THRILLER|REFLECTION

IMAGESOURCE

Cassie has always been an outcast, rejected and forever a loner, well accustomed to the whispers everytime she enters a room.
"Weirdo, freak, witch." All sort of names has been used to describe her just because she is a little different from every regular teen.

Dull brown hair, grey eyes, always ringed with dark circles. She is no beauty and she makes no attempt to doll herself up either. No one wants to partner with her in chemistry class which she finds convenient since it usually ends up with a partner picking on her.

Her life changed abruptly when Josh Sinclair the 'schoolboy crush' started paying attention to her.
One day, she found him was waiting by her locker when she got to school. 'Hi Cassie, 'he greeted, she was so flustered that she could barely utter an audible reply to his greeting so she does what she is good at, run away.

He was waiting by her locker after school also and she just can't comprehend why he is talking to her, she ignored him, opened her locker to put her books in, 'are you into voodoo Cassie, 'he asked pointing to the set of figurines in her locker, they are just my doll collection, not voodoo dolls she responded fiercely.

'Hey chill out, was just asking about your hobby, 'he said playfully, she was too annoyed to respond so she slammed her locker shut and walked away, he followed her immediately attracting the attention of the other students who are now wondering what Josh is doing with Cassie the freak.

'C'mon wait up, 'he jogged after her trying to slow down her quick walk, do you act like this towards everybody that wanna be your friend? 'he asked. She stopped and spin around in annoyance nearly crashing into him, 'I don't know what you are up to or hope to gain by doing this but my life is already worse than you think so don't make it more complicated by sending your fans after me, 'she said eyeing the scowling small group of girls nearby.

He followed her gaze and wave to the girls whose expressions changed immediately, his eyes return to her soon after and he smiled, 'you really don't have to mind them because you are what I'm interested in and I hope you give me a chance to prove that all I want to be your friend and hang out, 'he concluded.

Cassie stared at him for a little longer time and shook her head, she isn't going to be charmed by his smile, sorry Josh, 'she said and walked away, he watched her walk away and said, 'this ain't gonna be easy but anyways he shrugged and jogged towards the waiting group of girls.

Cassie tossed and turned on the bed, her pillow and hair drenched in sweat, she was having the nightmare again where she is fighting with herself, she eventually lost the fight and watched as the other she strangled the cat she was trying to protect to death, she jerked awake panting and fighting for air. She stood up afraid to go back to sleep and face her nightmare, she rather is sleep deprived with dark circles.

Cassie trudged to school like a defeated warrior the following morning, her constant nightmare reoccurring like a 3D movie in her mind and to crown it as the worst morning ever Josh was waiting for her again with one leg pulled up to rest against the locker, he must think the sunshine off his ass, 'she muttered under her breath. Cassie, 'he shouted the moment he saw her, how are you this morning? , 'he asked. Not good but you look like a ray a sunshine so I guess you're just peachy, 'she replied sarcastically.

Josh smiled but responded in a gentleman civil manner to her sarcasm, 'I'm always good but my day will be better if you eat lunch with me today. That got Cassie's attention and she turned to look at him with the most ridiculous expression on her face, thanks but i will pass, 'she uttered, she left immediately so as to avoid any more discussion.

Cassie's nightmare and josh's advances became constant in her life and after several weeks of trying to avoid or ignore him she came to a conclusion that he must really want to be her friend and soon after she started hanging out with Josh which unbalanced the social system of the school but Josh couldn't care less and she for once in her life was happy despite her ability to have a sound sleep.

She was on her way to meet Josh after school when she saw him talking to Mr Allen the principal, she wondered what they were talking about because the moment he spotted her the principal smiled and waved at her.

She asked him what he was discussing with the principal on their way home but he replied coldly that its nothing, Josh can be cold times but since she is socially awkward she assumed its a normal thing but this feel of something is about to happen left her on edge.

Cassie was in the bathroom stall the next day when two girls walked into the bathroom," I heard Josh talking with the principal yesterday, now I understand why he hangs out with that loser Cassie" she heard one of them say,"why?" the other asked and she replied"apparently Josh needs a charity case in his resume to get into Yale, like a community service and what more way to get it than to make a loser feel like she belongs, the other girls giggle. Cassie came out of the stall after the girls left, her expression worse than death, she knew something was fishy when Josh approached her after ignoring her for two years but she didn't expect to be a charity case.

She ignored his call and sneaked out of school to avoid anyone seeing her puffy face, luckily no one was home so she ran upstairs to her room and lock herself up. Josh couldn't find Cassie anywhere in school neither was she picking his calls, this got him worried it hardly happen since they became a friend, he saw one of her classmate closeby and approached her, have you seen Cassie today? 'he inquired, saw her leaving a while ago, 'she said pointing towards the exit.

Josh took out his phone and sent her a text "I heard you left school early, anyway I'm having a party at my dad's lake house tonight, here is the address so make sure you show up.

Cassie saw the message, scoff and switched off her phone, she has this urge to hurt him like she is hurting but she won't stoop to his level, she soon fell asleep after too much tear when she woke up it was dark and she was on her way somewhere she wasn't aware of,she kept walking like a mindless drone in a trance, she saw someone walking ahead of her in the direction so she called out, the person turned and she saw herself grinning in the moonlight, waiting! 'am I dreaming? 'she questioned herself.

She followed closely only to lose sight of her at the next turning so she searched for a while, when she couldn't find her she gave up with the assumption that it was just the moonlight playing tricks on her so she proceeded on her path to the lakehouse when she got there everywhere was dark like there was nobody inside which puzzled her since she expected a party to be going on but she knocked on the front door anyway when nobody answered she turned the knob of the door and went in any way, it was dark and silent like the graveyard with her footstep echoing with each step.

She felt a cold hand around her ankle in the dark and let out a scream, she looked down and saw one of the mean girls from school lying on the floor and bleeding all over, her heart ran a mile and she wanted to follow it but she saw the girl's lips moving like she was trying to say something So she moved closer and asked what happened,"help me, she killed everybody, I don't want t die, 'she whispered.

Cassie's blood ran cold immediately she said that she looked around in fear while moving closer to the door, she was about to make a run for it when a voice called out from the darkness", won't you stay for the party, Cassie? She stopped in her track and glance around nervously, she replied with her voice quivering," who is that?

She heard the footsteps before she saw her, her eyes went saucer round with shock," who are you? She stutter.

You know who I am Cassie, why to ask an obvious question," she replied sarcastically. But it is not possible, you're just a nightmare," Cassie said convincing herself.

Am I? Cassie Cassie Cassie, I am an exact replica, a reflection of your true self," she affirms cassie's fear with a smile, she continued,"I did what you really want but couldn't bring yourself to do, hurt the ones that hurt you.

What did you do?" Cassie asked with a quivering voice. Please, I don't wanna hurt anyone no matter what they did to me.

Oh! But you do Cassie, you've done it over and over in your mind and all I did is made that come true," she said spin around and walked towards the stairs where someone tied up sat.

Josh slowly regain consciousness and saw Cassie starting in front of him, he noticed his hands and legs were tied, puzzled he asked Cassie how and when she got here.

She laughed maliciously in reply and said," Cassie wants you gone for using her for your own benefit. Josh was still in shock of how Cassie knew that when he heard her say in a voice more like Cassie", no I don't want him gone then it changed to a mean voice,"yes you do.

It was like Cassie was arguing with herself that Josh wonder if she is truly a weirdo, has a split personality or simply possessed,"Cassie, I really don't know what's up with you but we can talk this out so please untie me, let's get the others and head home", he pleaded.

Others? She questioned and laughed maniacally," they are all gone, you're the only left like they say, save the best for last.

Josh blood ran cold and wondered if he made the right choice picking this nut job but he put up a brave face, laughed and said,"go home? Did they leave without us?

Cassie rolled her eyes, turned, walked to the walk and switched on the whole first floor light and he saw all his friends lying in the pool of their own blood and he knew he was done for.

Josh knew he has to pacify her, he was still talking when Cassie walked towards him and stick the knife he didn't notice she was holding into his gut.

He felt the warmth of his blood first before everything slowly turned dark and the last thing he saw was Cassie looking down at him and telling him not to mess with a girl like her in his next life.

Cassie screamed when her crazy replica stuck a knife into Josh and she woke up, she glanced around frightfully and was relieved when she saw she was in the comfort of her room, it was just a horrible nightmare, she checked her bedside clock and saw it was 1 am, she has been sleeping for hours but why do her feet hurt like she has been walking and not sleeping.

She stood up and went to the window to admire the moon and sky filled with stars, the moonlight shone on the nearby mirror but Cassie didn't see the figure in the mirror watching and waiting.

Cassie yawned and went back to bed hoping there won't be any more nightmares and thankfully she woke up at dawn with no bad dreams, she went downstairs and saw her mom in the kitchen,"morning mom she greeted.

Her mom replied and said," did you went somewhere yesterday evening dear? Came to your room but you weren't there and I heard you come late last night.

Cassie was puzzled," what are you talking about mom? I was asleep, are you sure it was my room you checked?

Cassie's mom laughed, picked up the TV remote and switched it on and said,"I pretty sure I know your room dear.

The breaking news called their attention to the TV where the reporter was at a lake house where 11 high school students were murder last night by an unknown killer, the lakehouse belongs to Mr Sinclair whose son was also one of the victims.

Cassie's mom heard her daughter drop the mug she was holding while staring at the TV with an unreadable expression.....