The story of Crystal Lakes (pt 4)

“Come in,” Lucy called happily, upon hearing the door knock.1

“Hey, Luce,” Daniel said casually, walking in. “Is Nick around?”2

“Uh, no. He’s at his sister’s, telling her the good news. I suppose you’ve heard from Jay?” She gave him her million dollar smile. 3

Oh, yes,” Daniel replied, smiling back at her. “You must be very happy. However, if you don’t tell Nick, Lucy, I will.”4

Lucy’s heart stopped beating for a second. “Um, what are you talking about?” she asked him in a vaguely hysterical voice. No way was he referring to what she thought he was. No way.5

“Me and you, Lucy,” Daniel said. “Don’t act dumb. You know better than anybody what I’m talking about.”6

Lucy was suddenly horror-struck. She panicked and didn’t know what to do.7

“Please, Daniel.” She was almost sobbing already- Lucy could be a very good actress at times. “Don’t do this. Don’t stop us being happy.”8

Daniel’s eyes glinted. “Stop who being happy, exactly? You?”9

Lucy blinked at him. “Me. Nick. Both of us. People who like weddings.”10

Daniel stepped towards her, presumably to do something not-so-friendly… 11

But he slipped spectacularly and full-on whacked his head on the sharp edge of the kitchen counter. And he didn’t move.12

Lucy dove down and felt for his pulse. It was non-existent. “God-damn.” Lucy was totally freaked out, yet couldn’t help but think this was slightly convenient.13

Suddenly she saw Nick pull up in their large Mercedes-Benz. Lucy let out an expletive that would have mortified every kid at Crystal Lakes Primary if they’d heard it. (Not so much the kids at Crystal Lakes High though). 14

“Lucy?” called Nick, coming in the door. “You home?”15

*16

Belle was absolutely exhausted. So much stuff to tell people, so little time in the day they actually wanted to hear it, which was why when the phone rang she wanted to grab it and smash it on the beautifully tiled floor. Figuring that maybe it might be slightly beneficial to answer it, she picked it up and yawned, “Hello?”, hoping whoever it was on the other side of the line would get the message.17

“Belle?” It was Crystal; Belle only just recognized her voice. “Are you busy ten thirty tomorrow morning?”18

Belle shuffled to her calendar. Between work, frequent social outings with friends and going to greet new people, her calendar was almost always full for every single day; to hang out with her, you usually had to plan two months in advance. Tomorrow at ten thirty, however, it appeared that there had been a cancellation. There was nothing happening tomorrow, apart from the late shift at Big Juicy. “Ummm, no, why?”19

“Well, tomorrow I’m going for coffee and shopping with Kari, Jackson’s daughter, and my best friend Donna. You interested in coming?” 20

“Yeah, sure,” said Belle, yawning again, and wrote it into her calendar. “So, am I taking myself, or will someone else be taxiing?”21

“Kari’s driving us,” Crystal replied.22

“Sounds great. Anyway, I gotta go. See you tomorrow, Crystal,” Belle said, and hung up before Crystal had a chance to say goodbye back. Belle then went and laid down on the couch. It was only a matter of minutes before she had fallen asleep.23

*24

“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God,” thought Lucy, trying to think of a place to stash Daniel’s lifeless body. Then she remembered the huge black plastic garbage bags that were definitely big enough to hold a man. She stuffed Daniel inside it crudely and twisted the top closed. 25

“Hey, Nick,” she called, trying her hardest to sound casual. She quickly ran round to the boot of the car and stuffed the bag and its contents into the boot. “Just going to the shops. I’ll be back soon.” 26

“Okay,” he called back, sounding happy. “See you soon.”27

She drove the car down the road, her hands shaking. Finally she reached the forest and Daniel’s final destination. She fell out of the car, landing on her knees. She brushed the dirt off her DKNY jeans and looked around. No sign of anyone anywhere near them. She grabbed Daniel’s body out of the back of the car and instantaneously dropped him on the floor. “God, how heavy are you?” she mumbled to herself. She dragged him to a tree and made him sit up with his back resting against the trunk of the tree. This way if anyone passed him they’d think he was an innocent traveller sleeping. 28

Very, very deeply.29

Shivering (and not because she was cold, either), she jumped into her car and drove off, her hands still unsteady on the wheel.30

*31

The next morning, Crystal woke with a feeling of acute foreboding in her heart. She thanked God she’d had the sense to invite Donna. Still, it couldn’t be that bad- Belle had amiably (albeit exhaustedly) agreed to go out with them and appeared to see Crystal as a friend, and Kari had invited her to go out in the first place. The only think making Crystal nervous was that Kari was Elysha and Jackson’s (adopted) daughter, and if people across the road from her knew about the incident seven years previously, their own (adopted) daughter certainly would. 32

She got dressed quickly, hoping she didn’t look too much like the standard rich city girl, and did her makeup with basically the same goal in mind. She then heard the sound of a car out the front and she went out there feeling more and more uncertain that this was a good idea.33

“Hi,” said Kari. “It’s nice to finally meet you… err… face to face. My name’s Kari, but you probably know that already.”34

Crystal couldn’t help but notice that Kari looked a lot like Jackson despite the fact they weren’t blood-related, with fine blonde hair and deep blue eyes. She was attractive, but not in a way that made you feel intimidated. Just like Jackson. Maybe it was like that thing they said about married couples- after they’ve been together long enough, they start to look like each other.35

“Nice to meet you,” smiled Crystal. “You must have heard about me from… well, your parents, I guess.”36

“My parents?” Kari looked blank. “Oh, you mean Jackson and Elysha. Yeah, I guess they have talked about you. Except in Elysha’s stories, she always made you sound like a hideous, ten-foot troll with rocks for brains. From what I’ve seen of you so far, you kind of contradict that opinion.”37

“Uh, thanks,” Crystal laughed.38

“Let’s get going,” said Kari, with a radiant smile.39

*40

“Good morning,” Rachael said to Jay, sidling into the kitchen still in her dressing gown. “You seen Daniel today?” 41

“No, I haven’t,” Jay replied. “But good morning to you too,”, and he kissed her.42

“Did he come back last night, after he left when you told him about Lucy and Nick getting married? I don’t remember him coming back,” Rachael told Jay concernedly.43

“Not sure,” Jay frowned. “I’ll go check his bedroom.”44

But upon checking, Jay found Daniel’s bed completely empty.45

“Probably stayed at Nick and Lucy’s last night. Those three are pretty tight, y’know,” Jay suggested.46

“I’ll call them,” Rachael said, starting to feel a little bit panicked. Daniel wasn’t the type to randomly have sleepovers at his mates’ house. His girlfriend’s house, maybe, but not his mates.47

“Hello?” Nick said.48

“Hey, Nick. It’s Rachael. Did Daniel stay over yours last night?”49

“Um, no. I haven’t seen him in a few days. Why, is something wrong, Rach?”50

“Oh, no, of course not. He must have stayed with Jake. Congrats on the engagement, by the way. Tell Lucy I said hi,” Rachael replied, and hung up before Nick could say anything.51

Jay looked at his wife with fear in his eyes that matched hers. “Something is definitely up.”52