Prompt: Write a mystery story595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggWSOdgvRT
595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxjzqxgxFZ
Sunlight spills over spiral-cut hedges, lighting the dew on the grass with the gentlest touch. The air speaks of passing laughter and smiles and I can't take it all, after that first breath, I collapse onto the ground. It's so perfect, so beautiful - but as a stain of scarlet begins spreading from underneath my dress, the sky shatters and the trees scatter, just a kaleidoscope of leaves that once resembled a landscape being blown away until nothing is left but his body before me, the walls closing in and the door, left ajar.
That's what I told him in the end, you see.
Celia... I don't know how to tell you this. Bryce died two years ago.
No no. That can't be right. I have all these presents he gave me last year. Look, these pretty flowers, still fresh in their vase. This necklace I wear and love so much. And I saw him, saw him die just a few days ago -
Celia, let's stop here. I can see you're becoming distressed.
I see you're right. I'm biting my nails. I always do that when I get flustered. Haha, I don't even notice... must be my old age. That's what I put it down to, you know, when I started losing things in the oddest of places and when familiar corridors took minutes to cross. Old age. It was only when the rooms started moving that I knew something was wrong.
We can talk about that later, okay, Celia? You should have some rest now. You look tired.
I feel a little fatigued - very well. Thank you for your time, I suppose.
It's my pleasure, Missus Rhine. I'll see you tomorrow. Good day.
'It's so awful to see her like this.' Millie was one of those girls who was perhaps prettier without makeup, but the nights in hospital had done nothing for her looks. Her once opulent hair lay matted beneath her delicate head in dull strands disappearing beneath sheets. Eyes closed, nostrils tubed, tiny drops of condensation visible on the plastic with every slow breath. Her skin was livid, and if not for the rise and fall of her chest and the steady beeping of the nearby monitor, he could've sworn she was dead already.
'It is. She would be having her graduation party today. We had it all planned...' Lucas trails off into silence. Millie was his girlfriend. They hadn't always been on the best of terms, but she always came back - she loved him, and all the shallow arguments couldn't end that.
'I wonder how she got so sick this fast. It can't be normal.' Yuri watches over her sleeping friend with consternation. 'She can't even talk properly anymore.'
Graham whistles as he polishes the ring. Sometimes all it needs is a little bit of love, and it's as good as new. He won't sell this one - there was something magical about the way the light bounced off the curved surfaces. Andrea will love it, he thinks. He sifts through dates in his head for a proposal, wonders how he will do it. I'll get a better job for her, he decides, move out of this shoddy second hand jewelry store, do something worthwhile. For her, but also - he smiles at the thought of holding soft, peachy skin, hearing the unmistakable high gurgle of a sweet child.595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRo9JEOExJF
'Luke!' He yells into the back room. 'Can you close up for the day?'595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskdGbZvpk3
'Sure thing.' Lucas was a pleasant boy, a little brooding, perhaps, but nice all the same. Graham gives him heavy discounts on items in the store - and he can keep all the ones that aren't fit for selling. He doesn't know what Luke does with all the bad items - but every day he returns to an empty discard box.595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NZ48YwlWv
The bearded man pockets the ring, and moves on to the next item - a pretty little necklace. A finely crafted braid chain, ending in a heart shaped locket - stuck. Oh well, he thinks - it doesn't seem like good metal anyway. He chucks it into the discard box, and rises from his desk with a smile for the help, turns a green 'Hello!...' to a red 'Sorry...' before walking into the sunset with a golden weight in his pocket and a song in his soul.
The poor girl was killed over something. It was in the newspapers for a while, everyone was shocked that the murder wasn't solved by the police. There were three people, the girl was distressed but the boy told her to shut up, that they would get into trouble. Didn't know at the time, thought it was just another argument in a shady area, passed by and didn't see the body they were standing over.595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpOo76nQxE
The poor girl was a model college student, studying to be a doctor. Could sing like no other, star netballer, and a fine painter too. It's always the precious ones that are lost.595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4A1uGcSRdH
Poor girl.
'Heyyyyyy homies!' Phoebe announces her arrival at the tunnel. 'It's time to celebrate the end of another frickin' test! I got the good stuff, you better pay up.' The exchange of notes and packets. 'And, oh my god, you will not believe, that prat Wendy kept going on and on about the answers, such a show off -' Pheobe and the two others turn around at the sound of footsteps.595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmtyDnW5F5
'You three... are in BIG trouble.'
'Shhhh, shhhh, it's okay... we'll tell them at graduation, like you wanted to. It's okay, I'll say you weren't involved...' He holds her tight to his chest, and she's crying like the coward she is. 'It's okay, it's okay... I got you something. Look here. Isn't it beautiful?' He unclasps the metal braid and gently wraps it around her neck, a golden heart resting against hers.595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JDZPOCrRD
'...Luke... I love you.'595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtm92ZTHeQ7
He hesitates, but not long enough for Millie to notice.595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqfiPwxgJK
'I love you too.'
RHINE DIES AGED 63595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhTHQJ7JYb
THE RENOWNED AUTHOR CELIA RHINE PASSED AWAY LAST SATURDAY IN HER HOME FROM CHRONIC LEAD POISONING. SHE PRODUCED SOME OF HER MOST CHARACTERISTIC WORK IN HER FINAL YEARS WHILE SHE SUFFERED FROM SCHIZOPHRENIA, A CONDITION THAT WAS ADVANCED BY HER ABNORMALLY HIGH BLOOD CONCENTRATION OF LEAD. ARTICLE CONTINUED PAGE 5
