The Darkness Within by Taylor Henderson

was smiling at him, but he was smiling at me.
    “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony,” the priest spoke, looking between David and my mom.
    I clenched my fists tighter, my nails digging into the flesh of my palms as I watched the scene unravel before me. My mom surreptitiously swiping tears from her cheeks and smiling like this was the happiest day of her life. David taking her hand in his, but keeping his eyes trained on me. It was like my own personal hell. When it came time for them to read their vows, David went first.
    He held my mom’s hands in his, pressing their intertwined hands to his heart as he spoke. “Jasmine, when I first met you I knew you were the one. Everything about you was perfect. You were a single mother, you were attracted to me, and you had a daughter who was the perfect age. I couldn’t have asked for a better neighbor.”
    As he mentioned me, Mom glanced over her shoulder and winked at me before looking back to David. She didn’t even understand the true meaning behind his words. My blood boiled. How could I let things get this far? Why didn’t I tell her about him?
    David continued spewing bullshit about his and my mother’s relationship, but I couldn’t listen any longer. I’d had enough. I needed to come clean.
    “Stop!” I screamed, throwing my hands into the air in frustration. “You can’t marry him!”
    “Claire,” Mom spoke, an expression of disapproval lining her features. Her cheeks began to flush in embarrassment at my outburst, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t let this happen.
    I pointed a finger at David, scowling as I yelled, “He’s The Collector. You can’t marry him because he’s a deranged serial killer who preys on innocent, young girls. He kidnaps them, brands them with a number, and then slaughters them like animals!” My chest heaved as I screamed the truth, revealing David for who he really was. When I was finished, I stood there, trying to control my heavy breathing.
    My mom looked from me to David with an eyebrow raised, then she did something I didn’t expect. She burst into a fit of laughter . David actually laughed too, clutching his sides as he bent over at the waist. When my mom finished she said, “Oh, Claire, honey, please stop being such a drama queen.” She waved me off before turning her attention to the priest. “Please continue,” she told him.
    I was horrified. “Don’t continue! This isn’t a joke, Mom. This is the truth!”
    Mom turned around and fixed me with a glare. It was obvious she didn’t believe me. She probably thought I was trying to ruin her special day.
    “Tell her!” I demanded, screaming at David.
    Now it was David’s turn to look annoyed. He raised an eyebrow and gave me a skeptical look. “I already did, Claire. You’re just making a fool of yourself.”
    There was snickering behind me and I spun around with the intention of telling off whoever it was, but what I saw made my breathing catch in my throat. Sitting in the first row—all dressed in morbid, black dresses—were Hadley, Rachel, Dakota, Tracy, Gwendolyn, and last, but not least, Holly. They were all staring at me, their lips twisted into smirks and their foreheads dripping blood down their faces. Holly was the one snickering. She raised a thin hand, covering her mouth to hide her laughter. Next to her, Gwendolyn leaned into her ear, whispering. I could hear her words loud and clear. It was almost as if she had whispered them into my ear.
    “She’s worried about her Mom when she should be worrying about herself.”
    Holly cupped her hands around her mouth as she whispered back, “She doesn’t realize she’s next.”
    All of the girls erupted into fits of giggles as I watched, my mouth agape. My breathing grew heavier as I watched them. Then I felt a searing pain on my forehead.
    “It’s happening,” Hadley spoke, raising her finger to drag it down the line of her number one.