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"The Haunting Surprise (A Short Story)"

I suggest you copy it into word to read it properly

(It has nothing to do with games)

The Haunting Surprise by Cooldogs

Chapter 1

It was a crisp winter morning. The kind where the sun was shining but it never warmed up the air. Emmalou could see her breath as she rode her trusty little bike through the streets of Liddlesville, a little town in Warwickshire. She was dreaming of spring. She loved the spring time when everyone is happy but now people were gloomy and depressed. Quite a few children were crowding round the notice on the board at school which read. “DO YOU WANT TO BECOME A SUPERSTAR? JOIN NOW FOR INSTANT FAME AND FORTUNE. PLEASE REPORT TO HEAD OFFICE.” When they got there they were told to go to the old community centre at 6:30 p.m. on the following Saturday.
Emmalou chuckled to herself as she remembered the scene there.
Nearly the whole school was there, all talking in their own groups she must have been the only one there without a friend. Then suddenly a strange man with tattoos up both arms came out from behind the curtain. The hum from voices dimmed as the man started his speech.
“Ladies and Gentlemen. OOPS I mean children from Liddlesville College. I welcome you to the new LIDDLESVILLE THEATRE.” Immediately after he said this over half the people in the audience left. Realising this he continued, “If you would like to become rich and famous then sign up at the front for the first theatre group in Liddlesville.” The ‘New’ Theatre fell quiet then one by one, some people went to the front of the stage but most had left by now.
Emmalou was going to Big Sally’s house. Big Sally was tall with light brown/ginger hair. All the boys in Liddlesville loved her to bit’s but she was waiting for someone who was different, not like other people. Big Sally and Emmalou were best friends they stuck together through thick and thin. No matter what differences they had they overcame them and carried on like nothing had happened.
When she arrived she looked at Big Sally. Big Sally’s eyes where blotchy and very, very red. Emmalou immediately realised Big Sally had been crying for some time now. They went up to Big Sally’s room in silence once there, Big Sally burst out crying. Emmalou didn’t know what to do. All she could do was comfort Big Sally until she stopped crying. Emmalou then asked, “Big Sally, what’s happened?”
All Big Sally did was hold out an envelope. Emmalou read the note out loud,

“Big Sally,
I want you to know that I love you. I have from the day you were born but I cannot stay with you any longer. Remember, I will always love you.

As many hugs and kisses as possible. Your loving Mum XXXXXXXXXX.”

Emmalou just sat on the bed speechless while Big Sally cried even more. Eventually Emmalou said, “When did you find out?” Big Sally wiped her tears and spoke, her voice wavering a bit, “About five minutes before I rang you.” They sat on the bed for what seemed to be like hours until the phone rang and startled them both. Emmalou stopped Big Sally from getting up and said, “You stay there I’ll get the phone.” It was Big Sally’s dad. He sounded upset and all he said was, “Does she know yet?”
“Y…” the phone went dead.
Big Sally was shaking on the bed, when Emmalou returned, then she screamed and collapsed. Emmalou became very frightened and ran to the phone. She fumbled in the number 999. The lady on the other end of the line was calm, happy and very bubbly! This annoyed Emmalou who was very worried.
“Which service would you like?” said the calm voice.
“Ambulance please,” Emmalou said as calmly as possible.
“Where to?” Emmalou forgot where she was. Where was she? Stay calm she thought, think, where are you? She remembered, “17 Cook Lane, Liddlesville”
“OK. An ambulance is on the way.”
Those words comforted Emmalou for about 2 minutes until she heard the siren go off on the Ambulance. Suddenly she was very afraid and wanted to be at her home with her mother and father. The man from the Ambulance rushed in,
“What's happened?” said the man in a green uniform.
“My friend has collapsed,” she said hoping for him to say some thing, “Her mother has just left her,” she continued.
“Oh," the man said, then he asked, "Where is she?"
“Upstairs on the left," she spoke. A woman came in behind Emmalou and started asking her questions. Emmalou explained in as much detail as possible what had happened that day. They told Emmalou to go home. She did as they requested. Big Sally went to hospital suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.

THREE DAYS LATER.

The first meeting on the first day of the fourth show started. The now ageing, ‘Liddlesville theatre group’ was a cheerful place to be in. A group of young students of the local school were all talking about the newest play of their career.
Grix Thraves came in late for the rehearsal. He made his excuses and went to the stage, “Welcome everyone to the first rehearsal of the new play.” Murmurs went around the stage. “To begin I would like to read out the list of actors and their characters in the play…” For about 15 minutes he told everyone their parts in the play and handed out the scripts. He then dismissed the actors with the words “Try and learn your lines for the first three scene’s of Act 1.” He held back the people working backstage. He gave them a long lecture about what their jobs would be and how they would be fulfilled.

Chapter 2

While this had been going on Lady Sniper and Goatboy had been walking back home together. Goatboy started the conversation, “I’m really looking forward to the play”
Lady Sniper replied, “Which part have you got?”
“Robert, the one who likes June. You?”
“I’m June!” she suddenly became the happiest person in the whole world because she had to do a scene where she had to kiss Robert and say how handsome he looked. She decided to let him find out for himself about the scene and left the thought whizzing round her head.
“I’m so glad you decided to be in the play as well because nothing would be the same without you.”
Lady Sniper didn’t quite register what he had said as her mind was on other things, namely the scene! So she asked curiously, “Did you say, …‘Life wouldn’t be the same without me?’”
“Yes,” he was quite taken aback and he hoped he hadn’t put his foot in it!
Lady Sniper just replied, “I think that I feel the same way too but I’m not sure.”
Goatboy didn’t know what she meant by her reply so he decided not to risk it and left it in the air.
They walked in silence the rest of the way. When they arrived at Lady Sniper’s house Lady Sniper had the most tremendous urge to find out what that romantic scene would be like. She stepped forward and put her hands around his neck and pulled his head towards hers as she placed the most romantic, tender kiss on his lips. Goatboy didn’t know what to do so he just relaxed and let himself kiss her back.
Lady Sniper started to walk backwards towards the house still holding Goatboy around his neck. The kiss had finished but the two of them were giggling as they moved towards the front door of Lady Sniper’s house. Goatboy started to kiss her again. She took one hand off his now glowing cheek and struggled to open the door. Her hand eventually turned the metal knob round. She hadn’t realised that they were both leaning against the door so as the door swung open they both fell onto the floor, laughing Goatboy stopped laughing and stared into Lady Sniper’s brown eye’s. Then he took hold of her, around her waist, and pulled her closer towards him. She made a sort of whimpering sound as he rolled her onto her back. He then gently kicked the door with his right foot to stop anyone from outside seeing what was to happen.

Chapter 3

THAT EVENING

Emmalou and Big Sally were at Pink Pig’s house for tea that evening. After the meal they all went up to Pink Pig’s room.
“WOW!” said Emmalou and Big Sally at the same time as they entered the room. The room was done out in an oriental style. Everything matched perfectly to the last detail. Even the TV and the radio matched! She had a king sized 4 poster bed, with Chinese style patterned curtains draped around the bed. She even had a massive settee which could seat up to five people easily.
They chatted for a while commenting on how nice everything looked and Pink Pig boasted about how expensive it all was. Big Sally remained quite silent as if she was disgusted with what she saw and heard.
Pink Pig realised something was wrong with Big Sally and said, “Are you OK?”
“No” was the reply.
Pink Pig was unsure as to what this meant but her thoughts were ended by Emmalou.
“WOW,” Emmalou said again for about the twentieth time, “I wish my parents were as rich as yours.”
Big Sally bit her tongue but it was no good. Everything that had been welling up inside her came out in one sentence “I wish I had two parents!” with this she burst into tears. Emmalou and Pink Pig tried to comfort Big Sally but failed. She ran home in tears of sorrow. Emmalou ran after Big Sally but didn’t catch up. When she got to Big Sally’s house, Emmalou knocked at the door and shouted, “Big Sally it’s me open up. Let me in.”
Big Sally came to the door still crying, “Why should I?”
“Because I’m your friend,” she said this as softly as possible. “I didn’t mean to upset you…”
“Yes, that may be true but you did didn’t you?” She screwed up her face and turned around.
“Look I’m sorry for what I may have done, but I promise that I did not by any means want to upset you by what I said.”
Big Sally stopped crying.
“There will you let me in now?”
“What’s this?”
Emmalou looked over Big Sally’s shoulder. She was holding a blue envelope just like the one her mother had left her. Big Sally gave the envelope to Emmalou and said,
“Read it to me.”
Emmalou read it:-
“Dear Big Sally,
I love you. I know, you know that I love you. I still remember you as that little girl that I once could hold on my knee, and cuddle when you cried. But things have changed now. I can't live any longer knowing your mother doesn't love me any more. Please forgive me, my darling little princess I would do anything to turn back time, but I can't. Goodbye. Your loving Dad XXXXXXXXXX

I'm going to the river."

Before Big Sally had time to do anything Emmalou rang for an Ambulance. When she got back Big Sally was in a heap on the floor as Emmalou had expected!
The Ambulance men came and Big Sally was taken again to hospital. The Police had been called. They left it with Emmalou to find out a way to contact Big Sally’s mum and when she did she had to contact WPC Your Honour. Emmalou got on with her job.
Emmalou spent a whole hour searching high and low over Big Sally’s house, trying to find anything that told her where Big Sally’s mum had gone. In Big Sally’s dad’s room in an old oak dresser she found some papers that were stapled together. All the papers had Big Sally’s mum’s handwriting on. On the papers were details of what Big Sally’s mum was planning to do. She ran to Pink Pig’s house got her bike and rode to the police station.
She was out of breath when she got there and she realised that she was very, very hungry. She went up to a man in a dark uniform.
“I’m looking for WPC Your Honour.”
“He’s just over there,” the man pointed to a long corridor with millions of people moving around each other.
Emmalou narrowed her eyes, “Thank you!,” She said as sarcastically as possible.
She walked towards the crowded corridor but did not have to get squashed because WPC Your Honour came out of the crowd.
“Mr Your Honour I found this in Big Sally’s house.”
“What is it?”
“It contains details of what her mum was planning to do. Plus it even has a telephone number”
“Who wrote it?”
“It’s in her mothers handwriting,” she offered.
“Come into my office,” he beckoned.
The office was decorated in blue and gave Emmalou a chill because it stank of stale coffee.
“I want you to tell Big Sally’s mum what has happened…,” he pushed the phone towards her, “and persuade her to come home.”
“Why can’t you?,” she was upset at the thought of talking to the person who upset her best friend so much that she went into hospital.
“Because she does not know me but she does know you!” was his lame excuse.
Emmalou realised he was in a certain way scared about ringing up Big Sally’s mum so she gave up and rang the number. Big Sally’s mum wasn’t very nice to Emmalou on the phone and she didn’t want to come home, but after Emmalou said that her husband had died, she said she would come back.

Chapter 4

The rehearsals for the play went fine so within two weeks later they had covered all of Act 1. So 15 days after the first rehearsal they all had a get together to celebrate the completion of Act 1. The party was held at Pink Pig’s house, as her parents were away. At seven o’clock everyone was arriving bringing their food and drinks. During the past two weeks Emmalou had had no time at all to talk to Big Sally so she decided to make this her time to talk in private. The first thing everyone did was eat. Food was plentiful and so everyone had seconds. Emmalou found the atmosphere uncomfortable because Big Sally didn’t seem to be enjoying herself which made her feel guilty for enjoying herself. At her first free moment from talking to Er-no and Grand Prix, she went over to sit with Big Sally who was in a bit of a daze.
“Hi Big Sally.”
“Hi.”
“What’s up you seem a little down in the dumps? Is everything going all right at home?”
“I am not and it’s fine”
Emmalou was not sure of how she was supposed to take the response to such an ordinary question. “What’s got into you?”
“It’s mother. She isn’t the same now dad’s not here and she is blaming me, in a way for dad killing himself.”
“Come on you’re exaggerating.”
“No I’m not. Why does everyone think that they can solve all my problems? Why can’t you all just leave me alone?” These words were shouted out to the whole room of people. Everyone stopped and looked at her as she left the house in tears. Pink Pig tried to ease the tension so she asked everyone if they wanted to play dares. Everyone agreed to play except for Emmalou who ran after Big Sally.
Grix Thraves who always liked to stir up trouble said, “I dare Goatboy to kiss Lady Sniper for thirty seconds, and if he doesn’t then I’ve got a better idea for him.”
Goatboy face went bright red. “’I’ll do it.” The room became filled with wolf whistles and cheers. Lady Sniper went as white as a ghost and Goatboy just laughed.
The room went silent.
Goatboy looked into Lady Sniper’s eyes. He noticed a look of fear in her eyes. As he walked towards her he whispered to her, “It’s OK.”
Grix Thraves looked at his watch and then as the second hand reached 12 he shouted, “START!”
At this point Goatboy grabbed Lady Sniper and kissed her. Roars of laughter filled the room. At ten seconds Lady Sniper had really sunk into it. In what seemed like one second Grix Thraves shouted “You’ve done it!” Only Goatboy and Lady Sniper did not stop kissing screams of laughter filled the room as Lady Sniper and Goatboy fell onto the couch, still kissing.
Grix Thraves quite shocked shouted again, “You can stop now!” They did. Goatboy’s face was covered in bright red lipstick, so he went up to the bathroom to clean his face. Everyone had stopped laughing and were thinking of different dares. Lady Sniper noticed and slipped out to the room upstairs..!

Chapter 5

The following day at college Pink Pig met up with Lady Sniper. She asked her if anything happened between Goatboy and herself because they had disappeared. Lady Sniper said that they didn’t get up to any hanky panky. Pink Pig didn’t believe her so she changed her tactics, “Well if you didn‘t do anything then tell me this, is he a good kisser?”
“He is brilliant”
“Wow, so anyway I want to know what happened after you left us, I want all the juicy details.”
“I followed him upstairs while you lot were thinking. No-one noticed though…” Pink Pig thought “Yeah that’s what you think” but did not say it out loud.
“…I asked him if he was all right, to which he responded ‘Yes’. I helped him wash the rest of the lipstick off and added some more on top. “We sneaked out while no-one was watching and went back to his house.”
“And of course this is the first time you have ever done anything like this?”
“Well, we nearly did but he got all mushy and decided not to do anything and walked away.”
“And when exactly was this?”
“The first day we got he briefing on the play.”
“Oh I see. Have you seen Goatboy since yesterday?”
“No” Lady Sniper squeaked sheepishly.
“So what are you going to do when you do see him?” Pink Pig asked.
“Well, I, I’ll die.” Lady Sniper sighed deeply.
“Start digging your grave because he’s just over there!”
The colour drained from Lady Sniper’s face as she turned round to see him walking towards her. HELP! she mouthed to Pink Pig.
“Hello girls,” her boyfriend sniggered, “Hi baby,” the couple embraced. “I’ve been thinking about you…”
“And?” came an abrupt reply from Pink Pig.
“But out, you!” was Lady Sniper’s reply.
“I don’t think we finished what we started last night. Did I say anything wrong? When you got up and left I thought…!” Goatboy was concerned.
Pink Pig laughed and said, “I’ll leave you two love birds alone!”
“Ta,” came Lady Sniper’s reply.
Pink Pig walked off to go and find Grand Prix.
“So what did Pink Pig want to know about last night?” Goatboy asked
“How did you know what we had been discussing?”
“I knew because every time you think or talk about…”
“Yes…”
“Well, you, you have a strange glow that comes into your cheeks.”
“I think it‘s because I love you!” Lady Sniper replied softly. They kissed.

Chapter 6

“Er-no,” called out Grand Prix at the end of the day, “Over here,” he waved.
Er-no fought through the crowds of children all leaving Liddlesville College,
“Hi Grand Prix.” He smiled as he looked at one of, as he regarded, his best friends. Grand Prix was standing at the top of a long flight of stone steps leaning against a statue of William Shakespeare. Grand Prix was 6ft1 and had brown bushy hair and big round, brown eyes. Er-no sometimes envied Grand Prix because all the girls who met him loved him whereas small brainy Er-no was viewed by all as a swat, someone who worked at school, wore glasses and that’s it as far as every small minded person thought!
After fighting through all the throngs of people he was exhausted, “What do you want?” Er-no breathed out.
“I was wondering if you needed any help doing the scenery for Act 3, or something, because there’s something I need to ask you.”
“Well I’m not the one you need to ask about doing the scenery. Emmalou’s the one you need to ask about that, you know how particular she is about it. She’d have your head cut off if she thought you would do something without her knowledge. Anyway I’m not going there today because she’s busy marking out the floor for Act 3 and boy does she get cranky when she does that. But you wouldn’t know about any of that. You’re an actor taught not to mix wiv us comm’n folk,” he put on a rather forced Yorkshire accent for the last bit and laughed with Grand Prix as he continued, “Anyway you can come to my house if you want, and we can talk there.”
“Thanks.” Came Grand Prix’s pleased reply.
The two boys walked side by side down the steps of the college into a cold February orange sunset.
***

Louise, Jane and Emma met each other at the same time as Er-no met Grand Prix. Emma started off the conversation, “Lady Sniper’s gone and done it this time.”
“What do you mean?” came the unanimous reply!
“That little devil has gone too far this time and she’s going to pay for it. She’s going to pay for it big time.”
Taking hold of the situation Louise responded, “What’s happened Emma,” no response, “Tell us.”
Emma took in a deep breath and started her tale, “Well it was just this morning when I had come into school. I saw that little tramp and Pink Pig talking then guess who turned up?”
“I don’t know,” Jane replied.
Emma came back with, “You’re such an idiot Jane. It was a rhetorical question… you know, the ones you don’t reply to… Oh forget it. Anyway it was Goatboy who turned up. He said something to them both and then the two of them started hugging, sick people. Then as they pulled apart she stole a glance at me. Then the idiot made a big point of kissing her lover right in front of me. I felt so sick. I could kill her. He made a big point walking into me as he went past. In spite!” she finished. At last her two companions thought!
“So let me get this straight,” Louise said, “Who exactly are you angry with?”
“I’m angry with Lady Sniper because she stole my boyfriend. I want to teach her a lesson, one she won’t forget in a hurry!” Spoke Emma, stubbornly placing her hands on her hips.
“Oh I see,” said Louise, “Except he was never your boyfriend in the first place and have you ever thought of talking to her?”
Jane chipped in this little comment, “I think that you should mind your own business Louise, and Emma I already know something that is very close to her heart.” She slyly pointed to Lady Sniper’s boyfriend!
***
Lady Sniper walked out of the college with Goatboy on her arm. She tossed her long blonde hair off her shoulder so it hung down her back.
“Oh, bother,” she exclaimed as they left the gates, “I left my books in my tray in the theatre, I need to go and get them.”
“OK,” Goatboy said as they walked along the busy road, “Do you want me to come, only I wasn’t planning to go over there.”
“Oh no quite the opposite, I was wanting to have a walk by myself, if that’s ok.”
“Yep, that’s fine. See you later.” he gave her a kiss, they hugged and parted company. Goatboy saw Grand Prix and Er-no coming down the college steps. ‘Ah,’ he thought. ‘Just the people he wanted to see.’
“Hi,” he said as he met the two boys, “can I talk to you two?”
“Yeah fine,” said Er-no, “We’re going to my house. Wanna come?”
“Ok,” said Goatboy and he walked with his friends to Er-no’s house.

Chapter 7

Once there, Er-no asked Grand Prix if he could go out with Emmalou. Grand Prix was a bit shocked but after Er-no had explained that he had, at first, fancied Lady Sniper but Goatboy beat him to her so he swapped his affection to Emmalou, Grand Prix agreed to the match and gave his blessing. Goatboy then told them about a surprise that he was planning for Lady Sniper.
***
“Oh June, you don’t know what you’ve done to me”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m a new person now, a person ready to run away with you.”
“You can’t. I’m married”
“But I love you...” Goatboy knelt in front of Lady Sniper, wearing a dressing gown, waiting for her to say something but she burst into a fit of hysterics.
“I’m sorry.” she cried through her tears, her hair hung over her face, “I couldn’t help it!”
Grix Thraves was now loosing patience with the pair, “Look for the third time will you two get down to your job. I’m sick of it. You can’t do that on the day you know Lady Sniper. Your going to have to learn to control yourself. Let’s take a break.”

In the green room Er-no pulled Grand Prix away from Pink Pig, “Look are you sure it’s ok, about me and Emmalou?”
“Yes you know it is!” came the reply from Grand Prix.
“Ok here goes,” said Er-no as he took in a deep breath. He walked up to Emmalou, Big Sally and Lady Sniper who were talking about the end of the play.
“Excuse me ladies,” he began, “I wondered if you would spare me a certain member of your group that goes by the name of Emmalou?”
“Oh my dear sir we are not permitted to make such a foremost decision,” answered Big Sally, “You will have to ask for her hand yourself if you wish to make such an offer!”
“Oh come off it Big Sally. Yes what do you want Er-no,” she said turning her back to her two companions and standing up.
As the two walked out of the crowded room Er-no said, “There’s something very important that I need to talk to you about.”
“Oh. Ok, what is it?”
They walked into the props room and she sat down on the seat.
Er-no began his well prepared speech, “We’ve known each other for a long time... Well, I suppose all our life.... Well the thing is I’d like to get to know you... well I do know you but... I mean more than what you like and don’t like... I know what I like... a lot... what I love... It’s you. I want to go out with you, Emmalou. For a long time now I realised that you’re the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with so will you go out with me?”
Emmalou sat watching him stutter out his speech, half laughing, half beaming with joy and now he finally stopped she stood up and took his hands and said, “Yes I feel the same way.”
“Oh ohh ohhhh,” Er-no exclaimed and then grabbed Emmalou and gave her the biggest hug she had ever received in her life and as they started to part he took her in his arms once more and tenderly kissed her. They then started to laugh.

Chapter 8

The next day Emmalou got up early to go into the theatre so she could get some quality time to finish the masks for the ball scene. She decided to get a strong coffee to wake herself up and so went straight to the Green room. She put the kettle on and started to wash up a few of the left over cups from last night. Everyone had been so good when she and Er-no said that they were now going out with each other. Emmalou laughed as she remembered how her mum had reacted. Grand Prix, well he said it was about time she got herself into a relationship. He was the boss.
Emmalou suddenly became aware of a dripping noise coming from above her on the stage.
“What could it be?” she wondered
She walked slowly up to the stairs that led to the stage and strained her ears, she couldn’t hear anything.
“Oh it’s my imagination,” she said out loud. Then it started again!
She started to walk up the metal stairs. She could hear each rung creak under her weight her heart was beating faster and faster, her pulse was racing, she got to the last step and took hold of the door handle and slowly opened the door.
SHE SCREAMED
When she had first opened the door she couldn’t see anything because it was too dark but as her eyes became used to the dingy light she saw the most horrific thing she ever saw in her life. She saw a pool of a red liquid on the floor. The bed from the last scene had it’s cover half hanging off the bed. The chair from the scene was overturned. Goatboy’s cream dressing gown lay on the floor, half pink where it lay in the pool. Emmalou then forced her eyes to look upward to see the limp naked body of Goatboy hanging in a noose. His hands were gripping the noose, his face was frozen in pain and anguish. His head was gashed open leaving streams of congealing blood down his body to the tip of his toe.
The sight was too horrific for her body to take in. Her legs became weak and her world began to spin. She tried to run for the door to get away from this fiend that haunted her vision but she fell to the ground as the world around her blacked out.
When she came round, she was still there. The body, the blood, her. She screamed, wailing, crying, “HELP ME. SOMEBODY HELP ME.” She was sweating with fear, crying and sobbing as her body was paralysed with fear and she could not get away from this horror.
At 10 O'clock, Er-no came. By this time Emmalou lay on the floor, unable to scream, just shaking. Er-no went to the Green room to get a cup of coffee when he became aware of a muffled banging on the stage floor upstairs. He thought it would be Emmalou marking out the stage for the next act, so he went to say ‘hi’ to his beloved, as he boiled the kettle. When he walked on to the stage he got a shock. He saw the horror that of the room, a body hanging in the air, a pool of blood, a slept in bed, Emmalou, a chair knocked over. LAURA.
He dived beside her and enfolded her in his arms like a mother would a little child. He held her close beside him and wiped her sweaty brow with his t-shirt. She was whimpering and he kept saying, “It’s ok. I’m here. Shh”
He tried to help her up to her feet but she was unable to control her own body. He sat, comforting her, trying to take in what was happening. Waiting, for what seemed like a lifetime, for someone to come. He wanted to phone the police and get an ambulance. But to do that he would have to leave her alone.
***
Big Sally had met up with Pink Pig and Grand Prix and they walked to the theatre in a group talking about a film they were going to see next week. As they arrived in the car park of the Liddlesville Theatre Grand Prix suddenly noticed a silhouette of a body, in the window.
“What’s that,” he exclaimed pointing to the window.
“What?” the other two simultaneously asked.
“That silhouette up there!” he said straining to get the two to understand what he was trying to show them, “In the window.”
As he said this a car went past them and for a moment flashed the sunlight on to the body. Pink Pig saw the body and saw for a glimpse of a second, Goatboy’s face. She screamed out,
“It’s Goatboy!”
Grand Prix and Big Sally started to run to the theatre door and Grand Prix yelled as he left Pink Pig,
“Stay here, I’ll be back in a moment”
When Big Sally and Grand Prix went into the stage, Er-no screamed at them,
“At last someone’s here! Big Sally go and get the police will you, and Grand Prix give me a hand to get her out of here.”
Grand Prix just looked at Er-no and then forced himself to look at the lifeless body of Goatboy and went deadly pail. He immediately ran to the bathroom where he was sick. As he was coming out, he noticed a pile of clothes on the floor, they were Goatboy’s. He took them with him and went back up to the stage.
“Look what I found,” he said proudly as he went up to Er-no who was wiping Emmalou’s forehead with his t-shirt,
“What is it?” Er-no replied
“It’s Goatboy’s clothes!”
“What?” Er-no said with some surprise, “Oh, give me a hand with Emmalou will you, I need to get her out of here.” Grand Prix and Er-no carried Emmalou down the steps and took her into the Green Room and laid her down on one of the sofa’s. Grand Prix then went back outside to get Pink Pig and Er-no started to wash Emmalou’s face with cold water in hope that she would come round.
Grand Prix came in with Pink Pig following closely behind him. She looked at a shaken Er-no and then at Emmalou, she dived beside her,
“Are you alright you poor thing?” she asked her best friend. She wiped Emmalou’s brow with the cloth, she was very worried.
Then Emmalou snapped out of her speechless state and she started to scream. Both Er-no and Grand Prix, immediately started to comfort her saying,
“Shh, there, there, it’s alright, it’s over, calm down.” She did and she started to become aware of what was happening.
“How long have I been unconscious?” she asked.
“About two hours,” said Er-no, looking at his watch. She nodded her head.
“What are those?” she asked looking at the pile of clothes on the table?
“They are Goatboy’s clothes,” Grand Prix answered, “I found them in the toilet.” Emmalou sat up and studied them closely she lifted up the shirt to see his underwear folded as neatly as the rest of his clothes were. She managed to get to her feet, went over to the sink, and threw up. Suddenly Big Sally came bursting through the door with the police.
The police took statements, detailing where they had been the night before, where they last saw him and what time they got in this morning.
It was now 11:30am and everyone sat in the Green Room. The police had made everyone give a statement. The last people to come in were Louise, Jane and Emma. They were handed a coffee from Big Sally who was giving everyone one. When they were told what had happened they were very shocked to begin with, but then they looked quite guilty. After they had been told to write a statement they returned to the Green Room with a policeman. He sat them down and then turned to the rest of the group and asked, “Is everyone here?” They all looked round and then nodded. Suddenly Grand Prix realised that Lady Sniper was still not there. He shouted out, “Lady Sniper’s not here.”
“Who’s she?” the policeman replied.
“She is... I mean was Goatboy’s girlfriend.” This comment struck home to Emmalou that he was dead and that she would not see him again! She started to cry again. Er-no comforted her.
No sooner had he said this when Lady Sniper walked through the door. She knew something was wrong as everyone was sat in silence staring at her like they had just seen a ghost.
The policeman who had been talking to Grand Prix turned to Lady Sniper and asked,
“Are you Lady Sniper?”
She looked back at him like he was an idiot, “Yeah, course I am,” she rudely answered back.
“I think you should sit down,” he said, guiding her to the nearest seat, “There’s been a bit of an accident and I’m afraid that Goatboy is dead.”
The last word was left ringing in the ears of the people in the room while she tried to take in what the policeman had just told her. She started to groan, which led to a scream, which broke down into tears and she fell in a heap on the blue sofa ‘sobbing her heart out.’ Because she was in such a state the policeman said that they would take her statement tomorrow and then he told everyone that their play was on hold until further notice and he dismissed everyone.
The first group to go were Louise, Jane and Emma. Once they were outside and out of earshot of the policemen Louise asked Emma,
“What have you done, Emma?”
“What do you mean?” she replied.
“Don’t you remember, a couple of days ago. You came up to us, absolutely fuming because Lady Sniper upset you...” She tried to prompt her. Then Jane got on to her wavelength,
“Oh, yeah you wanted to get at her and I suggested that you used something close to her. I didn’t mean kill him!”
“You two think that I killed the only man in my life that I have loved? That’s ridiculous.”
“It’s too much of a coincidence for my liking,” said Jane as they walked down the quiet road.
Emmalou, Grand Prix, Er-no, Pink Pig and Big Sally all walked home together. They walked in silence each one trying to come to terms with what had happened to one of their best friends. Emmalou was still in shock from what had happened and she was worried about what would happen about the incident and her mind kept going over, and over the scene in the theatre. She couldn’t get the look of Goatboy out of her mind so she decided to take her mind off the vision in her head by asking a question,
“What did you think of Goatboy?” She didn’t get the response she expected. Everyone stopped walking. Big Sally tied her shoelace, Pink Pig looked away from Emmalou, Grand Prix looked at Er-no and Er-no let go of Emmalou’s hand.
“What?” Emmalou asked, “What does everyone know that know that I don’t?.. Grand Prix... Er-no... Big Sally?”
Pink Pig answered, “Goatboy wasn’t the easiest of people.”
“I don’t understand,” said Emmalou trying to take in what was going on.
“Goatboy was a sleazy scumbag alright Emmalou!” said Big Sally with disgust.
“I still don’t understand,” pleaded Emmalou.
“He wasn’t faithful to Lady Sniper ok?” Big Sally snorted, “He would make propositions to me and Pink Pig and probably others as well.”
“I don’t get it,” Emmalou replied.
“You wouldn’t,” Big Sally retorted, “Oh you who’s led a sheltered life, not acquainted with the way’s of the world.”
“I thought you were over that Big Sally!” Emmalou said in shock.
“WHAT?! You think I can get over my dad committing suicide after my mum went off with another man? Do YOU honestly think I can ever forgive my mum for that?”
“I... I... I...”
“That’s enough you two,” said Grand Prix cutting in to stop Emmalou and Big Sally getting further into a heated argument. “Big Sally, go home. Emmalou, come in.” Big Sally ran away from the stunned group of friends, crying with humiliation, because of what happened.
Once inside their house Emmalou was saying to Grand Prix,
“I can’t believe it. She just turned on me. I couldn’t do anything. I’m so sorry.” Er-no reassured her that there was nothing that could be done and that Big Sally would have to come to terms with it herself.

Chapter 9

Emmalou couldn’t sleep that night. She lay awake in bed tossing and turning trying to get rid of the images of the day that she had gone through. She couldn’t stop thinking about Big Sally and if she was ok, and Lady Sniper how was she now? It seemed like an eternity ago since she was in that room unable to move out of fear and shock.
By 4:00am she got up. After having about two hours sleep she was shattered and yet could not sleep. She went downstairs and got another cup of strong black coffee. It was still pitch black outside as the sun did not rise until eight o’clock. She decided to get her breakfast and go for a long walk to clear her head. She got a slice of toast and then wrote a note for her mum saying she had gone for a walk and will be back soon.
She walked along the main street of Liddlesville, silent and dark. She was thinking about everything that had happened over the past 24 hours. Life was wonderful yesterday morning. She had a new boyfriend who she was very much in love with, a caring brother who she held no secrets from, a best friend, Big Sally, who was there when she needed a friend and when she didn’t she also had the theatre which she loved along with everyone in it. Now her boyfriend and brother were hiding something from her, her best friend said she was spoilt and when she thought of the theatre she could only think of Goatboy’s dead body. It seemed as though everything that was once good in her life was stained red by the brutal killing of Goatboy.
She suddenly became very tired and so returned home. She got there at ten o’clock and the phone was ringing, Emmalou answered it,
“Hello,” she said into the mouthpiece.
“Hi it’s Louise. Is that Emmalou?” she was very worried.
“Yes it is. What’s up Louise?” she asked.
“Emmalou, I’m really worried about Emma.”
“Why?” Louise explained what had happened a few days before Goatboy died and then their conversation after they were dismissed yesterday.
“Oh I didn’t realise,” said Emmalou shocked by what she just heard.
“Well I didn’t think anything of it until I heard what the police said about the ring being stolen by a burglar,” Louise said plainly.
“What do you mean, ‘the ring’ and ‘a burglar?’” Emmalou asked, her brain racing.
“Oh, haven’t you heard. The police think a burglar did the murder so he could steal a ring that Goatboy had on him!”
“So they don’t think he was murdered!?”
“Not intentionally.”
“I... I can’t believe it! How can they say that? Did they even look at the body? How did he know about Goatboy’s ring and where he was?”
“I really don’t know, but I’m worried. What if Emma’s way of getting at Lady Sniper was to steal that ring, well then she would have killed Goatboy. I’m really worried, I don’t know what to do anymore.”
“Neither do I. I thought the police were going to find who murdered him, but they’re not.”
“Emmalou, I’m really sorry but I’m going to have to go. See you soon, bye.”
“Bye.” Emmalou put the phone down and tried to take in the information that she had just received. Just when she had sorted everything out it is jumbled up again! The post was pushed through the letterbox and startled her. She picked it up. There were three letters. Two for her dad and one for her. She put her dad’s letters on the kitchen bench and went to her room. She sat down at her desk and opened the letter. There was no letter inside all there was, was a gold ring with a big diamond stone. She looked at the ring carefully. It had an inscription round the ring which read, ‘To Lady Sniper my true love, Goatboy.’ Her hand holding the ring started to shake and she looked up, not to the ornate Victorian window but to Goatboy’s dead body with it’s rivers of blood. She hit her head to snap herself out of her vision.
She looked down at the ring. This was a token of how much Goatboy loved Lady Sniper. To know that that had been taken away by someone made Emmalou feel really sick. Then she felt really sad knowing that Goatboy was gone. Lady Sniper didn’t have a boyfriend anymore, no-one to love her in that way. She started to cry. She cried because nothing would ever be the same again, things had changed and they were beyond the point of no return.

Chapter 10

Grand Prix was worried about Emmalou. She had been in her room all day, not eaten since breakfast. He went up to see her. “What do you want?” she asked, after he said hi.
“I’ve been thinking about what has happened over these few day’s, and I’m very concerned.”
“What about?” Emmalou asked turning round further so she didn’t have to strain her neck.
“Well, I don’t think the police are right about it being a burglar and all that about the ring, it doesn’t seem right.” He sat down on her bed and put his head in his hands.
“I know how you feel about it not being right but I have to believe about the ring.”
“Why?”
“Because this came in the post today,” She showed him the ring. Grand Prix gasped, “Read what it say’s,” Emmalou said giving him it. Grand Prix read what it said.
“I can’t believe it,” he said in utter shock.
“I don’t know what to do.” Emmalou said looking down at her hands.
“Erm, can I get back to what I was saying?”
“Oh, of course.” Emmalou said laughing at the stupidity of her conversation.
“I’m worried for you Emmalou. Something was said to me a few day’s before you know what happened.”
“What was said?” she asked, getting worried.
“Er-no was talking to me and Goatboy, and he asked for my permission to go out with you. Now what I’m about to say isn’t to get at Er-no or to upset you. I don’t want anything to change between you two but I think you ought to know because it’s really worrying me, He said that he wanted to go out with Lady Sniper at first but Goatboy was there before him. So you see, I’m concerned that it could have been Er-no who killed him or who stole that ring.” Grand Prix was frantic.
“Grand Prix I think you’re forgetting something,” Emmalou said, trying to get eye contact.
“What?” he asked.
“It could have been any one of our friends. It could even have been Pink Pig, you have to remember that. I’ve already had a phone call from Louise because she is worried that it could have been Emma who did it. The reason she gave was the same as you, because of something the person said. So stop worrying, Grand Prix, I’m going to the police, to give them the ring and to get them to investigate it further.”
Emmalou left Grand Prix and her room. She was very confused by what Grand Prix had said about Er-no, did he still like Lady Sniper? Did he kill Goatboy so he could get Lady Sniper? If he did then why did he ask Grand Prix’s permission to go out with me. Her mind was racing, and yet something still seemed wrong. Someone played a very big role in the drama that was taking place, but in her mind that person was blanked out. Who could it be?
Emmalou had a bad time in the police station. After waiting half an hour to see someone the young man didn’t pay any attention to what she was saying about how it couldn’t have been a burglary because they sent the ring to her. Then she noticed the policeman who had taken charge of the investigation at the theatre, and she went to see him. He thanked her for the ring but said nothing more could be done. She left in a worse mood than what she went in with. She then went to see Er-no. After they said hello, and kissed, he offered her a coffee and they both went into the kitchen. She wasted no time at all.
“Er-no,” she asked, “Do you like Lady Sniper, as in fancy her?”
“Who told you that?” he snapped, “Oh well, I did before, but not now.” Er-no’s comment was intriguing.
“What do you mean, ‘before?’ Before what?” Emmalou looked at him straight in the eye demanding an explanation from her boyfriend, the only person she feels she has ever loved.
“Before Goatboy told me about her past.” Er-no was purposely avoiding the subject.
“Er-no, what do you mean? ”
“Ok,” he said calmly, “I’ll tell you this but you must promise not to tell anyone about this, ok?”
“I promise,” she said in wanting him to just tell her.
“It was about a month ago,” he began, “I went round to Goatboy’s house to play football. We were talking about who we liked and didn’t like, y’ know famous actors and singers,” Emmalou nodded, “Well after we had been playing for about half an hour we were both in need of a hot drink. We got a coffee and went to his room, by then we were talking about the play, and I asked him if he minded having to kiss Lady Sniper like that, in front of a hundred people. He said that he didn’t mind but that Lady Sniper did. Then he let something slip, he said that Lady Sniper didn’t like it because it reminded her of when she was young. I asked, sort of like you did, what he meant. He didn’t answer me he just got out of his draw a newspaper cutting. I’ve got it in my room, y’ wanna see it?”
“Yes please,” said Emmalou, walking to the door.
“Well I must warn you,” said Er-no as they started to walk up the stairs, “It’s not a pretty sight. The newspaper I mean, not my room!”
Emmalou read the cutting in horror and in disbelief. Once she had finished reading it she just sat on his bed, shocked by what she just read.
“I never realised,” said Emmalou looking at Er-no and then the floor, “If I knew before... hang on a minute you said that you stopped liking her because you knew this. That’s horrible.”
“Hang on a minute,” said Er-no trying to justify himself. “I haven’t finished telling you what happened. May I continue?” he asked her sarcastically. She pretended to hit him and nodded, “Thank you. Well I was about as shocked as you were when I read it then Goatboy told me something else, that she couldn’t stand anyone touching her and he said that there was one condition for them going out. This was that they never made love, ever.”
“Oh I see,” Emmalou said, “I really can’t believe it. Can I ask something?”
“Yes.”
“Was he ok about not, well y’know.”
“I think so, he didn‘t seem too upset by it.”
“Oh right. There’s one more thing that‘s been bothering me, What was the stage like when you found me?”
“Erm, let me think. There was a pool of blood on the floor, the bed from the scene, we were doing, that looked like someone had slept in it, the chair was overturned... erm... Goatboy’s dressing gown was half in the blood, I remember that.”
“Where were Goatboy’s clothes?” she asked, trying to picture the scene (that wasn‘t too hard!)
“If I remember right, Grand Prix found them in the toilets.”
“Why were they there and not in the dressing room?”
“I don’t know,” said Er-no.
“I don’t understand anything anymore. It just seems like he has died and now nothing makes sense anymore and to make it all worse no-one seems to care that he’s dead. The whole scenario just makes me want to cry.”
“Cheer up Emmalou. Goatboy would’ve wanted us to keep on going further not living in the past.”
“I know but everything is tied up with him. Everything we used to do has been tarnished by him dieing, we can’t even do the play anymore because he was the main character, our leading star,” she laughed so as not to cry.
“You know what your problem is, don’t you?” she shook her head, “You worry too much,” she laughed, because she knew he was right. She couldn’t stop worrying about what would happen now. She made a mental resolution, not to worry again, after she found out who killed Goatboy.
“I’ve got to go,” she said getting ready to move.
“What’re you going to do?” asked Er-no.
“I’m going to see Big Sally and make up,” she said getting up.
“No, I meant about what I just told you. It’s just I was sworn to secrecy by Goatboy and I shouldn’t have told you but if I didn’t then you would have thought that I killed Goatboy so that I could have Lady Sniper.”
“How did you...”
“I can read you like a book.” They laughed and parted. It started to rain so Emmalou put up her umbrella and ran home to get her bike and her big coat.

Chapter 11

Emmalou went to Big Sally’s house to apologise for her behaviour, which she justified by the fact that she was very tired and shocked by what happened to Goatboy, which was accepted. The two girls put a video on and watched it laughing and talking about anything except the one thing that loomed over them, one of their friends was a killer. Emmalou stayed for tea and afterwards they decided to go and see Lady Sniper. Her mother answered the door, “Hello girls. Have you come to see Lady Sniper?” she asked.
“Yes we have,” answered Big Sally.
“Is she ok?” Emmalou enquired.
“Well she’s been crying all day, in fact she’s only just had something to eat. She’s perked up a lot from yesterday, though,” Lady Sniper’s mum answered. The two girls went upstairs to their friends room, knocked on the door and entered.
“How’re you feeling,” asked Emmalou going to the bedside to hold her hand.
“I’m feeling, better than I did,” replied Lady Sniper, “I just can’t believe that he’s gone,” she said, shaking her head.
“I know,” said Big Sally, “We’re all shocked to the boots with what’s happened.
“I just can’t come to terms with the fact that I’m never going to see him again and I never said goodbye” Lady Sniper said, holding back the tears.
“I don’t think it’s possible for us to come to terms with what has happened, we’re all so shocked, at least for the moment that is.” Emmalou tried to make sense but she realised that her last statement must have sounded like a complete mess, she just couldn’t stop thinking about the newspaper cutting. It really shocked her. The three girls then talked about plain, simple topics that were as far away from ‘reality’ as possible.
At eight o’clock, Emmalou and Big Sally left Lady Sniper and her mum. They discussed how she looked,
“Lady Sniper looked alright, didn’t she,” commented Emmalou.
“Yes she did. It looks like our visit may have been just what the doctor ordered.” Big Sally said, laughing to herself.
“What’s funny?” asked Emmalou shocked that her friend could laugh at a time like this.
“I don’t know,” said Big Sally, “I suppose the only reason I’m laughing is because I’m not sat at home crying.”
“Yes I don’t feel like I can have an in between stage anymore.”
“Yeah you’re right,” said Big Sally. Then she changed her mood, “Oh come on Emmalou we need to get home. It’s dark and It’s pouring down with rain. We’re going to get drenched.” The two girls had been stood outside Lady Sniper’s house while they were having this conversation and soon started to run back to Big Sally’s house.
Half way there Emmalou said to Big Sally, “This reminds me of the song, ‘Singin’ in the Rain.’”
“Oh, yeah you’re right,” they started to sing,
“ # I’m singin’ in the rain, Just singin’ in the Rain. What a glorious feelin,’ I’m happy again... #” Then Big Sally stopped singing and looked at Emmalou.
“What’s up?” asked Emmalou.
“This is something Goatboy would do, wouldn’t he.”
“Yeah you’re right. He always got us singing and dancing in the street.” The girls walked the rest of the way in silence, unable to believe that someone’s death could cause so many normal things to become strange.
Emmalou spent the next two days watching TV and reading books, trying to take her mind off the fact that one of her friends was a cold-blooded killer.
Something was still bothering her. Something still did not seem right. Who had been sleeping in the bed in the theatre? Why were Goatboy’s clothes in the toilets and not in the dressing room? Why were they folded so neatly and why did he take all his clothes off? Why not just his trousers and t-shirt? Why was the ring sent to her? And who was the missing person who didn’t fit in with all off this. The phone rang, it was Er-no. He wanted to know if he could come over, she said yes.
She decided to get changed. While she was, something occurred to her. Something only a man could help her with. When Er-no came they both went into her room and she called Grand Prix.
“Look,” she began, “I want to ask a bit of a weird favour from you two. Will you help me?”
“Of course we will,” the two boys said.
“Ok. I want both of you to take your clothes off and put them in a pile on the floor.” The two boys mouths dropped as they heard the extraordinary request.
“You mean just our t-shirt and jeans don’t you?” said Er-no, shocked.
“No I mean everything you have on,” there was no response, “I‘m only kidding. Yes just your t-shirt and jeans, but you will have to tell me something afterwards.”
“Hey, hang on a minute why can‘t your boyfriend do it?” said Grand Prix utterly shocked by the request that had been made of him by his sister.
“I don’t mean I want to compare your bodies, idiot. I just want to see how you two do something,” she walked up to Er-no and kissed him and again said, “Please.” Then she turned to Grand Prix and said dryly, “I’d kiss you but you’re my brother.” The two boys looked at each other and then said yes.
“Ok,” she said, “Just take your clothes off, and put them in a NEAT pile on the floor.” Grand Prix and Er-no started to take their clothes off and put them on the floor in front of them. They got redder and redder as they took their pants off. Grand Prix checked, “Do we have to take everything off!?”
“NO, now get on with it!” The boys stood in front of her wearing only their underwear. She then focused on the two piles of clothes in front of her. They were completely identical, T-shirt on the bottom and pants next on top. “Thank you brother and boyfriend you may now dress!” she said as she left them in her bedroom getting changed. She got herself a drink of apple juice and thought about her revelation.
Er-no and Grand Prix came downstairs, still blushing after their task, and pleaded with Emmalou to tell them what she had found out. She turned to face them and asked,
“Where would you put your underwear you two?”
“On top,” they answered
“Grand Prix do you remember the pile of Goatboy’s clothes you found in the loo?”
“Yes,” he said.
“Was his underwear on top?” she asked.
“No,” he answered, “His t-shirt was on top, that’s how I knew they were his.”
“That means that he didn’t want anyone to know that he was completely naked,” Emmalou said, triumphant to make a breakthrough.
“What?” blurted Er-no.
“Well when I got you and Grand Prix to take your clothes off and put them in a pile,” she answered, “You both said you would put your boxers on top, not your t-shirt, and your pants were in the middle. That is right if you naturally take your clothes off, but his t-shirt was on top and his pants were on the bottom and the first thing you took off and put down was you top, so he wasn’t taking his clothes off in a rush like we normally are getting changed for the play. The only thing I don’t get is why didn’t he want to have anything on?”
“Very good Emmalou,” said Grand Prix with a strange parental tone in his voice, “I never even thought about it.”
“I just feel sorry for Lady Sniper,” Er-no said to Grand Prix, “Goatboy never got time to give her, her surprise.”
“What do you mean?,” asked Emmalou.
“Didn’t he tell you?” asked Er-no, “I thought he already did, that’s why I didn’t say anything about it two days ago. Emmalou, Goatboy had a surprise for Lady Sniper that he would propose to her, only he didn’t get a chance because it was stolen before he could give it to her.”
“Oh I didn’t know,” said Emmalou shocked even more by what she heard. Suddenly the phone rang Grand Prix answered the phone. It was Grix Thraves. After Grand Prix put the phone down he found Emmalou and Er-no in the sitting room. He told them the excellent news that they were allowed to now return to the theatre and get on with the final practices. Emmalou cried out with joy, because she could do what she loved, but then she realised that she would have to see the place where Goatboy died. Er-no asked who would be playing the part of June’s lover ‘Robert’ Grand Prix answered and said that Er-no had got the part if that was alright. They all had to go in at one o’clock tomorrow.
Emmalou invited Big Sally over after tea, and Grand Prix invited Pink Pig. So all five of them sat in Grand Prix and Emmalou’s sitting room watching TV. They sat in silence again, all thinking the same thing but none of them brave enough to bring up the subject. MTV was on and they all just sat listening to the music, without speaking. When Emmalou got sick of the silence they all talked about trivial things but in the back of their minds there was a growing sense of unease as they realised that someone in that room was responsible for Goatboy’s death.

Chapter 12

That night Emmalou had a series of horrible nightmares. In each of them she was standing in front of her friends giving a speech. One by one each of her friends changed into Goatboy and then into a pool of blood. In each dream, the last one standing was the same person, every time. Emmalou woke up with a start after the final dream and got up. She was thinking about everything that she had found out about Goatboy and his relationship with Lady Sniper and the one thing that stood out was that everything that had happened could not be proven, it was all speculation. She didn’t know who sent her the ring, but she thought of a way of finding out.
She ran back to her room and got out a big card that had been sent to her when she was unwell the previous year. Everyone had signed it. She also got the envelope out of the bin and compared the handwriting. She still didn’t know how Goatboy ended up with a huge gash on his head and a noose round his neck. But now she did know one thing, the person who was missing out of the scenario was the same person who sent her the ring. She knew who it was.
She had to see Er-no and talk about what had cleared up so she rushed to Er-no’s house. It was raining again so she decided to walk and use her umbrella. When she arrived at Er-no’s house he had only just got up. Emmalou was starting to feel sick as everything was starting to make sense to her about what happened three days ago. She looked very pale when she arrived at Er-no’s house consequently he knew something was really wrong.
She walked through the door saying, “I know, I know, it all makes sense.” Er-no took hold of her and took her up to his bedroom.
“Emmalou, Emmalou,” he said, “What do you know?”
“I know who killed Goatboy,” she was frantic.
“Who?” he asked, “And how do you know?” he asked.
“I had a dream last night,” she began, “And it was horrible but you know I said that there was one person missing well I worked out who it was.”
“Who?” he asked.
“Wait, I’ll get to that in a minute. Do you remember the argument we had outside my house, the day he died, well Goatboy wasn’t a womaniser, he just wanted to, in a way, do things to women that he couldn’t do to Lady Sniper.” Emmalou was worried that she wasn’t making sense, “Do you understand what I’m saying Er-no?”
“Yes,” he answered.
“Another thing,” she continued, “You said he was waiting for her to trust him before they made love. Well I think that the surprise was to marry her and then to show how much he loved her, and that is why he didn‘t have any clothes on!”
“Emmalou you’re obsessed with the murder, that’s what you are, obsessed.”
“I also know who sent me the ring. It was the same person who murdered Goatboy, right?”
“Yes, we think...”
“Well I looked on the envelope of the ring and compared the handwriting with that on a card that you all gave to me last year. I know who it is! So I know who the murderer is!”
“Do you know what’s worrying me Emmalou,” she shook her head, “You’re starting to make sense. So how did he end up dead?”
“I’m getting to it, but first I need to know one thing. When did Goatboy decide to spring his surprise on Lady Sniper?”
“Sorry Emmalou, I really don’t know.”
“Well what happens if he planned to do the surprise that very night.”
“What, the night he died!”
“Yes.” Emmalou was getting annoyed that he wasn’t on her wavelength.
“Well then poor... Hang on a minute Emmalou, you can’t think... you can’t say... but...”
“You’ve finally got it. Last night I was reading about dreams. It said that they were vital to a healthy person because they sorted out all the information you received. Well I think with all the information that I received from you it just took time for me to understand what I had been told. I think a flashback was involved, just like I got when I got the ring.”
“Hey speaking of the ring, why was it sent to you?” Er-no asked getting more curious by the second.
“I know who sent it, but as for why, I don’t know.”
“Oh ok,” Er-no said.
“Look I’m going to confront the murderer today after rehearsals ok. Will you help me?”
“Yes,” he said.

Chapter 13

Emmalou couldn’t concentrate that afternoon. She spent the entire time looking over her shoulder. She wouldn’t be alone for the fear of losing her life. Not only did she had to face the killer of her friend but she had to return, to the place that he died, for the first time. She was very worried. She tried to be with Er-no as much as possible, because she felt moral support when he was with her. He came up to her three times and squeezed her hand, it was his way of saying it’s alright. She spent the whole afternoon thinking, ‘This is a bad dream. I’ll wake up soon.’ She kept forgetting people’s props. At one point Grand Prix, Louise and Grix Thraves were all shouting at her and she almost burst into tears. She couldn’t believe that the one place that she always felt so relaxed in could be so hostile. She was looking round every corner, switching lights on everywhere she went.
She was very scared of what might happen when she approached the murderer that very day. As the afternoon dragged, she regretted more and more trying to find out who did the murder. At about four o’clock everyone went for a break. She was tired and upset. Er-no sat in the props room holding her hand,
“It’s going to be ok,” he was saying to her, “I know your worried but it’ll be ok.”
“No it won’t,” Emmalou said, starting to cry, “I can’t cope. All I can think about is Goatboy and how he must have felt before he died.”
“Emmalou, Emmalou, listen, do you want to go through with this or not?”
“Yes I have to know, so Goatboy can rest in peace.” Emmalou was starting to shake again.
“Emmalou it’s ok I’m with you, nothing anyone can do can harm you. I’m going to help you do this Emmalou. It’s ok,” Er-no held her in his arms. She hugged him like a scared child would a parent.
“I love you,” she said to him. Then everyone came back and the two parted. Er-no went to join the rest of the actors. Only five minutes had gone from him leaving the room to Emmalou being petrified of everything. Every creak made her jump. She knew she had to go and join the others. She left the props room via the stock room and started to walk down the passage to the Green Room where she could join the others on the stage. As she walked down the dimly lit passage she had the feeling that she was being watched. She looked behind her, nothing. She tried to shake the feeling that she got inside, but she couldn’t. She started to walk quicker as she turned the last corner to the Green Room then suddenly a great crash exploded at her feet. It was a glass vase that was being kept in the stock if they ever needed it in a play. Glass went flying and she screamed out in shock and started to run into the Green Room and up the stairs that she once ascended before finding Goatboy’s dead body. She ran up the stairs, three at a time, stumbling as she got to the last one. She managed to scramble to her feet and run onto the stage.
Emmalou sat down in the audience and watched Er-no as he was told how to do the final scene. She was worried about what was going to happen when everyone went and her, Er-no, and hopefully the killer were left here. As the last bit of rehearsals dragged on Emmalou became more and more nervous of what would happen. At five to five she went to the toilet. As she walked down the same passage again, she was walking slowly so that she would be able to hear what was going on upstairs and if there was anyone in the passage with her. Her heart was pounding the whole time she was in the toilet. Suddenly someone came in. Emmalou stopped breathing so they didn’t hear her. She looked through the crack in the door, it was Big Sally. She flushed the toilet and ran out and started to cry.
“What’s the matter?” asked Big Sally taken aback. Emmalou just stood crying as her friend gave her a cuddle to support her,
“I’m really scared Big Sally. I have a big feeling inside me that something terrible is going to happen,” she started to control herself.
“It’s ok,” Big Sally said comforting her, “It’s just, you’re scared because you’ve come here for the first time after finding Goatboy. It’s ok we’

Somehow, this had winning story written all over it!

Well done (and sorry I didn't say it sooner)

The adventures of Moongoose man will continue though, but which forum is the question? (and can anyone be bothered to read them is the other...)

Sorry, i just realised i went a bit over the top with the exclamation marks in my last post.

That was absolutely amazing!!! That is the best story i've read on the forums.

Well done! You deserve that win big time!

I don't know how long it took you, but it was really worth it, write some more!

Good story!

I don't care that I didn't win-I got a GAD anyway. {:)

Anyway, cooldogs deserved it. He used pure emotion-no special effects, no big monsters- just a few people.

Although, I used emotion in places...{:) Only kidding.

Well done cooldogs, and congratulations.

Grix Thraves wrote:
> I've just mentioned that.

Yeah but I began to mention it before you posted it.

(;oP

Oh thankyou, thankyou, thankyou Grix.

I am soo glad that I put sooo much effort into that crime story piece of coursework. By the way its this story. And to think my Eng teacher only gave me a 'B' for it. I think the length was the problem. She nicknamed it the novel. All the teachers at schoool were talking about it!

Seeya and thanks again!

Im so happy

I started it off to make people write stories. I succeeded.

The main premise was that I was telling people that there would be a short story competition, and the winner would get a big "Well done." The rules were that they weren't allowed to put in fight scenes, and they had to start to one of three starting points.

However, Tony then came along and said that the winner would get a game. So, not only have you won the best story, you also get a game as well. I'll make sure Tony knows... but perhaps he already does.

Hey Grix, what compo are you on about?

I wasnt aware of any compo, I just saw a load of stories in the fog chat forum and I posted it. Its been on my computer for a year now so I decided to see what evryone thought of it so I changed a few names and posted it.

Seeya Ben

It's a shame it's size, across two topics, has put people off reading it. Because they should, and they should learn from it.

Not all stories need adventures and criminal masterminds. Just a lovely little twisting tale, with some great dialogue, which really makes it seem much more real.