The girl stood just beyond the threshold of the entrance into the kitchen. The phone had rang. The mom had answered. In the background, the small T.V. on the counter droned on with the evening news. The girl glanced at the screen and smiled.

The mom hung up the phone, unsettled. She turned back to the stove and gasped when she saw her daughter standing there.

“Oh, Cassie! I didn’t see you. Don’t do that. You’ll scare the living daylights out of me.”

The girl kept her eyes on the T.V., the grin on her face growing.

Her mom frowned, picked up the remote, and clicked it off. “We don’t need to watch that garbage. Just more depressing stuff. Can you believe it? All the money and power, everyone thinking he was a decent fellow, and he kills his wife?”

The girl took a step into the kitchen and leaned on the counter, watching the mom return to the stove and mix a large pot of soup. “Who was on the phone?”

The mom jumped back from the pot and clutched her finger. “Ow, damn it!” The spoon clanged to the floor as she went to the sink to run her finger under cold water.

The girl moved another step into the kitchen and rested her hand on the counter next to the knives. The carving knife would be the perfect tool to do it, to end this stupid creature’s little life. The girl released a small chuckle at the sound of the running water.

The water went off. “Can’t believe I burned myself,” the mom muttered. She turned, the crease between her eyebrows deepening as she surveyed her daughter. “Cassie, what’s wrong?”

The girl forced a pleasant smile. “Nothing. You didn’t answer my question.”

“Not that it matters, but just some prank caller.”

“Oh? What did they say?”

“What does it matter?” The mom shook her head. “Don’t you have homework to do?”

“I thought I heard a man’s voice saying it was your daughter, your Cassie.”

“You heard that? You always did have good hearing.” The mom sighed. “Look, honey, I need to get dinner ready before your father gets home.”

“Anything you say…Mom.”

The girl left the kitchen, her eyes lingering on the faucet. She went to her bedroom, or the girl’s bedroom. She didn’t suppose it really mattered. She lay down on the pink comforter and took in her surroundings.

She’s a good girl. All As, a gymnast star, volunteers at the pet shelter, and is shy around boys. That’s always my favorite part, the little added bonus, that bundle of memories all packaged up nicely like a gift on Christmas morning. It just makes my job all the better, the more fun to find the perfect ending to their story.

A knock came from the door. The girl sat up and smoothed down her shirt. She stood and gazed at her reflection in the mirror. She had a pretty enough face. A shame she didn’t use it more to her advantage. She winked at her reflection and went to the door.

A boy of about eleven stood there, his brown hair messy and his hazel eyes gazing up at her. “Hey, Cass, d’you wanna see how far I’ve made it in Minecraft?”

Evan. That’s the annoying little prick’s name. She grinned as how easily the knowledge could be pulled to the surface.

“I don’t really care,” she said. She made to close the door.

Evan stuck his hand up, stopping the door. “Hey, what’s the matter? Boy troubles?” He laughed and made kissing noises with his lips.

She scoffed and slammed the door on his face.

“Ow, you made my nose bleed! I’m telling Mom!”

“Go ahead.” The girl rolled her eyes.

She went to her dresser and stared at her reflection. The blah brown hair and no makeup just wouldn’t cut it. No, Cassie Meadows needed a new look, a new attitude, and a new life…fast. The girl smiled, her pupils flashing red for a second, then returning to their usual hazel.

Behind the door, the mother yelled some inanity. The girl ignored the older woman. She would have plenty of time to deal with her and the little brother later.

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My novel, Lorna versus Laura, is available for $4.99 here.

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