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SCREAM
──── ❝ little white lies ❞

CHAPTER ONE
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*ೃ༄ ﹌﹌﹌ღ ‗ ❍ . . . . . 🛍️🧸
•◦• ACT ONE
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MONA RILEY WAS A LIAR.

   She found them slipping past her lips quite often. Now, these lies weren't life changing. Once they entered the air, it wouldn't do any harm. She would only tell them for her own benefit. From what she knew, others didn't mind it much. It wasn't like she was addicted to lying. No, it wasn't that at all. In fact, each lie she told caused an overwhelming sensation of guilt to bubble in her abdomen. Mona never wanted anyone to lose trust in her. So, why couldn't she stop?

Mona couldn't tell you.

Mona Riley tapped her manicured finger along the fabric of her pastel skirt, a hum falling from her plump, pink lips as she watched the trees that were planted in the soil zip by. She had grown tired of the view. After seeing it day after day, she was more than fed up with it. Especially since she knew that at the end of this path, when they reached their destination, she would arrive at her least favorite place on earth.

High school.

A shudder fell from her lips.

The hellish establishment would cause chills to crawl up her arms. She hated it. She thought it was a massive waste of time, and felt as though she didn't deserve to be surrounded by the students that behaved like wild animals around one another. Mona had tried more than once to drop out of the school system, but her request was denied every single time. Unfortunately for her.

Mona heard a heavy sigh come from beside her, and she rolled her brown eyes before turning her head, a soft glare on her face as she stared at her elder brother. Dwight Riley— other wise known as, Dewey. He gnawed on the skin of his cheek, facial expression flat as he steered the vehicle. She could feel his annoyance with her, but she didn't care.

Mona lifted a thin plucked eyebrow, "What?"

Dewey gave her a side eye, not wanting to pry his gaze from the road for too long.

"Mona, one of these days, you're gonna have to start riding the bus to school like the rest of those kids."

The golden haired girl huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. That was the most ridiculous thing she's heard all week. She couldn't help but let out a whine. Mona had lied to her brother. She had told him that she did her very best to get to the bus stop on time, but just before she could exit her house, the driver stomped on the gas pedal and left her in the dust, leaving her with no ride to school. Dewey had no choice but go drive her. Though, usually she would hitch a ride with her sister and her boyfriend, Stu Macher.

"Are you kidding me? Why would i want to do that?" She made a face. Mona hadn't rode the bus since her freshman year. She recalled entering the vehicle for public transportation and spotting the rowdy kids that threw trash towards the back of the bus. She had never turned around so fast in her life. Since then, Mona refused to get on a school bus. Unlike her sister, Tatum.

Tatum never much minded the chaotic scenes. A lot of the time, she would even force Mona to tag along with her ventures. Mona didn't mind it then. But, when she was left to fend for herself against a world of hooligans? She wouldn't hesitate to save herself.

"I have a job to do, remember? It's much more important than driving you to school each morning." He scolded. Mona frowned at his words, glancing down at his police badge. He was the deputy Sheriff of Woodsboro, and was quite proud of himself for his line of work. Mona knew that he wasn't often praised for the hard work he did.

"I know." She glanced down at her lap, "But why would i ride the school bus when i could be seen with my super cool big brother in his police car."

At those words, Dewey struggled to suppress his flattered grin, a light chuckle falling from his lips. He glanced at the sixteen year old before narrowing his eyes. No. He knew what she was doing.

"Nice try," He brushed off her compliments, causing her to kiss her teeth. "You know, you should start working towards getting your permit. You're getting older now."

Mona thought for a moment. Not once had she been behind the wheel. But then again, did she really want to? She couldn't help but scoff in amusement.

"Yeah, alright."

Dewey gave her a look. "I'm serious, Mona. It's time you start to step up. Tatum and i aren't always gonna be there...You're lucky i've gotta be patrolling your school anyways."

"I know that. But, i still have a few more years of being a kid before i become miserable and old like everyone else that's above the age of twenty one." She genuinely shrugged. Her tone was light and insensitive, causing Dewey to drop his jaw.

"'Old and miserable?' Mona, I'm only twenty five." He shook his head defensively as he pulled up to the curb of the High school establishment.

"Only?" Mona grimaced.

The holden haired girl didn't bother to say anything more on the topic, mumbling a quick thanks before pushing her passenger door open, slinging her backpack over her shoulder and climbing out of the car. Here she was. Forced to endure the pain of being around other teenagers that didn't under the stand the basics of hygiene.

Mona clicked her tongue along the roof of her mouth as she casually strode along the side walk, a frown on her lips at the number of news reporter vans parked along the curb.

She had heard the news of Casey Becker and her boyfriend. About how the girl was brutally butchered and left for dead on her front lawn for her parents to see. Word has it that her internal organs were on the outside. When Mona first heard the news, she cried for hours. She couldn't help it, recalling the previous memories she had with the victim. They were best friends back in elementary school. Sure, they had fallen out, but that didn't mean that she couldn't grieve.

Monas brown eyes scanned the crowd of civilians, and she instantly perked up as she spotted a blonde and a brunette walking side by side. She quickly sped towards them, her heels clipping against the rough concrete.

"Tate!" She grinned at her sister, along with their friend, Sidney Prescott. Sidney was a kind girl. She was rather introverted, often disliking being the center of attention.

"Hey, Sid." Mona scrunched up here nose at the tall brunette. Sidney smiled softly.

"Hey, i was just asking Tatum what was up with the reporters?" Sidney pinched her eyebrows together. Monas eyes went wide. Hadn't she heard of the accident? It was the talk of the town.

"You don't know?" Tatum asked incredulously, jaw dropping at the brunette.

When Sidney shook her head, Tatum continued, "Casey Becker and Steve Orth were killed last night."

Sidney gasped in shock, eyes darting between the two sisters. Mona simply nodded, confirming Tatum's words.

"No way!"

"Right? And not just killed, Sid. It was like, slasher movie killed." Mona chimed in. She knew a few more details than others in their town, as she had decided to pry into Dewey to get the news about what had happened. The man had unsurprisingly broke. Mona herself had never seen a slasher movie. She wasn't a big fan of gore. But their friend, Randy Meeks, was a horror fanatic. He would often ramble about the gory films he'd watch in his free time.

"Yup. Ripped open from end to end." Tatum dragged.

"Casey Becker," Sidney shook her head, "She sits next to me in english."

Tatum hesitated before saying, "Not anymore."

Mona gave her sister a glare. Sick.

"It's so sad. Her mom and dad found her hanging from a tree. Her insides on the outside." Tatum continued, Mona pressed a palm against her abdomen as she thought of the incident. She couldn't even imagine coming across a body like that. She grimaced, quickly growing uncomfortable at the topic.

"Oh, my God. Do they know who did it?" Sidney asked as the trio strode up the steps to the main building.

"Fucking clueless." Mona scoffed.

"They're interrogating the entire school—teachers, students, janitors."

"They think it's school related?" Sidney interrupted, whipping her head around to stare at the Riley girls.

"They don't know." Tatum shrugged. "I mean, Dewey was telling Mona and i that this is the worse crime they've seen in years. Even worse than—" Tatum suddenly sucked in a sharp breath.

Mona rolled her bottom lip in between her teeth, gnawing on the skin. A year ago, Sidney's mother was raped and murdered, leaving Sidney to live alone with her father. Mona felt sorry for her, she really did. She couldn't even imagine what it would feel like to lose someone that close to you. Someone you love.

"It was really bad." Mona cleaned up Tatum's words. Both Mona and Sidney watched Tatum stride away as a loud, flat hum rang over the intercom, signaling the start of first period. Students began to file into the building, and Mona forced a grin towards the Prescott girl.

"Come on," She muttered, locking her arm with Sidney's and leading her inside the building.

Hushed whispers of the brutal death of Casey Becker and Steve Orth continued to fill the air.

AUTHORS NOTE— what do we think??? 😏 spam