by Laura DeLuca
“There,” she said as she admired her handiwork. “All better. You can open your eyes now, Mr. Todd. Though I must say, I find it quite odd that someone so proficient at playing deranged killers on stage gets so nervous around a few drops of his own blood.”
“You’re making fun of me.” He pouted.
“Never.” Rebecca tasseled his hair. “You’re the one who taught me to appreciate irony.”
“Do you want to know what’s really ironic?” He reached out to stroke her purposely matted hair. “It’s ironic that even covered in dirt and plagued with herpes, you can still manage to look so ravishingly beautiful.”
Rebecca smacked his hand away in mock offense. “I do not have herpes!”
He raised an eyebrow. “What do you think those things all around your lips are supposed to be?”
She gave him a dirty look because she knew he was right. “Oh, yeah?” She peeled off one of the fake lesions and stuck it on his nose. “There! Now you have herpes too.”
“Hmmm. I guess I should have used better protection. But since I’m already infected….”
He pulled her close and kissed her, ignoring the smeared lipstick it left behind on his lips. They both laughed and they hauled themselves to their feet. It felt good to laugh. They hadn’t gotten to do it much lately. She was still giggling as she bent down to try to salvage some of their flowers.
“All kidding aside, you really are wonderful,” Justyn whispered, turning serious as he looked down at his bandaged finger. “Most girls would dump a guy who practically throws up on her every time he gets a paper cut.”
“That was no paper cut,” Rebecca observed. “How did you do that, anyway? Did you cut yourself on your locker?”
Justyn shrugged and then shuddered. “I’m not really sure. I stuck my hand inside my bag to get my clothes, and something sharp stuck me. I didn’t even realize I was cut at first.”
Rebecca felt her brow crease. “That’s odd.”
She grabbed his bag down from the shelf and not wanting to risk any more injuries, dumped all the contents out onto the floor. There were a few books, black pants, and a shirt, but it was the unexpected clatter of something heavy striking the floor that got their attention. With a frown, Justyn picked up a silver blade that looked exactly like the one Sweeney Todd used on his victims. Only instead of the dull prop used on stage, this antique razor was sharpened to a fine point.
Even as Rebecca stared in growing horror at the weapon that had just maimed her boyfriend, a piece of paper fluttered out of the bag she was still holding upside down. She didn’t need to pick it up. The note was written in such large, bold print, she could see the scrawled handwriting even from where she was standing. Of course, as she read the terrifying words, she wasn’t sure how long she would be able to remain standing.
Get Rebecca out of this school or she’ll share Lucy’s fate.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Not again, not again, not again.
Rebecca dropped Justyn’s bag and backed up against the lockers. Her knees were about to buckle. She could barely breathe. It was like the real-life phantom was stalking her all over again. Like a movie, the events of the previous year played through her mind—the notes, the calls, the warnings that all went unheeded. Could Debbie have somehow snuck out of the hospital? Was she back, trying to bring to life the bloody story of Sweeney Todd?
“Becca, it’s all right.” Justyn wrapped his arms around her before she could completely collapse. “No one is going to hurt you. I promise.”
“B-but … but … the n-note,” Rebecca stuttered.
“It’s just some idiot trying to be funny,” Justyn assured her. “Don’t worry about it.”
That’s what everyone told her the last time she kept finding crazy notes everywhere. But those threats had been real, and if she hadn’t disregarded them … but she couldn’t think about that. She would drive herself crazy with all those what ifs. The important thing was that she didn’t presume this new threat wasn’t just as serious. She was just about to tell Justyn as much when Livy turned the corner.
The Goth had already changed into her plain clothes, if you could call her black tulle tutu, thick wool stockings, and tight lacy bodice plain. Even the overabundance of makeup on her face didn’t seem out of place against the elaborate attire. She looked from Justyn and Rebecca, huddled together against the lockers, to the mess of clothes, books, and flower petals that were scattered all over the ground, and shook her head in disapproval.
“You are such a total klutz, Becca. Really.” She snorted. “Does disaster lie in your wake wherever you go?”
Rebecca had been wondering the exact same thing, though it certainly wasn’t something she cared to discuss with Livy, even if her throat hadn’t been too constricted to speak.
“Actually, this is my stuff,” Justyn told Livy and narrowed his eyes. “I dropped it when I got cut on a razor blade someone stuck in my bag.”
“What? Are you all right?”
Of course, they all knew Livy was a good actress, but if Justyn was expecting some kind of guilty reaction, he certainly didn’t get it. Livy looked only surprised and concerned. She even reached for his hand to inspect the damage. Justyn stepped back before she could touch him and instead, held up the threatening note and waved it in her face.
“I don’t suppose you know anything about this either?”
“I’m not sure I liked your tone, Mr. Todd,” Livy huffed.
Justyn crossed his arms. “I’m not sure I like someone threatening my girlfriend.”
“Humph.” She grabbed the paper from his hands. “With this one for a girlfriend, you had best get used to….” The words died on her lips as she scanned the message. “This … this is terrible!”
The annoyed look faded and was replaced with one of undisguised fury as she read it over for the second time. Rebecca was actually a little surprised to see it bothered her so much. She would have expected Livy to be the head cheerleader of the “Get Rid of Becca” club. Maybe she was just worried that death threats would get her big show cancelled.
“Tell me about it,” Justyn agreed, snatching the note back from her hands. “Can you think of anyone who would leave this in my locker?”
“Well, it wasn’t me, if that’s what you’re implying.” Livy crossed her arms and actually looked a little hurt. “Do you really think I would do anything to hurt you, Justyn? And when it comes to Becca … well, I prefer the more direct approach. I don’t need veiled threats. Everyone knows how we feel about each other.”
That was true enough. Livy had made it clear she didn’t want Rebecca around from day one. She would probably be the first to dance on her grave, but Rebecca didn’t think she would be the one to put her in it. Like Mrs. Lovatt, Livy needed someone else to do the dirty work while she reaped the benefits.
“Well, if you can think of anyone, I’d appreciate you letting me know,” Justyn told her.
“Whatever.” Livy rolled her deeply outlined eyes. “You two should just forget about that stupid note and get backstage. Crater Face is looking for you, Justyn. There’s some guy here from the New York Gazette who wants to interview us for the paper.” She gave Rebecca an evil smile. “You know, the two stars of Demon Barber.”
“I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Better make it quick,” Livy warned. “This guy isn’t going to wait around forever, and I have no problem hogging the glory if you’re too busy babysitting your pathetic, crybaby of a girlfriend to show up.”
Justyn narrowed his eyes. “You know what, Livy, the only person who sounds pathetic when you make comments like that is you.”
“Humph, whatever.” Livy turned on her boot-covered heal and headed back toward the party. Once she was gone, Rebecca realized she had spent the whole conversation clinging silently to Justyn’s tailcoat as though it were a life preserver, which only made sense, since she felt like she was floundering. Still, she hated that she must have seemed as weak and path
etic as Livy was always trying to make her out to be.
“We can just go home, Becca.” Justyn brushed a loose strand of hair out of her eyes with his bandaged finger. “You’re obviously upset.”
“No … n-no,” Rebecca finally managed to stutter. “We shouldn’t leave. This is important for you. You were amazing tonight. You deserve to be recognized for it.”
“You’re more important to me than this stupid play.”
“This stupid play is the first step toward fulfilling your dreams. I’m not about to hold you back, Justyn. I would never be able to forgive myself.”
“You would never hold me back,” he assured her. “You’re my inspiration.”
She smiled and pulled the fake blister off his nose. “I’m all right. I was just a little … surprised, but I’m over it now. We should go to the party. Let’s just stick close together, okay?”
Justyn nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”
They gathered the clothes, books, and flowers from the floor and packed them back up. Rebecca was going to throw the note and razor blade away, but Justyn thought it might be a good idea to give them to the detective handling her case, just in case there was a connection. So he stuck them in his bag as well. They were just about to head to the dressing room when Frankie walked up to them, scratching his head.
“Hey, guys. Have you seen a cell phone lying around here anywhere? I swear I left it in my locker, but it wasn’t there and I’ve been all over the set and backstage. I can’t find it anywhere.”
Justyn shook his head. “Sorry.”
“Okay, well, I’m just gonna check my locker again,” he mumbled. “But you guys should hurry up and get backstage. P.C. is looking for you, Justyn.”
Justyn rolled his eyes. “So I’ve been told, but he’ll have to wait a little longer.”
Rebecca was more concerned about him missing his shot with the reporter than he was, so she grabbed his hand and pulled him along to the dressing rooms. She deposited her armload of roses on one of the makeup tables, figuring she could come back for them after the party. A few minutes later, she emerged, dressed in jeans and sweater, and cleaned of fake blood and facial sores. When she opened the door, she found Justyn was already waiting in the hallway, pacing nervously back and forth. He was obviously more concerned about the note than he had been trying to let on. It was reassuring to both of them to join hands and head to the party together.
Despite the fact the director had been so anxious to track Justyn down, he was strangely absent when they finally arrived backstage where the party was being held. There were only a few cast members sprinkled around the perimeter of the room. The props had all been pushed into the corners to make room for a mini buffet in honor of opening night. There were tables lined up in every corner with punch bowls, hors d'oeuvres, fruit and vegetable assortments, and trays of lunch meats and rolls. However, Justyn and Rebecca didn’t have time to check out the selection before Livy came over and grabbed Justyn by the arm.
“You are soooo on Crater Face’s hit list,” Livy hissed. “He just went off to look for you himself. He’s the one who’s going to be the playing the Demon Barber tonight if you don’t get your act together.”
“I can handle P.C.,” Justyn said.
Rebecca sighed and followed them as Livy led Justyn to the reporter, who offered his sincere congratulations on an excellent performance. He acknowledged Rebecca with a polite smile, but it was obvious his focus was on Justyn and Livy. He snapped a few pictures of them, and Rebecca wanted to smack him when he instructed them to put their arms around each other. Livy was sure to give her a smug smile and ran her hands up and down Justyn’s back provocatively. He did his best to ignore her not-so-veiled advances and concentrate on the reporter.
Rebecca stayed in the background, feeling out of place, but afraid to stray too far from Justyn. There wasn’t even anyone else around for her to talk to. The other girls in the play were all sophomores and didn’t have time for her, especially after all the drama she was involved with. Frankie was missing, probably still out searching for his cell phone. Quinn didn’t seem to be around either, which wasn’t odd. Frankie was really the only person who talked to him anymore. He was still blackballed by most of the cast, despite Scott’s confession. He seemed to be avoiding most social gatherings. Even Chad had vanished from the festivities, though she thought she caught a glimpse of him when they first arrived. In fact, it seemed like less than half the cast had bothered to show up for the party at all. Rebecca couldn’t blame them. She wished she wasn’t there either, but she tried to feign interest for Justyn’s sake. At least one of them had to make it to the big time when they graduated or they might wind up homeless.
Rebecca was trying to fight back a yawn when Professor Carter finally stormed back into the room. He looked completely frazzled. His face was flushed with agitation, and when he ran his hands through his thinning hair, it stood on end and was almost as wild and unkept as Sweeney Todd’s. The reporter had just shook hands with Justyn and headed to the exit when the director accosted Justyn.
“Mr. Patko,” he demanded, “do you want to make it to Broadway someday or did you come to this school merely to drive me to an early retirement?”
“Sorry, sir, I—” Justyn started, but Livy cut him off.
“It wasn’t his fault, Professor Carter,” Livy told him, her eyes narrowed. “Someone put a razor blade in his locker, and Justyn got hurt.”
“Is that so?”
Justyn nodded and gave him the abridged version of what had happened. “This is a serious matter,” Professor Carter said. “After all that’s happened here recently, we can’t take this as just an idle threat. It should be reported to the dean and the campus police. If you like, you can give me the items in question, and I’ll make an official report first thing in the morning.”
“We would appreciate you looking into it,” Justyn agreed.
He rummaged through his bag for the offensive note and handed it to the professor, along with the knife. Rebecca saw there were still a few drops of blood lingering on the blade. Justyn noticed it too, and had to clear his throat and look away. Rebecca finally snuck up beside him and gave his uninjured hand a supportive squeeze.
“I trust you weren’t injured too severely?” Professor Carter asked.
“No, sir, it was only a small cut.”
“Very good.” He nodded as he put the note and razor blade into his pocket. “I can’t afford to lose any more cast members.”
With that settled, the director moved on to speak with the new Johanna. Based on the tears in her eyes, she wasn’t very happy about whatever he had to say in regards to her debut performance. Despite his often callous disregard for people’s feelings, Rebecca felt better knowing the teacher was going to take care of the issue with the threat. It made it easier for her to enjoy herself a little as they mingled with the crowd. Eventually they even managed to make their way to the snack table. They hadn’t had time for dinner before the show started, but Justyn seemed disappointed with the spread.
“Not many vegetarian options, huh?” Rebecca noticed.
He only shrugged. “I can live on vegetables and cheese. It won’t be the first time.”
After they filled their plates, they found a little corner where some chairs were set up. Justyn devoured his meager feast, but Rebecca only nibbled on her sandwich. She didn’t have much appetite after the exhausting evening. Before long, Frankie came over to join them, Quinn at his side. At first Quinn seemed a little leery. After all, they hadn’t really spoken much since the incident with Megan. He shuffled his feet from side-to-side, but Justyn gave him a friendly smile and gestured for the pair to join them.
“Sit,” he said.
Quinn smiled. “Thanks, man.”
There were no apologies or explanations for the weeks of barely suppressed anger. Those few simple words appeared to be enough for the two guys to make amends. After a few minutes, the last of the tension between them just drifted away. De
spite the odd ways of the male gender, Rebecca was glad to see they were friends again. She had never really thought badly of Quinn, and she hated seeing him penalized for circumstances beyond his control. With him back in the group, it was almost like old times. Except, of course, Megan wasn’t there. As the three guys started up a discussion about sports, Rebecca missed her friend even more. Bored with the conversation, she started looking around the room again.
The crowd had thinned out even more, but she noticed right away that Chad was back. He was sitting alone in a corner with his arms crossed, looking miserable and a little angry. Even from the distance, Rebecca could see he hadn’t done a very good job of cleaning himself up after the show. There was still a splattering of fake blood all over his face, neck, and hands. In another corner, Livy was having a heated conversation with Professor Carter. He looked annoyed, and she appeared thoroughly pissed off. Rebecca hoped he was pointing out all the flaws in her performance. That would certainly explain the infuriated look on Livy’s face. She didn’t take criticism well, even from the director.
“So, Frankie, did you ever find your phone?” Rebecca asked once there was a lull in the sports talk.
Frankie held up his finger while he tried to chew the mouthful of the bologna sandwich he had just shoved in his mouth. When he had finally swallowed, he began to reply, “Actually, I di—”
“Aghhhhhhh!”
The scream cut across the room, making everyone jump, including Rebecca. Frankie stopped speaking in midsentence, like everyone else, stunned to silence. All the conversation died down, and everyone looked toward the curtain. The heavy velvet lining started moving, just as another cry cut through the silence. A second later, a girl stumbled through and fell to her knees, just inches from Professor Carter’s feet. She was sobbing and clutching her torn dress. Even as disheveled as she was, Rebecca recognized her as one of the chorus girls. She was still in her costume, but the blood on her dress and staining her blond hair was no prop. She was just a background singer who never met the blade of Sweeney Todd. Yet, she had certainly met the blade of someone just as ruthless.