This is one of the few short stories I've written. It was originally a class assignment in ninth grade. I did a little editing and slapped that baby on here. So, here you go. If you feel like it, please let me know what you think, either by emailing me at rmandril@rocketmail.com or by signing my guestbook. Enjoy! :-)

Disclaimer: This is my story and my characters. Please don't reproduce it without my consent.

Rating: PG13, just because there's some violence.

"I can't believe it!" Lauren Peterson said to herself as she trudged along the muddy road. Mud slurped and grabbed at her feet with every step. "I just can't believe it!"

It had just stopped raining, and she was soaked. Her normally light blond hair was now a darker color and hung limply down her back. Her favorite sweater was wet and splattered with mud. Her blue eyes flashed angrily.

"I am never going to one of those stupid parties EVER again!" she muttered. A rumble of thunder threatened in the dark sky. She ignored it. She was beyond noticing things.

It had all started at the party. Lauren had been asked out by a shy boy named Parker Riley. He had dark, wavy hair that touched his ears, warm brown eyes, and was very good-looking. Lauren had been surprised when he called her, but she had readily accepted.

She had dressed carefully, choosing a turquoise-blue sweater that set off her eyes, and since the party was casual, a pair of jeans. She had added gold hoop earrings and a small black purse.

Parker had picked her up, also dressed casually, in his new red Mustang and they had headed for the party. The party was made up of only juniors and seniors and was at the quarterback of the football team's house. It was to celebrate a win over a difficult team. The party was very exclusive. You or your date had to receive an invitation. Lauren was glad to be part of the ‘cool' group.

At first, it had been fun, dancing, eating, and joking around with friends. Then Parker started drinking some beer that someone had brought. He also pulled out some cigarettes, handing her the lighter to put in her purse. She threw it in the garbage.

Then, things became worse. Most of the people were drunk and really loud, including Parker. Lauren couldn't believe it. Parker hadn't seemed like the type to drink and smoke. That was definitely a turnoff. At about 10:30, Lauren demanded that Parker take her home. She wasn't into this kind of thing and she couldn't take it anymore. He refused. She tried to get his keys, but couldn't find them. He had cleverly hidden them somewhere. The people she thought were her friends wouldn't give her a ride, and her parents weren't home.

Finally, she decided to walk. She didn't care how Parker would look if his date left without him. She had taken a shortcut on a dirt road about two miles from Brad, the quarterback's, house. The road led though woods and it was dark, but Lauren always carried a mini flashlight with her, so she took that road.

Then, it had started to rain, just enough to soak Lauren and for mud puddles to form. A while back, a car had roared past and splashed mud all over her. She was wet and miserable and just wanted to go home.

"Just goes to show, you can't trust anyone," Lauren said angrily to no one in particular.

The sound of twigs snapping came to her attention. Lauren stopped, swinging her flashlight to the side of the road. Nothing was in the beam's light.

All right, Lauren. Now's not the time to be jumpy, she told herself, beginning to walk again. It's probably just a racoon or something. She nervously scanned the sides of the road out of the corners of her eyes.

SNAP! She heard it again. Lauren froze, listening. Were those whispered voices she was hearing? She listened carefully. They were definitely voices she heard. A prickle ran up her spine.

Oh no!, Lauren thought, and instinctively began to run.

There was a shout behind her and the sound of running feet. She ran faster, dodging around mud puddles.

Don't look behind you, her mind told her. Watch where you're going. But her head wouldn't obey her mind. She turned to look behind her, and her feet slipped in a puddle. She crashed to the ground, landing on her knees and elbows. As she pushed herself up to run, someone tackled her and she went down again, biting her tongue as her chin struck the road. She cried out in pain as her arms were yanked behind her. She spit mud out of her mouth.

"Help!" Lauren screamed. "Leave me alone!" she yelled to her attackers. She felt her hands being tied behind her back.

A pair of hands grabbed her shoulders roughly, and pulled her to her feet.

Something cold and sharp pressed against her neck. Her eyes widened. A knife!

Lauren heard laughter. An evil, cruel laughter. A person stepped in front of her. She realized he was not the person holding the knife. She was surrounded. She could tell he was a guy by the build of his body, even though he was wearing something dark over his head. She could see his eyes. They were brown and they looked at her coldly. No kindness existed in those eyes, no sympathy. Just ice. Ice and coldness. If she were a puddle of water, Lauren thought one look from those eyes would freeze her in an instant. He was laughing, but his eyes showed no happiness. Yet, those eyes were strangely familiar, as if she had seen them before. Something tugged at the back of her mind, but she couldn't quite place it.

"Scared yet?" the man asked her. "You should be." The voice fit the eyes perfectly. Cold, empty.

He laughed and the person behind her laughed with him.

"What are you going to do?" Lauren asked, beginning to cry.

The man in front of her put his index finger to his lips, as if thinking.

"Well," he said. "I suppose kill you." He touched her cheek.

"But why?" Lauren sobbed.

"For the fun of it."

"Can I do it?" the voice behind her asked. The voice was right in Lauren's ear. She could feel hot breath on her cheek.

The Man shook his head. "No, I am. I deserve it." He reached for the knife.

"But I want to!" the Voice whined.

"No! Give me the knife!" The Man lunged for the knife.

The Voice jerked backward to keep the Man from grabbing the knife. Lauren screamed. Her scream was cut off as the blade of the knife slid into the tender skin of her neck as easily as if she were made of butter. The Voice let go of her and she collapsed on the road. The Man pulled off the ski mask he was wearing.

"You idiot! You weren't supposed to cut her! You knew the plan. We were just supposed to scare her into never humiliating me again! Teach her a lesson!"

"I'm sorry, man! It was an accident, I swear!" the Voice blubbered.

Lauren looked at the Man leaning over her as she began slipping toward the edge of the place inhabited by Death. At last she recognized him, and hated him. She raised her finger, pointing at him.

"You," she croaked. "Why?"

And as a black veil slipped over her sight, she had one last thought, He'll get what he deserves. But he probably wouldn't. Not in this world. Then, she lay still.

The Man and the Voice stared at her. At last the Voice spoke.

"What are we going to do now?"

The Man thought for a minute.

"Take her purse so it'll look like she was mugged. Then let's drag her body into the woods."

Working together, they dumped the body behind a tangle of trees. Then, hopping into a car cleverly hidden in the woods, Parker Riley and Brad, the quarterback, drove into the night without looking back.

Somewhere in the distance, thunder rumbled and it started to rain.