“What was that song?” I ask, “It sounded like something rapists would sing to their victims before attacking them.”

Everyone shook their heads, except for one person.. “It’s the theme song for a show.. Pretty Little Liars.” Alyssa informed, and we all turned towards her

“Pretty what?” Niall asks.

“Pretty Little Liars.. it’s this show where a bunch of girls get stalked by some weirdo who sends them texts and stuff.” She says. Truthfully, I don’t watch the show religiously like some girls. I have seen a few episodes, and it pisses me off more than entertains me.

“So you’re trying to say that the killer is a fan of shit telly shows?” Harry intervenes.

I shook my head, “I don’t think this has anything to do with the show, it’s probably just the song.” I told him, “Unless he’s pissed that it got renewed for another season and really wants to take it out on someone.”

Harry’s mouth quirked into a smile, an amused smile.

“So what about the song?” Callie asks, “Something about a secret?”

“All I got from it was something like, two can keep a secret if one of them is dead.” Niall tells us, “That was the only part that really stuck out.”

“It was something about lies,” Wes cut in. It was so weird hearing him talk, as he never does. I always forget he’s here, to be honest, “It said, now you’re telling lies cause’ you’re sworn to keep it. That was the first part he played I think.”

“So what does that mean? Principal Miles had a secret?” Callie asks, looking at Wes with such admiration. It actually looked like he was turning a shade of pink.

He shrugged, “Maybe, or not. Maybe someone else.. one of us?”

“Why do you say that?” I wonder.

“Because if it was about principal Miles, why play it to us through the speakers?” He replied, and got silence in return, as everybody knew he was right.

“Who though?” Callie asks and looks between everyone, waiting for someone to step up. All of us did the same, looking around at each other.

After three or so minutes of absolute silence, another voice that hasn’t been heard in a while speaks up, “Who doesn’t?” Dax’s deep, slow voice drew everyone’s attention onto him. He didn’t look at anybody though, he stared straight ahead of him, “Everyone has secrets. Every single person in this room has something they don’t want anyone else to find out about.”

For the millionth time in the past fifteen minutes, there was silence. Everybody was processing his words, his words that were definitely very true. Nobody denied it, because everyone knew he was right. Hell, I could fill a notebook up with all of my secrets and sell it to anyone who wants a good laugh.

I didn’t want anyone to know that I slept with a nightlight until I was thirteen, because I was scared of the dark. I didn’t want anyone to know that when I was fifteen, this boy I had a crush on said my boobs were too small so I stuffed them with toilet paper for the rest of that year. I didn’t want anyone to know that when I just started school at Pinegrove High, I sat next to this girl just because she had a Justin Timberlake covered pencil case, and then one day when she wasn’t looking I stole it. I didn’t want anyone to know that when I was six, I heard my parent’s going to town and I called the police because I heard my mom moaning and I thought my dad was hurting her. I also didn’t want anyone to know that I had about four pairs of Spongebob underwear that I very so often wore.

That type of stuff, nobody wants anyone to know. I just don’t think anyone would kill people over it. Unless that girl was really mad about her Justin Timberlake pencil case.

“Some secrets are worse than others,” Alyssa said, all eyes turned to her.. probably just how she liked it.. and everyone was definitely confused.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask.

Her eyes darted to Dax, and then back to me, “I’m saying everyone has secrets, but some are worse than others.”

Harry clearly didn’t miss the glance she made to his brother, because he balled his fists up and clenched his jaw hard, “What exactly are you getting at Alyssa?”

Alyssa sighed, “Well everyone has something to hide, but not everyone in this room has been admitted to a hospital, have they?” My eyes nearly pop out of my skull once I realized what she was implying. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Harry stiffen his whole body.

“What the fuck does that have to do anything?” He raised his voice.

“Oh please.. you don’t think this is a little weird?” She throws her arms in the air, looking between all of us to see if anyone’s agreeing with her, “He’s been in a nut house for the past year, and the first public appearance he makes ends with us trapped in this school, multiple people dead, and creepy music about someone having secrets is blasting through the speakers.”

Dax looks stunned with her accusation, “You think this is all happening because of me?”

“Well it’s a bit of a coincidence isn’t it?”

“How exactly? Me going into a mental hospital is not a secret. I tried to kill myself so they made me, everybody already know that.” He defended himself.

“Nobody knows why you tried to kill yourself though,” She continued, and Dax did not reply. He just stared back at her, his expression was like stone, but you could see the pure hatred shining through his eyes as he never took them off of her.

“That’s my business.” He replied, his voice so cold that it sent shivers down my spine.

“Oh, almost like a secret?” Alyssa asks sarcastically. Her smartass tone was the cherry on top to send Harry over the edge.

“Alyssa I swear to god if you don’t shut the fuck up in the next five seconds, I’ll pay one of them to beat the shit out of you.” He threatened, gesturing between me and Callie, since we’re the only two females in the room that would actually do it.

She was pissed at Harry’s threat, she almost look betrayed as if the fact she was giving him a blowjob earlier tonight would somehow give her the right to run her mouth about his brother. Clearly, all she knew about Harry was how his ding-dong tasted and nothing else.

Alyssa then turned to Niall, “You.. you’re like a horror movie geek right?”

He shrugged his shoulders, “I wouldn’t say geek bu-”

“Well tell me, since you’re first prediction was correct, in these films who does the killer turn out to be? Is it normally a random stranger, or someone in the middle of it all?”

Niall didn’t answer because he knew what his answer would do. It would send Harry into a screaming fit, and then he would get in her face until she cried.

“Hold on a second, you’re trying to say that I’m the one killing people?” Dax asked, a dry laugh coming out as he did so.

Alyssa glared back at him, “Majority of the time it’s someone you don’t expect. How do we know you didn’t come out of the hospital more fucked up than before and feel the need to take that out on us?”

Harry was off the couch so fast that I barely managed to catch his arm before he flew at her. Thankfully my quick reflexes made me grab his wrist just in time.

“Shut the fuck up Alyssa!” He screamed. Alyssa actually jumped when he too a dive at her. She was leaning as far back in the chair as she could, with her mouth wide open.

Apparently though, the girl didn’t learn because she too stood up and walked over to Harry, stopping a few feet away and staring directly into his eyes, “If you didn’t think the sun shined out of his ass all the time, maybe you would think more reasonably.” She told him before scoffing, “Unless he’s got help..”

Harry struggled to get out of my grasp. That is when Liam noticed I wasn’t strong enough to hold him much longer, so he took it on himself to grab his other arm. Dax stood up and placed a hand on Harry’s shoulder, pulling him back and telling him not to do anything stupid. I knew Harry would never hit a girl, ever, but there’s no doubt about it that he will not hesitate to get in her face and yell at her from the top of his lungs. Though, if she did carry on with suggesting this bullshit.. I would surely do the job of giving her a good hit or two for him.

“Tell me how exactly am I doing this? I mean, I was sitting here with everyone when we all heard your principal get killed. Entertain me.. how did I do that?”

Alyssa had no reply, but the smugness returned when it looked like she was remembering something, “What about earlier? Right when the chains appeared on the doors and when we found those kids, where were you?”

I was out cold on the bathroom floor, where these two found me.” He explained.

“How do we know that? It was great timing that you were gone long enough when the teachers crashed the party. You didn’t get your throat cut either.. everyone else who comes face to face with this killer seems to die, why are you here now?” I was surprised that Alyssa stood her ground while Dax’s cold stare would eat through anyone.

“I have nothing to do with this. I am just as trapped as everyone else. Why the hell would I want to kill a bunch of kids?” He replied, cocking his head to the side and raising one eyebrow, “Although you are giving me a pretty good reason to right now.”

Alyssa shook her head and frantically looked around at everyone else in the hall, “How can you guys not realize that he’s crazy? He spent the past year in the crazy house, and you all think he should be trusted?” She was nearly screaming at the top of her lungs, and once she realized she had no backup on this she let out a frustrated groan.

“Fine! If you all want to stay here, then carry on. I will not stay in a room with a man who is probably hearing voices right now.” She scoffed, then turned on her heel and started storming off for the door.

“What are you doing Alyssa? You can’t go out there on your own.” Surprisingly the person trying to stop her was Dax. It’s funny how he was attempting to watch out for her ass even after everything she said.

“It’s probably safer than being in here with Hannibal Lecter!” She threw out before stopping on the spot and spinning around, her eyes landing directly on Perrie. “Come on Pez.”

Perrie actually jumped, and I saw the indecisiveness on her face as she debated on what to do. She didn’t want to go with her, she was scared. I could also tell like she had to at the same time, like it was her job to go everywhere with Alyssa. Her master was calling and she had to follow. Slowly, she stood to her feet and began taking slow steps towards Alyssa.

“Perrie wait!” I called out to her, letting go of Harry and jogging over to her. She turned to me, swallowing hard, and I could see the fear in her eyes, “You don’t have to go. It’s not safe out there, and we obviously can’t stop her. Stay here with us.”

I could tell she wanted to stay. It was written all over her face as she looked at me with such a desperate expression. My heart went out for her, and I realized that she was actually a human being. She was a genuine human being with a shitty ass friend.

She shook her head slowly, “I have to go with her. I can’t let her go on her own.” Her voice was almost pleading for me to beg her to stay. She knew though that she just sealed her own fate. Her and Alyssa were on their own now. She gave me the smallest of smiles and her eyes began to water, just as she turned back around and followed Alyssa out of the hall.

And just like that, they were gone.

I turned back around to who was left. Niall and Callie stood by the Twister mat, while Wes was still sitting in the same spot. Liam was still in front of Harry, almost afraid of letting him go in case he decided to run after Alyssa and spit in her face or something. Dax was next to Harry, staring at the door in disbelief and anger with what she had said about him.

“I don’t agree with the hitting of women, but bitches like that make you understand where Ike Turner was coming from.” Harry said, shaking his head.

I knew it wasn’t the time or place, but I couldn’t help the laughter and it came out of my mouth. Apparently, when we were in a really shitty situation, trapped like dogs and turning on each other like we were in the Hunger Games, Ike Turner could be put into a good light.

Who knew?

Notes