Flashback: Wednesday 17th October

"You're making a mistake."

My eyes lock onto his, staring him down with vicious disbelief.

"No mistakes were made. Well, except by you that is." Mr Milton, the man I trusted, who was now single handedly destroying my future.

"But it... this doesn't make sense! How could I fail?" I beg him, trying to comprehend the situation in which I, the smartest girl in class, in school even, could possibly fail a simple geography test.

"You don't think I'm just as shocked? Fiona, you were my golden girl! You were going to go to Oxford!" Mr Milton suddenly turns to me, his eyes red with rage and more frighteningly, disappointment.

"If you don't stop messing around and start taking this seriously, then everything I've worked for will be for nothing!"

I stand, my lip trembling, my body swaying, and nod. "Yes sir."

He keeps eye contact with me for a mere second longer then turns, his head in his hands and points to the door.

"Out. Out now."

Angrily I walk out of the classroom into the sea of people.

"Move." I command and the sea of people parts away, making room for me to walk, just like the Red Sea had done for Mosses.

With my back straight and chin up, I walk through the corridors with all eyes on me. Never have I ever felt this vulnerable, with Maddie and Sharon being in after school detention there is no one to accompany me. I am truly alone.

As I get closer to the exit I spot the four pretty little psychos, that are not even pretty!

If they see me walking on my own, they will judge me, they'll think I have no one and I'm lost without them.

No! I cannot let them see this. I have to show them I'm having the time of my life without them.

"Fiona! Fiona" someone shouts running up to me. It's Barbara the girl that is obsessed with me.

Choosing to ignore her I keep walking but she clearly doesn't get the hint "Fiona wait! Please! I did everything you asked me to do! Now can I hang out with you?!"

I sigh closing my eyes on frustration and turning to the desperate girl.
"What are you talking about? Why would I hang out with you?"

I look around and notice the four idiots "Sure." I link arms with her and continue walking.

"Omg sweetie that's so funny!" I start laughing as I walk past these psychos, who are now looking at me.

"But I didn't say anything " Barb says confused when we get out from the school gates.

"Anyways do you want to go and get a milkshake?" Barbara asks me happily.

"Don't want to waste my money with you" I say and start to walk away from her.

"Don't worry sweetie I'll treat you!" She says happily and grabs me heading towards the 'Shake Milkshake' place nearby.

"You do not have the right to call me sweetie!"

Few minutes after I'm drinking a delicious banana Milkshake.

"Banana milkshake with Barbara Shake!" Barbara sings happily, reminding me her strange surname.

I nod absentmindedly, sipping the drink awkwardly.

"I have to go, time for netball club!" I exclaim, grasping at an excuse to leave.

For good measure, I spill the rest of the drink on her and get up.

She looks at me shocked and most importantly betrayed "I thought we were..."

"Thought we were what? Friends?" I laugh "Forget it Barbara! People like you and me don't mix. People like you belong on the floor cleaning this milkshake mess" I drop my handkerchief and turn to leave.

"And people like you deserve to die!" I hear her annoying voice cracking as I walk out.

What a loser! I thought to myself bitterly. Whatever happens, I just hope I never end up alone and sad like her.

What a joke. 'Sad and alone'- that describes me already. I hit rock bottom a long time ago.

Alone in spirit maybe, but not alone in reality. Maddie, faithful, obedient, sly Maddie, was waking towards me.

My thoughts interrupted, I had no choice but to smile and wave as Maddie grew nearer.

"Fiona! I was just thinking about you." She beams at me. Maddie get closer and suddenly moves in for a hug. In surprise, I push her away.

"What was that about?" I ask in indignation, there was an unspoken rule that our group never hugged- that was a sign of weakness.

Maddie smiled shyly, "I have something to tell you."

I frown at her skeptically, "Well then, spit it out."

"I... I like you Fiona." She admits after deliberation.

"Everyone likes me, I'm queen of the school remember." I say shaking my head at her stupidity.

"No, I like-like you." She tries to explain. I continue to stare at her in confusion.

"Fiona I love you!" Maddie finally blurts out.

I freeze, my eyes widening in shock. "Love me? You love me?"

"Yes, I'd kill just to be with you!" Maddie exclaimed with a wild look in her eyes.

"That's... a weird thing to say." I mutter, slowly stepping away from Maddie.

"Look Maddie, I don't love you and I never will." I say steadily.
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone about this event. You wouldn't want to ruin my reputation, would you?"

Maddie stares at me, as if she expected me to react differently. She should know me better by now.

I smile at her sweetly and saunter away. "I have to go, netball club will be starting soon."

I turn my back to her, heading towards the school appearing in the distance.

As soon as I knew Maddie could no longer see me, I began walking away from the school, and towards the nearby forest instead.

At the edge of the forest lay my true destination, the house hidden at the end of a familiar street.

I wasted no time in reaching the door and knocking three times on the worn oak door.

He came to the door quickly, but opened it hesitantly.

As soon as he saw my face though, his eyes lit up with the love only a father could show.

My dad, Zachary Ikbal, welcomed me inside and led me to the usual room, the living room where we could sit and talk about anything and everything.

Something was off today, the stench of alcohol filled the room, but this wasn't an unusual occurrence so I payed no attention to it.

"So, Fifi, what did you want to talk about today?" Zachary beams at me, patting the seat next to him.

I ignore his invitation to sit down, deciding instead to stand beside the closed window.

"I told you not to call me that." I mutter sullenly. "Something big is happening. We can't meet anymore."

He stands immediately and stares at me. "What? No, you can't leave me now! At least tell me why!"

"My father, Fabio, is coming back to England with Fily- I mean Filippa." I explain, refusing to look at him. "They are my true family, they can't know about these meetings."

"He is not your father! He left you! I stayed, I cared for you when your mother was...unable to be there for you."

"It is better this way. I have to say goodbye." I say simply, turning to the door.

"Does this mean nothing to you? So I mean nothing to you?" His voice is louder now, his breath irregular as he stands behind me, a firm hand on my shoulder.

"You've been drinking haven't you? You're not thinking straight." I say slowly, his alcohol laden breath next to me.

"I don't need to think straight to know how much I need you." He yells at me now.

I realise the weight of the situation. Zac is a violent man, what on earth am I doing here alone?

I throw his hand off my shoulder and run to the door, not looking back as I slam it behind me.

I hear his tortured screams behind me, calling me back to him but I cannot stop. God, what have I done?

I run out into the woods like my life depended on it, because it did. Mother told me that Zac had serious anger issues but i always thought she was exagerrating. Today i realised mother knows best

Today is the day i die. I know hes capable of killing his own daughter.

Well the world would be a much better place without me, but i can't die,not yet

As i ran through the woods, i heard something drop out of my pocket. My iPhone X fell to the ground, landing amongst the autumn leaves.

I rushed to get my phone and saw a notification from my dear sister Filippa.

Sup sis! I'm back to this shitty city xx

Filippa?

An idea begins to form in my mind and a devilish smile spreads across my face.

My fingers move quickly across the screen, first selecting the green icon in the corner then flowing along the keyboard as I form my carefully constructed message.

Welcome back to England Fily! I've missed you, come meet me at the usual place by the woods? Xx

I tap send and breathe a sigh of relief, praying that my hastily crafted plan works.

"Fiona!"

The desperate scream of a defeated man jolts me to life. My heart pumps and I stumble through the forest.

I keep running for who knows how long, glancing back every now and again to make sure Zac is a safe distance away.

I smile, feeling victorious, I managed to escape from Zac's house and I've managed to form a pretty decent plan.

Nothing could stop me now- except for the oblivious body of someone standing directly in front of me in the darkness.

I crash into the them, slipping immediately into unconsciousness, my last thoughts praying that it isn't Zachary Ikbal standing above my fallen body.

___________________________

A/N

The truth is slowly coming out. We're finally seeing what actually happened that Wednesday afternoon.

Who do you guys think did it? You better place your bets now because time is running out. We only have two chapters left after this one!

Sorry for the lack of an update last week, the next chapter will be released next Wednesday and the final chapter is going to be published the day this all began: May 13th.

Until next week,
You know you love us,
Pigeon, Potato and Glitter
xoxo