The next day around nine-thirty a.m, as usual, they were woken up by the blaring alarm and an orderly coming into their confined rooms like a second alarm.

Last night Melody couldn't find a place to hide the keys, so she kept them in her underthings until it was time to go.

They'd always jingle as she moved, so to smother the inevitable sound, she coughed loudly as she rose from her bare and cold bed.

The orderly stared at her with confusion clear in his dark brown eyes as she trudged out of the room while coughing loudly. Once she was out of the room she scanned the halls. They were desolate and unlit as always.

She readjusted the keys so they wouldn't jingle, then made her way over to the dining hall and met up with Annabelle. She was standing in line waiting for the lunch lady to finish with her tray of food.

She smiled at the emotionless Annabelle, then quickly stopped when she noticed her expressionless face. "What's wrong," Melody asked.

Annabelle sighed and whispered, "My Nona is coming for me."

Melody chuckled. "Yeah right."

"Honest. She's coming all the way from Italy." Annabelle grabbed her tray and walked over to their round table by the halls of rooms.

Melody swallowed hard, grabbed her tray, then quickly walked over to their table and sat across from her. Placing her tray down as she sat on the cold, metal chair, "You can't leave me. I mean we've planned this together."

"Why are you being so mean?" Annabelle narrowed her eyes at her, "I want to go. I've been here for a very long time and this is my chance to finally get out."

Melody rubbed her temples with her eyes shut tightly. When she opened them again she saw Betty standing behind Annabelle with a butcher knife in hand. Her sadistic smile stuck on her now pale skin.

She whispered, "Kill." She stepped closer to Melody with the knife. "Kill." She placed it down on her tray, then pointed at Annabelle and repeated, "Kill!"

Melody gulped. She's never killed someone she loved before, but what Betty says goes.

Annabelle was halfway through her pasta when Melody cleared her throat. "Um," she began reluctantly, before looking up at Betty. She nodded down at her and Melody shifted her attention back to Annabelle. "Could you finish this later? I need to speak to you outside."

Annabelle furrowed her eyebrows and swallowed what was left in her mouth, "Why? I'm fine right here."

Her lack of obedience made Melody angry. Through gritted teeth, she says, "I said come outside with me."

Annabelle looked helplessly around the room, sighed, then stood up. Melody relaxed and walked over to the door. The three of them power-walked through the dark hall with Betty leading, Melody hot on her heels, and Annabelle fearfully trailing behind.

When Betty stops in front of the locked double door, Melody searches under her gown and grabs the keys from inside of her panties. Annabelle grimaced and looked away as she quickly unlocked the door.

The creaking sound of the door swinging open filled the empty halls as light poured in. They stared in awe at the falling snowflakes and blinding white snow that's covering the ground. It was beautiful. Annabelle was the first to sprint through the door and belly flop into the cold blanket of snow.

She giggled and shivered as she made a snow angel. Melody looked at Betty who was pointing toward a nearby shovel. She instinctively knew what she wanted her to do with it. Tears burned and pricked at Melody's eyes as she trudged toward it, lying against the brick wall. She picks it up with ease in both hands, holding it like a bat.

The cold air made her skin turn pale and the falling tears ache her skin. Her body racked from crying, but she kept on walking until she was standing over Annabelle. Her eyes were shut and an ear to ear smile was practically frozen on her face. She was happy.

Melody lifted the shovel back until it was far enough for just the right amount of momentum.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled. Annabelle opened her eyes and they grew to the size of saucers at the sight above her. She let out a bloodcurdling scream that ended immediately after Melody thrashed her skull with the rounded part of the shovel.

After three blows, Melody dropped the shovel and fell to her knees. She held Annabelle in her arms and stared at her bloody face, before shifting her attention to the blood-soaked snow.

This didn't feel right. Killing that rapist was the best feeling ever, but this? This wasn't right.

Melody looked over at the door and began to cry when she noticed that yet again, Betty was gone. Her pale skin began to turn green and before she knew it, she puked everything out of her, staining their gowns.

She let go of Annabelle and cringed when she heard the sound of her shattered skull shifting from the drop. Her lifeless body lying there like a broken porcelain doll.

Her eyes were still open and her head was tilted westward, aiming towards a shed. Melody followed her empty gaze and smiled, "Perfect. I'll keep you in there until your grandma comes, then," she stopped talking when she heard the booming alarm.

She swept Annabelle up in her arms, then stood up and ran to the door of the shed. She threw her over her shoulder so she could open the door, then ran inside quickly. She looked around for a spot to hide her body, settling on a corner by a few haystacks and a torn, navy blue blanket.

She used the blanket to cover her body to the best of her ability, then blocked her from being seen by moving the stacks of hay around her body. She carefully, but swiftly stacked them up until she was unable to be seen, then stood back to collect herself.

When she was finally calm, she ran out of the shed and shut the door. She ran back up the steps and into the building.

The smell of smoke, mildew, and vomit greeted her upon entry. An orderly approached her and grabbed her arm, then pulled her to her room. He shut and locked the door, then turned around and disappeared into the darkness.

The ongoing and deafening sound of the alarm made it hard for her to think, so she paced the floor with her dainty hands trapped underneath her dark hair. She pulled at it anxiously and winced at the painful sensation. Why was the alarm going off again? When will Annabelle's grandmother arrive?

-

*A.N: I'm gonna cry right now. I've never been so emotionally connected to a character before, but Annabelle was(is) too good for this world. Vote and comment if y'all think that's she's still alive or not. Also let me know in the comment section what you think will happen next. As always stay tuned for updates.*