By renisha.conner.gwn

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She died thinking about her friends…

Madeline paced nervously in her dimly lit apartment. She glanced over her shoulder constantly, unsettled in the feeling that she was being watched. She became increasingly paranoid, checking every corner of her apartment but still finding nothing.

“I know someone’s watching me. I’m not crazy!” she whispered to herself.

Madeline’s friend, Abigail, sat across from her, hands buried in her head, trying to find any way to sooth her agitated friend.

“Madeline, I promise you no one is here. I think maybe you’re just imagining things. Have you slept more than two hours?” She questioned, concerned, yet equally tired.

“No, I’m not! I can feel their eyes on me, watching my every move!” Madeline replied, shaking her head anxiously and erratically.

Abigail let out a sympathetic sigh. “Maddie, I think it’s a good idea to call your old therapist. What was his name again? Dr. Renner right? Yeah, I’ll call in the morning and see if he has any availability.”

Madeline rolled her eyes, storming out of the room.

“Jesus, she even forgot to turn off the tea kettle,” Abigail muttered to herself as she reached for the kettle, forgetting how hot it was and leaving a slightburn on her hand. “Crap!”

XXX

As the night progressed, Madeline’s paranoia intensified. She became increasingly frantic, checking every window, every door, and even the ceiling tiles for any signs of intrusion. As time went on, she started to question her own sanity, unsure if she could trust her own perceptions.

As this unfolded, Abigail began to feel helpless. There was only so much she could do to help Madeline, but she seemed to be failing on all accounts. In one final attempt to help Madeline, Abigail called their friend, JJ, another childhood friend. The three were inseparable growing up, but as time went on, Abigail and Madeline drifted away from their dear friend.

“Yeah JJ, I’m really worried about her. I know she’s struggled with her mental health in the past, but it has never been this bad,” Abigail said Abigail was right. It had been bad in the past, but never this bad. “I mean, is there any part of you that thinks she might be telling the truth? What do her parents think about all of this?” JJ asked.

“No, that’s the thing. I know it’s not real.” Abigail insisted. “I’ve looked at everything with her and there’s nothing. Her mom called earlier, but I don’t think Maddie picked up. I’m gonna call her therapist-” Abigail was interrupted by Madeline, who re-entered the room.

“Okay, I have to go. Text me when you get to the airport, bye,” Abigail hung up the phone quickly. “Maddie? Where are you going?”

“I’m done sitting around here acting like there isn’t someone outside watching me. I’m gonna go find them,” Madeline replied, putting her shoes on in a frenzy. Abigail could tell simply by her friend’s demeanor that she wasn’t okay. Sweat beads dripped down her face and her voice shook unsteadily as she spoke. “No, what you need is to stay inside, relax and get some sleep. I have to get home, but I will be here first thing in the morning with some coffee and breakfast, okay?” Abigail pleaded with her friend. Madeline agreed. Abigail hugged her tightly before finally leaving the apartment. Abigail had a thing about goodbyes– some feeling that she could never shake. So, she always said goodbye like it was the last time she’d be seeing them.

Once she heard the door slam shut, Madeline waited a minute before putting her shoes on and moving to the door, checking the peephole first.  Breathing heavily, she walked around the building, eyes darting around. Unexpectedly, a body grabbed her, pulling her into an alleyway. She screamed, feeling utterly terrified and helpless when she suddenly smelled a familiar perfume.

XXX

Abigail arrived at Madeline’s apartment, coffee and muffins in hand the next morning, only to find it empty and in disarray. Take out containers scattered across the floor, papers were thrown everywhere, and on the chalkboard behind the couch, one message was left.

IF YOU KEEP WATCHING ME, I WILL FIND YOU

 Frantically, she searched the place for her friend, but only made the apartment messier. She sat down on the couch, ready to call Madeline, but another notification drew her focus away. She clicked on the link, stunned to see what actually had happened.

“Madeline Hughes, a lifelong Brooklyn resident, was found this morning under the Brooklyn Bridge. The body was identified by Jasmine Jacobs, the victim’s friend. Authorities have labeled this case a homicide but are unsure of the exact cause of death.  If anyone has any information on the murder, please contact our emergency tip line listed below.”

“Oh my gosh,” Abigail muttered in disbelief. Her world came crashing down. In rage, she threw objects across the room. Abigail finally realized what she’d been denying all this time–Madeline was right. And now she was dead.

XXX

Abigail struggled to keep her composure at the funeral. Standing next to JJ, who seemed to be almost too calm, she couldn’t stop thinking about what Madeline had been telling her all along. The group around them slowly dissolved, but the two women stayed put, staring down at their friend’s grave. It was silent for a minute until JJ spoke up.

“Oh, I forgot to ask, how’s your burn?”

Absent-mindedly, Abigail responded, still a wreck from the events that had unfolded. “Oh, it’s getting a lot better, thanks.” Suddenly, realization struck. JJ wasn’t there when Abigail burned her hand. The only way she could know that was if she was watching her. Abigail spoke softly, trying not to sound panicked. “I, uh, have to go, I’ll see you later.” JJ nodded, thinking nothing of this, but as soon as she was out of earshot, Abigail pulled out her phone and dialed the number for the tipline. 

XXX

In a very business-like fashion, an interrogator sat down across from JJ, speaking sternly as he questioned the potential murderer. “So tell me, did you kill Madeline Hughes?” JJ chuckled dryly. “You know what’s funny? People always say it’s supposed to be easy being content with what we have, to not let jealousy eat away at us. But for me, it’s been a poison, slowly breaking me down, reducing me to a villain driven by envy. I used to be just like her, my so-called friend. We grew up together, shared the same dreams, the same aspirations. But somehow, she always seemed to have the upper hand. She was the one who got the praise and the recognition. She was the one who effortlessly succeeded, while I struggled in her shadow! At first, I tried to set aside my jealousy to be happy for her. But with each passing day, it grew stronger, eating away at me, consuming me from within. I realized that if I couldn’t have what she had, I would take it from her. I would make her feel the same pain I felt, the same sense of worthlessness. I would show her that I was just as capable, just as deserving, if not more so. I’ve worked so hard for everything I have when she’s always just received it on a silver platter. I would rise above her, and she would finally see that I was the one who deserved the spotlight, I was finally going to make a name for myself. So I embraced my jealousy. I became ruthless, relentless, and manipulative. I used every detail I knew about her life to tear her down, to shatter her perfect world. I reveled in her misery, her defeat, her downfall. I realize it was a twisted satisfaction, a sick sense of vindication, but the deed is done.”

Process

A friend of mine inspired me and helped me make this into a short film, but I wanted to adapt the script with several changes to make it a mystery more than a thriller.