Vivian Strikes Again

Vivian Strikes Again
Breakfast had been quiet. It had been highly unsettling too. Courtney had grown used to Tracy talking her ear off but this morning the only one who'd even bothered talking was Luke. She knew that Sam and Tracy were probably tired or a little spooked that Vivian would try to hurt them even when they were grouped together. After all Vivian had made it quite obvious she didn't mind striking them when they were all in one place. It just made them easier targets after all.

Luke and Courtney had managed to find Vivian's actual office. Or at least the one she'd died in. There was dried blood on the chair and on the floor. A handprint was smudged on the desk like Vivian had attempted to stand. Then there was a dried up pool of blood not too far from the desk stained into the carpet. She must have tried to run for help or something, however she died there and no one knew until the morning after.

Courtney felt a pang of sorrow as she walked around the room checking through the papers. Luke was looking through the desk, his brows furrowed. Courtney had considered talking to him but eventually decided better of it. She wanted to keep her focus on the investigation. The fact that they were still trying was probably the only reason they'd survived this long.

She heard Luke sigh, then one of the drawers slammed shut making her jump a little. Things weren't going so hot on their end although they just started back so there was no telling how it might go until the end of the day. She was trying to look on the bright side. She still hoped that if they got this right or at least if Vivian thought they'd gotten it right she'd still let them go. So far she was fairly certain that the fiance, James, had something to do with it. She just hadn't figured it all out because he'd been at the restaurant the night Vivian died so that meant he couldn't have been the one to kill her.

Then before she knew it she felt weightless for a split second before she went crashing into the nearby bookcase. 'What the hell?' she thought while sitting up. Luke had rushed to her side to check on her which was a huge mistake. A shadowy figure grabbed him and tossed him aside like he was nothing.

“Luke” She tried to get up but that thing pushed her back down wrapping it's ice cold grabbing for her throat. She'd barely managed to get away when the ghost momentarily dissipated. Vivian's form flickered right in its place. Her wounds were more visible than they had been before.

Her clothes were different too. Now she was in this dark bouffant-pouf dress, the skirt was tattered and the heels she wore were white with dark red splatters on them. The cut on her neck appeared to be open as blood poured out of it. She tilted her head smiling wide, her eyes frozen in this creepy stare. She didn't blink, she just stared into Courtney's soul.

She was completely silent as the room became a whirlwind. Books and papers streaked past Courtney and he was barely able to dodge any of it. Luke's eyes met Courtney's, his concern clear as day. He'd managed to make it out when Vivian had so kindly thrown him but he didn't want to leave her behind.

The desk slid across the room nearly knocking Courtney over as Vivian's feet left the ground. She took a step back before running forward. This was probably her only chance. She slid under Vivian’s office chair as it went flying her eyes dead ahead. Her hand caught Luke's who pulled her out and shut the door.

Courtney and Luke came running down the stairs. Tracy looked up concerned. They looked shaken but alright. It was odd how comforting it was when she knew everyone was okay. Even though they almost weren't. About an hour ago Vivian had attacked them in Beatrice's bedroom all because Sam had suggested that Beatrice might have murdered Vivian.

She obviously hadn't liked that they were trying to accuse her daughter of matricide. Alex had shut the idea down once they got downstairs although he'd been quiet ever since. He had a small cut on his left cheek. It wasn't deep so that was good. Sam was tending to the cut and a few odd bruises Alex had obtained from getting Beatrice's books thrown at him. Tracy felt bad for him because Vivian had come down harder on him then she had Sam or Tracy.

Courtney looked over at Alex and Sam. “Uh, is he okay?” Tracy noticed that Courtney had moved towards him to check on him.

“Yeah… Vivian just came out of nowhere and attacked us,” Tracy explained.

“So we weren't the only ones she came after?” Courtney looked down. She felt like she should have protected them. She always protected the helpless back home. But that was from cruel bullies. She didn't know how to deal with a ghost. Tracy walked over to Courtney placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“I guess so. If it helps we’re all okay and he's stronger than he looks,” Tracy spoke softly before heading over to check on Alex who looked like he was doing better.

Sam had said something that had made him laugh which was peculiar. Alex hadn't laughed once in all the time they'd been there and Tracy didn't think this was the right time for laughter or jokes. She noticed the way Sam's face lit up though. He was watching Alex laugh, his eyes were bright and a small smile formed on his lips as he left to put the Band-Aids and the antiseptic back in the drawer where he'd found it.

Alex looked over to her still smiling as she sat down. They were both quiet. She'd noticed his quiet nature. It was odd to her though. There weren't a lot of quiet kids where she went to school. Although her little brother was the exception. It was almost funny how much Alex reminded her of him. From the love of books to the exquisite cooking.

“Y’know you remind me of my little brother,” she said quietly. It made her miss home but at the same time it kept her homesickness at bay.

“Really? What's he like?” Alex sat his chin in his hands as he looked up at the ceiling. He knew she was trying not to think of the deadly situation they'd gotten into and he didn't mind the distraction. In fact he needed it. Now he was scared. She'd attacked them and they'd been easy targets because they'd been together. It was like shooting fish in a barrel. Maybe it wasn't so safe sticking together, he thought as Tracy launched into a bunch of different stories about her home and her family.