“Quinn didn’t reply at all?” Cory asks Sapphire as they walk the dark street, on their way to the bakery.
“No,” Sapphire shakes her head. “I texted and called her. I hope she’s okay. She probably doesn’t want anything to do with this anymore, which I can understand, but it’s going to make work a little awkward.”
“Don’t all co-workers make casual small talk about exorcisms they’ve performed at their work?” Cory says with a straight face.
“I was going to ask her out, so is this a winning pick up line? Hey Quinn, remember when we were almost killed by that ghost? We should do that again sometime!” Jason throws his hands in the air in a silly gesture, as Sapphire and Cory burst out laughing. As soon as they see the bakery, their laughter stops. Memories from last night attack Sapphires cheerful mood.
“We’re really going to try to force a serial killer’s spirit out of this place?” Jason quietly asks.
“A dead serial killer. And not force, more like suggest he find some other place to hang around,” Cory tries to bring the humor back.
“Is it safe to do it this early? The sun just set,” Sapphire glances around the empty street.
“Mostly everyone who lives here is like eighty, they go to bed with the sun,” Jason points out.
“Let’s do this,” Cory takes a deep breath, as Sapphire goes to unlock the door.
“Um, guys, the door is already unlocked,” Sapphire turns with a horrified expression.
“I’ll go in first,” Cory cautiously steps through the door, Sapphire and Jason following him.
“Do you think they just forgot to lock up?” Jason whispers, shutting and locking the door behind him.
“That’s highly unlikely,” Sapphire murmurs back. Cory leads them to the office, his flashlight guiding them.
“So…” Sapphire flips on the office light.
“Let’s get this exorcism started?” Jason proposes.
“The first thing we have to do is…” Cory’s interrupted by a girl screaming. “That sounds like Quinn!” The three run to the back where the screaming is growing louder. Cory hurriedly finds and turns on the light. They find Quinn facing backwards staring at the wall, wearing the same clothes as the night before, with the addition of black leather gloves. Her screams are high-pitched filling the backroom.
“Quinn, are you okay?!” Sapphire sprints to her. Before she can get to her, Quinn’s screams turn into hysterical laughter. She slowly faces them, doubling over in wild giggling.
“Are you all that stupid?” She’s smirking at the three of them.
“Quinn, what’s going on?” A confused Sapphire takes a step away from her, unsure what to do.
“You were going to perform an exorcism!” She ignores Sapphire’s question, laughing at them again.
“She’s possessed, she has to be,” Jason whispers to the other two, studying the small blonde girl.
“I’m not possessed, you idiot!” Quinn takes out a gun from the back of her jeans, pointing it at Jason.
“Quinn! How did you get a gun?” Sapphires beyond shocked, as Cory tugs her behind him to protect her.
“Really? That’s the question you’re going with?” Quinn rolls her eyes, flipping her hair, looking almost bored. “Oh, come on! No one has any guesses on what’s going on here?” Quinn’s attitude has completely changed. Gone is the timid, quiet girl. Her voice fills the room and she’s standing taller than before. Everyone else is afraid and disoriented. “Cory, you’re a smart boy,” Quinn points the gun directly at his heart, her finger on the trigger. “Why do you think, shy, peaceful, Quinn is holding you at gunpoint?” Quinn’s voice is mocking. “I’ll give you a hint… it has something to do with my last name,” Quinn says sweetly, an edge to her voice.
Cory and Jason still appear puzzled, but Sapphire looks as if she just solved a difficult math equation.
“Your last name is Anderson?” Sapphire’s voice trembles.
“Gold star, Sapphire! You’re much smarter than your jock boyfriend. Yes, my father was Edward Anderson, the genius behind the Pomp killing,” Quinn gazes fondly at nothing in particular. “I can be part of the Dead Parents Club, too!” Quinn taunts Sapphire and Cory.
“Your father was nothing but a murderer,” Cory speaks up. Quinn’s finger twitches on the trigger.
“Don’t you dare! My father was one of the most brilliant men in the world!” Quinn’s hand shakes, keeping the gun trained on Cory.
“He’s sorry, Quinn!” Sapphire shouts, worried for Cory’s safety. Quinn’s hand stops moving, her breathing back to normal.
“My father knew this world had to change, the one percent of people can’t rule our lives forever. The rich get tax breaks while he couldn’t afford food for his children,” Quinn’s voice shakes.
“Oh… Quinn,” Sapphire imagines a young Quinn, scared with an empty stomach.
“Don’t feel pity for me! After tonight my life will mean something! All of our lives will have impact on this messed up world we live in!” Quinn’s eyes are wide, a deranged smile glued on her face.
“What do you mean?” Jason asks, a rare worried frown on his face.
“My father killed his followers as a protest, a protest of the people on Pomp. But they ruined it! Throwing money at any problem they have.” Quinn passionately tells them.
“Even if they were on the news, wouldn’t everyone just be confused as to what they were protesting?” Cory adds.
“Shut up!” Quinn pistol whips Cory across the face, with a surprising amount of strength. Sapphire gasps, helping a stumbling Cory as he spits blood on the ground.
“Anyone got anymore stupid questions?” Quinn asks the group, keeping the gun on Cory. They stay silent, Sapphire even more afraid of her now. “As I was saying, I’m going to finish what my father started, this time it’s going to mean something. In this day in age, with social media, something like this won’t go unreported, secrets can’t stay hidden, no matter how much money you have.”
“You’re going to kill us? For some protest of rich people?” Jason asks, looking at Quinn like he doesn’t recognize her.
“It’s for a worthy cause!” Quinn says it like she’s asking them to donate five dollars to charity. She squares her shoulders, her eyes, and gun, set on Cory.
“Wait! How did you make the bakery seem haunted? You couldn’t have done it all yourself,” Sapphire tries to buy precious time, but she is genuinely curious. Quinn pauses, indecision plain as day on her face. “If we’re going to die for you, we deserve to know,” Sapphire catches Quinn’s eye.
“Fine…” Quinn notices something behind them, “Ah, Mason, perfect time for you to join us.” The boy version of Quinn enters the room. He has the same color hair, eyes, and the same manic look on his face.
“Everyone meet Mason Anderson, my twin brother,” Quinn introduces her brother as if this is a dinner party.
“What’s taking so long?” Sapphire immediately recognizes Mason, he’s the one who came into the bakery with no shoes, basically threatening her that he would see her soon.
“That’s how you knew my name…” Sapphire says more to herself.
“Another gold star for Sapphire!” Quinn continues. “Anywho, long story short, this building is like a hundred years old, and there’s secret passageways all over this place, something I discovered as a kid when our grandma used to take us here. That’s how Mason hid after throwing the donuts on the ground. There’s also a way to get to the apartments above.”
“You never felt anything on your shoulder or read anything on the Ovilus. And, it was your idea for the ghost tour!” Jason points at Quinn.
“And the dumb surfer guy joins the party, hope you didn’t miss the part where I’m going to kill you!” Quinn nods at Mason and, he swiftly punches Jason in the face. Mason hits him three times before Jason can defend himself. The usually grinning guy falls to the ground, blood spilling from his nose, efficiently knocked out.
“No!” Both Sapphire and Cory scream, running to help Jason.
“Don’t you dare move!” Quinn points the gun at them.
“Why?!” Sapphire screams at Quinn, still holding a bleeding Cory.
“Why what, purple hair?” Quinn impatiently prompts.
“Why make the bakery look haunted? Why not just kill us when you first met us?” Sapphire’s begging, tears falling down her face.
“I had to find just the dumbest people to scare, and Jason offhandedly told me his grandma conducts paranormal investigations. I brushed up on some shows, so I could make you believe this place was haunted. We,” Quinn points between her and her brother, “knew you would come back tonight afraid for everyone else’s safety to do something about the scary scary ghosts,” Quinn sneers at them.
“Anyone else a little bored? I think we should begin,” Quinn points the gun at Cory, but at the last second, she aims at her brother, shooting him swiftly. He drops to the ground, obviously dead, without the chance of last words, or even a scream.
“Sorry, bro. Someone had to take the fall, and I have to stick around and tell the world about how you killed all my friends,” Quinn insincerely pouts, pretending to wipe away a tear.
“You’re insane!” Cory screams, lunging at Quinn. She hits him with her gun again, the crack of his head hitting the ground is the only sound in the small room.
“Cory!” Sapphire doesn’t move towards him, Quinn’s gun keeping her in place.
“Quinn, please. You don’t have to do this! You can put the gun down, we can get you help. You don’t have to make the same mistake as your dad.” Sapphire tries to reason with her. They stare at each other, unstable green eyes to pleading brown. Quinn hesitates, lowering the gun a fraction of an inch.
“No!” Quinn shakes her head, aiming the gun at Sapphire again. “The world needs to be taught a lesson. I have to finish what my father started!” Quinn’s tone is final. Sapphire shuts her eyes, preparing for the end. But it doesn’t come.
Just before Quinn can pull the trigger, her gun flies out of her hand. It looks as though someone had knocked it down, but no one else is in the room.
“Mom?” Sapphire whispers, glancing around the room, wondering if she’s receiving help from above.
“Your mom is dead!” Quinn grabs the gun, struggling to point it at Sapphire. A fight begins, an invisible force will not allow Quinn to shoot Sapphire. “I give up!” Quinn wipes her forehead in frustration.
“Let’s go, Quinn. I’ll call help. Everything will be okay.” Sapphire’s shoulders sag in relief.
“No! Someone must die. It has to be this way.” Quinn points the gun to her head, pulling the trigger.
“Quinn!” The gunshot drowns out Sapphires screams.