Mistake

As he looked around at people's faces, a false smile on his own, he stilled and his look suddenly became neutral, strangely serious. His eyes were locked across the room with hers, which almost seemed to whisper to him "I know your secret”.1

Panic coursed through his body as he further studied her eyes. There was no way she could know. It was impossible. It had to be. She hadn’t been there that night. He was almost sure of it. At least, he hoped she hadn’t. He was screwed if she had.2

Oh God. What if she had? What would become of his life if she told? He knew that, if the secret got out, his life would be plunging into an irreversible downward spiral. If she knew, he could almost guarantee it.3

Alexandra had never been one to keep secrets. She was the biggest gossip he knew. No secret was safe with her. With her long raven hair and wide hazel eyes, she was beautiful and innocent. Well, she looked innocent. Hidden inside that lovely exterior was a venomous demon that could not be trusted. Alexandra never had any qualms about lying or betraying. She would stab her own brother in the back if she thought it would get her somewhere.4

In this case, Alexandra had to know that telling his secret would get her far. She would get a lot of attention. In fact, telling his secret would probably double her popularity. If she told, she’d have it made. He knew shed be called a hero; a martyr even. People would call her brave and inspiring. They would never see the demon inside her. They wouldn’t know how horrible she truly was.5

Fear taking a hold of his body, he slowly took out his cell phone. Shaky hands carefully pressed the keys as a message was sent.6

‘What do you know?’ he’d texted.7

Her reply nearly pushed him into a nervous breakdown. It only confirmed what he’d already guessed. But confirmation was the only thing he needed to double his already frantic pacing. He was in trouble. Major trouble.8

‘Everything’ the reply had said.9

He knew she hadn’t told yet. No, she wouldn’t have said anything to anyone so soon. Alexandra enjoyed toying with her victims before revealing their shame. She blackmailed them with nearly impossible tasks until they could no longer continue. It was then that she told. When their spirits were broken and their hopes were shattered, she told them everything.10

But a plan formed itself into his head. He knew what to do. She wouldn’t tell. He could make sure of that. He would do to her what she did to everyone else. Only, maybe a little worse. Or maybe a lot worse. It depended on how much she begged. He’d make her suffer until the very end. She did that to everyone else. It was time that the girl got a taste of her own medicine.11

Confidence filtering back into his body, he carefully constructed the plans. He told her to meet him at the beach that night. He knew she would meet him. She never passed up a chance to start the blackmail. Little did she know how different things would go. She wouldn’t even see it coming.12

Dressing himself in all black, he met her at the beach that night. One hand in his pocket, he pretended to play along. At first, he begged her not to do it. He was groveling and pleading, in ‘hopes’ that she would change her mind. Just as he expected, she wouldn’t. She wasn’t even planning on blackmailing him first. She’d met with him just so she could tell him that his secret was too big to keep. By ten the next morning, it would be all over town.13

He hadn’t expected that at all. Never before had she done that. Fear once again controlling his body, he impulsively pulled something out of his pocket. Without a thought, the trigger was pulled and the deed was done. But the outcome didn’t satisfy him.14

Looking down at Alexandra’s lifeless body sent him into hysterics. He hadn’t brought it with the intention to actually shoot her. He was just going to threaten her with it. He swore. Hands shaking violently, he chucked the gun into the ocean. He hadn’t meant to do it. He really hadn’t. He didn’t want to kill her, just threaten her. And yet he’d done the very thing he swore he wouldn’t do again.15

God. He was no better off than he was before. Worse off, if anything. That first time hadn’t just been his fault. He’d only watched the first time! But this time was different. This time he’d done it without a thought. How could he have been so horrible?16

His breathing was ragged and unsteady as he bolted off the beach. No one could know it was him. And no one would know either. She never told anyone about her secret meetings with her victims. It was all a big secret, though some guessed at her whereabouts. With his luck, no one would care. Maybe it would all blow over and no one would ever look back at her murder. There was even a very small chance that no one would find it.17

That was a stupid hope. The beach was a pretty populated place. It was bound to be found in a few hours. Without a second glance over his shoulders, Alex fled the beach. He was afraid of what was going to come.18

If anyone were to figure out it was him, he knew he was more screwed than before. He would get more jail time than ever before. He could get in for twenty-five to life. It was a truly terrifying thought. He’d never gone to jail before.19

Tears streamed down his numb cheeks as he pushed himself faster and faster. He’d never tell anyone about what he’d done. No one would know it was him. Maybe he’d forget it in five years or so. Maybe. But he somehow knew that, no matter how much time passed, the guilt would never wear away.20