LIFE’S A MESS
I can’t see anything clearly ahead of me. All I did was following the voice and kicked the door which attached to the kitchen. Dylan pulled me away when it fell off.
” Ryder,” Shawn muttered my name under his breath when he was trying to protecting himself from the fire. But I can already see some burnt marks on his exposed body. I saw that he’s holding a blanket which he must have wrapped it on his body to extinguish the fire.
” Shawn… come on. You can make it outside.” I told him as he stepped on the other side. As soon as he stood next to us, we all rushed to find the way out. We have been able to use the front door and get outside in time. We rolled on the grass as we heard an explosion sound.
” Oh, my god. We are so close to losing our life,” Dylan panted. Once we are all safe, my mind went back to Emma. She’s the root cause of everything. She’s ready to set her own house on fire and risk all our life. Especially my brother.
” Where’s that bitch?” I tried to shout when I was breathless. She was so close to me just like how close I’m to Patrick. But today’s the day I hated her to the core.
” I don’t know but I got the camera,” Jacob said as the strap attached to the camera is hanging on his neck.
” You got that. Emma can’t enter the competition after this mess has been recorded on it.” Dylan said.
” Just fucking delete it or destroy it. We need to take my brother to the hospital.” I yelled.
” I have no idea what’s happening here,” Shawn said while suffering in the pain.
” Call 911,” I ordered no one in particular. I highly believe Jacob has his phone with him. I lost it in the house and I’m not getting it back. I’m not from a high-class family. I can’t simply buy a phone again. For fuck’s safe, there’s no dead body.
We waited for some time for the ambulance to arrive. We even called Patrick’s parents. Whose girlfriend in the whole world can set her boyfriend’s house on fire? Emma did. We all used to hang out here every single day. No one can ever be close friends like this. Now, I think it might end today. My friendship with Emma will defiently end.
The ambulance, fire engine and police both arrived at the same time. I know they can be able to help Shawn but there’s no hope for Patrick’s house.
” Oh, my…” I heard a voice behind me. I turned to see Patrick fell on his knees. I’m not sure how I should say the reason.
” I’m sorry this happened to you, Patrick,”
“How?? How it’s possible? My life is a wreck.” Seeing Patrick like this is the wrong thing in the world but my instinct told that something much worse than this is yet to happen.
When Shawn got into the ambulance, I saw the police officer approaching us. The fire engine already extinguished the fire. So, all it lefts is the inquiry.
” Jacob…” I started to tell them to delete the footage. I don’t want it to be the centre of attention.
” Are you kids alright?” The officer asked with care.
” Yeah, we are,” I answered uncertainly.
” Where is Emma?” Patrick asked me at that moment. I couldn’t control myself but spit it all out.
” She escaped before we did. She must be feeling guilty for setting the house on fire for a prank.” I said in a line and started coughing instantly.
” What? Emma? I can’t believe she did that.” Patrick said as I broke another heartbreaking noise. He doesn’t deserve this.
” Heyyyy,” I heard a voice from one of the fire engine workers.
” We found a body,” he shouted. I can’t handle more shocks in a single hour.
” You said you are all safe, kids,” the officer said as he ran to find out. Soon, the house becomes a mess. They found a girl’s body and it’s Emma. The police officer surrounded us with infinite questions. They found the body near the backdoor to the house. We escaped the fire taking the front door but Emma didn’t. How can something happen like this? She was the one who left early.
All our parents arrived at the place. Emma’s parents are mourning loudly for Emma’s death.
” I… I thought she left the house alive,” Dylan said in a shaky voice.
” What’s this?” Patrick asked as he snatched the camera from Jacob. He almost straggling Jacob with the camera strap hanging in his neck. He played the video instantly. That’s when my life becomes a nightmare.
“Right. Let’s do this and prank my brother. This video should be awesome and Emma should win the competition. What are you waiting for? Set the kitchen on fire. The mission’s on.” that’s my voice. It played in front of everyone. But that’s not my intentions. I said it in a different way to stop Emma.
” Is it you who did this? I never thought you would betray me like this and blame my girlfriend for your fault.” Patrick fired at me.
” No. You are interpreting wrongly, Patrick. Did you hear that I mentioned that competition? She’s the one who started. All I was trying is to stop them.”
” Don’t lie, Ryder. You persuaded everyone. It’s clearly visible in the video. You are the reason for the loss of Emma and my house. You took the most important thing in my life. I heard that friends betrayal and I think you are an example of it. Betrayer.” as he said everything, I felt like an arrow hit my chest. My friend didn’t understand me. He didn’t know that I would never do such a thing. Emma did it all. Now, she’s dead.
” Ryder didn’t do it. Please, trust him, Patrick.” Dylan begged.
” We both tried to help Emma. Blame me. Leave Ryder.” Jacob said with remorse.
” I don’t trust any of you. You aren’t even a good lair. My girlfriend won’t do such a thing. I can blame you all. You killed her. You killed the love of my life and set my house on fire.” he said. We become his enemy in just a second. He trusts her girlfriend more than us. But she’s not worth it.
” Patrick, you know Emma love publicity and pranking others. She tried to win a prank competition with her friends by leaking the gas which leads to this disaster. She left us all and ran. My brother is in the hospital because of her. Dont’ you feel the truth? How can this be a lie? Do you trust that footage more than me? ” I shouted and someone pulled my arms from behind. It’s the police officer.
” She won’t do such a dangerous prank. The footage speaks the truth more than people. So, yes, I believe it.” he replied heartlessly.
” Come on, you are coming to the police station.” the officer strongly pulled my arms. Dylan and Jacob already got into the police car.
” I’m not coming. That bitch set the house on fire. I was the one who saved my friends. Leave me. I’m not a suspect.” I acted madly and got sight of my parents. They are begging the other officers to leave me. But nothing’s working. Once I become a suspect, my name will be spoiled and can never get back to the way I was.
” How dare you call her a bitch after she died,” Patrick muttered. He’s mad and grieving at the same time. My life’s a mess. This is only the beginning.