9:00 O'Clock
The almost-silence stretched until the blood became noticeably soaked in the carpet.
"Oh, somebody do something!" Georgia said.
Michelle was frozen, and seeing that everyone else was in a similar state, Sophie walked over to Julia. Reluctantly, she bent over her body and reached her arms around Julia. The back of her head was facing toward the ceiling, so she quickly turned her body so she wouldn't have to stare at the wound.
Everyone stared, and Sophie sat the body on the chair. When Sophie stood back, she looked at Julia's corpse. It looked as if she was taking a nap, still in the chair that she chose when they first gathered. It was the center of the room, obviously chosen for its prominence.
If she hadn't sat there, the night might have only ended in her leaving.
"I… I'm sorry about the carpet, Sophie."
Sophie turned around to look at Michelle. Her mouth began to open as if to say something, although she didn't know how to respond.
"The carpet!? Michelle, what have you done?" Caroline was the only one in the group who never seemed to feel any dislike for Julia.
Michelle sat down, her hands on her temples.
"I didn't mean to, Caroline. All of you saw that." Their heads blew toward the other side of the room as Georgia started sobbing and picking up her things.
"No, this can't… I have to go see my father!"
"Your father's dead!" shouted Caroline. Georgia had been pushed to an edge; nothing made much sense any longer. She froze in an awkward position, her hair hanging in front of her face as she looked at Caroline. Through the dark brown strands her eyes glimmered with tears.
"Yes, yes, I have to go see my mother," she answered, turning to walk outside.
"You can't leave! If she leaves, then I'm leaving too!" shouted Deardra. This time Georgia only flinched, but kept on walking outside. No one tried to stop her despite what Deardra said.
When she reached the door, they watched as she tried to turn the knob, but she shook fiercely. Sophie sensed her concentration, but still Georgia couldn't open the door. Beatrice walked over to her and grasped her hand. Georgia looked at her.
"Ho-how silly of me-"
"Georgia, come and sit down," ordered Beatrice, somehow still comforting her.
"But-"
"Come." She led Georgia back to her chair, and once she sat, Beatrice cleared her throat to say something.
"I think it's about time someone called the police."
Everyone had been thinking the same thing, but the thought of it made them turn to Michelle, now with her face in her hands.
Caroline volunteered wordlessly and reached for the phone that sat next to the knocked over lamp. Slowly, she pressed the number pulsing through her thoughts.
9…
1…
1…
"Stop!"
Michelle's hands had been lowered to show her eyes, wide with fear. For a second, the women looked around, but it was obvious that it had come from Michelle. It fulfilled everyone's fear that perhaps the night wasn't over yet.
"Michelle, I have to!" explained Caroline. Michelle's face was now unhidden from her hands.
"Caroline, why is your leg so far out?" asked Sophie. The phone was back on the receiver when Caroline looked down. Her right leg jutted out far out in front of her, while her left leg sat comfortably next to the couch she sat on. She slowly pulled her legs together and leaned them to the side like the other women.
"I don't know, but why the hell-"
"It just seems odd to me!" Caroline's legs started to tremble as she rearranged them uncomfortably.
"You tripped her, didn't you Caroline?" Sophie inquired. Georgia gave a squeal and put her hand to her chest.
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, why the hell else would your leg be there?" Michelle shouted. She grasped at her chance, looking for something to distract her from the guilt.
"I-I don't know! I like-" She paused. "Liked Julia. This is insane; let me call the police!" Michelle stood up and smacked the phone out of Caroline's hand, throwing it behind the couch.
Michelle opened her mouth to shout something else, but they all heard a knock at the door. Their heads turned simultaneously, and it took Sophie a moment to realize that she had to go answer.
She quickly composed herself and went to the door. Behind her, the others held their breath in anticipation. What were they to do if someone saw Julia? Sophie did not fumble in turning the knob and peaking out the door. She was shocked to find that it was the man from before.
"H-how may I help you?"
"Don't you remember me?" Sophie swallowed air in her dry mouth and glanced back at her company. They all stared back at her, fear evident in their faces.
"Yes, I do."
"Well then how are you?" There was no answer until she realized he wasn't joking.
"I'm great! Now, why have you come here again? I should call the-"
"Police?" Sophie suddenly felt very out of breath, but attempted to keep her composure.
"Yes. Now, will you please leave?"
"Are you going to call the police?" Anger grew in her face, but the man only looked at her blankly. He was just as before, but this time he did not wear glasses. His eyes were startlingly green.
"No," she squeezed through her teeth. She could not lie to the man, she realized.
"Well then, I would very much like to come inside."
"I'm sorry, but I can't let you in."
"Why not?"
"Because- Goddammit, I don't have to explain to you! Goodbye!"
She slammed the door in his face, and turned around. Her eyes did not dare look for their reactions, but instead she sunk to the floor as a single tear rolled down her cheek.
"Was that the man you told us about?"
"Yes," Sophie answered.
"What did he want?" It was Deardra, trying to keep the conversation away from their thoughts.
"Hell, I don't know."
And then another knock. Sophie shrieked and jumped away from the door.
"Get away from here!" she yelled. Everyone heard his footsteps down the hall, and the ding from the elevator grew dimmer.
Sophie stumbled over to the couch and sat down.
"What are we going to do?"
"We're not going to call the police; I'll tell you that!" Michelle shouted in response.
"Well, why the hell not? She's dead, for Christ's sake! This isn't a game!" Caroline said.
"She's dead, so why the rush?" Michelle retorted.
"What do you want to do then?"
Once again, a knock. Sophie stood up with confidence this time as she ran to the door. The man seemed a little shaken this time.
"What the hell do you want?" He pushed her out of the way with surprising strength and came inside the apartment. The women suddenly seemed to care about their appearance in the midst of death. No one seemed to wonder why he was not surprised at the figure of a corpse sitting in the chair, her head rolled unnaturally to her side. He was calm, patient, as he set down his briefcase on the table in the center of the chairs.
"May I sit here?" he asked Beatrice. She moved over wordlessly.
His hands drifted to the briefcase to unlock the simple latches. Everyone peered in to find that it contained a piece of paper and a pen.
"What are you doing here?" Michelle finally asked. He didn't answer.
Sophie felt dizzy as she stood up from the fall. When she felt she could talk, she exerted her strength in yelling at the man.
"Get out of my home! I'm going to call the police; I don't give a crap anymore!" Michelle's eyes widened in terror. The man was giving her something else to hold onto, and Sophie wasn't going to let her fall into the pit. She ran over to Sophie, taking the cell phone easily from Sophie's weak grip.
"Let's see what he's here for, okay Sophie?"
"What's wrong with you? What do you think he's going to do, Michelle? You killed her, face it!"
"Shut up!" The phone broke in two when it hit the ground. "Everyone, give me their phones!"
"That won't be necessary, Miss." She smiled. Yes, he would get her out of this, right? Why else would he be there?
"Now, who here is ready to die?"
