True to her word, Aunt Bethany took me shopping after lunch. We arrived at the mall around two o’clock (yes, sharp), and Aunt Bethany immediately began selecting some classic styles for me to try on.
“I’m not wearing this.”
I said this in response to a tangerine colored polo and neatly ironed white Bermuda shorts. My aunt looked petrified at my blunt words.
“Not WEARING it? Well why NOT?”
“Because it looks like something a stuck up rich girl would wear to play croquet in.”
My aunt audibly gasped this time. I rolled my eyes. This was going to be one heck long shopping trip.

- - -

“I’LL GET IT!!!”
I yelled this as I dashed across the floor in the downstairs hall, sliding to the table where the phone was ringing, my socks sliding on the polished hardwood floor. I grabbed the table to stop myself and saw with delight that it was Jayson calling. I eagerly picked up the phone.
“Hey Jayson!”
“Haha hey Cora. By the way, they hate running in the house.”
My panting had given it away. I took a few seconds to control my breathing.
“Sorry but… screw what they think…”
“Cora look, I know this isn’t easy, but the more you rebel the harder it’ll be for you.”
“You didn’t have to go shopping with Aunt Bethany today. Or get told you are offensively naked in your pajamas.”
“Ye- wait, what about pajamas?”
“Nothing; never mind. Where are you staying?”
“I got an apartment.”
“Really? Cool!”
“Meh, yeah; I guess so… it’s pretty lonely…”
“I bet. Miss you.”
“You too sis.”
“Have the police gotten any suspects yet?”
“One, yes; do you remember dad’s co-worker, Al Stein?”
“Is he the guy that lost his manager position to dad that one time…?”
“Yeah, that’s him. Well, he doesn’t have a solid alibi for the night the murders took place. His wife said he told her he was going to the bar with his friends, but there is no evidence he bought anything there. Plus his friends are saying that he never showed up to meet them.”
“Oh wow… have the police gotten a decent idea of the kind of man that did it yet?”
I saw my uncle appear in the doorway out of the corner of my eye.
“So far, all they’ve come up with is he might have a decent income, because you said you could smell him wearing a rich cologne. He evidentially knew what he was after when he got to the house, and he was organized and methodical. The police think it’s personal-“
“Another reason to put Mr. Stein down as a suspect.”
“-And they say that he had probably known how many people were at home and where their bedrooms were, since it was easy to determine who he got first.”
“Well, Mr. Stein certainly doesn’t have a “decent” income… only rich people we know are Aunt Bethany and Uncle Todd.”
“Yeah, but their alibis check out; both were reported home by each other the night the murders occurred.”
“Yeah… um do you want to talk to Uncle Todd?...”
I saw my uncle now impatiently waiting for me to give him the phone.
“Sure. Love you sis.”
“Love you too Jayson. Bye.”
“Bye.”

- - -

“Cora!” My mother kindly called for me from the kitchen.
“Yes mom?”
“Come here a minute!”
“Coming mom!” I rushed in. “Yes mom?”
“I love you sweetie.”
“I love you to mo-“
“Cora!” My little sister yelled for me from the living room.
“Yes Rachael?”
“Come here a minute!”
“Coming Rachael!” I rushed in. “Yes Rachael?”
“I love you big sis!”
“I love you to-“
“Cora!” My dad got my attention from the couch.
“Yes dad?”
“Come here a minute!”
“Coming dad!” I walked over. “Yes dad?”
“I love you Cora.”
“I love you too d-“
“CORA! HELP!” My mom screamed from the kitchen. I ran to her.
“MOM?! MOM!! MOM SAY SOMETHING! THERE’S BLOOD ALL OVER YOU!!”
“CORA! HELP!” My sister screamed from the living room. I ran to her.
“R-RACHAEL? RACHAEL OH MY GOSH YOU’RE BLEEDING ALL OVER THE PLA-“
“CORA! HELP!” My dad screamed from the couch. I turned around.
“DAD?! DADDY! YOU’RE COVERED IN BLOO-“
“You’re next, Cora Lynn.” A man in all black appeared and stared down at me.
“WHO ARE YOU?! NO! NO!! NOOO!!!”
I sat bolt upright in bed, shaking uncontrollably. Nightmares. Figures. After you’re whole family is murdered, you go into an almost shock-like numb state of being, then of COURSE, you come out of it and begin to get haunting nightmares. I’m not sure why I say you, because of course, it’s not like this kind of thing happens to everyone.
I shivered and snuggled back down under my blankets, unable to shut my eyes. I couldn’t get back to sleep, and with a quick glance at the clock, which read 2 am, I climbed out of bed and wrapped my blanket around my shoulders. The wood floor was cold beneath my bare feet, and with a shiver I tiptoes down the hall and to the stairs. My crutches made what seemed to me an unholy amount of racket, enough to wake the dead as Aunt Bethany would say, and with a grimace, I slowly and stealthily made my way downstairs. I reached the bottom, and as quietly as I could made my way to the hall.
“…Jayson? Sorry if I woke you up, but I got kinda’ scared… I had a really freaky nightmare a few minutes ago, and… I just wanted to talk to you.”
I huddled in the corner, my blanket around me, and talked to my brother on the phone in whispers until I felt sleepy enough to return to my bed.