The Mohans were a humble, yet happy family. They owned a small restaurant in the east part of town, in an area where no one would visit, and somehow, their business was always bustling with customers, ready to try their aromatic dishes. But, the Mohans would never brag about their successes to the other habitants in town. In fact, many believed the Mohans did not take pride in anything that they had accomplished. That was until Parishi Mohan was born.

Parishi Mohan was special. She was exceptionally talented and radiated with beauty. She excelled at everything she put her mind to, even though she was very young. And most importantly, she had a kind heart. Everyone in the town loved Parishi and she soon became the town’s most coveted member. When the Mohans were expecting another child, everyone predicted that their second child would be just as pure and talented as their first. They were wrong, as Soniya Mohan was nothing like her sister. Soniya wasn’t exceptional in any way. She was an ordinary child, who lacked social skills. She was frightened of every person, and spent most of her time in her room, drawing. The Mohans weren’t disappointed by this fact, though. They were extremely happy to be blessed with two daughters. Their lives suddenly turned upside down when the police showed up at their door one day.

“It’s your daughter. She ran away and died,” the police had told them. Everyone expected the daughter to be Soniya, except, it wasn’t. Parishi had died, and Soniya found her body in the lake. Mrs. Mohan was so shocked when she learned Parishi, perfect Parishi, had died, she fainted and had to be hospitalized. The police brought Soniya home, in bloodstained clothes, and the community took one look at her and decided she was the culprit.

“She was jealous,” they would say. “That’s why she killed Pari. Why else would she have so much blood on her clothes?” And that’s how Soniya spent the rest of her life in that town. Living as a criminal, even though she was proven to be innocent. The people of the town recoiled at her sight, running away as she got close to them. Her own parents ignored her struggles and continued to mourn for Parishi while living in that town.

It’s been 12 years since her death yet the town still mourns for her. The whole town would set up a play for the Mohans, acting like they still cared about Parishi Mohan. Soniya knew it was a lie, for she saw the town for who they really were. Her parents failed to see behind their lies. The town suffocated her but she wasn’t able to leave. Every place she went to reminded her of her sister that she doesn’t even have memories of. The people of the town made sure to remind her of the death which she had supposedly caused. Children would play games, trying to see if they would be cursed if they touched Soniya. This behavior doesn’t hurt her anymore. In the past, she would cry to her parents about this mistreatment but she knows better now. She knows of the blindfold her parents wear everyday, and she knows she’ll constantly be a target. She knows the town’s manipulative lies. What she didn’t know was that the murderer would return. 

Soniya learned of the news while she was eating during lunch. She dropped her plate and it clashed with the ground with a bang, causing everyone’s attention to be shifted towards her. She stared at the T.V. in her cafeteria, rereading the words on the screen: Murder at 5:15 yesterday in Mabel’s Bookstore.

“We all know who the murderer is,” she heard a girl say. Soniya turned around and saw Maricela with her gand, smirking. “C’mon Mohan. Confess. We all know you did it.” Soniya broke eye contact and bent over to pick up her food. She felt something smash against her head.

“Get out, killer!” someone yelled. Soniya didn’t recognize the voice and she refused to look up. The whole room quickly bursted into remarks, yelling and rebuking.

“You heard them,” Marcela jeered, bending down to Soniya’s level, forcing her to make eye contact. “Get out.” Soniya left her plate on the floor and walked out of the cafeteria as she kept repeating what she had read in a book; don’t react and they won’t bother you. She knew it was a lie, but she wanted to believe it.

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As soon as she entered the class, she felt everyone’s eyes on her, piercing through her soul, spitting remarks about her outburst. A shiver went down her spine as she recalled an old memory that she had forgotten: 

a red pool, 

her small stained fingers, 

The eyes of everyone on her,

And their quiet voices that seemed to pierce the air around her

“You filthy scum. How dare you ruin this town!”

“Leave. Get your filthy hands away from me!”

The beating of her heart, throbbing in her ears

Breathing heavily yet not being able to get enough air

“Soni!” a scream so far yet so piercing. 

Darkness hugged her as she plunged into the unknown

She could feel her heartbeat rising, but couldn’t understand why. Her vision started to cloud, and she felt something wet roll down her cheeks. Everyone stared at her while she tried to stop the tears from falling. 

“God I wish she would stop that fake act of hers,” Maricela said in a carrying whisper. 

“Hey, Maricela,” her friend, Kathrine, nudged her. “Don’t.” Kathrine’s apple green eyes darted towards Soniya, clear fear in her eyes.

“What? Everyone during lunch was talking about how fake she is. Didn’t everyone say they want her to drop her act and die?” The last tear rolled down her cheek and before she could compose herself, Soniya felt her arm move on its own and strike Maricela’s cheek.

“What the hell! Why would you punch me?”

“I don’t know, Maricela. It’s not like you just insulted me.” Soniya quickly covered her mouth, her eyes widening, before something else rolled off her tongue. She saw the spot redden and saw the dumbfounded expression on Maricela’s face change into a malicious one.

“What did you just say?” she asked, seethingly. She grabbed Soniya by her collar and spat in her ear, “You shouldn’t even be here, you little shit. Your poor sister. She gave you everything and you spat everything back out and killed her. The only crime she ever committed was being your sister. So, why don’t you crawl back to where you belong, bitch. You aren’t even worthy of standing here in front of me.” Maricela let go of her collar and brushed the non-existent dust off of Soniya’s shoulder. Her lips formed into a sugary smile but it failed to cover the murderous intent in her cold and piercing eyes. Soniya felt her stomach tighten and her heartbeat was pounding her ears. 

“Hey Maricela, she isn’t worth your time. Be careful or her filth will rub onto you,” a boy named Justin laughed. Stifled giggles surrounded her and Soniya felt her skin redden.

“What’s going on?” Soniya’s math teacher, Mrs. Meyers asked. Soniya started to warm up to Mrs. Meyers this school year. She was kind to Soniya and always tried to start a conversation with her whenever she entered the classroom. Usually, Mrs. Meyers entered the room, brightening the gloomy room, but today, she had a serious and terrified expression. Everyone sensed the change in atmosphere and quickly went back to their desks, expecting Maricela to answer Mrs. Meyers. Maricela quickly changed her expression to pitiful. 

“Mrs. Meyers,” she started, in a quivering voice, “I was just trying to make Soniya feel better after what happened during lunch, as you may remember, and out of nowhere, she came up to me and punched me!” Right on cue, her eyes started tearing up, and she glanced at Soniya. 

“Soniya, I am greatly disappointed in you. I didn’t expect this kind of rowdy behavior from you.” Mrs. Meyers frowned in Soniya’s direction, folding her arms, waiting for Soniya’s reply. Fuck it, Soniya thought. People will keep stepping over me if I don’t say something first.

“She’s lying, Mrs. Meyers, I swear. She was slandering and taunting me!” Soniya yelled. People around Soniya gasped, surprised at her sudden outburst. She was taken back by her own behavior. She didn’t mean to yell at Mrs. Meyers.

“Soniya, why are you yelling at me?” she asked. “Are you seriously claiming that Maricela is fake crying?” Before Soniya could even reply, Mrs. Meyers started speaking again. “Soniya, I know how fake crying works and nobody can fake cry that quickly. I know you had a rough day so I’ll let you off today however, if this ever happens again, I’m afraid you’ll be explaining this situation to the principal instead. Especially if you act up like this again. This behavior is unacceptable.” Mrs. Meyers let out a frustrated sigh. Soniya stood there, dumbfounded, unable to comprehend what happened. Mrs. Meyers, the only person who seemed to treat her like a human being, didn’t believe her nor take her side. She’s just like everyone else, Soniya thought, I’m such an idiot for thinking that for once, someone actually cared for me and believed me.

Maricela sat back in her seat, dropping her act, sneering in Soniya’s direction. She quietly high-fived Kathrine, hiding it from Mrs. Meyers but intentionally doing it in front of Soniya in order to taunt her. 

Mrs. Meyers shifted the class’s attention to the guy next to her, who Soniya didn’t even notice due to the altercation. He was the popular guy type, the one that’s tall with lean muscles meant for sports, with brown hair and kind brown eyes. Great, she thought, another asshole to join the club. She could already hear Maricela and her friends giggling, probably thinking of ways to make him theirs. Soniya had no intention of interacting with this boy. She only had two years left of highschool and she planned on spending them by staying away from Maricela and her gang of minions. The guy sharply turned his head in Soniya’s direction, as if he heard her thoughts. It felt as if he was staring right into her soul. Shudders ran down her spine. Why are his eyes fixed towards my direction?

“My name is Aspen,” he said, keeping his eye contact with Soniya. His voice seemed heavy and his expression was solemn, unlike what Soniya had anticipated. Soniya thought his eyes glinted with poor intentions. His attention lingered in Soniya’s attention for a little bit more, until he finally seceded and broke his intense gaze. His eyes darted around the room, like how a predator would spy for his next prey. The air around them became cold, and the tension in the room started to rise. “Aspen Harver.” His eyes locked again with Soniya, this time with anger in his eyes. She had a feeling she had seen him before, but couldn’t figure out where. “And I am a transfer student.” Soniya withdrew first this time and looked down at her clammy hands. She felt an inexplicable rising panic. Why was the guy here? And why did he keep looking at me like he wanted me dead? Who exactly is this guy?