Chapter 38/ part 1
Feb. 2nd, 2011 10:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
simtopiChapter 38: Sisterhood
Warnings: Violence, death, (badly post-edited) blood, coarse/mature language. Very strong language. Horror elements.
Jasmine had no idea at what point in the evening she had dozed off. She was barely aware that she had been face down over her keyboard. She was more aware of that annoying ringing coming from somewhere pulling her back into consciousness.
She groaned as she pulled herself out of sleep. There was still that ringing. Why won't it stop?
She finally managed to open her eyes. They rested at some length on the photos on her desk. They belonged to Willow. As her brain caught up with being awake, she remembered that she had rescued them from her dorm after the fire. In the haze of semi-consciousness, she briefly remembered that there was something she was supposed to talk to Willow about...
The ringing still wouldn't stop.
Jasmine: Cecilia, what is it?
Cecilia: Sorry, did I wake you? You'll never guess where I am!
Jasmine: How about we skip that and you just tell me where you are.
Cecilia: I'm in Heather Huffington's car!
Jasmine: Who?
Cecilia: Seriously Jasmine, you need to get with local politics.
Jasmine: Ooookay. Great, so I guess you're hanging out with yet another famous person I don't give a shit about.
Cecilia: You could act a little impressed, you know.
Jasmine: Fine, I'll humour you. What are you doing hanging out with Heather Huffington?
Cecilia: It's pretty cool. She knows who Brittany Upsnott is!
Jasmine: You keep throwing these names at me like I'm supposed to know who they are.
Cecilia: You are supposed to know who she is. I swear you never pay attention to me!
Jasmine: Cecilia get to the point already.
Cecilia: Brittany's my... my little "problem".
Jasmine: Problem...? Wait. Your ghost???
Cecilia: Yeah. And Heather's going to tell me all about her.
Jasmine: Okay I'm paying attention now and I'm not liking it. Where are you?
Cecilia: I'm on the way back to the Tri-Var House. Anyway, I just wanted to call and let you know where I was just in case they try anything with me. At least you know.
Jasmine: Oh no, Cecilia...
Before Jasmine could say anything more, the line disconnected. Dammit, Cecilia.
Cecilia: Okay, if I hand over Brittany's things, you tell me a story, is that how it goes?
Tiffany: And you keep your mouth shut about it to anyone else.
Cecilia: Not like anyone really cares what I have to say. But fine, I don't want her crap anyway.
Heather: It isn't exactly a pleasant story that any of us want to revisit.
Cecilia: No shit.
Cecilia: Well go on. It's not like we have all night.
Heather: Well, like I said. Brittany was my best friend... our best friend. Mine and Tiff's. We were all Tri-Var together.
"Brittany was a year ahead of us when we moved in. She was a rich, city girl, all upper-crust and class. So gorgeous, and no one could touch her. Not even me.
"Me and Tiff were just freshmen, one of the first pledges accepted to Tri-Var. The sorority had been around forever but for all intents and purposes, it was Brittany's. We called her 'Queen B' behind her back 'cause that's what she was. She was the Queen Bee. "
"And she made sure everyone knew it."
"But that was just fine with me. I was just another silly small town girl. And all I wanted was what any silly small town girl wanted to do when she got her taste of freedom in college. I just wanted to have fun. To live a little."
Heather: I met Tiff in our first dorm together. We didn't know eachother well then, but I sure as hell was not pledging to Tri-Var by myself. I guess you can say I dragged her along.
Heather: Hon', you sure you're going the right way now? I don't remember any of this.
Tiffany: I know my way to Sim State University, Heather. I've never forgotten.
"Things were more than peachy for a while for us Tri-Var girls. It was a little rough at first, but we became great friends."
"And we did have a lot of fun. There were some good times, that's for sure."
"I was finding my stride. Meetin' new people. Getting involved in all that school spirit stuff."
"And I thought Brittany was happy for me."
"At least she acted like she was happy for me."
"I didn't realize at the time... and I wish I saw it sooner... but she kinda hated whenever me and Tiff just hung out together. I guess she didn't like that both of us were closer to one another than we were to her."
"Britt wasn't exactly the easiest person to be friends with, but I never blamed her for that. Me and Tiff just got along better. We didn't think she cared at all, the way she was so abrasive to everyone sometimes."
Cecilia: It got worse, didn't it? She really did resent you.
Heather: Unfortunately.
"I mean, I didn't know why. I know I came on a bit too strong with the boys that she liked, but it wasn't like she was officially dating any of them. Sometimes it never went very far..."
"Other times... well, like I said, I was young, I just wanted to be out there enjoying my youth."
"Even Tiffany was getting along with the boys nicely and she sure got a lot of attention from them. Believe me, I was so proud of her."
"And you know, I did get my fair share of attention from some of my profs too. I know Britt hated that."
"But it wasn't my fault that some of them were just so fine. And it also wasn't my fault that they decided on their own to go easy with me when it came to marks. I wasn't gonna complain."
"Brittany, on the other hand, struggled hard for her grades. She'd practically kill herself over every assignment. Studying didn't come as easy to her as it did with others, like Tiff for example. Tiff is naturally smart. Brittany had to really try. Really, really try."
"Then at a point, she met new friends."
"It wasn't long after that she had joined the Landgrabb Society. Now she had something that I didn't and she was damned proud of it."
Heather: I love that this place didn't change much. Y'all kept the pink. Me and Britt disagreed at length about the decor.
Heather: And this was our memorial photo album. I thought I brought this with me...
Cecilia: No... I found it here.
Tiffany: Is this the only photo album you have? Did you find anything else that belonged to Brittany?
Cecilia: No. It's just this. So she joined the secret society. What happened then? She wasn't happy?
Heather: No, hon'. She wasn't happy at all. Well, she was at first. She wasn't supposed to talk about it but she couldn't wait to rub it in my face. Within a few days she was already talkin' like she owned the society, going on about how she wanted to redecorate their lil ol' clubhouse.
"Honestly, I couldn't tell you what it was about that house. I couldn't tell you what she found in there."
"She came home after being out all night. I had no idea what happened but they just dumped her in front of the Tri-Var House, just like that."
"But I don't think that's what made her upset."
"While we weren't home, she went on some tear. I tell you, I had no idea what got into that girl, but it was something terrible."
"She broke every mirror in the house."
Heather:We came back to find the place completely trashed. Brittany had locked herself in her room. We heard her crying, and spoutin' all kinds of madness, but she wouldn't come out. We didn't know what to do.
Cecilia: You didn't think to, you know, get some real help for her?
Heather: It crossed our minds. But we were the most popular sorority in the entire place and I respected Brittany's reputation too much. I thought maybe this was just something that would blow over. So we just cleaned the place up and let her be.
Heather: The next day, she was quietly checked into a psychiatric institution.
Cecilia: An insane asylum.
Heather: You can call it that.
Cecilia: But Brittany... died.
Tiffany: You're right. Unfortunately Brittany didn't stay in the asylum for long. She committed suicide soon after.
Heather: We destroyed all evidence of her here except for her school records. Out of respect for her memory, we didn't want it getting out that she had killed herself in some loony bin. And that's what we couldn't tell you. What we couldn't tell anyone.
Cecilia: That... well, that doesn't sound right.
Heather: Did you want something more dramatic out of that? I don't know what could be any more tragic than a Sorority queen falling under the pressures of school and social life.
Tiffany: Brittany is dead. And we would appreciate it if you honoured her memory by not disclosing this to anyone else. As agreed earlier, we'll be taking the photo album... and anything else of hers that you find.
Cecilia watched the two women turn their backs and prepare to go. She stood there, taking in that last information. About how Brittany killed herself??? No, it didn't sound right at all.
Cecilia: Don't you even want to know how I know her?
But before they could answer, Cecilia saw movement from the corner of her eye.
Cecilia: Ohmygod, watch out!!!
The lamp soared through the air, hurled across the room by something invisible.
Heather: How did that happen???
"Don't believe a word of it."
The voice in the room was a harsh, bitter whisper.
Cecilia: Brittany...
"YOU BITCH, YOU LIAR!!!!"
The ghost's accusation echoed throughout the room, shaking through Cecilia's head. Never had Cecilia felt it more angrier than this. The fury was so strong, she could feel it sinking into her skin, stinging her eyes. Those words and that emotion suffocated her mind, spiralling like a tornado until she could no longer see straight.
"You could just stand there and FUCKING LIE TO MY FACE I HOPE YOU DIE TOO YOU FUCKING WHORE!"
Heather: Well damn, you feel that draft? It just got cold in here!
And Heather was oblivious. They both were. Cecilia was only peripherally aware that for all of Brittany's fury, that they could not see the ghost.
She felt a chill as the ghost passed by her, seething with rage.
"I'll make them hear me! I'll make them listen!"
The vertigo was overwhelming. Cecilia couldn't hold it in any longer.
Before she lost complete control of herself, she pushed past Heather and Tiffany.
Heather: Now what in heaven's name is wrong with that girl?
Tiffany: I don't know. But we should leave. Something doesn't seem right here.
Cecilia had never been this suddenly sick, that she had to throw up.
Her head still hurt greatly and her stomach still felt like she had swallowed lead.
She wiped her face dry. She opened her eyes again, and nearly screamed when she stood face to face with what had been terrorizing her...
She stood there horrified, looking at the mirror. The face in the glass wasn't hers.
Cecilia: Oh god, please stop.
Her voice was a meek whisper, trembling with fright.
" You want it to be over, I can make it happen."
Cecilia: Please go away!
"I just need one thing from you..."
Cecilia: Fine. I just want you gone. Take anything.
"Right now, I just want you."
She was vulnerable enough now for this to happen. In that moment, Cecilia accepted all of Brittany's emotions. All of her anger, and all of her sadness. Her mind was flooded with her memories. She suddenly felt as if she were shoved into the back seat, pounding on the glass, watching helplessly as everything happened around her.
And in a moment, Cecilia was gone.
Brittany Upsnott opened her eyes, looking at the face that was foreign to her in the mirror. It was an odd sensation... to feel skin and bone again. She had forgotten what it was like to touch.
Cecilia was much more helpful than she had ever hoped.
First, there needed to be a few changes.
Heather: Did you hear that, Tiff? Sounded like glass breaking. Cecilia, hon'? You alright up there?
Tiffany: We're done here, Heather. Even if she ends up talking about Brittany, it's been so long, no one will remember, or care.
The two women headed out the door, towards the car.
"You didn't tell the whole story, Heather."
It was the girl's, Cecilia's voice. But it was also different. The pitch was lower, and it was hoarse and dry. In a strange way, it sounded almost familiar.
"In fact, you kind of just screwed around with the whole ending and left a big chunk of it out, didn't you."
Heather: Cecilia...honey? What in heaven's name did you do to your hair???
"It was a bit of rush job, totally not pro. But whatever, I thought you'd recognize me better. And it's not 'Cecilia'."
Suddenly Heather realized why her voice sounded familiar.
Heather: Oh dear lord, what is the matter with you? Are you trying to be Brittany???
"No, I'm not trying to be Brittany... I am Brittany you stupid bitch!!! GOD!"
A large kitchen knife flashed in Cecilia's hand as she suddenly lunged forward taking Heather and Tiffany by surprise. They couldn't react quickly enough.
Heather: Cecilia...please... what are you doing???
Brittany: I told you, it's not Cecilia. You fucking know who I am so stop trying to be a fucking idiot about it.
Tiffany: Brittany!!!!
Tiffany's head was spinning. She couldn't comprehend what just happened, but could only stand there in shock as this girl they only met tonight was brandishing a knife at Heather's throat. She had to think fast. This girl was insane.
Tiffany: Brittany. Okay, it's you. Is that what you want to hear? Please, let her go. Put the knife down.
Brittany: Oh don't fucking patronize me, "Tiff". You were just another poor widdle nerdy girl until you started following Heather around like a stupid little lap dog. You were nothing before you joined Tri-Var! And it looks like you're still nothing now.
Tiffany: Ceci..."Brittany"... College was a long time ago. We were all different then..
Brittany: Oh god, blah fucking blah. Shut the fuck up and get in the car.
Tiffany: What..?
Brittany: DO IT, TIFFANY.
Possessed by Brittany, Cecilia pushed Heather towards the car. Tiffany broke from her shock and hurried to the driver's side, getting in immediately.
It was at that point where Jasmine drove up to the mansion. The lights from her truck lit the sedan just as Cecilia was getting in.
Jasmine: What the hell...?
She got out of her car, shouting out to Cecilia. They must have seen her.
Somehow, she just knew something was terribly wrong. She began to run after them, yelling Cecilia's name. They can't have not seen her.
As the other car peeled down the street, Jasmine stopped, shaking her head in confusion.
Jasmine: Dammit Cecilia!
» Go to Part 2...
no subject
Date: 2011-02-03 09:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-03 07:40 pm (UTC)OK, going to read it now.
no subject
Date: 2011-02-04 05:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-03-12 02:27 pm (UTC)I'm a new reader and I love your story! It's amazingly written, the pictures are awesome and all the characters are so unique.
PS I also wish I could have your downloads folder, because I love everything in it.
Thank you so much for sharing this story, I've really enjoyed reading it.
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Date: 2011-03-12 05:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-03-22 07:37 pm (UTC)