Alex's POV

To tell you the truth, I feel very guilty for making her worry. For making her as depressed as she is right now. I wanted to go into her house and comfort her on that fateful day. To make her not so lonely in this world of ours. But that's my job.

My job is done.

My job was done.

And honestly speaking, Willow is the only 'victim' who knows our real name. Or maybe that's only because I was friends with her since back in our childhood days, all the way back.

Ah, the good old times.

But now's not the time to be daydreaming. Now's the time to be focusing on the reality around me. To make sure that I won't get caught up in anything that is too severe that I can't get myself out of.

I watched her from around the corner.

They're allowing her to roam free already? I thought that wasn't until tomorrow or something. I sighed. Time is moving too fast, that I can't even keep up with it. All that I know is that she is allowed to roam the building for about an hour or so, and someone will bring her to the roof or something.

But they're only allowing her to explore one part of the building. After all, who in the right mind would be able to finish exploring a whole huge building in under an hour? Definitely not me.

And not only that, they are deliberately making her 'bump into' me along the way. Honestly, I am not a huge fan of this idea at all.

Willow shouldn't have to suffer more than she already has, not that I am a fan of that either. I watched her intently as she came nearer and nearer to where I'm standing as of right now, stopping regularly to inspect the paintings hung on the wall.

"Alexandra Rose," a pleasant female voice said into the microphone that connects to my earpiece, or in simpler terms, a communication device.

"I'm here," I replied, trying to sound as pleasant as possible.

"Position ready?"

I sighed, willing myself not to ignore it. Because I really, really badly wanted to. But I still did it anyway. I still ignored it. Hopefully I won't get the worst of it. If I'm lucky, she won't complain about this to anyone.

I went back to my thoughts.

I'm sorry Willow. I just had to spread those rumours about you the other day back in school. I knew that the accident was going to happen. I needed a way to keep you out of it. I don't want you to be involved. I don't want you to die, Willow, not then, not because of an accident.

Not because of your best friend.

[Flashback]

"Hey, hey Mandy! Wait up!" I exclaimed, running to catch up with the school's most popular.

"Hey 'lex!" she replied as soon as I caught up with her.

She knows me from Gym and English. Which she is terrible at. Well, for English anyway. So, I tutor her in it, since I am the top student in English. Not that I am bragging. My mum used to be an English lecturer at a local college. So, I'm pretty much obliged to be the best in English.

And since I tutor Mandy, she claims that she owes me a favour, which I refused to accept. Until now.

"Do you remember the favour you owe me?"

She chuckled. "Of course! How could you think I'd forget?"

Yes! So I can do it after all!

"So, what do you want?" she asked, sounding slightly impatient, but doing her best to hide it.

Which could've easily fooled anyone. But not me.

I know I am definitely going to regret what I am about to do next, but it's for everyone's own good. Especially Willow, although she will probably never know that for the rest of her life.

"So...?"she inquired, breaking the awkward silence that was starting to fall between the two of us.

I sucked in a deep breath of air. "Do you know a girl named Willow Rayne? You know, the one who is extremely good in Art class? Especially when she paints? The one Mrs Hall obviously likes the most?"

"You mean your best friend?"

I nodded. "Yup."

"What about her?"

"I need you to help me spread a rumour about her. And tell everyone that I started it. Try to make it as accurate as possible."

"Why do you want to do that?" came her reply.

She seemed very bewildered and shocked that I had just told her to do what I had just told her to do.

"Please don't ask questions and just do it for me..."

"Okay then." Thank goodness she didn't ask any more questions! I seriously have no idea what to answer her, and 'it's because I don't want her involved in a car accident I'm helping to plot' will be a very good reply. "Say no more Alex. I'll think of something."

"Thanks."

I started to walk away, speeding towards my next class because I know that I'll definitely be late.

"Wait."

Her voice echoed down the hallway, making me stop in my tracks.

"What kind of rumour do you want?"

I hesitated for a while before replying," A bad one."

[End of Flashback]

I knew that would work. I knew it. I know Willow better than anyone else. And it did. It worked.

The sorrow, betrayal and disappointment mixed with anger kept her at home. And ultimately out of the fateful 'accident' supposedly by accident. See that pun? Ah, maybe not...

[Flashback]

"Mrs Rayne, don't you think Willow needs some time alone?" I asked as soon as we were right outside Willow's room.

She sighed, her forehead creased from the worry that her child might experience so much grief that she didn't want to go to school.

"You're right Alex."

I had a question inside of me, and even though I am almost positive of the answer already, I just simply must ask the question to confirm my answer. I gulped the lump that was forming at the back of my throat.

"You... You don't think that the rumours are spread by me right? I mean, I didn't spread it. I would never betray her trust," I lied.

Well, technically, I didn't lie. I wasn't the one who spread the rumours. It was Mandy. Even though I asked her to... But that is another story.

"Of course not Alex. I don't believe that you'd do such an evil thing," she replied with so much patience and trust, that guilt is starting to bubble up from within me.

But it's for everyone's own good.

"Well, let's go down then."

We walked down the stairs, and into the living room, where the rest of Willow's family sat. They all looked so gloomy, that I couldn't bear to be in the same room as them. I hate gloomy people.

"You know what, to lighten up the mood, how about we all go out for lunch?" I suggested, trying to sound pleasant and joyful, and not like I am hiding something.

Which I am. We have all planned that the 'accident' will be carried out when they all go out for lunch. I am to tell them where at what time, and they will take it from there. I hope I can do my part well; they're all counting on me. Though I do feel very guilty deep down.

Mrs Rayne sighed, while Mr Rayne remained silent. I gulped. This is not going well, at all. But luckily, Jess comes to the rescue! But she doesn't know what is coming up for her...

"That's right. Let's get out of this hole and go enjoy life! We can't sit around all day, moping over spilt milk."

Mrs Rayne put on a forced smile and nodded. "Sure, I'll go get her."

I was to suggest the small, cosy restaurant downtown (I can't remember what it's called, can you believe it?), so I did. Both Mr Rayne and Jess nodded in agreement. I put on a forced smile and took out my phone from my pocket.

'They're headed there soon.'

I punched the 'send' key and the message sent. I took a deep breath, and exhaled. I hope this will work. I hope this will not disappoint anyone.

"Honey! Your sister, father, Alex and I are going out for lunch soon! Do you want to join us?" I heard Mrs Rayne asked loudly.

Knowing Willow, she'd probably snap back at her mum. But Mrs Rayne, being a very understanding person would not get angry over it. She knows that Willow was betrayed by me. But that's the whole point. But she wasn't mad. She said that it must be a mistake.

But being as stubborn as Willow was, she didn't listen to her own mum.

"No, no and no!" she yelled back.

I sighed in relief. Thank you, Willow, for staying at home. You have no idea how crucial it is for you to stay at home. You have just saved your own life unknowingly. But, there are also pros and cons of that choice of yours that you have just made...

"Oh well," Mrs Rayne commented, snapping me out of my thoughts.

Then, we quickly hopped into the Rayne family car (because Jess kept on complaining about being 'very hungry'), and drove off.

I leaned my head on the glass window. Soon after, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out. A text. From Tom.

'We're going to crash soon. Get out immediately. – Tom'

I replaced my phone back to its original place in my pocket and unlocked the car door quietly. I sucked in a deep breath, and quickly glanced to the front. I could easily see the two cars approaching our vehicle. Very rapidly.

Time to get the heck out of here.

I opened the car door.

"Alex, what in the world are you doing?" Jess hissed at me.

I looked at Jess, and gave her a sympathetic stare. But I ignored her question.

And just like that, I jumped out of the car. And the cars collided, quite weakly. Aaron and Tom reversed a bit, and sped towards their car once more. I watched as Aaron and Tom jumped out just before the cars collided the second time around. And I know what's coming...

That one was the fatal crash.

[End of Flashback]

A tear rolled down my cheek at the thought of the memory.

"Alexandra Rose! Willow's coming!"

My eyes widened in shock and panic, but merely for a second, before I responded. "Noted."

I took in a deep breath, and stepped out of the cover of the wall. Just as it was planned.

Willow stared at me, her mouth gaped open as if she wasn't believing what was right in front of her eyes there and then. Not that I could blame her. After all, it was almost as if I 'came back from the dead'. Could've shocked anyone, honestly speaking.

"Hi," I muttered, my eyes looking down.

I wouldn't expect an answer from her. I'm pretty sure she's angry at me for 'ditching' her and 'playing dead'. I felt my cheeks go hot in embarrassment, and guilt started bubbling non-stop from inside of me.

"A-A-Alex!" she stuttered. "Wh-wh-what are you doing here?"