May 26, 1996

Things have gone from stressful to intense. The anxiety of waiting on various lawyers to call has gotten to both my parents. I'm just doing my best to stay out of their way. It's not hard to do at my mom's since she's out most of the time anyway, but it's a little more difficult at dads. I've found myself capitalizing on the fact that he still believes I have a social life. Ever since he moved into his own place I only see him on weekends and he and mom only speak through their lawyers. Not that my mom knows any more about me than my dad does, but his inability to be available gives him a valid excuse. It's easy enough to convince him that I'm going out with friends when in all actuality I've been spending my weekends alone writing in my little book at the coffee shop just down the road from his condo. That's where I am now. My friend Denise works here and sometimes she comes and sits with me on break. Her mom is sick and she's struggling with her own stuff. Our situations are different but it still helps to have someone to talk to who understands a dysfunctional home life. I think it helps her too. I hope so anyway.

Andra sat on the floor of her room Savannah's diary open on her lap. She had turned Savannah's story over from every angle and still couldn't make all the pieces fit. There was still so much that they didn't know. It was also more than a little unsettling to see her mom's name mentioned so often in a dead girl's handwriting. Almost everything Savannah had written seemed to match up with her mother's story so there was that at least.

Then there was this meeting with Gloria to consider. She had no idea what they were walking into or even how sick Savannah's mother was. She had wanted to discuss it with Cameron but both of them had been so freaked out after what happened in the car that she never brought it up. She had been a little afraid that he would drop her off and head straight home. Instead he had hung around to help her with the teaser for her YouTube page. They had also managed to get the countdown clock up and running.

Setting the journal off to one side she leaned forward and slid her laptop toward her. She wanted to rewatch the video one more time before she shut her computer off. Hitting the play button the familiar circle spun a few times before she saw herself appear on camera and begin to speak.

"Hi everyone. I know I haven't had a lot to post in the last few weeks and I'm sure as you'll recall I told you in my last video that I had something in the works. Well, the wait is almost over. We're starting a countdown tonight and I say we because I have been assured I have an actual crew for what's about to happen next. I'm sorry I don't have more to share now but you'll understand why I can't when the clock hits zero. What I can tell you is that we're going to have one phenomenal live for you and you'll be able to interact with us throughout. I promise you're not going to want to miss this. Alright, guys, well time is quickly running out and we still have a lot of work to do to get ready so just keep an eye on the clock and I'll see you soon. Bye!" The clock was steadily working its way down to zero. Only six days and twenty hours remaining.

She had managed to deliver her lines with more exuberance than she felt. The excitement that had driven her when they first started this little project had long since worn off. It had been replaced by an overwhelming sense of fear and resignation. The end was looming ever closer and Andra had a feeling that whatever was coming next was not going to end well.

Glancing down at the numbers listed on the screen she saw that this video had already been viewed over a thousand times in the hour since it had been posted. If that continued there was a possibility for some really large numbers when they went live. This is what she had wanted originally but now that they were here she wasn't so sure.

Andra could feel the start of a headache beginning to bloom behind her eyes. Sitting back she leaned her head against the edge of the bed and began massaging the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger. She really needed an aspirin but she was too exhausted to move.

It was her mother's voice that broke through her concentration. She started to call back but the throbbing in her head gave her pause. Standing a little shakily she moved toward the bedroom door and stepped out onto the landing. It took Andra a moment to make sense of what she was seeing.

She was standing on a hill overlooking a bonfire. It was pitch black in the woods surrounding the large group of teenagers that congregated around its warmth. Intermittent shouts and laughter floated to her on the breeze where she stood in the treeline. The sounds were only overshadowed by the loud pulsing music rolling in angry waves from the nearby speakers. She couldn't make out the lyrics only the deep throaty growl of the man screaming them. The flames climbed the sides of the pyre they had constructed and seemed to lick at the night sky. It cast long shadows over the faces of the trees that convulsed and writhed as the kids danced. Instead of being warm the glow that emanated from the fire turned their skin strange colors that flickered and changed as they twirled and then thrust their faces into darkness as they moved away.

The entire scene had an ominous feel to it. She turned back wanting nothing more than to be back in her room but was unsurprised when she saw that there was nothing but trees around her. The door she had come through was gone. Turning back to the raucous scene she saw playing out in front of her Andra slipped quietly through the trees moving closer to the young party-goers. This vision or whatever it was felt eerily similar to the night she had seen Savannah's journal. Minus the added bonus of being touched by a rotting corpse of course. There was obviously something Savannah wanted her to see here. As she crept closer she could make out the faces of a few people near where she stood. Andra had her doubts that anyone here would actually be able to see her but it just felt too weird stepping out into the open so she kept watch from the shadows.

The group was circulating and in constant movement. She scanned the faces as best as she could trying to find whatever it was Savannah was showing her. It took Andra a moment to catch it but then she spotted her. Standing just a few feet away from her a young girl turned in her direction. Andra stared in shock at the petite figure the full bow-shaped mouth. Her dark hair was pulled back in a high ponytail making her face clearly visible in the firelight. The dark green eyes met Andra's but looked right through her just as Andra had suspected they might. Other than the guarded expression that she would carry with her in a few years Melanie looked much the same here as she had when Andra met her earlier today.

It hit her then with all the force of a tractor-trailer truck. Andra's heart dropped as she stepped into the clearing moving quickly to the other side not caring now who did or did not see her. As she reached the other side she saw that she was standing on a steep tree-lined embankment. As she stared in confusion the moon broke through the patchy cloud cover and shone on the surface of water so still, that it resembled glass. Along the edge of the steep drop where Andra stood was a long rail fence that stood as a barrier between herself and certain death. Andra leaned against it now to steady herself. Savannah had brought her to the bluffs.

Andra could feel the panic rising up threatening to overwhelm her. Taking a deep breath she closed her eyes and forced herself to think rationally. Savannah wanted you to see this she thought to herself but why? This has to be the party that she went to with Melanie and Greg the night she died.

"Oh crap!" She said aloud turning quickly to scan the party. Savannah would have been meeting someone. If she hurried she might still be able to see who. Even as the thought occurred to her she knew she was already too late.

The people nearest her had gone quiet. They were turned away from where Andra stood not that they would have noticed her anyway.  Their gaze was trained on something at the edge of the trees. As Andra slid closer she could see that there were narrow stairs cut into the side of the embankment there. They presumably led to the water's edge. At the top of the stairs stood Savannah. Andra had to remind herself that this was all a vision projected through the mind of a dead girl. Everything she was seeing had already happened and she would not affect the outcome no matter how badly she wanted to.

Savannah's long hair fell loose around her shoulders. Her face was flushed pink and she looked angry. She stopped to scan the crowd for a second taking no notice of the people stopping to stare at her. Andra watched closely herself but no one ever appeared at the top of the stairs with Savannah. She was completely alone. Whoever Savannah had met with had either left before Andra had noticed or there was another way out that Andra was unable to see from this vantage point. Either way, she had already missed their mystery person.

Savannah finally appeared to find what she had been looking for and started in that direction. Andra followed slipping easily through the crowd always keeping her in sight. It took a moment for her to see where Savannah was headed and immediately she felt like an idiot for not realizing sooner. Hadn't Melanie already told them this? Savannah and Greg had fought that night. Sure enough, Andra could see that Savannah was making a beeline for Melanie who was standing on the other side of the bonfire. She was talking to a tall muscular blonde boy who Andra could only imagine must be Greg.

He stood a good foot taller than Melanie with an athletic build. He wore his blonde hair in a messy fringe cut that accentuated his deep-set brown eyes. He was boyishly handsome and Andra could see how the girls had fallen for him. He was the epitome of the high school golden boy. This particular golden boy however was not on his best behavior.

Andra wasn't close enough to understand what was being said but it appeared that he and Melanie were arguing. His movements were jerky and odd. He tried to step away from Melanie but he stumbled visibly losing his footing. He would have landed face down in the dirt if a boy roughly Greg's size had not put a hand out to grab his arm. Melanie had been telling the truth. Greg was wrecked and with Savannah looking none too happy already this situation was on the verge of going from bad to worse.

As Savannah approached the pair people stopped and grew quiet some of them whispering amongst themselves as they watched her progress. Melanie looked up seeing Savannah's determined approach and visibly flinched. Andra's heart went out to her.

Savannah walked into the large circle of light cast by the fire. All eyes were on her now but if she noticed she said nothing. She glanced over at Greg assessing the situation before dismissing him entirely and approaching Melanie. "Hey, Mel. I really need to go home now."

"Is everything ok?" Melanie asked with genuine concern coloring her words.

"Not really. I'll explain later but I need to go. Now." she said running her hand nervously through her hair. The light caught and reflected off a small silver chain she wore on her wrist as she fidgeted anxiously.

"Did you hear that Melanie? Her highness has spoken. We'd better get moving before she gets angry." The sarcasm dripped thick off of Greg's slurred words as his bloodshot eyes rolled in her direction. He tipped her a wink, "We'll get right on that princess."

"Greg stop;" Melanie pleaded.

"Listen to your girlfriend Greg. You're drunk and you're making an idiot of yourself." Savannah said.

"I'm making an idiot of myself?" He said waving his arms wildly as he staggered toward her. "No, you've made idiots of all of us! Every last one of us hanging on your every word for years. Everyone hanging around on the outskirts of your fairy-tale existence waiting for you to throw them a glance or allow them five minutes of your precious time and then you...what? Decide we're not good enough for you?"

"My fairy tale existence?!" Savannah's lip curled as she spat the question at him. They were standing just inches apart. Greg towered over her and she had to look up to see him but something in her eyes caused him to hesitate and take a step back. Her face was contorted into a mask of rage and disgust.

"Greg that was below the belt." Melanie stuttered. "Her dad -"

"Her dad nothing!" he screamed turning on Melanie now. "She used us to get her here Mel so she could run off and do God knows what with some guy in the woods! Who does that?! She's a virus! She uses everyone until there's nothing left and then she moves on like we don't even matter!"

"You're a lousy drunk Greg. What do you even care who I'm with? It's really none of your business."

"It will always be my business. You're my girlfriend!"

The silence was deafening as he spoke those last words. All eyes were on them everyone watching and waiting to see what Savannah would say. Melanie's face had gone stoic and unreadable. Savannah turned toward him her disgust and anger evident. "No that's your girlfriend," Savannah answered gesturing in Melanie's direction, "and she deserves better than you. Matter of fact so do I." She turned on her heel and started up the path that Andra guessed must lead out. Melanie watched her go before turning back to Greg who had at some point sat down on an old log someone had pulled up to use as a bench. He had his elbows on his knees and his head resting on his arms.

Melanie gestured to a pretty dark-skinned girl who stood nearby. They spoke quietly for a moment heads together both of them looking in the direction that Savannah had disappeared. The girl who Andra assumed must be Jennifer nodded once gave Melanie a quick hug and then squeezed her hand before taking off up the path after Savannah. Melanie gestured for the larger boy who had kept Greg from falling earlier and he lumbered forward pulling Greg to his feet. They started up the path behind Jennifer and Savannah. Andra ran forward past Greg and Melanie trying to catch Jennifer. Behind her, the music had resumed and the party had returned to normal as if nothing had happened.

She arrived at the top of the hill in time to see Savannah and Jennifer approaching a car together at the far end of a clearing full of them. Andra began to run reaching the car just as Savannah closed the passenger door. Desperate to get her attention Andra put a hand out reaching for her, trying to somehow stop Savannah from what Andra knew was coming. "Savannah no!" she screamed. Andra grabbed for her arm and Savannah looked directly at her. As their eyes met Savannah smiled and winked at her. Her bright blue eyes were full of mischief as Jennifer put the car in reverse and they backed up into the road. Andra stood crying as she watched the taillights disappear around the bend.

Seconds later Andra was sitting up on the floor of her room her face wet with tears. It was a dream she thought to herself. It was just a dream. It took a moment before she realized that there was something wrapped around the fingers of her right hand.  She could feel the thin light metal cool against her skin before she even opened her fist. As she uncurled her fingers she saw the silver bracelet lying snakelike in her open palm. The name Savannah spelled out in small metal cursive letters across its center.