One Week Later

Madison combed her hand through her newly dyed and cut hair, sighing as she stared out over the field. She spun her finger in the black locks, trying to focus.

"Hey, what are you up to?" Eric sat down on the bench right next to her, smiling big. He was tall, so when he sat, he tended to lean forward, resting his arms on his knees.

She tried to smile.

"I'm just sketching."

She looked down at her notebook. It was Milly's face again. She couldn't get those eyes out of her head. Eric gave her an expression of pity, clapping her on the back.

"Hey... it's okay. You should come see her with me tonight."

Madison shook her head over and over and over, shutting her eyes tight.

"No-- No way-- I can't understand how you keep coming back here night after night--" Madison's breathing picked up and Eric straightened up, rubbing her back.

"Shhh, I'm sorry... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that..." He gave her a weak smile and Madison tried to smile back, looking like she might start crying.

"Eric... can I ask you something?"

He nodded, waiting patiently for her to choose her words as she tried to breath.

"Do you think... They'll let Maverick out? Like-- On parole or bail or something--" She was so afraid that Maverick was going to come after them all... Kill them...

Eric snorted, shaking his head.

"No way. He's gone absolutely insane since he killed Milly. Even if his lawyer's could make a case for him... everything got pinned on him, he just keeps telling people it was a ghost. He looks totally bonkers man, the Lawyer's keep telling him to shuttup and he won't. We'll be okay."

Madison nodded. She still didn't really know or understand everything that happened. She didn't ever care for Camerson... But Milly was a sweet girl... And she couldn't even begin to bring herself to think about Bridgette. She couldn't believe how well Eric was handling it all...

But different people grieve differently, she supposed.

"I... I gotta go." She gave Eric another half-hearted smile, closing her notebook and shuffling off. Eric waved, his smile faltering as she wandered off. He sighed, leaning back on the bench, pushing his hair back.

"I feel bad for her." Milly sat on one side of him, wringing her shirt. He just nodded.

"Yeah... Me too."

He looked down at the little girl and smiled at her.

"So, are you going to come play with us tonight?" Milly kicked her legs, watching as people passed by them, completely unaware.

He nodded.

"Yeah. I've got a surprise for you, too."

Milly's eyebrows went up.

"You and Bunny Girl, both." He pulled out his cellphone, showing her a couple forums that had popped up since the murders went on nation-wide coverage last week.

It was people all wanting to come visit the school and test the Urban Legend for themselves.

Milly's eyes lit up and she smiled big, looking up at Eric.

"I've got a couple people who might want to come up tonight... Think you two want to play?"

Eric slipped a little pair of scissors out of his pocket, snipping them twice.

Milly just smiled even wider.