Chapter 2
She doesn't know what she was expecting, walking into Palmetto State's athletes dorms.
But it definitely wasn't this.
She's carefully planned out a conversation with whoever opens the door. They just have to follow the planned conversation.
When she knocks on the door, it only takes a few seconds for someone to open the door.
It's a girl with blonde hair. Or at least, the top part of her hair is blonde. The tips are pastel colours. She's cute. She shakes her head. No. Love is a distraction.
"Renee?" a girl calls from inside. That's her name. "Who is it?"
"I'm not sure, Dan. Give me a moment."
The girl - Renee - steps out so they can talk. She smiles, then speaks. "Hello. I haven't seen you around here?"
It's not a question, but she says it like it was.
"I, um, don't go here. But, I need somewhere to stay so I don't end up dead. And I need to speak to Neil Josten? He's here, no?"
She tilts her head. "How do you Neil? Sorry, I don't know your name."
She waves a hand. "It doesn't matter how I know him. And it's Elodie." The lie is sweet on her tongue. In another lifetime, maybe, Elodie could be her name. But it's this lifetime, so it's not. Focus.
Renee smiles, tilts her head. "Why would you end up dead?"
When she falters, Renee lets that topic fall. "Come in. I'll introduce you to my friends. Then you can decide if you want to stay."
Renee opens the door, lets her in first. She hates it. She could stab Elodie in the back. Take out the knife, quick stab, dispose of the body, chemicals, done. Just like that, Elodie Sampson is gone.
But she doesn't, so Elodie is still alive.
There are two girls in the room, one of whom is watching curiously.
The other girl doesn't seem to notice she's there. Or she's ignoring Elodie.
The girl who is watching stands up, introduces herself. "I'm Dan."
She probably said something else. Elodie doesn't know. She zoned out entirely, only realizing that there are people here when Renee puts a hand on her shoulder and it takes every part of her not to punch her.
She hates it.
"Elodie? This is Dan and Allison. We're three out of five of the upperclassmen. If you need a place to stay, you can stay here. Just don't let Seth know that you're here, okay?"
She nods. She can't remember what anyone said after that.
She knows she said something to Renee, she knows Dan offered her water, she knows their names. She doesn't remember the order in which those events happened.
She hates it more than anything.