[Liv and Chelsea are sat outside the door, staring forward. The noises from inside are getting progressively louder, some laughing and some audio from people playing games can be heard.]


    Chelsea: It isn’t your fault, you know?


    Liv: [upset] Well…


    [Liv looks over to Chelsea and shrugs.]


    Liv: [upset] Does it matter?


    Chelsea: Well… yeah, it does, quite a bit I would think.


    Liv: [upset] Well not if that’s what he thinks. Hell, I know that it isn’t just him…


    [Chelsea looks over at Liv.]


    Chelsea: [confused] What do you mean?


    [Liv sighs.]


    Liv: Leigh blames me.


    Chelsea: [defensive] Oh, he does not blame you! He’s still recovering, just… just trying to get an answer, y’know?


    [Liv looks to Chelsea.]


    Liv: [confused] No?


    [Chelsea sighs, looking around and thinking.]


    Chelsea: [thinking] Um… okay, gimme some time…


    Liv: It’s fine. Y’know, I’ll… I’ll live, I guess.


    Chelsea: Yes you are.


    [Liv stares at Chelsea who gets a small smile on her face.]


    Liv: Proud of yourself?


    Chelsea: [chuckling] Yep.


    [Chelsea continues to chuckle, Liv laying against the wall. After a few seconds, she starts to chuckle.]


    Liv: [chuckling] Okay, I kinda like that.


    [Chelsea smiles.]


    Chelsea: Good. You’re so much better when you aren’t being miserable.


    [Liv nods a bit.]


    Liv: [worried] Um… be honest with me.


    Chelsea: Always.


    Liv: [worried] If I hadn’t thrown this party, do you think that Tracey would be alive?


    [Chelsea stops herself from talking.]


    Chelsea: [worried] Um… I’ll be honest, you seem like you’re already set on an answer.


    Liv: [upset] Just a little bit.


    [Chelsea budges a little bit closer to Liv.]


    Chelsea: Look, it’s not your fault! It’s as much your fault as it is mine, which it is not!


    Liv: [upset] I know! I know, just… it’s the stupid party. I started the party, meaning that Tracey came. If she hadn’t come then she wouldn’t be in that situation and she wouldn’t be dead.


    [Chelsea nods, thinking.]


    Chelsea: Yes, but… BUT she might have still gone that way even if you hadn’t thrown that party! Or maybe something else would’ve- know what, I don’t wanna think about it. But you get what I’m saying.


    [Liv nods back, looking up.]


    Chelsea: [worried, annoyed] Okay, what else is bothering you?


    Liv: [confused] What?


    Chelsea: [worried, annoyed] Well I’m not gonna act like I’m some sorta master of psychology, but you are still looking… mopey.


    Liv: [confused] Mopey?


    Chelsea: [worried] Well I don’t wanna say miserable again!


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    Liv: [defensive] I’m fine, really. Just… christ, do you know what time it is?


    [Chelsea shrugs.]


    Chelsea: Can’t check, phones still tied up with the present day so…


    [Liv nods, sighing. It cuts to Sissel running down the street. He turns through a corner and runs to a number 14 house. He stumbles up and quickly knocks on the door, hitting it seven times. Sissel stops and shakes himself a bit. He wipes blood off his nose again.]


    Sissel: [quietly] Calm… calm… S-stop being like this…


    [Sissel takes one deep breath as the door opens, immediately drawing his attention to the woman in the doorway. She’s in her 50’s, with a red flowery shirt on and trousers. Her hair is short light brown and she wears glasses. Upon opening the door she sees Sissel and looks at him in confusion.]


    Woman: [confused] Hello?


    Sissel: [panicking] Hi. Sorry, um… Tracey, I’m a friend of Tracey’s, is she in?


    Woman: [confused] Well no, she’s at a party. Are you okay?


    Sissel: [panicking] Fine! Yeah, um… hey, what time is it?


    Woman: [confused] Just let me check…


    [The woman pulls herself into the building, Sissel taking a few deep breaths. It cuts to Liv and Chelsea again as a man walks by. He’s wearing a black hoodie and beanie, covering his hair. Chelsea waves over at him.]


    Chelsea: [loud] Excuse me, mate?


    [The man turns to them.]


    Chelsea: [loud] Got the time?


    [The man nods, checking a watch on his wrist.]


    Man: [loud] 10:28.


    [Liv immediately pulls herself to her feet, panicking. Chelsea does the same, looking at Liv.]


    Chelsea: [panicking] Um...


    Liv: [panicking] We need to get Sissel.


    [Liv runs off in the direction that Sissel went, Chelsea tailing behind her. She turns back to the man, incredibly confused.]


    Chelsea: [shouting] Thank you!


    [Cuts back to the woman at the door, now coming back and finding Sissel, trying  to remain calm.]


    Woman: [confused] Nearly half past.


    [Sissel’s face drops, breathing speeding up slightly.]


    Sissel: [panicked, stuttering] Half-half nine, right?


    Woman: [confused] No, about ten.


    [Sissel nods slowly, breathing getting more intense. He starts backing away slightly.]


    Woman: [worried] Are you okay? Are you on something?


    Sissel: [panicking] Well I’m barely gonna sleep for two months, so that’s getting to me a touch. Thank you. Stay safe.


    [Sissel starts running down the street again. He looks towards the direction he


    came, where Liv and Chelsea are, and stops.]


    Sissel: [panicking] There’s no time… there’s no time.


    [Sissel turns and looks towards a road surrounded by trees. He takes another deep breath and starts sprinting in that direction.]