Craft, page 11
part #2 of Springbrook Chronicles Series
“I’m not alright.” She mumbled. “I heard your dad talking about me today to the detective.”
“What did they say?” She asked her, feeling the brightening form. She had a bad feeling about what Aliyah was about to tell her.
“They…they talked about how I died or was killed. Whatever.” Aliyah said.
“And?” Kenya swallowed the brightening, but it came back up just as easy.
“I was strangled apparently and drugged.” Aliyah whispered. She caught a tear that fell from her eyes. The pain of her murder still lingered no matter if she was dead or alive.
Kenya flinched at the words. Nothing could have prepared her to hear the terrifying details about Aliyah’s demise. She too could feel the warm tears run down her cheeks and drip from her chin onto her clenched fists that were in her lap. Her sadness turned into anger as she thought about the culprit. The only one that came to her mind instantly was Meg Tanaka.
“I bumped into Meg today.” Kenya mentioned, through her tears.
“What happened?”
“She was being rude as always, but something she said to me the other day made me feel like she could be a suspect.”
Aliyah’s dull eyes widened as she drew in a breath, but exhaled it quickly.
“Are you serious? What did she say?”
“She said that you deserved it.”
“Are you going to tell your dad? Her saying that implicates her!”
“Calm down, Liyah. We have to be sure. I’ll pay close attention to her to make sure that everything adds up.”
“Okay.” Aliyah let out a sigh. “We need a plan. We need to tell Markus as well.”
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea. He might be angry that I brought you back, so we can’t right now.” Kenya replied firmly. She could not afford to have her father find out about Aliyah much less Markus and her parents. In her mind, her whole motive would be blown by involving the adults. Her mother was already involved and she wanted it to stay that way.
Aliyah looked down somberly at the iPad. Kenya touched her shoulder and smiled, trying to comfort her best friend any way that she could.
“Hey, you’re going to be okay. I promise to find out who did this.” Kenya assured.
“I know! It’s just that I miss my family.”
Kenya let out an exhale, trying to think of a way to ease Aliyah’s worries. She stood up, turned off all of the lights and walked back into the closet, leaving the door open while Aliyah watched her in confusion.
“See that blank wall?” Kenya pointed to the wall near her desk that was void of pictures or posters.
“Yeah? What about it?”
“It’s my own personal screen.”
Kenya moved both of her hands together, but apart in a circular motion and a wispy, electric purple ball began to form. Aliyah watched in a trance as Kenya opened her hands and the ball floated toward the blank wall. It sunk inside the wall and widened into the wall fitting it as a purple square.
“Watch this.” Kenya said. She moved her left hand to the right and pictures of her and Aliyah shown on the wall like a slide show. To Aliyah the pictures came alive! She could see herself, Kenya, Markus, Emily, all hanging out together as the memories moved as if they were home movies. Aliyah smiled remembering all of the fun times she had with her friends, her time of life. Not even in death could she ever forget them.
Chapter 11.
It was the day of the Fall Ball and Kenya could not have been more excited. She tried her best to not let her nerves to get the best of her, but it ultimately did. On her way to school, a zombie tapped her on the shoulder asking her to make sure that his wife and child were safe and sound at home. Unafraid, but annoyed at the daunting task, she went to the address the zombie gave her while he hid behind the shrubs watching them.
After it was over, he thanked Kenya for letting him see his family again one last time. He also made sure to ask her if she can raise him from his grave next year so that he may see his son’s first day of school. Kenya obliged, but only because he wasn’t a brain eating one like before. He was one of the good ones, like Aliyah; murdered senselessly.
Kenya walked into Wittington feeling the festivities underway. The student committee were already taping flyers to the walls in the hallways, placing the large fake fall leaves on the ceilings. Emily was on the committee so Kenya knew that she might have been busy in the gym helping with the decorations. Being that her first period was cancelled for the day, she headed to the gym to see if she could help Emily with anything.
When she made it to the gym, her mouth almost dropped as she noticed the decorations. Bright white garland lights were hanging from the ceiling in beautiful crossed rows. Fake autumn leaves hung from the ceiling as well making it seem like a storm of leaves were suspended in the air. In the corner, some of the student volunteers were helping Kenya’s uncle blow up orange, white, and yellow balloons with the helium tank. Tables were being set up with white and orange table cloths with four chairs surrounding them. The DJ was setting up his set on the makeshift stage while the fruit punch table along with food utensils being set up as well. In other words, Kenya thought the gym was very beautiful for the ball. She wondered how prom would look being that Wittington went all out on their dances.
Kenya waved to her uncle and he waved back. She scanned the gym looking for Emily who was standing on a ladder hanging the autumn leaves up in the ceiling.
“Em!” Kenya called out. Emily looked down and waved.
“Be right down!” She answered. She hung the last leaf on the ceiling and carefully climbed down from the ladder.
She jogged over to Kenya with a grin on her face.
“Hey! What’s up?” Emily asked, almost out of breath.
“Hey girl. I just wanted to see if you needed help with anything?” Kenya smiled.
“I think we are almost finished with everything, but do you think we need more leaves?”
“That’s more than enough.” Kenya laughed. “Don’t go overboard, Em.”
“Hmm, I guess you’re right.” Emily laughed nervously. “Oh, what about helping with the balloon arch?”
“Sounds good! I have to use the bathroom first. Can you hold my bag? I’ll be right back.”
“Sure.”
Kenya handed Emily her bag then started towards the girls bathroom. Once she was in, she noticed that Meg was standing by the bathroom sink, pounding text messages into her phone. She looked at Kenya, scoffed, then finally, rolled her eyes.
“Why are you so annoying?” Meg asked, angrily. “I feel like you’re stalking me.”
“I didn’t know it was illegal to use the bathroom.” Kenya joked. Meg slammed her phone onto the bathroom sink and came face to face with Kenya. She put her hand on the bathroom stall door stopping Kenya from entering.
“Um, excuse me?” Kenya asked. Now she was getting agitated. “I’m trying to use the bathroom here.”
“Don’t act all innocent! I know you’re up to something.” Meg accused. She snarled at Kenya like a dog.
“What exactly am I up to?” Kenya asked, folding her arms. She stood up to Meg’s face.
“You know what I mean! You’re following me.”
“I’m not following you, girl! Can you leave me alone before you get hurt?”
Kenya could feel her power welling up in her like a volcano ready to erupt. She clenched her fists, but did not swallow the brightening. This time, she wanted it to come up bringing angry dead with it to drag Meg to their pit. It was liked Meg felt this anger emitting from Kenya, so she walked toward the bathroom door in a huff giving death stares to Kenya, but stopped wanting to get the last word.
“Just know that I had nothing to do with your friend’s death if that’s what your implying.” She walked out of the bathroom leaving Kenya puzzled.
“Now why would you go and say that?” Kenya murmured. She glanced at the bathroom sink and noticed that Meg’s gold colored cell phone was lying on the sink’s edge. She wanted to run to Meg and tell her that she forgot her phone, however the confrontation she just had was enough not allow her to.
Kenya took the phone and looked at the screen, there was a message from Rick that flashed. Her curiosity peeked, she tried opening the phone, but there was a password on it. So, magic was her only option. With the wave her left hand, Meg’s phone unlocked and Kenya scrolled through her texts with Rick. One message in particular caught her eye or perhaps almost made her stomach churn. It was Meg arguing with Rick about Aliyah:
Rick: You shouldn’t talk about Aliyah like that.
Meg: U should have thought about that before U went around trying to get her to come to the dance with U. How could U?
Rick: Whatever Meg! I’ll see you tonight at the dance.
Kenya’s mouth dropped as she read the messages over and over again. She couldn’t believe that Rick and Meg were arguing over Aliyah. She wondered what it could all mean. Not wanting to get caught with Meg’s phone, she slipped it into her pocket, used the bathroom and headed back to the gym.
For the rest of the hour, she helped Emily put the finishing touches on the gym, trying not to think the worst of Meg and Rick.
****
On the drive home from school, Kenya shot occasional glances at her bag feeling like Meg’s phone was going to ring at any moment. When she finally made it back home, she grabbed her bag as she got out of the car. When she unlocked the door to her house, she noticed that only her mother was home.
Violet was cooking in the kitchen while Aliyah was downstairs with her. Kenya did not see Iris so she assumed that she was upstairs taking one of her many naps. Kenya could smell the herbs coming from the pot that her mother was brewing. It was one of her mixes for Aliyah from the other day.
“Hey, guys.” Kenya said. Aliyah turned around and smiled at Kenya.
“Ready for tonight?” Violet asked, without turning around.
“No, but I have to get ready soon—’’
“Can I help?” Aliyah asked. “Remember when we said we would do each other’s makeup?”
“Yeah, sis! Let’s do it!” Kenya exclaimed. “We’ll be upstairs, mom.”
“Okay you two just don’t make so much noise. Your dad will be home soon.”
Kenya nodded her head and took Aliyah upstairs with her quietly as to not wake Iris. When they walked into her room, Kenya immediately pulled Meg’s phone out of her bag.
“Whose is that?” Aliyah asked, pointing towards the phone.
“Meg’s!”
“Wait Mean Mugging Meg’s phone? How the heck did you get that from her?”
“Well, being that we are best friends, she loaned me her phone.” Kenya laughed. “But no, her and I had a fight in the bathroom and she forgot her phone on one of the sinks. She doesn’t seem to like her very much.”
“No way! She hated us when I was still alive.”
“I know. I found some scary texts in her phone and thought that might interest the case.”
“So now I’m a case?”
“Technically, you have a case.”
“Come on and show me the goods then!”
Kenya opened Meg’s phone and handed it to Aliyah.
“Read the messages from her and Rick.” Kenya explained. Aliyah silently read the messages to herself. Her eyes were widening as she mumbled the words aloud to herself, taking worried glances at Kenya.
“Meg is a psycho!” Aliyah yelled. She plopped onto the bed. “She did it!”
“I believe it as well, but why would Meg—’’
Kenya stared at Aliyah for a bit who in turn was staring blankly at the phone.
“What is it?” Kenya asked.
“I-I think I remembered something.”
“Tell me.”
“I remember…I remember…alcohol…”
“That would explain the drugging! Is that it?”
Aliyah sighed. “That’s all I can remember for right now.” She closed her eyes while rubbing her temples.
“I feel like I have a headache, but I don’t have one.”
Kenya laughed. “I won’t even tell you my zombie joke, then.”
She got up and gathered her shower caddy.
“I’m going to take a shower for the dance—I’ll be back.” Kenya winked.
“Alright, I’ll just be here not getting ready.” Aliyah replied. She grabbed Meg’s phone to read the texts over and over again while Kenya made herself scarce in the bathroom. After ten minutes, Kenya was finished showering. She came out of her bathroom and noticed Aliyah gathering all of the unused makeup Kenya owned that she’ll need to do Kenya’s face.
“I’m about to make you look so gorgeous.” Aliyah chimed.
“I can’t wait!”
“Knock, knock!” Violet said opening the door. She had Iris in one hand and Kenya’s dress in the other. She placed it carefully onto Kenya’s bed and sat down on the floor with Iris clinging to her shirt.
“I want to see this outcome; I’ve never seen my baby in makeup ever.” Violet smiled.
“Well, I may not be a witch, but I do know some makeup magic.” Aliyah grinned. “Now, hold still.”
Aliyah started working on Kenya’s face choosing her foundation according to her dark brown color of her skin, her lip color, which was a brown nude lip, eyeliner, a dark purple, glittery eye shadow for Kenya’s eyes, tweezing and filling in her brows and mascara.
When Aliyah was finished, she held up the hand mirror to Kenya’s face, showing her the work that she did.
“Wow, you look…grown!” Her mom chimed. “Oh my goddess!”
“Just dub me the zombie make up witch.” Aliyah smiled.
“I love it!” Kenya grinned. She gussied in the mirror looking at her beautiful face that was only enhanced further with the makeup. Iris clapped and babbled in approval.
“Your father is gonna have a meltdown, but he’ll get over it.” Violet stood and came over to Kenya. “Now, put on your dress so I can do your hair.”
Kenya carefully took her dress from the bed and went into the bathroom to change into it. When she came out, Violet, Aliyah and even Iris smiled at how the dress looked on her.
“Well?” She asked.
“You look beautiful, bestie!” Aliyah cried out, hugging Kenya. “Oh my god! Your dress is the bomb.com, girl.”
“Thanks to me!” Violet said. “I picked it out.”
“Thanks, mom!”
“Girl, my brother is not going to know what to do with himself when he sees you in that dress.”
“Come on, let me pin up your hair.” Violet said pointing to the bed. Kenya sat down while her mother came over to her and pinned kinky tresses into an roll, tuck updo. She made a pinned swoop and clipped a purple clip in her hair that had amethyst rhinestones on it.
“It was my mother’s.” Violet said. “Now, it’s yours.”
“Thank you, mom.” Kenya replied.
“Let me gel those baby hairs.” Aliyah said, dipping her finger into the edge control pomade. She carefully gelled down her edges while Kenya clipped Amethyst drops into her ears.
“You look so beautiful!” Violet said. Iris crawled toward the shoebox trying to open them, but Kenya picked her up. She handed her to her mom and slipped on her shoes. Aliyah started tearing up as she did this.
“What’s wrong?” Kenya asked.
“You look so nice…I just wish that I was able to go.”
“I—’’Kenya started, but her phone beeped. She grabbed and it was Markus, he was outside. He also told her that he was speaking with her father who had also pulled up outside.
“Markus and dad are outside.” Kenya told her mom.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of Aliyah. Go on.” Violet said. She comforted Aliyah while she sobbed into her hands. Before leaving to go downstairs, Kenya hugged Aliyah tightly, feeling her frail body in her arms. She wished that Aliyah was able to come with her like they had plan to before she died.
“Thanks, mom.” Kenya said. Violet nodded while Aliyah weakly waved goodbye. Iris cooed and waved bye to Kenya.
Kenya walked downstairs, now her father and Markus was sitting in the living room. Markus noticed first and turned his head to the staircase. He was wearing a black tuxedo with a silk, purple vest on the inside and a white buttoned shirt and a purple bowtie, with black dress shoes. He grinned and stood up. Kenya’s father stood up as well.
“Wow, you look beautiful!” Markus exclaimed. “We match!”
“Thank you, Markus.” Kenya said as she made it to the living room. She hugged him.
“My little girl is all grown up.” Bryan said. “You look beautiful, princess.”
“Thanks, dad.” Kenya smiled.
“So, young man as soon as the dance is over, bring my little girl back to us without a scratch.” Bryan said, firmly.
“You got it, sir.” Markus said. “I will do just that.”
“Alright, David will be there as a chaperon if you need anything, just tell him okay?” Bryan said.
“Okay, dad! Oh my goodness, cut the cord already.” Kenya laughed.
“Blah, blah, blah. Where’s your mom? Did she do your makeup?”
“Uh, mom’s upstairs with Iris and she did do it.” Kenya lied, eying Markus
“Okay, I’ll check on her in a bit. Well, don’t let me hold you two up.” He said. He opened the door and a cold breeze blasted Kenya which made her regret not getting the shawl.
“Remember Markus, no scratches.” Bryan reminded.
“You got it, Mr. Bennett.” He replied. Bryan closed the door behind him.
“Whew, your pops is tough!” Markus said, sighing.
“Did he interrogate you?” Kenya asked, trying to open the door to the passenger’s side of his car, but Markus was too quick, he opened the door for her and let her in. She smiled, but waited for him to answer the question. Markus jogged to the driver’s side quickly getting in. He started the engine and took another look at Kenya.
“Dang, you’re beautiful.” He complimented. “To answer your question, your pops grilled me like I stole something from him. He asked me all kinds of questions.”
