Vicious Killings

[amfiguree]

[Slash/Het] ['Eggie', Kunar, Murphy, Neo Puay Puay] [NC-17 for murder and disturbing themes]



Vicious Killings

Author’s note: Anyway, for this story, I just decided I’m going to use the characters’ last names or whatever nicknames I’ve come up with for them, with the help of Ubrina, Jessica and a bunch of other people. It contains mild slash and is VERY violent.

~Kunar~

“Oh my god!” Neo Puay Puay squealed, running to Priscilla Murphy’s desk. “Oh my god! Did you see him? Did you? DID you?”

Murphy tittered at Puay Puay’s squealing. “See who?” she asked, vaguely amused. Puay Puay was well known for getting overly excited over small matters such as watching a pin drop to the floor from the tabletop.

“That cute pock-marked faced guy!” Eggie gushed, running up to the table. “That computer freak hunk! Oh my god, I can’t breathe properly!” Eggie used her hands to fan her face and did a lame imitation of fainting into a chair.

Murphy just rolled her eyes. “Which guy HASN’T made you swoon? Honestly, you people need to get a hobby so you can get your mind OFF of guys who aren’t even worth a second glance. And - whoa, who the hell is that cutie?”

Puay Puay put her hand over her heart dramatically, “That’s the one. We’re destined to be together, I can feel it. Oh, my heart flutters so.”

Eggie rolled her eyes at Puay Puay before turning back to Murphy with a smirk on her face, “And who said what about getting a hobby?”

Murphy poked her tongue out at Eggie. “Are you trying to act five again, Murphy?” I laughed as I walked into the staff room. The four of us had been best friends for what seemed like forever. A lot of the time we got comments about us being the stupidest, most immature bunch of teachers anyone could find, and though I hated to admit it, I knew that was the truth.

“Shuddup Kunar,” Murphy pouted, sticking out her bottom lip. “You don’t even know what we’re talking about.”

I was intrigued. Whenever Murphy pouted it meant she was not in a very good mood. And I enjoyed watching her getting annoyed. “All right, I give in. What’s so interesting?” I asked.

“Can you stop using your BIG BIG words? Can’t you just stick with the bloody basics?” Puay Puay frowned, adding on to her ugliness, which was already enough to send men reeling backwards and running for cover. Not that I was any better, although I *was* married…

I rolled my eyes, “What… is… so… COOL… girls?” I asked again, slower this time, emphasizing the word ‘cool’, just for Puay Puay’s benefit. Sometimes talking to her made me feel like I was talking to a four-year-old who just learnt how to speak.

“That guy!” Eggie giggled like a drunkard, pointing to the pock-marked face fellow, who was walking past us at the time. He turned and gave us a polite, strange look and smiled slowly before leaving the room.

“AHH!” Murphy, Eggie and Puay Puay screamed at the same time. “He likes me! Oh my god, he so likes me!” Puay Puay insisted.

Murphy narrowed her eyes. “He does NOT! He was looking at ME!”

“No! ME!” Eggie screamed, stamping her foot on the ground like a spoilt three-year-old. “He was looking straight at me! Come on, can’t you two take a hint? There is NO WAY he would like YOU!”

I sighed and shook my head. He was looking at me, I wanted to tell them but I decided to drop it. Then again, I was sure I had seen his eyes sparkle as he checked me out, but I shook my head and laughed. Then my eyes glazed over and a dreamy look came over my face. All I could think of was… him. Not the computer freak, but my new assistant. He was cute, funny and everything a woman could want.

I tuned back into the conversation between my three best friends just in time to hear Puay Puay scream, “But you’ve got a husband!”

The staff room turned eerily quiet. The other teachers went about their work as if nothing was wrong - they had witnessed scenes far worse than this - but Eggie could only gape at Puay Puay, dumbfounded. Murphy had tears in her eyes and it was apparent that she was going to start bawling any minute.

Three… two… one… I counted silently in my head as the explosion came. Murphy opened her huge mouth and wailed. “HOW… C-C-COULD YOU S-SAY THAT TO M-M-ME?” she screamed, in between humungous, gulping sobs. “You’re… s-supposed t-to b-b-be my b-b-best friends!”

Puay Puay rolled her eyes. “Just can it, Murph. Grow up already.”

I stared at Puay Puay in shock. “Puay Puay…” I murmured, stopping the fight.

Eggie just shook her head. “This is not good,” she muttered, slipping out of the classroom, hopefully unnoticed. “I’m gone.”

I turned at the creak of the door, noticing Eggie’s head curve around the doorway and outside. I sighed and scooped my books into my arms, hugging them to my chest. “I’ve got a Geography class,” I told Murphy, trying to soothe her. “I’ll see you later, all right?”

With that, I left a dumbstruck Puay Puay and a wailing Murphy alone in the staff room. I didn’t know what they were going to do, but at the moment, I didn’t really care. After all, I was going to see HIM again, and that was all that mattered to me right then. He was the only one I wanted to see. And hopefully, he might feel the same way about me too.

“All right class, do you understand?” I asked loudly, pretending not to notice that at least half the class was asleep. I rapped sharply on the nearest desk, feigning ignorance when I saw Christopher’s head jerk upwards, indicating that he had been asleep. I was eager to get over with the class and I could tell they were just aching to kick me out too.

“Yes,” I sighed at the half hearted reply, but I perked up when the bell rang. I screeched out a homework assignment for them, taking no notice of the groans from the students.

I finally closed my book, pretending not to hear the obvious sigh of relief that rushed through the class and smiling flirtatiously at Chris, “C’mon, let’s go.”

Christopher nodded and stood up, smiling at the student sitting closest to him. She smiled back quickly before turning back to her friends and giggling. Christopher pushed himself up off of his chair and headed outside to follow me to the next class.

Chris groaned inwardly when he saw the number of classes he had left to attend with me. This is going to be a long day… I could practically read his thoughts as he followed me outside.

“You know something?” a girl whispered as she watched Chris trudge out of the classroom, dragging his feet as possible.

“What?” Another girl whispered back.

“Kunar’s got a huge crush on that guy.”

“So you noticed it too, huh?”

The two girls continued to watch in silence as Kunar slipped her arm through Chris’ and pulled him towards their next class, practically dragging him along behind her.

“Chris,” I whispered, slapping his face lightly. “It’s time to go home.”

He stirred and smiled up at me, making my breath catch in my throat. He was so unbelievably cute! I licked my lips nervously, thinking to myself, You’re a married woman, you’re a married woman…

“Uh, do you want a ride home?” Chris offered as he stood up and stretched his long frame. His clear black eyes pierced into mine as he smiled and extended his arm to me.

I took it without a second’s hesitation, surprising both him and me. “Uh, I wouldn’t mind,” I smiled, trying to hide my nervousness. “You know, if it was on the way and everything.”

Great, I told myself. Now you’re babbling. Jeez, Kunar, how lame can you get? Calm down, he’s just a kid.

Yeah and he also happens to be the cutest, smartest, handsomest - is there such a word? - oh gosh, who cares? He’s so cute… whoa, come on, Kunar, get those hormones under control here. You’re acting like he just asked you out on a date or something.

I took a deep breath and tried to keep myself under control but my eyes kept straying back to him. The way he walked, the way he nodded slightly with a warm smile to acknowledge the odd student who greeted him, the way his laughter always brightened the worst day… the way I was married.

As if reading my thoughts, Chris turned to me and offered a small, almost hesitant, smile. “Are you okay?” he asked softly.

I nodded quickly, trying to hide the blush showing on my cheeks. All at once I remembered the time Eggie said that it was obvious when I blushed because of my dark skin colour. That brought back a rush of memories I could have done without.

Like the time Murphy told me that the only thing that was darker than charcoal was me. And the time Puay Puay said I was - ugh - ‘colored’. My cheeks burned brighter and I could feel Chris’ eyes on me.

“Dammit,” I cursed under my breath, wanting nothing more than to get out of the building.

Chris seemed to sense my unease and shrugged, tugging his arm gently out of my grasp. “It’s okay if you’re not too comfortable with the idea, you know. I mean, I could call you a cab or something.”

Great, now he thought I didn’t want to hang around him, when that was all I was - and very guiltily - thinking of. Ugh, cheesy line, I thought to myself, as I shook my head quickly. “I would LOVE to take a ride with you, Chris.” I smiled, hoping he would get the hint.

He did. He nodded and chewed on his bottom lip. “All right, hop in.”

“Oh…oh god… yeah, higher, higher… c’mon Chris, just a little harder… oh yeah… lower, lower… uh huh… ohh…” I groaned in pleasure as Chris’ HANDS kneaded into the tired muscles of my neck. We had just come back from lunch, and he had offered to massage me when I complained loudly about the crick in my neck. And god, was he good at it.

I heard giggling outside the door and my head shot up, taking Chris by surprise. His hands dropped to his side and he looked curiously at me. I gave him a quick smile before striding to the door and pulling it open. Aha! I thought triumphantly. Just as I suspected.

Puay Puay, Eggie and Murphy were standing at the door, gaping at me. I glanced back at my table and realized I had taken my coat off. I shrugged and turned back to the three of them. “What?” I snapped, hoping they would take the hint and leave.

Eggie was staring at my disheveled state, and considering the five classes I had taught just that morning, I wasn’t surprised. My hair was in a mess, my lips were burning and swollen, thanks to the red hot laksa I had just eaten. My blouse was buttoned wrongly and my skirt was kinda scrunched up. I stood there, tapping my foot and waiting for them to leave.

Puay Puay shared a dark look with Murphy before bursting into a tirade of giggles yet again. “Oh my gosh…” Eggie grinned as she pulled me out of the room, leaving a mildly amused Chris standing at my desk. “Oh gosh, Kunar! That… how could you do it in SCHOOL? If the students had come by, or the PRINCIPAL! What would you have said if she caught you at it?”

I was confused, and I told them so. “What?”

“You and Chris… Oh gosh, I know you like him, Kunar. But school is just… oh gosh! You better stop. Your lips are swollen and… and I mean, just LOOK at you!” Murphy gushed.

I still didn’t quite get it, but I was slowly beginning to understand. “Oh. OH! OH, you don’t think… Chris and me… you think we…” I began to laugh. I laughed so hard tears began streaming down my face. “Oh my gosh… no no, nothing like that. He was… oh god… you three really…”

I just shook my head, still laughing, and went back into the room.

“She’s done for.”

“Yep.”

“Well, we tried,” the three shook their heads at the door before sighing and setting off down the empty hallway.

I sat back down at my desk, still laughing. The thought of me and Chris… together… it just made me laugh. No, not Chris and me together… but Chris and me together in SCHOOL. THAT was a dumb image. Chris chuckled as he looked down at me, “Mind sharing the joke?”

I just shook my head and continued giggling. Chris just smiled. That made my breath catch. AGAIN. It seemed to be doing a lot of that whenever Chris was around. Blood was pounding in my ears and I just knew that I was going to scream soon. I stared at Chris openly, unable to stop myself.

The more I thought about it, the more it seemed to make sense. After all, Chris and I were meant to be. I could just feel it. I felt it the moment he walked through the door for our first class together, felt it when he smiled and laughed, felt it when he opened his mouth to talk, felt it when he drove me home the night before… I felt it all the time. And there was no way I could stop it anymore. I might be married, but don’t they always say that love comes when you least expect it?

“Chris…” I began, reaching out to touch him gently on the shoulder. I felt him stiffen as he turned to me with a small, questioning smile. “Um…” my throat was suddenly dry. I glanced at my watch and released the breath I hadn’t even realized I was holding. “It’s time for our next class.”

“Oh.” Chris said, sounding as disappointed as I felt. He scooped him books into his arms and set off at a trot for the classroom. I walked after him, slowly. After this class, I told myself. I’ll tell him after this class.

I almost groaned out loud. Chris was going to show the class something. It had to do with pouring water down his wrists. Something about watching the water slide down his smooth skin made a rather agreeable tingle run down my spine. I grinned, remembering the massage that had been oh-so-good. Chris must have noticed the look in my eyes that just screamed ‘YOU’RE SO SEXY!!!’ - note the capital letters and punctuation - because he decided against it in the end, disappointing the class, as well as myself, very badly. I decided I wouldn’t wait anymore. I would tell him right after this class. I *needed* him.

As soon as the class was over, I dragged Chris to a deserted stairway and stared into his eyes. He looked down at me, innocently asking what I needed. I didn’t answer, just bent forward and kissed him on the lips.

His eyes widened and he pushed me away, staring at me with a dazed look on his face. “Come on,” I heard myself purr. “You know you want me.”

I didn’t give him any time to answer, just pressed my lips onto his again, more forcefully this time. We were teetering dangerously on the edge of the staircase and Chris struggled to free himself from my grasp.

It was as though I was possessed, the way I just held on to him and kissed him. His hands were waving wildly and maybe that was why we overbalanced in the first place. The next thing I knew we were rolling down the stairs, getting bruises in every place imaginable.

I knew I screamed but that was the last thing I remember. My head hit something and I gave in to the black spots that were clouding my vision…

Chris stared at Kunar’s motionless, bleeding body for a few seconds. The sight engraved itself into his mind. He sat numbly for a few minutes, feeling his body ache all over. He rolled over once he realized what it was that he was sitting on - Kunar’s ass. So that’s what was so cushiony. He thought to himself, before quickly cutting the thought off.

His hands began to shake when he realized Kunar was dead. He was in a dark stairwell with a dead woman lying next to him, her own blood surrounding her in a deep, red pool. Chris stared at Kunar’s badly disfigured body. Her arms and legs were twisted at strange angles, which was a telltale that they were fractured. His eyes traveled up her body to her face - and he saw that her eyes were open.

Chris opened his mouth, then. And screamed.

~Murphy~

I willed the tears to come. But they didn’t.

We were at Kunar’s funeral, just days after she was found to be dead. I realized I didn’t miss her at all. Maybe we hadn’t been as close as we thought. I tried squeezing the smallest drop of pity from myself, and… nothing. I sighed in frustration, wondering what her family would think of me.

Maybe she doesn’t deserve my sympathy, I thought to myself, but it was obvious, even to me, that I was just trying to make myself feel better. Maybe she deserved death for her sin. Christopher is in the hospital now and he’s having a mental breakdown thanks to her. Her kids have lost their mother and her husband has lost the love of his life. All because of a crush.

I shook my head slowly, when I realized that was what was happening to me as well. But I’m not going to do anything about it, I reasoned. Puay Puay likes him and she’s free to have him. I’m just gonna sit back and watch. After all, it’s not wrong to have a crush every once in a while, is it?

Of course not! I told myself, laughing when I saw Eggie almost push Puay Puay into the hole that had been dug for Kunar’s coffin. But I sighed instead and my husband wrapped his arm around my shoulders instinctively. And I leaned into his warmth guiltily.

I didn’t understand myself sometimes. I had a great husband, a great family, and still I wanted more. I pouted and Eggie came bounding over at once, smiling in greeting. My husband smiled back politely, wincing when Eggie dragged me out of his sight.

“See what happens to married women who are unfaithful?” Eggie hissed in my ear.

I rolled my eyes and patted Eggie on the shoulder. “Thank you SO much for looking out for me, Eggie!”

Eggie puffed her chest out in pride and I sighed at her stupidity again. “Eggie… I was being sarcastic, you know?”

Eggie’s face fell, then she shrugged. “Not like I care. But anyway, just make sure you stay away from the I.T. guy!”
That was our nickname for the cute guy we had seen a few days ago. No one would tell us his real name and the three of us were far too shy to go up and ask him. Well, so we weren’t. But it would be totally and utterly demoralizing. I mean, how could we just ask another teacher for his name?

So we came up with the code name - I.T. guy. He was a computer freak and really smart.

His glasses hid his sparkling black eyes. And he had a bad case of acne. But it didn’t matter. He was a cute guy all the same. And just the thought of his smile made me shiver and my knees go week.

“Ohh…” I couldn’t help moaning softly and Eggie looked at me with a bemused expression on her face. “What?” I snapped irritably.

“You’re still thinking about him, aren’t you?”

I blushed and nodded, “Guilty as charged.”

“Huh?” I rolled my eyes and shook my head, remembering that neither Puay Puay nor Eggie were very well-versed in English. “Never mind,” I told Eggie, “Yes, I still think about him.”

“That’s obvious,” Eggie smirked and I resisted the urge to smack her already disfigured face. “You know, you should stop thinking of him. Firstly, you’re married, and second, Puay Puay and me are already mooning over him. There’s no more room for competition, if you get what I mean.”

I took a quick step backwards, hoping I wouldn’t do anything rash. I tried telling myself that Eggie meant well, but tears came to my eyes and my lips began trembling. Eggie must have recognized the signs because she lifted her hands to her ears and squeezed her eyes shut.

Yep, in less than a few seconds, I was bawling. I couldn’t help it, honest! Okay, so I did force the tears, but without them, I’d be defenseless. Eggie and Puay Puay never let a day pass without teasing me.

I felt Puay Puay’s hand on my shoulder and I just wailed even louder. I didn’t want to hear her talk about I.T guy or Kunar or anything! I wished I didn’t even know her!

I was tired. I was really, really tired. I hate being married, I realized. It wasn’t my husband, it wasn’t the family, it wasn’t Eggie, it wasn’t even Puay Puay! I just hated committing myself to something, because I knew in the end I wouldn’t even do it anyway. And that’s what killed me. If I started something, I wanted to finish it. I hated just letting stuff dangle there.

I sighed and finally consented to stop my screaming. No one else seemed to have noticed and my shoulders sagged. I was through with the funeral. I didn’t want to see Kunar being buried, hell, I wasn’t even sure if I cared anymore. I just wanted to go home. And cry. Real tears.

I jumped into the car, ignoring my husband’s protests. I gunned the engine and left him, and the damned funeral, in a cloud of dust.

I drove around aimlessly, wondering what to do. I was going to get a divorce, that was the only thing clear on my mind. It wasn’t that he wasn’t good to me, it’s just… I felt that I needed more space. I was sick of staring at the same face over and over again every single night.

I felt choked. I wanted more breathing space. I wanted more time on my own. I wanted the old me back. The me that would drop everything as long as my boyfriend promised to take me for an expensive candlelight dinner, the same me that would cry onto my pillow when he didn’t show up, the me that was always so carefree and happy, so thankful just because it was a new day… I was so sick of promises that I didn’t even want to keep.

I sighed and rolled the window down, smiling when the breeze hit my face. Then my smile turned into a scowl when the wind blew so hard that my hair whipped my face painfully. “Ouch!” I screamed, rolling up the window as quickly as I could. But my troubles didn’t end there. Nope, my hair got caught in between the wind shield and I yelled curses as I tried to wrench my hair out of the stupid car’s grasp.

When I had finally gotten my temper somewhat under control, I drove to school, hoping to work off some of my anger marking papers for my students. I would just fail anyone who’s name ticked me off. I grinned as I parked in the parking lot. It was going to be a fun day, I decided as I got out of the car. I was going to make it that way.

“Yoohoo!” I yelled, my voice echoing through the empty school halls and making me shudder. I hated being alone. That, I remembered, was one of the reasons I had gotten married. I was sick of being alone too. My dates had always gone wrong; I was always ‘too fat’ or ‘too short’ or ‘just not their type’. I poked out my tongue and tried sucking in my waist, trying to wrap my pudgy arms around my body, but that, of course, was an impossible task.

I sighed finally, and gave up. There was no way I’d be able to get my arms all the way around my stomach. I’d tried before, and it hadn’t worked then either. I didn’t think I had shed any fat since then, so what good would it do? I pouted my lips into a sultry look and swayed my hips to and fro.

I grinned when I realized no one else was around. That meant that I was free to roam around the school for as long as I wanted. Score!

I whistled tunelessly as I strolled into the Science laboratory. I wasn’t even sure which laboratory I was in, all I knew was that it was my favourite laboratory in the whole school. It was the one with cabinets full of acids and litmus paper and acids and alkalis and acids and… well, acids.

I had this strange obsession with acids. They fascinated me; the way they burned through everything if they weren’t diluted properly. I shook my head, clearing my mind of the mental images that were suddenly popping up - most of them having to do with the I.T. guy being tied to the bed and me having my way with him. I’d use lots of acid… oh yeah…

I blushed when I heard a group of students come into the Science laboratory. They stared at each other, gaping, when they saw me in the room, standing there like an idiot. I shoved my hands into my pockets, before realizing that I wasn’t wearing jeans, or any other pants that had pockets in them. I ducked my head as the students began sniggering at me.

My cheeks burned and I muttered something unintelligible as I started to push past them. But I was totally ignorant to the BIG glass container they were carrying in between them. As soon as I shoved them, I knew I had made a big mistake.

Acid splashed all over me and burned into my skin. I screamed and screamed and screamed as the pain took over my senses. Lord help me, I thought desperately, trying to keep my body from shaking so hard from the pain. I’m going to die! I’m going to die!

I reached out and grabbed whatever I could. The students’ clothes, hair, belt… anything. I could hear them crying and screaming for help but it didn’t matter. I bit down on my lip so hard I could taste blood. I didn’t want to scream, it just hurt my throat.

And I was already hurting so bad. The acid was eating me alive and I was suddenly itching all over. I trembled at the thought of myself shrinking into nothing but a skeleton.

Don’t be stupid, I chided myself as tears began streaming down my cheeks. My knees were weak and I sank onto the floor, stars dancing in circles around my head. You’re so sweet and kind and… and smart and you’re so loved by your students. You won’t die now… can’t die now…

The students were screaming my name now, I was sure of it. I thought I saw a smile on one of their faces, but I wasn’t sure.

My vision blurred and everything swam in and out of vision. I was only half-conscious, I was sure. I could feel myself slipping… slipping into a dark, black void and falling down… down… down…

Into a hospital bed.

Yep, I was now officially hospitalized. I was wrapped up in bandage from head to toe and I looked like only god-knows-what. It even hurt to cry. I tried lifting my limp hand from my side but I couldn’t - it hurt too much.

I could hear sniffling at my side and I turned, painfully, to see the tears in my husband’s eyes. His eyes were swollen and puffy and his nose was red. I couldn’t help thinking how alike he and Rudolph were.

I shook my head, and winced. I suddenly realized that any movement, no matter how slight, would cause me pain and I froze. I didn’t want to inflict any more pain on myself than I could help.

“Honey, are you all right?”

I looked up and felt anger course through me. What was my husband crying for? He was supposed to be strong for me, but what was he doing? He was crying, dammit! And I hadn’t even shed a tear yet. I turned away from him and didn’t answer.

I wouldn’t speak to him the whole time he was there. I was breaking his heart, I knew. But I didn’t care. After all, he deserved some kind of punishment for being a weakling. Didn’t he?

When he finally left I heaved a sigh of relief, but tensed when the nurses came into my ward. “What?” I snapped, irritably.

The nurses just kept staring at me, and finally, I realized what the hell they were staring at. Oh my god… oh… my… god… those were the only three words that could come to my mind. I looked down and felt my chests. They were flat.

“Shit,” I muttered under my breath.

The nurses sighed and shook their heads. “Mrs. Murphy? You do realize that what you have contracted…”

Their voices trailed off and I realized they were embarrassed about talking about breasts. Or my lack thereof. I rolled my eyes, pointed to where my breasts should have been, crossed my arms across my chest and said, “I’ve got breast cancer and those stupid artificial ones fell out, didn’t they?” The nurses just nodded numbly, their cheeks burning.

I sighed and waved them out of the room, noticing the way they bounded out happily, almost thankfully. I rolled my eyes again and then brought my fingers to my chest, but there was nothing there.

I was reduced to the Murphy I had always been - a flat-chested, fat, ugly PIG and that’s all there was to me. I sighed and pouted. It was so unfair. I’d paid good money for those things.

I was just practicing one of my more famous pouts - the one I used whenever I wanted something, which was pretty often - when the doctor came in. He smiled kindly at me but his words fell on deaf ears.

I only vaguely remembered him saying something about getting a blood sample, and a sample of the acid, so that he could do something about my ‘skin condition’. I snorted out loud, startling him.

“Sorry, sorry.” I muttered as he dropped the cup he was holding onto the table and left the room in a hurry.

“Jeez, just because I’m in the hospital doesn’t mean I need to be admitted to the asylum as well, you know,” I muttered to myself, as soon as the doctor had stepped out of the room.

I switched on the television, hoping for some kind of distraction from the silence that was permeating the room. It worked… for about ten seconds. Then my gaze wandered back to the table and I reached out for the cup that stood there. I was thirsty and I desperately needed a drink.

Just as I was about to take the cup, I realized the doctor may have been drinking from that very same cup. I shuddered at the thought and called for a nurse. Then I waited for her to come… and waited… and waited some more. Then I just gave up and snatched up the inviting cup of water on the table.

I tipped the cup and emptied the drink down my throat, knowing almost instinctively that I had done the wrong thing. The ‘water’ burned a path down my lungs and into my stomach. Shit, I realized. That was the bloody acid. I shook my head at my own stupidity, reaching out to press a button and get the doctor. But my hands wouldn’t move.

I tried to scream, but my mouth wouldn’t open. It was as though the acid had glued my body together. It was terrifying. I’m going to faint here! I thought, realizing that there was no way out of the gruesome end I had put myself in. I supposed I asked for it, though, I thought grudgingly.

I closed my eyes and waited for the black dots to start taking over my vision. I was sure someone would find me soon. So it didn’t really matter. I would scream my head off at my husband when I woke up. That was all he was really good for - a venting post of some sort. I smiled, then black curtains took over my vision, controlling my mind.

~Puay Puay~

I sighed and shook my head, not understanding where we had gone wrong. Two of my best friends were dead in the same week. It was freaky in a way, because it made me wonder if I was next on whoever’s list it was who was determined to take us down.

But I cleared those thoughts away soon enough, and got wrapped up in the right shade of eye shadow and lipstick and cheek colour soon enough. I forgot all about Murphy and Kunar. And it was only two hours after Murphy’s cremation. Not that I cared.

“It’s weird,” Eggie mused.

I rolled my eyes. Eggie’s ideas are usually not very bright or smart. “What’s weird, Eggie?” I asked tiredly, hoping she would be lost in her own little world and not reply me.

No such luck.

“That Kunar and Murphy died in the same week,” she said, her voice devoid of emotion. Her face didn’t give any feelings away either.

I wasn’t surprised. Eggie never did feel much for anyone besides herself. Unlike me. I was painfully aware of the feelings of people around me and I usually found that I was always giving in to what they wanted, instead of what I wanted. And in the end, I would be hurting myself.

That was why I was determined that the I.T. guy liked me. And that we would be perfect together.

Huh. Don’t I make a lot of sense?

Eggie rolled onto her back and I flinched. The mere thought of sleeping on something that she had lain on gave me goose bumps. I made a mental note to change my bed sheets.

“What if someone is planning all this? What if we’re going to die next? What if the next target is YOU?” Eggie was becoming slightly hysterical. And I couldn’t help feeling a bit uneasy myself.

“Shuddup doofus,” I told her, rolling my eyes. It took me about five minutes to figure out that I’d been rolling my eyes a lot lately. It was probably my favourite to-do thing right now. “If there is a next target, which I bet there isn’t, it would be YOU, not ME! So stop with the stupid cursing already, okay?”

“Why would it be me?” Eggie asked, after the tense moment of silence had passed.

I just rolled my eyes, hoping she would shut up, get the hint and leave. It’s not that I didn’t want company, it’s just that SOME people weren’t good enough to be called company. I did mention that I was the most thoughtful person in the world, didn’t I?

Well, anyway, I was just feeling irritated with Eggie and hoping she’d leave me in peace when the phone rang. Eggie flew to pick it up and I rolled my eyes AGAIN for the, what - third or was it fourth? - time that evening.

“Helloooooooooooooo?” Eggie sang, dragging the ‘o’. She knew that I hated it when she did that, but she didn’t care. No one does. “Yes, this is Puay Puay’s apartment. No, I’m a friend. Here she is.”

Eggie handed to phone to me, mouthing, “It’s for you.”

I just rolled my eyes and snatched the phone out of her pudgy fingers. “Gee, thanks, you know, with the way you were speaking I never would have guessed that I was the only Puay Puay around here.”

Eggie looked hurt and I turned away from her with the toss of my head. There she goes again, I thought, cringing inwardly. Feeling that bloody sense of pity for herself. Grr…

“Hello?” I said, my voice clipped. “You’re next,” a raspy voice whispered.

It was a voice so full of hatred and anger and… and a kind of sadistic satisfaction that I felt a shiver run down my spine. “What? Excuse me? Who is this? Listen up, buddy, you’d better stop-“

“You’re next,” the voice said one last time before the phone slammed down. I rubbed my ear angrily, wondering what all that meant.

I put down the phone and turned to face Eggie. “Hey, do you mind if I told you I wanted you to get lost?”

There was an expression of confusion on Eggie’s face and I had to resist the urge to laugh. I pushed her fat butt in the direction of the door and hissed, “The door is THAT way. Now leave.”

Eggie shrugged and, pushing open the door dramatically, left the house. I winced when I heard the door slam, hoping Eggie hadn’t broken anything. She wasn’t exactly the most careful person I knew.

I sighed and flopped back down on my bed, wishing I had more friends. All three friends I had were stupid and artificial and… dead. Well, two of them. I pouted when I realized I was bored. There was no one to talk to, to make fun of, to laugh at…

“Why did y’all have to go and die for?” I muttered, under my breath. “And you leave me stuck here with that bitch, Eggie, and you KNOW I don’t even REALLY like her. I just… I just put up with her, is all.”

Cursing under my breath, I tugged on a sweater and flung my door open, almost regretting my decision on getting rid of Eggie. I would have liked some company. The phone call was still freaking me a little, and I was on edge. I kicked the cluttered stack of clothes blocking the floor and trampled all over them, feeling a surge of satisfaction. I wanted, no, needed to vent. All the frustration and annoyance. I just needed a punching bag.

“Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn…” I panted, still jumping up and down on the clothes. From a clean and bright shade of white, they were now stained black with my footprints.

I shook my head in dismay when I realized the mess I had created for myself to clean up. The clothes would have to be washed and folded again, the cups I had smashed would have to be replaced, the pillows I had beaten up had to be sewn back together again… Shit, why do I always create more trouble for myself than I need? I wondered, irritated with the state of the room.

But it’s not my fault, I reasoned. After all, I need to vent once in a while. And today was just a bad BAD day. And Eggie didn’t help at all. And neither did that PATHETIC phone call. Damn, it’s been a bad day.

I chewed on my lip, contemplating my next move. Usually, I’d call my mom and force her to get all the chores done for me. I deserved a break every once in a while, right? But, considering I had made her clean up a mess not unlike this one for me two days ago…

Ah, what the hell? I thought, picking up the phone and dialing quickly, grinning inwardly.

Naturally, my mom groaned once she realized I was the one on the end of the line. “What is it THIS time, Puay Puay? Have you gone and ripped up the pillows and smashed the cups and jumped on your clothes for the SECOND time this week? When are you going to learn to clean things up for yourself? When are you ever going to GROW UP?”

“Oh ma,” I protested, pretending to be hurt. I added a sniff at the end of the sentence to emphasize my ‘pain’. “I need to rush some stuff for school. Please, please, just help me once more. It’s the last time, I promise. Honest.” I crossed my fingers behind my back as I spoke.

My mother gave a resigned sigh and I cheered myself on silently. I was going to win! My mom was going to give in! SCORE! “All right, you get to school. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

“Thanks ma!”

I kissed the receiver and slammed the phone down. “Yes!” I crowed. Then I stopped. Shit, now I really have to go back to that… JAIL… and find something to do. Dammit, why must ma always call the school to check if I’ve made it there safely?

I scowled and that only served to intensify my ugliness, as Kunar had unkindly mentioned before. I hopped into the car and sped down the street, going at a hundred kilometers per hour, humming tunelessly to myself, wondering what I was going to do at school.

“Oh wow, I’m at school. Yes, I am safe. Isn’t that cool? I actually didn’t get into an accident. Yes… I know… thank you for helping out at the house, ma… no, it isn’t raining… yes, you’ll need new pillows… yes, you’ll have to pay… no, I won’t be back anytime soon…

“Sheesh ma, I’m a grown woman, all right? I can take care of myself. There’s no need to bring dinner… no, I don’t get THAT wrapped up in work… I never forget my meal times… no, I’ve not gotten any skinnier… all right, I have to go and finish my… yes… all right, I’ll be back by nine.”

I slammed down the phone before my mom could get any further. Jeez with the way she was going on and on… you’d think she was talking to a five-year-old instead of me.

I flipped my hair over my shoulder and smiled flirtatiously at the workmen who were painting the school window, brows furrowed in concentration. “Oops!” I giggled to myself, as one of them fell down in shock. “I guess I still have that shocking appeal.”

What I didn’t see was the workman getting a heart attack. He was afraid of all women from then on. Oh well…

I walked upstairs slowly, taking my time. There was no hurry, after all. I was only due home by nine. As I clambered up the stairs, my legs started to feel numb, which was odd, considering the number of rounds I ran on the track each morning.

I shrugged and continued slowly up the steps, huffing and panting with each step. I finally realized that I had reached the top and thankfully, I sat down on the roof with a sigh. I rubbed my aching legs and tried not to look down. I didn’t like looking down from high places. But today was different. Today… it seemed like it was a wonderful thing to do.

I stood up finally and climbed up on the ledge of the roof, spreading my hands out and turning my face to the wind. Only, there was no wind. Just sun… more and more sun. It was getting hot and I began sweating.

I wonder what it would be like if I could fly, I thought to myself, looking down at the ground. Usually, I would have a dizzy spell but this time I only felt light-headed and giggly. There was a tingly sensation in my body and I had this incredible image of myself flying high, high in the sky with the birds surrounding me.

I grinned and began flapping my hands, looking like a physically disabled chicken more than anything else. “I can fly!” I yelled, to no one in particular. “Look at me! I can fly!”

Luckily for me, the car park was empty and no one heard my crazy cries besides a very inquisitive yellow bird. I giggled and waved at it, laughing out loud as it tweeted in fright.

“Hi birdie,” I giggled giddily, waving even harder, and almost losing my balance. “Look at me!” I flapped my hands even more vigorously and the bird seemed to look at me with a curious politeness. “I can FLY! I can fly, bird! Just like you can! Isn’t that cool?”

The bird tweeted.

“I can soar and glide and fly in the air, just like you can,” I rambled on. “Isn’t that amazing? I’m the only human being who can do that. It’s sooooo cool. Isn’t it? Isn’t flying cool, birdie?”

I was feeling weird, warm and fuzzy all over. I couldn’t understand it, but I didn’t care. It was so much fun, talking to the birdie and realizing that I could fly. I smiled and tweeted at the bird for a while before it flew away. I pouted and yelled, “Hey! Bird! Come back!”

I started flapping my arms and almost jumped off the ledge when a voice stopped me, pulling me back to reality. “HEY!”

“What?” I snapped.

“You… are you gonna jump?”

It was a student. Her eyes were large with fear and she had her hands in front of her, as if trying to ward me off.

“Yeah. So?”

“You can’t!”

“Why not?” I challenged. “I am SICK of people telling me what to do and how to lead my life. Why can’t I fly?”

The student licked her lips, seemingly nervous. I almost laughed. “You… you haven’t given the students a chance to tell you how much they really hate you. And… you’re a TEACHER. You are in charge of THEIR lives and you don’t see THEM trying to kill themselves.”

She glared defiantly, almost angrily, at me. “You’ve been driving so many of them nuts out there. They are given piles of homework that is impossible to finish. And you don’t see them ending their lives. They work on just the same. Are you teachers all this lame?”

I was seething now. Lame? I was a lot of things, but lame was not one of them. “All right then,” I told her through clenched teeth. “I won’t fly. Yet. After the students tell me how much they LOVE me - and prove you wrong - THEN I’ll show you how to fly.”

The student SMIRKED at me, shaking her head slowly. “No.”

“What?” I was confused. She had been practically screaming at me to get the students’ opinion and suddenly I didn’t have to anymore? Just what was she playing at?

“You know what?”

“What?”

“You can show me how to fly. Right… now…”

As she spoke the last two words, an evil grin twisted across her face and she pressed two fingers against my chest. I felt her push me lightly and I screamed, losing my footing and falling backward.

Down… down… down… I fell, still screaming.

I saw the evil student looking down after me with a sickeningly wicked smile. “Three down, one to go,” I saw her mouth, before my world suddenly went totally and completely dark.

~Eggie~

Okay. So I was freaked. You couldn’t blame me, though, could you? After all, my three best friends had died. And all in the span of one week. Was I going to be next or was this all some kind of sick coincidence?

I was sincerely hoping for the sick coincidence. Better one survive than all die, right? I reasoned with myself, shivering as I looked around the empty room. I hated being alone. I hated it.

I was staring at my hands when I heard the hinges of the door creak open, signaling that someone else was coming into the room. Great, I thought, only half-sarcastic. Someone else is here to keep me company.

“Uh… anyone here?”

I heard a soft, hesitant voice as HE stepped into the empty library. Everyone had gone home, I was sure, except the two of us. After all, it was nine at night and what else would normal school teachers do but go home? We weren’t as hardworking as we claimed. In fact, that statement was just plain bullshit. And the students who actually bought it were equally bullshit.

Anyway, my heart started pounding at a furiously fast pace. I was practically gulping for air like a goldfish, and my face was all puffed up, and my hair was flying all over the place, and my makeup wasn’t on right… I could think of a million things that was wrong with myself.

“Uh…”

HE walked right up to my table and put his books down opposite me. “Do you mind?”

“No,” I said quickly, almost too quickly. I hoped he didn’t realize I was madly in love with him. “No, go right ahead.”

He smiled his thanks before pulling out the seat with a scraping noise and plopping down into it. After a while, he looked up at me. I blushed when I realized I had been caught staring.

“Is there something on my face?”

The tone of his voice suggested that he was perhaps a little more than irritated at being looked at - no, STARED at - by women twice his age. I shrugged quickly and shook my head no.

“Oh.”

“I, um, I was just… thinking.”

I almost kicked myself. I sounded like a total dork! Sheesh, Eggie, screw this one up and you’re never gonna have another man in your life again. Okay, fine, so you have never really had one to begin with, and now you’re gonna spoil this bloody damned chance that just comes and slaps you right in the face? I don’t think so…

HE was still staring at me like I was some kind of deadly disease. I swallowed uncomfortable under his glare, but I managed to look up and force a small smile. He seemed satisfied.

He went back to reading his book.

I went back to staring.

He finally sighed and slammed the book shut, looking straight into my eyes. “All right, what?”

“Nothing, nothing,” I said quickly, shaking my head. I tried to form some stupid excuse in my mind but I was a blank. Shit, I thought. The I.T. guy is sitting there. JUST SITTING THERE! And you’re already going gaga. Get a grip, Eggie. You can do this. Come on!

“I was just wondering…” I paused for effect, smiling slightly when he leaned forward intently, as if sharing some kind of intimate secret with me. It gave me the shivers just to think about it. But it was the GOOD kind of shivers. The kind that raises your goose bumps and makes you laugh.

And I almost did - laugh, I mean.

“Do you want to go for dinner or something? I mean, I’m pretty hungry and… you know, I just… I thought maybe… forget it.”

“We could go grab a quick bite,” he offered grudgingly. “I know you’re worried you might get robbed so-"

“Or raped!” I added quickly, blushing under his amused stare.

“Raped?”

His voice was taunting me, teasing me. And all of a sudden I realized how hot the room seemed to be getting. I had difficulty swallowing, and my stomach seemed to be producing butterflies.

“Um… yeah…” I admitted slowly, wondering why he sounded so amused. But it made me smile to think that I was the one who had put the amused expression in his eyes. Not Murphy. Not Puay Puay. Me.

“I see,” he said slowly, as if contemplating the idea. I blushed furiously when I realized what he must have been thinking of. My arms went around my chest instinctively and he raised his eyebrows.

I pulled my arms back to my sides and grinned apologetically. He could check me out as much as he wanted… I just… I just needed a bit of time to adjust, that’s all.

“Let’s go then,” he said suddenly, pushing his chair backwards and making that scraping sound I absolutely couldn’t stand. I winced before nodding slowly and pushing my chair backwards softly.

He grabbed my arm and I had to ignore the rushes of adrenaline and the blood pounding in my ears. I forced my legs to move, then, and groaned when I realized they felt like lead. “Shit,” I mumbled.

He gave me another bemused look out of those black eyes and I blushed AGAIN. I hate blushing.

“So, uh, you had a good dinner, right?”

“Yeah! Yeah. It was good.”

“I’m glad.”

“Me too. Uh, listen…”

“Hmm?”

I bit my lip and prayed for the courage I needed to carry out the next part of my ‘plan’. The ultimate goal was for him to kiss me by the end of the evening. I smiled a little and said, “Do you want to go for a coffee or something? You know, just to, like, wash down dinner?”

“Sure, why not?”

I was sure I was blushing again.

He offered me his arm with a devilish grin and I felt myself falling harder and harder for the incredibly cute hunk standing with me. I grinned wide, showing my rows of teeth. Oops, I realized quickly that it had NOT been one of my better ideas. I forgot that they’re mainly black right now.

But he didn’t flinch. He didn’t even show any sign of emotion. Just shrugged and said curtly, “Come on.”

“Okay.” I said softly, careful not to let ANY bit of my teeth show. It resulted in a rather halted conversation over coffee.

“So how was the coffee?”

“Huh? We had coffee?”

He gave me a strange look and pointed at Toa Towkay, where we had just headed out from. “Uh… we DID drink that brown, sugary, sweet-tasting liquid. Remember?”

“Oh! OH! Coffee! Right. Got it.”

He gave me another funny look.

“Sorry,” I apologized. “I was, um, spacing out.”

“SPACING OUT?”

“Uh, yeah,” I blushed. “You know, not thinking. No, wait, it means I WAS thinking. I just got too caught up and-“

“No, no. I KNOW what spacing out means. I just didn’t know anyone used that term anymore.”

Oh, so now he was calling me old-fashioned, huh?

I stuck my nose in the air and said haughtily, “why not? It’s a pretty cool term and… people who don’t use it are… are IDIOTS!”

He gave me another look, but this time it was mixed with anger. “I don’t use it. At all. I suppose I’m an IDIOT?”

Oh no.

“No!” I protested, raising my hands weakly. “I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just… you… I… I’m sorry.”

He rolled his eyes and tapped his foot impatiently against the floor. “That’s it?” he demanded.

“Well, yeah!” I rolled my eyes as well. What else does he expect? For me to go on my knees and BEG forgiveness? Ain’t gonna happen, kiddo. He can go to friggin’ HELL for all I care.

“Fine.”

“FINE!” I yelled back at him, my eyes filling with tears. I had never felt so completely, utterly USED before. He had been toying around, I knew that now, and I felt so depressed.

I sprinted away from him, only to twist my ankle five minutes later. He smirked at me as he walked past my hobbling figure. I cursed him and showed him THE finger. To which, he simply replied with a shrug and a snort.

I was furious.

“Asshole! Damn him! Who needs him anyway?”

The teachers looked at me before shaking their heads and getting back to work. They had seen me in all my moods before, I was sure. This was nothing new to them.

“Not me! Oh no, definitely not me!” I muttered to myself, shredding my tissue paper into little bits, watching as they drifted to the floor, before stamping angrily on them. “He can go get his stupid little whore and… and F her for all I care! But I don’t need him, no siree.”

I was done convincing myself. I swept the mess of tissue paper away and headed for my classroom. I switched on the projector, planning on giving the students a surprisingly fun lesson and working off a bit more of my anger at that bastard, but then I realized the damned thing wasn’t working. I rolled my eyes. What a day.

I clambered up onto a table, none too gracefully, and felt around on the projector for something, anything, to clue me in on what to do.

I felt a switch and hit the button, hoping it would be like a miracle cure and just make the thing work

Just let this bloody thing work. Come on, God, you owe me this one small favor at least. I have to put up with bastards at work who have zit-covered faces, are too damned smart for their own good, are completely dorky looking… and surely right now you could do this small favor for me?

I sighed in frustration and banged on the projector when nothing seemed to work. I didn’t want to ask for help; they would call HIM, they would, and I was having none of that. I WASN’T GOING TO BEG HIM FOR HELP. He could offer his services and still I’d rather dump coffee all over him than accept a favor from him.

“COME ON!”

I was yelling, tugging at the projector, tears of anger and frustration and hurt and fear mixing on my face. I was annoyed as hell and I finally just stopped trying, rested my head on the projector and cried.

I cried so much my stomach ached. The projector started sizzling and I was afraid I might have started off a cable or something. I straightened and rubbed the tear smudges off of my face.

It didn’t help... Like I had thought it would.

I rolled my eyes and that made me feel better. At least I could go back to being sarcastic. Things weren’t as bad as they seemed.

The class filed in and I almost screamed when I saw the fan blades started to spin. There was no time for me to react. I heard voices other than my own screaming in time with me.

Then I felt a sharp pain before I heard no more.

The students were screaming. Blood was splattered across the walls and desks of the classrooms.

There were three students standing at a side, grinning evilly to themselves. Neither of them felt fear.

“Well,” one of them said.

“Mission accomplished."

~Christopher~

I walked briskly down the hall, feeling the eyes of the students upon me. But I didn’t care. It had been at least two weeks since Eggie had died. But I had only been discharged yesterday. It still felt like forever. The hospital was the worst place on earth.

I swore I would never go there again.

“Chris?”

It was him, I just knew it.

I spun around quickly, a smile on my face. My eyes lit up when I realized my guess was correct. It was the I.T. guy.
The guy I had had a crush on for so long. He looked tired.

“I’m back!” I grinned, laughing.

He just stood there staring at me. Then he grabbed me and wrapped his arms around me quickly, resting his head on my shoulder. As quickly as he had hugged me, he let go.

“God, I’m so sorry.”

“What-“

“I just… I lost it,” he tried to explain but he was only gesturing. I smiled a little. He was adorable when he was dumbstruck. “I… I’ve had this MAJOR crush on you, for, like, forever. And then you went to the freaking hospital and damn, I was so scared. I thought-“

“I’d never be able to see you again,” I finished for him, leaving him gaping speechless at me. “I feel the same way.”
There was a smile on his face that was so bright it hurt to look at. But it was worth it.

If the hospital visit was what it took for him to open up to me, then Kunar could go to eternal damnation and die a thousand MILLION times for all I cared. I just wanted to be with him. In his arms. Showered with kisses and love.
And now I was.

And I had never been happier.

~I.T. Guy~

“But… but…”

“No,” Miss. Tan said sternly. “I can’t allow this in school. You should know better than to have a relationship like this in a CATHOLIC school. YOU should know better. Chris is new here,” She glanced at Chris, who was shuffling his feet, “And I don’t’ blame him as much. But YOU…”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice hoarse. “But how did you-“

“I have my ways,” she waved off my question and I knew something was wrong. The principal did NOT just wave off topics like that. “But that’s besides the point. The point right now is that I have only two options to give you: you either break up with Chris, or you lose this job.”

I lifted my head and looked at Chris. He just sighed resignedly and shrugged. He was lost and so was I. What should we choose?

Money over love?

Or love over money?

It wasn’t a fairytale. We weren’t going to be showered in gold coins just because we were brave enough to admit our feelings for one another and go out into the world like that.

Okay, okay, so money WAS more important to me than Chris was.

Hey, it’s a cruel world.

“Job,” Chris said.

“Job,” I agreed.

We glanced at each other before sighing and looking back at Miss. Tan, who just smiled. “Good. I’m glad we’ve got that cleared up.”

She shook her head, “I’m sorry it turned out this way. Just make sure it doesn’t happen again, all right?”

I nodded. And Chris did the same.

We left the room our separate ways, never looking back.

~Jessica~

“I told you it would work!” I crowed, laughing as Ubrina, Stephanie and Joyce walked with me down the halls. “The look on Miss. Tan’s face was priceless! Oh my gosh!”

Ubrina laughed, “Okay, okay, you’re smart. Wow… it’s too bad they didn’t choose love over money. I would’ve respected them for that.”

Joyce rolled her eyes, “They’re guys. Money’s what counts. Love don’t matter.”

Stephanie nodded, “Right.”

I shrugged, “I don’t really care. Who was the one who made sure the staircase was spread with butter and empty just at the right moment for Kunar? Who was the one who made sure the UNdiluted acid would reach Murphy? Who was the one who pushed Puay Puay off the school building? WHO was the one who made sure the projector wasn’t working? WHO?”

“You.”

“Thank you. And who was the one who made sure Miss. Tan got wind of Chris and I.T. guy’s affair?”

“You.”

Behind us, I heard a faint clapping. Then it grew louder and louder and I was sure the whole level was applauding us. The four of us turned around slowly and grinned. The whole school was shouting and whooping for joy as we bowed and smiled at each other.

“Sometimes a few bad deeds can go a long LONG way.”

-fin-