The Malrich High School Library was opened every Saturday from 4 P.M. to 7 P.M. The time was 7 P.M. and Clarissa was making her way back home. She had fallen asleep and lost track of time whilst working on the Math assignment only to be woken up by the old librarian, Mrs. Harn, telling her it was closing time. The time had been 6:47 P.M.
Thirteen minutes later she was walking on foot to her house. When she had left home, she had refused bus fare from her mother thinking she would be back home on time. But as she walked in the pitch-black of that Saturday night, her books pressed closely against her chest, she was beginning to think she should have taken the money. Her house was now only thirty minutes away. At least that’s what she thought. She had never walked from school to home on foot before. There was not a single human being in sight. In Malrich, people always retired into their homes at six in the evening.She continued with her quick paces, occasionally loo
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Psych 35. The Suspects
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Psych 36. No Hard Feelings
Clarissa jumped onto her feet again. ‘Fight?! Fight?! Justin practically beat him up right here while the entire school watched!’‘Miss Sherman, I don’t want to have to tell you to sit down again,’ Deputy James warned her. He was still using his calm but authoritative tone.Clarissa was now breathing heavily. She took one long and dangerous look at the deputy then another at the Inspector. Finally, she sat down, crossed her arms and pouted in the opposite direction.Inspector Charles turned back to Sineas. ‘Now, Sineas, I understand these past thirteen years have been difficult for you. Your grandparents’ car accident, your father’s suicide and your mother’s…illness. Yes, it must have been tough.’ He paused. He tapped his fingers on the table several times. He looked at Sineas’ facedown eyes. He said, ‘Did your fight with Justin trigger something in you like…a certain rage or..?&rsqu
Psych 37. Justin's Funeral
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Psych 38. Inspector Charles
Sabrina pulled it violently out of her grasp. ‘You should be in that casket, not him!’ Sabrina bawled into Clarissa’s face.Sineas walked backwards until he stood between Clarissa and Sabrina. He looked into Sabrina’s eyes. ‘Leave.’Sabrina made a wicked laugh whilst she pressed the tips of her fingers on her chest. She gasped, ‘This thing right here!’He dug his hands deeper into his pockets and made a step closer towards her. ‘I doubt I’ll be telling you again,’ he said.‘Oh, no, no, no, loser!’ she said waving a dismissive finger in his face, ‘don’t you ever get the impression that you can just…’Doreen began pulling her away from them yet Sabrina continued to launch insults at them.Sineas turned to Clarissa. She looked traumatized. ‘You okay?’ he asked her.She nodded profusely, still watching Sabrina drift slowly out of sight. &l
Psych 39. Don't Panic
Sabrina rolled her eyes before she rolled over onto her back on top of her bed. She turned up the volume of her headphones and see-sawed her head harder to the music. As the song reached its climax, she began banging her arms and the back of her head on the bed. She grinned, laughed and rolled again. She fell hard onto the floor with her belly. ‘Oh, crap!’ She bundled up her headphones then she sat up. Her cellphone had fallen under the bed. She got onto her knees and reached under the bed. She could feel it but her fingers pushed it further back by mistake. She grunted in anger and looked under the bed. It looked like it was close enough to reach. She extended her hand under the bed again, patting here and there trying to get a good enough grip on the phone as she ignored her mother calling her name out loud. It felt like she had pushed the phone a bit further back. She sat up and bit her lip placing her hands desperately on her hips. She was thinking. She p
Psych 40. Loving Thy Neighbor
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Psych 41. Malrich Park
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Psych 42. Bale to the Surface
She looked at him from the corner of her eye.He continued, ‘I think the best part I like about you is that you’re not like everyone else. From day one, you had my back. You always seemed to see the best in me when everyone else failed to.’She smiled. ‘Thanks.’They finally decided to sit on an empty bench. They watched two joggers run past them. The park was not as full of people as Sineas had expected. A few children were throwing a Frisbee two paths away. Another family was having a picnic a few metres away. Or was it the same family? He didn’t concern himself with the thought. Clarissa was right. The park did have a way of speaking to you. Showing you what you wanted to see. What you needed to see.She sighed. ‘I just wish time would stand still, Sin. I wish it would stand still forever. I don’t want this moment to ever pass away. I think the world owes us that much especially after what it’s put us throu