"Kai, can you be serious for like one second please?" I groan in frustration.
"Sorry, gees, I'm just saying it isn't practical that someone could have written next on Amber." Kai defends. "I think she did it to herself."
"Why would she do that?" Phillip sighs. "And when would she have? She was Ro most the day."
"I don't know, but Kai has an idea. I mean it's obvious she hates-"
I slam my hands down on the picnic table. "You know what, Dylan, Kai, thanks but shut the heck up." I almost order. "She's still my twin." I stand from the table and go to throw away my candy wrapper.
"Dang, someone isn't happy." Johnny laughs, hugging me from the side.
"Don't poke the bear, John." I laugh as well.
He holds his hands up in surrended. "Got any clue who'd do somethin' like this?" He changes the subject. Smart boy.
"I wish I did." I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "But no."
"A clue has got to show up soon." He rubs my back comfortingly. "Don't give up hope, Rosie."
I nod. "I gotta go. We're watching Noah this week for Aunt Nancy and I gotta be there when she arrives." I kiss his cheek. "I'll see ya later."
"Bye." He waves.

****

"Rosie!" Noah squeals, running over to me and hugging my legs tightly.
"Hiya, baby." I pick her up, setting her on my hip. "And how is Noah today?" I ask the six-year-old.
"Good." She answers, tilting her head to the side. "What's that?" Noah points to the kitchen island.
"What's what?" I spin around, facing the counter and gasp, tightening my hold on Noah.
A single white rose sits in a vase on the counter. Red liquid dripping from its leaves down to the counter top. The vass itself is half full of blood.
I reach out a hand, running a finger across the bloody petals. "What do you want?" I whisper.
"What does who want?" Noah questions.
"Huh? Oh nothing." I shake my head. "It's just a rose." I say shakily, examining my bloody fingers.
"Like you!" Noah says.
"Like me." I laugh and sit her down. "Listen, N, can you stand right here where I can see you?"
"Yeah, why? Where ya going?" She queries.
One thing about Noah is she's full of questions.
"Just going to check a few things. Stay right here." I walk backwards to the door, checking the living room for signs of a break in.
"Rosie!" Noah almost screams, sounding completely terrified.
I run back into the room and immediately se why she's scared.
The vase has tripled the amount of blood, streams now trip down the vase sides. A note now sits perfectly untouched beside it.
"Come 'ere." I pull her close and pick up the note.

Wassup, Ro? Having a nice day with Noah? Either way, I figured out my next victim and idea. You now have six hours to meet me at Pineworth Mental Institute with you're mother's old journal (the one she was keeping when she died) or the next pretty little thing gets it.
Until later enjoy the rose, Rose.

"Aunt Rose, what's the matter?" Noah tugs on my sweater.
"Nothing, baby girl, everything is fine." I stoop down to her eye level. "Let me see your hands, okay?" I hold out my hands for her.
"You wanna see this?" Noah flips her hand over, revealing her palm and points to a place near the index finger.
next written in red ink. 
I curse under my breath, and hold her hands. "Why did you ask if I wanted to see that?"
"Because they said you would." Noah answers blankly.
"Who said?" I question. "Who told you that, Noah?"
"I don't remember his name." Noah says sadly, playing with one of her pigtails.
"That's okay." I kiss her head. "Let's go upstairs and call Uncle Phillip? Maybe we can all go out." I suggest.
Yes we were going out just not anywhere fun.
Noah nods excitedly, suddenly not sad anymore. "Let's do." She runs toward the steps, not knowing her life is on the line right now.