Chapter 9

It was a wonderful time.

When they were done, Emilia and Gloria headed back to their dormitories, going back the way they came. But as they rounded one of the corners, Emilia saw a figure in the distance.

She grasped Gloria firmly by the wrist, pulling her back.

‘Emilia what…?’

‘Shhhh. Look.’

Gloria looked in the direction Emilia was pointing.

‘Is that…Sarah?’ Gloria asked.

‘What is that twit doing out at night?’ She whispered. ‘She knows it’s not allowed.’

‘But Emilia, we’re out at night.’

Emilia conveniently ignored this, keeping her eyes on her nemesis.

‘I have to know where she’s going. I’m going to follow her.’

‘Emilia no!’ Gloria spoke in a furious whisper.

But Emilia had already made her way forwards, heading in the opposite direction to where their dormitories were, all the while keeping her eyes on the prey.

I got you, you little bastard.

‘Emilia please come back!’

She ignored Gloria’s hushed voice, instead continuing to move forwards.

Emilia followed Sarah to the edge of the school grounds, hiding behind a tree and watching from cover.

She saw as Sarah glanced briefly about her, still completely oblivious to the fact that she was being followed.

Gloria came up behind Emilia.

‘Emilia. This is dangerous.’

‘Hush now’ Emilia replied. ‘I’m concentrating.’

Gloria pursed her lips reluctantly, glancing over Emilia’s shoulder towards Sarah.

Together they watched as Sarah moved to a point in the fence, pulling a section of it back and slipping through.

‘Oh?’ Emilia grinned excitedly, watching as Sarah hurried forwards, out of school territory and into the woodland, vanishing from sight. ‘It looks like we have a breach in security.’

‘Emilia, can we please go back now?’

‘No way’ she replied, straightening up, ‘this just got interesting.’

‘Emilia wait…’

But she had already left Gloria’s side again, prancing forwards excitedly, practically skipping.

Gloria hung back, clinging to the tree they had been hiding behind. She glanced around tentatively, before slipping back into the shadows, hiding herself. She did not follow Emilia.

 *

Emilia moved carefully through the woodlands. She was outside the boundaries of the school now, having followed Sarah’s path through the broken section of fence.

Emilia had lost sight of her quarry, but she didn’t worry too much. Emilia was sure she knew where Sarah was heading.

The cliffs of the beach.

Emilia moved carefully through the foliage. She felt like a terrifying beast moving through the wilds, stalking her prey, stalking Sarah.

I’m gonna get you, you little bitch.

Emilia reached a part of the landscape that began to slope steeply upwards, to the point she had to use her hands to crawl forwards, grasping onto the roots of the trees that protruded and twisted in all directions.

When she finally reached the lip of the hill she traversed, she straightened up, standing tall and brushing the leaves from her hair.

She let out a slow sigh, blinking slowly.

From where she stood, she could see a spectacular view of the sea before her, the cliffs curving around, on her right-hand side, growing to a great height.

Emilia tilted her head, looking towards these higher cliffs. Upon the highest point, were silhouettes standing against the moon-lit sky, two of them.

Ah? What’s this?

Emilia turned on the spot, her heel causing the gravel to crunch as she did so. She began to make her way towards the pair, clinging to the shadows as crept along.

They could not see her as she lingered in the dark edges of the woodland to her side. But she could see them clearly against the sky.

As she went, she listened intently, hearing the sound of the ocean waves. It was pure serenity. And the moon…

It rested in the sky, nestled between the clouds comfortably. Its reflection shimmered upon the surface of the water.

Emilia broke her concentration from the two silhouettes only briefly to take in the view, before looking back towards her destination, her target.

She knelt in the dirt, finding a spot close to the pair. From this angle, neither of them would ever have seen her. She was a ghost.

I’m like Solid-Snake she grinned wickedly to herself. Super-sneaky-like.

She tilted her head, listening to the figures speak. She didn’t need to strain her ears at all to hear them in the hushed night.

‘….omise me you’ll come back.’

‘I will. I swear I will. I’d never abandon you.’

The first voice was Sarah’s, and the other one…

Her lover?

Emilia carefully peered through the gaps in the bush, looking towards this other figure.

She couldn’t make out much from this angle, not with the light of the moon behind them. But she could see that this figure was male, and that he was taller than Sarah. That was all.

They embraced now, kissing deeply.

Emilia frowned, narrowing her eyes and grinning.

How sordid.

She stayed for only a little longer, before the male figure left. Emilia could tell he was very reluctant to do so, they kissed and embraced one last time, before the male figure walked away.

Sarah remained where she was. She stood now, hunching her shoulders. Hugging herself as if she were cold. Emilia heard her draw a trembling breath.

The male figure was gone now, and Emilia rose to her feet, standing tall and making herself known.

‘That was interesting.’

Sarah whipped around, body instantly tense, eyes wide in disbelief.

‘…Emilia?! What the hell are you doing here?’

Emilia chuckled lightly, walking forwards, coming to stand by Sarah’s side.

‘What was that?’ Emilia asked teasingly.

‘What are you doing here?’ Sarah snapped viciously at her. ‘Why are you following me?’

Emilia shrugged.

‘Curiosity’ she replied carelessly.

‘Are you…. are you….?’

‘Hm?’

Emilia glanced over at Sarah. She was trembling now. Most likely in rage.

Looking down, Emilia could see her fists were clenched.

Her eyes flickered back up to Sarah’s face.

‘Are you going to tell the teachers that I left school?’ Sarah spat at her.

‘I mean… I could…’ Emilia said nonchalantly.

Sarah slapped her then, doing so without warning.

A few seconds passed, as Emilia slowly processed what had just happened.

Her cheek stung badly.

Sarah had gotten in a good hit.

Emilia turned back to face Sarah, unfazed.

‘You think this is a fucking game you little bitch’ Sarah snarled. ‘I’ll fucking kill you.’

‘Why? To keep me silent?’ Emilia asked calmly. ‘That’s quite an extreme measure, don’t you think?’

‘Are you playing with me?’

‘Do you really want to kill me?’

‘What?’

Emilia walked past her, heading to the edge of the cliff now, facing out towards the sea.

‘Go on then’ Emilia said calmly. ‘I’m completely vulnerable. I'm standing on the edge of the cliff. Maybe I just want a better look at the view. Maybe I’m a little clumsy…and I slipped……’

As she spoke, Emilia continued to stare out to sea, not turning around.

‘……. how much do you really hate me?’ Emilia asked, though this was a rhetorical question. ‘You could push me you know? No one would ever know it was you.’

‘What?’ Sarah gasped. ‘Are you crazy?’

‘Maybe’ Emilia replied, still staring towards the sea. ‘But what does it matter?’

Emilia waited then, still not turning around.

‘Go on’ she prompted Sarah. ‘What are you waiting for? If you don’t do it, I could tell everyone your dirty little secret. The teachers would keep a very close eye on you. You’ll never be able to leave the school again. You’ll never see your precious little boy again. Wouldn’t that be a shame?’

And this is the story…. of how I died….

Chapter 10

…. yeah……. I wish!