The Fourth Death -- Rose of Death

ROSE OF DEATH
By : Andre Grandier

Stephanie Herrera walked warily on her way to class. It was a warm spring day. The morning sky went from its usual faint white to a pale blue as the sun rose up in the horizon tinting the sky with yellowish pigments. Stephanie took out her newly given schedule to check on her first class, English Literature, Room #15.
“I hate literature”. Stephanie thought. “I mean what do I care about a bunch of dead guys who wrote stuff”. She pushed aside a lack of reddish hair blocking her sight as two guys looked at each other and giggled as they passed her.
“Idiots, they are probably freshman”. She muttered to herself. Stephanie knew how pretty she was, as a matter of fact she could have any boy she wanted, her big expressive emerald eyes matched perfectly her creamy white skin, her lips were a gleaming coral and her auburn hair looked always as if she had just walked out of the saloon. When she got to room 15 there were just a few students in the classroom. She gave her schedule to the teacher, a tall but chubby kind-looking lady who introduced herself as Mrs. Hampton, and trudged to her seat. It was then that she saw him, a fair-looking boy with short, shaggy blond hair, his eyes were a frigid icy-blue and his face intensely handsome. He smiled when he saw Stephanie looking at him, showing off his perfect, pearly white teeth. Stephanie felt the warmth rising up her cheeks and a sinking feeling setting into her stomach, yet she sat next to him.
“What up, I’m Alex, what’s your name babe?”. Said the fair-boy with a tone of mischief in his voice. “I’m Stephanie”. she responded sheepishly. Stephanie was startled by the sudden loud and sharp sound of the bell and several students stormed inside the classroom.
Mrs. Hampton started her boring routine of introduction to the class. Stephanie revised the list of books she had to read over the semester when Alex put a folded sheet of paper on her desk. Stephanie turned to face him but Alex was staring straight ahead avoiding her gaze. She unfolded the paper and read it noticing his elegant hand writing.

“What’s up Stephanie, you are the hottest girl I’ve ever met,
what do you say we meet at my place at 7:00, my address is
7746 Lankershim Bl , I’ll be waiting impatiently”
A strange tingle swept over her body. On one side it didn’t seem right to go and meet a complete stranger after school, but it felt so good to do something she wasn’t supposed to do. Without thinking it twice, she scribbled down her answer.
*
Stephanie took a glance at her wrist watch, 6:15. “great” Stephanie thought “ I’m just in time. She pulled on a clean neon-blue blouse and tight black jeans. She looked one more time herself in the mirror. “Perfect” she said feeling the same tickling of excitement an the pit of her stomach. When Stephanie got to the address given by Alex the sky had already turned pinkish purple as the sun set into a reddish twilight. She knocked loudly on the door to make sure he heard. A few seconds later Alex appeared in the door, his lips curled into a pleasant smile .
“I knew you’d come, come in” said Alex, the door clattered behind her. As soon as Stephanie stepped in Alex wrapped his arms around her waist and planted a passionate kiss on her lips. Stephanie responded to the kiss with the same intensity, his cold hands sliding under her blouse. Abruptly he pulled her away giving her a black rose.
“Ohh Alex it’s so pretty” Stephanie bent forward seeking another kiss but Alex kept his distance. “ There is something I want to show you”. His grin grew wider as he said that. He grabbed her hand and guided her to the living room. Stephanie sat in the couch. From the drawer besides the T.V. What he did next was more than enough to turn the situation from romantic to macabre. Alex took out two round objects the size of a coconut. Stephanie suddenly realized with horror what they were. Two human heads. Both had brown hair stained with scarlet blood. Their skin was repulsively green and their mouths and eyes were black, empty. She recognized them, It was Noemy Tovar and Rocio Rodriguez, the girls who had disappeared almost two months ago. The room was invaded by the acid smell of decaying flesh. Despite the warmth of the evening an icy-cold trill rolled down her spine, her heart scudded inside her beating wildly against her ribs as panic and terror overwhelmed her. Alex was standing there grinning evilly .His eyes shining with malice.
“ These are my trophies” Alex said casually as he slid out a silver blade from behind him. Stephanie’s eyes grew wide with horror and dread. Alex moved forward with surprising speed, slashing the sharp blade before him. Stephanie let out a cry of terror as Alex yelled
“I NEED ANOTHER THROPHY!!!”

--THE END