Chapter Text
When I first heard about Julia and MK’s deaths, I was kind of surprised to hear they committed suicide. They had everything they could’ve ever wanted; good grades, popularity, thousands of followers on TikTok, money-everything! And Priya, there’s no way she committed suicide either. I sat in the pews of the funeral home, looking up at the coffin that was in front of me, Priya’s. I’m the only one who’s not crying, and people must think about how much of an asshole I am for not crying at my own best friend’s funeral. But after crying and screaming for a whole week straight, there’s just no tears left to cry. No matter how hard I force them out, my eyes remain dry.
I hate how the pews are almost entirely full. When she was alive, she was feared; never invited to birthday parties, nor she was allowed to hold her own, banned from ballet class, all because of fear that she’d say something creepy that’ll make other kids be afraid. Thank you, MK. But since Caleb, Priya’s brother, was talking there, everyone suddenly was interested in going to a funeral of someone they didn’t even know well. How shitty.
After five more minutes of glares, I finally stand up and try to leave, taking the little pamphlet, reading the poem. It was written by Millie, and I think about how crappy it is to write for someone else instead of attending the funeral itself. I catch sight of my ex, Chase, who’s also the reporter for the school newspaper, the Riverview Reporter, that literally no one reads. He also sees me, and he stands up and comes up to me.
“Where are you going, babe?” He asks.
I roll my eyes. He will never learn, will he? We broke up. A long time ago. “Out. Now leave me alone.” I walk away before he can answer.
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Now at home, I flop into my pillow and stare up at the ceiling. My older brother Geoff walks into my room.
“You know you aren’t allowed here,” I say.
“We saw you leave the funeral.”
Great. I forgot my family was also there.
“Why did you leave the funeral?” He asks.
I sigh. “There was too much insensitive people there. Get out!”
He leaves my room but yells, “Mom wants you to ACTUALLY be present at dinner this time!”
See why I had one friend?
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After dinner, my mom comes into the room. “Hey honey, I hope you’re doin-”
“Leave,” I say bluntly. Nothing more to say, is there?
“No honey, I came to remind you, that you’ll be fine. And that if Priya was fine with committing suicide-” She started. But I interrupted.
“No mom! I know Priya! She would never commit suicide! She was murdered, I know she wa-” I get my payback when my mom interrupts me.
“Emma! Honey, you know Priya, but you also know that the police department ruled it out as a suicide!” She yelled.
She claims to know. But I know better than her. The police department ruled Priya’s death as a suicide by the creek. But she would’ve never gone to the creek. She says the water could ruin her tennis shoes. She could also ruin her favorite shirt, or lose her pin. The tennis shoes she needs in case she ends up participating in a Total Drama Reboot. If they make one, that is. But now, even if Chris does decide to make one, Priya won’t be able to participate. I might do it for her if the time comes.
After my mom sees I’m getting contemplative, she sighs a disappointed sigh and leaves. Finally.
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It’s about 12 am when my eyes jolt open. I should probably go to that abandoned house at the edge of town to see if Priya forgot any belongings. So I could take them to her family. Or so I can keep them.
I carefully get out of bed and try to avoid creaky floor planks. Because if Geoff, his girlfriend Bridgette, or my sister Adriana wake up, then I’m for sure dead. I should reword that. I’m going to get caught. I grab my car keys and start driving to the edge of town.
Once I’m there, I hide my car in the woods so the rare passerby doesn’t think anyone’s here. I walk to the porch, which is mostly broken and creaks under even the littlest amount of weight. I went to sneak in through the back door, when I found a box. A FedEx box. Smack in the middle of the porch. I picked it up as I stepped inside, carefully setting my orange hoodie down on the floor. I opened the box using the ceremonial dagger we had in the house. What was inside, kind of shocked me… a red, ancient, grimoire. Priya must’ve ordered it before she died. I read some of the spells. I flipped through the book uninterested, until I reached… a resurrection spell. It can resurrect anyone for seven days… interesting.
I read the list of ingredients, before deciding, that I was going to go to Thriteen’s a Charm tomorrow.