We're All Full Of Lies

Frank and I sat at one end of the table, Mikey and Gerard sat at the other. Gerard’s eyes were red and puffy from crying and Mikey looked like he was seconds away from letting the tears flow. Frank sighed and placed his head in his hands, I hoped he wasn’t about to cry as well. I can hardly deal with one emotional person, let alone three. We all sat in a very uncomfortable silence trying our hardest to avoid each other’s gaze.

“The silence is physically hurting me, can we just get this over with” I placed my elbows on the table and looked directly at Gerard, “I think you should start with the paintings and we’ll work our way from there”.
Gerard sniffled and wipe away a few stray tears, “O-okay, sorry about being all emotional, it’s been a long week, okay the paintings, I know what you’re thinking; they look like complete replicas of the crime scenes and they were painted before the murders”.
Frank and I nodded in response before Gerard continued, “Okay well, I know how incriminating it looks but I swear on my life, on my parent’s lives that I did not, repeat, did not kill or harm anyone, I think someone is trying to frame me”.
“Why should we believe you?” I growled.
“Because he’s my brother! He wouldn’t hurt a fly! He’s petrified of needles and blood, how would he even be able to do what was done to those poor people? They were practically mutilated!” Mikey waved his arms around in Gerard’s defense.

Gerard took hold of Mikey’s hand, “Please you have to believe me, I didn’t want to have to admit this, but I need your help and more importantly support, especially from you Frankie”.
Frank shot his head up at the sound of his name and gave Gerard a look of pure pity, “I don’t know what to say, but I-I trust you Gee”
“What’s with the nicknames, and why do you need Franks support and help? Gee, what is going on with you two?” Mikey snatched his hand from Gerard’s looking rather hurt.
“Mikey, please don’t be mad, Frank and I, we-we’re together” Gerard looked down at his hands.
Mikey’s jaw dropped instantly, “What!? You’re dating my best friend!? And he’s a student! Gee that’s illegal!”.
“Please Mikey can we talk about it later, I already got this lecture from Mira this afternoon, plus there are more important issues right now” Gerard said massaging his temples.

“I don’t understand though, why would someone go to this extent to frame you, what did you do?” I posed my question to everyone rather than just Gerard.
Looks of confusion and debate raced across all of our faces and Gerard looked like his thoughts were having a war inside his head.

“I’ve got no idea! That’s the whole problem here, I’ve done nothing and yet murders that replicate my art, which puts me in a very guilty looking position, keep occurring! I’m constantly paranoid and in a state on anxiousness that the police are going to come knocking on my door or turn up at school and throw me in jail for a crime I didn’t commit!” Gerard’s breaths became heavier as he fell further into hysterics.
Mikey wrapped his arms around his brother comforting him, “It’s okay Gee, we-we’ll find out who is doing this, you’ll be fine, you’re not going to prison”.
“What do you suggest we do?” Frank asked.

I sat back in my chair pondering the question and taking a moment to absorb and clarify all the information that had just been shared over the last few minutes. We could set a trap, but we don’t know who or what we’re trying to catch, so that’s a no go.

“Gerard, who else has seen your paintings?”, I looked over at him as he detached himself from Mikey.
“Well I thought no one, but you two obviously have, I only work on them in the afternoons, so you two, again, are the only ones that would know”.
I sighed in defeat, “Well there goes my idea, I’ve got nothing, I can’t even consider someone that would do this”.
“Wait, what about the windows!?” Frank shot up straight in his seat.
“Windows, what windows?” Gerard questioned.
“Mira and I both had someone break into our houses, they trashed the place then smashed the window and left a thick black residue on it, when we woke up in the morning the window was fine, it was as if nothing had even happened!” Frank explained, using his hands to gesticulate each word.
“You think it’s connected in some way?” Mikey asked.
“It has to be, you don’t think that maybe this person is out for more than revenge on Gerard do you? You don’t think they are after Frank and I as well?” I stammered a little, “This is ridiculous, I’ve been here a week and I’m already on some whacko’s hit list, I knew we should have never moved here”.

Frank opened his mouth to speak before a loud smash made us all jump in shock. We all looked at each other before shooting out of our seats and rushing to the source of the sound in the living room. The curtains were blowing furiously as the wind poured in from the now shattered window. In the center of the room surrounded by glistening pieces of shattered glass was a brick. It was coated in a deathly crimson colour, staining the area of carpet it landed on. Mikey was the first to move, shuffling forward and picking up the brick. The underside dripped the oozing black substance that had been on mine and Frank’s windows. A small piece of paper fluttered in the draft that blew in from the, now shattered, window.

“What’s that?” Frank asked nearly running forward in an effort to grab the note before it flew away. Gerard and I leant over his shoulder to see what the note contained. Frank unfurled it ever so slowly careful not to rip it as the blood had weakened the paper. Mikey quickly discarded the brick to join us as we stared intently at the note. Frank slowly unfurled the last folded piece. The four of us gasped in unison. My heart and stomach felt like they dropped and were set on fire all at once as I tried to comprehend what was in front of me.
Pictures. One of each of us. Our eyes and lips were scratched out. A message was scrawled underneath, in red ink or blood, I couldn’t be sure. Either way I was petrified as my eyes ran over the words. “You’re Next”

Notes

hey there, a little short I know, sorry about that, but I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless! thank you so much for reading, and please do comment and let me know what you think so far! :D and a massive thank you to everyone who had read, rated, commented, subscribed etc, it means a lot that you take time out of your day to read my deranged babble that I call writing ;) :D
sorry for any mistakes!