Chapter 4 Beautiful Murder

Kelly could barely believe her ears, could this be true? Aunt Maddie and Uncle Tom had something to do with her parent's death? She pushed open the door to their room and barged in.

"Kelly!" Aunt Maddie said jumping up from the bed she'd been sitting on, and even Uncle Tom who was always self-confident looked shaken.

"What... Why...?" Aunt Maddie's voice trailed off and she looked to her husband for help.

He cleared his throat, "what is wrong with you Kelly?"

Kelly's eyes were filled with tears as she stared back at her aunt, the woman she'd taken as a mother figure for so many years of her life, the woman she'd showed nothing but love and devotion to was the same person who had caused the huge void in her life...

The pain that engulfed her at that moment made was both emotional and physical, she felt her legs wobble but still something had snapped in Kelly, she was going to make them pay.

"I'm sorry; I thought I'd heard you call for me." The steadiness in her voice surprised her. She saw Aunt Maddie release a breath before sharing a look with her husband.

"No one called for you, get out and don't you ever barge into our room like that again!" Uncle Tom said regaining his composure. Kelly simply nodded and went outside, she stood by the door to listen more.

"I feel faint Tom that was close. Do you think she heard?" She heard Aunt Maddie ask.

"Of course not, Kelly's too stupid for anything, she's just a foolish child too eager to please. Don't let her worry you." Uncle Tom said chuckling.

"I was so scared." Aunt Maddie said with a sigh.

"I could tell but I knew there was nothing to be scared about when it comes to that one, she's just as stupid as her father was. Now let's stop talking about them, come closer."

Aunt Maddie giggled, "No, go away."

Kelly walked away, tears falling down her face. Her steps were unsteady and her whole body shook as she finally broke into a sob in her room.

She fell to the floor and curled up, hugging herself as she remembered her parents.

"Be careful." Her father yelled out from bellow.

Kelly looked down at him and laughed, the girlish sound rang around them. "I am always careful dad." She said before stretching her hands to reach the ball.

"I know princess but can you be a little faster? Mom will be home soon." Her dad said in an anxious voice. It was late evening and they had been playing soccer together when her dad had kicked the ball aggressively sending it flying

It got stuck on the tree and since he was still recovering from an ankle twist he'd gotten from the last time they'd played soccer, he'd sent Kelly to retrieve it.

"Don't worry dad, I've got it, well almo..." And her hand slipped from the branch she'd been holding on to, she screamed as she felt the one beneath her break.

"Kelly!" Her dad screamed watching her fall, he immediately re positioned himself and she fell into his outstretched arm sending both of them crashing on the floor.

"David!" Kelly heard her mother scream from the patio before rushing over to meet them.

"Are you hurt Princess?" Her dad asked still holding on her tight.

"I am not but you would be when she gets here." Kelly said nodding at her mother who was barreling towards them.

"Oh shit!" Her dad muttered under his breath.

"Mom, dad just cursed." Kelly yelled out.

"Snitch," He whispered before tickling her.

"What is wrong with you? Why can't you ever be responsible?" Her mother's tone expressed anger when she finally stood in front of them; it softened when she turned to Kelly. "Are you hurt darling?"

Kelly shook her head and smiled brightly, "dad caught me." She said before hugging him.

"And dad will always be there to catch you princess." He promised as he helped himself up, he smiled at his wife, "See... We are all fine and there's absolutely nothing to worry about." And he gave her a bright smile just like the one Kelly had on.

Emily shook her head at her husband, he was such a child sometimes and he'd passed on his naughtiness to their daughter who stood next to him, their resemblance uncanny, even their smile was similar; they seemed to glow when they smiled.

"Now come on into the house, you're both banned from soccer for a month." She said and marched off, a coy smile on her face as she heard their voices of protest.

Kelly's chest tightened at the memory and the other ones that came flooding. Her parents had died when she was too young and as the years rolled by, she'd slowly forgotten about so many things concerning them but with her new found knowledge.

It seemed like everything was coming back and she could even see them vividly, her father's bright smile because he was always smiling, her mother's creased brows because she and her dad were always making her worry and her, with a mischievous look on, jumping around, her hair in pigtails, she saw how much of a happy child she had been; her parents gem.

"Dad says we're a team, and we'll always be a team. Dad, mom, and Kelly forever." She said to her mother, Popsicle in mouth.

Her mother turned away from her driving to smile at her, "of course darling and we'd always have each other's backs because that's what a team does." She promised.

The pain kept intensifying until Kelly realized she couldn't breathe from how hard she was sobbing, no physical pain that Uncle Tom had caused her could ever compare with this.

They had taken away her parents from her and everything they'd owned, but they weren't satisfied, they'd brought her here to live with them and had shown her unapologetic suffering... She was going to make them pay, she swore silently to herself.

She got up and cleaned her face, wiping away her tears.

She stood in front of the mirror and this time when she stared at her reflection, she saw someone who had been hurt terribly but she also saw the woman she was going to become

The woman who'd make them all pay for it, and she was going to start from where it will hurt the most; their beloved daughter.

Kelly sat in the darkness plotting until she saw the first sign of day break peek through her window; she got up and went to get ready. It was Showtime.

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She went about her morning as usual; she swept and mopped the house then started on breakfast before anyone else came down. Kelly was brewing Aunt Maddie's coffee when Jennifer walked into the kitchen still in her nighties.

They had graduated college together but Jennifer had never bothered herself with getting a real job, Kelly how knew why now, when she'd been trying her best, working hard, they simply laid in bed, ordered her around and spent her parent's money... Kelly's hatred for them intensified, she wanted to kill them.

"Don't stare at me like that? Are you insane?" Jennifer asked, Kelly hadn't realized her feelings were obvious on her face; she needed to work on that.

She bowed her head, "I'm sorry."

"That's more like it; now serve me a cup of coffee." She said settling down on one of the kitchen's high stool.

Kelly stared at her for few seconds wondering if she'd die if she pushed her from it, she shook her head at the thought. "You don't take coffee."

"Well now I want a cup barista Kelly or do you have a problem with that?" She spat.

Kelly said nothing and went about preparing a cup for her; she placed a cup in front of Jennifer who'd been eerily staring at her all these while.

"Where are you going dressed like that?" She finally asked.

Kelly smiled to herself; she'd taken extra care with her looks today. She'd put her hair up in a high bun and worn a pearl earring she'd gotten at a rummage sale years back, she'd also applied lip-gloss.

Her dress was a baby pink one that stopped at her thighs; it was unlike the unappealing pants and baggy shirts she usually wore to work.

"It's Monday, I'm going to the office." She replied.

Jennifer's eyes hardened at that. "You slut!" She screamed.

Kelly despite herself was taken aback. "Excuse me?"

"Oh for the love of God shut up and stop pretending like you don't know what I'm talking about." Her voice was even louder, "I've always known you weren't as sweet and innocent as you were pretending to be. You're trying to get Alexander's attention right?"

Kelly could only stare in shock, the thought of doing that hadn't even crossed her mind, her plan was to put herself out there, to stop hiding in the shadows because if she needed to ruin lives; it wouldn't be by being shy and socially awkward.

She was still frozen in shock and had been unable to respond before Jennifer jumped on her and they both fell on the floor, Kelly receiving the brunt of the fall as she was below. Jennifer didn't waste time and began tearing Kelly's dress while yelling profanities.

Kelly's already simmering anger turned to a full blown one and she pushed her cousin off of her with all the strength she could muster sending the latter crashing into the kitchen island, Kelly watched as her head hit the sharp end of the island right before she hit the floor, blood pooled on the floor where her head laid.

Her body sagged and laid still, her eyes stared unblinking at the view above. Kelly could only watch in horror at Jennifer's body, her cousin was dead and she had killed her!