Page 9 of The Secrets of a Sin

I was staring at Phoebe Hale.

Oh my god.

More tears fall from my eyes as a muffled cry escapes from my throat.

What the hell happened?

Frantically scouring down her body for her wound, I notice the large slash across her neck. The gash was deep-muscles and red flesh were visible...There was no way she would have survived with a wound like this.

The cut was fatal.

Scanning over her laid out arms, I discover a large hunting knife in the grip of her left hand.

Did...Did she do this?

Did she kill herself?

Rising to my feet, I hover over her body. Her matted hair is wildly scattered around her head as a few strands lie over her face. Her eyes are fluttered closed, while her pink painted lips are slightly opened. Even dead she looked angelic, almost peaceful looking despite the goriness of the scene. Beside her head is a garden of wildflowers and white roses that were stained with drops of her blood. Then panic begins to set in when the harsh reality hits me.

I just found a dead body.

A real dead body of a girl I just saw alive only hours ago.

My mouth widens to scream for help, but the words never surface.

Whipping my head from side to side, I look for any sign of other students or teachers but realization hits that I was completely alone. To make things worse, I didn’t have a cell phone to call 911. Slowly, I rise to my shaky feet and almost tip back over but manage to steady myself. My feet start to step backwards, away from her body, and I quickly turn and race towards the building. I had no clue where I was going. All I knew was that I needed to find someone, anyone that could call an ambulance. Once I’m at the entrance, I burst open the door and start dashing through the hall. Adrenaline courses through my veins as I push my legs to go further. The hallway seemed endless as my calves stung, and my lungs burned with every leap.

What the hell, there has to be someone roaming around here.

As I take a sharp corner, I collide with something hard.

Or should I say someone.

“What in god's name!” A high pitched shrill echoed in my ears as they clawed at the exposed skin on my arm to steady themselves. Gasping for air, relief floods me as I reach for whoever it is.

“What are you doing up at this hour, Charlotte?” Sister Mary asks with caution as she takes in my frantic state.

“Phoebe.” I pant as I drag a palm across the layer of sweat on my forehead and she immediately stills.

“Charlotte…” She stares at me with panic and broad eyes. “Why is there blood on your hands?”

Peering down at my hands, they're both covered in Phoebe’s blood. My palms begin to shake and the touch of Sister Mary’s grasp on my shoulder causes me to jump.

“Charlotte, what’s going on?” She begs as I try roughly dragging my hands down my leggings to get rid of the blood. Scrubbing them up and down till they feel raw, she swiftly grabs my wrists to calm me.

“She’s dead.” I raise my head till our eyes connect and I swear all the color drains from her face.

“Who’s dead?” She asks in disbelief but her horrified expression says otherwise.

“Phoebe.” I repeat. “I found her.” I whisper. “In the courtyard.”

Dropping her hold on me, she shakes her head hysterically.

“Are... Are you sure she’s dead?” She stumbles over her words while her eyes widen in fear.

Yah… I’m pretty sure she’s fucking dead considering I’m covered in her blood.

When she realizes that I am not faking any of this, she begins to heave hysterically.

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