In here! Bette shouted, hearing their footsteps. Helena and Shane pushed through the door to find Bette and Tina standing in front of a large mahogany desk.

What is it? Whats going on? Helena inquired.

Bette and Tina reluctantly stepped aside, allowing them to view the sight behind the desk. There, slumped over in the chair, sat Peggy Peabody, three bullet holes in her chest, her shirt stained with blood.

Helena shakily made her way behind the desk and stood above her mothers body. Oh, Mum, she finally said, bursting into tears and kneeling down, laying her head in her dead mothers lap like a little girl looking for comfort. Shane knelt down beside her and put an arm around her.

Bette stepped up to the other side of the body, intending to say something to Shane, but stopped when her hand brushed the body. Wait a minute, she muttered to herself, touching the body.

Helena glared at her angrily, while Shane and Tina looked on curiously. This bodys been dead for several days, Bette announced suddenly.

How do you know? Tina questioned.

Its colder than it should be. And stiffer, Bette said thoughtfully, remembering her college biology lessons. Id say she died days ago. Definitely not tonight.

Well, how come it doesnt, um, you know, stink? Shane asked in a whisper, glancing at Helena.

Ill have you know she is not an it. She is my mother, Helena stated, looking angry.

She must have been preserved. Kept in a freezer or something, Bette speculated.

Helena stood up and padded across the room to the bookcase, turning her back to the rest of the group.

You know what this means, dont you? Bette queried.

No, what? Tina wondered.

Shane stared at Bette a moment, realization setting in quickly. *****. Peggy didnt plan or invite us to any party. Someone else did.

Helena spun around quickly, dark hair swirling around her sad and angry face. Well, then who did it?

*************************************************************

Alice? Where are you? Dana called out, her voice shaking slightly as she peered into an empty room. *****, where the ***** did she go? She held her gun out in front of her as she crept down the hallway, wondering how she and her girlfriend managed to get separated.

There was a loud boom of thunder, followed by a crash of lightning, and then lights flickered. Please, dont go out, Dana murmured, just as the lights went out. A moment later, they came back on. Oh, thank God, she said, breathing a sigh of relief. Her relief was short-lived, however, as the power once again went out seconds later. After several minutes, it was obvious it wasnt coming back on, so she continued down the dark hallway, fumbling through the blackness.

She tried to calm herself when she heard a creaking noise in the hallway behind her, telling herself that it was just the house settling, or better yet, just Alice. But, when she turned around, she managed to make out the outline of a shadowy figure at the end of the hallway.

Al? Dana called out hesitantly. There was no response. *****, Dana said aloud, a feeling of trepidation washing over her. Quickly, she cocked the gun, hoping that she could really use it if she needed to.

With another creak, the figure crept toward her. By now, Dana had definitely decided that this was not a friend. She was trapped, almost literally with her back against the wall, and the end of the hallway, with no doorways close enough for her to duck into before the figure reached her. Raising the gun with quaking hands, she waited, tightening her finger on the trigger.

Dont come any closer! she yelled. Ive got a gun!

The figured ignored the warning, creeping closer still. A flash of lightning briefly illuminated the figure. Dana couldnt see the face, but she didnt miss the large knife in the persons hand.

Oh, *****, Dana whispered fearfully, adding a little more pressure to the trigger. Stay back or Ill shoot. This is your last chance! she half-screamed at the figure.

Whoever it was didnt listen, so Dana did the only thing she could do: she closed her eyes and pulled the trigger. It wasnt like she thought it was, or like it was in the movies. Sure it was kind of loud, but not like shed expected.

Dana opened one eye and was surprised to see the figure still coming. Quickly, she fired off two more rounds in succession. The person still seemed uninjured. The thought began to dawn on Dana, and against her better judgment, she held the gun in one hand and aimed it at the other hand, firing. There was a bang, but no bullet pierced her hand.

Motherfucking blanks! Dana screamed, taking the gun and pitching it forward in a desperate move to fight off her attacker. The gun hit the attacked, bouncing off and landing on the floor. Im not going without a fight, Dana warned in a low voice, poising herself to attack.

Just as she sprang up to launch herself at the killer, she was surprised to hear a bang and see a small flash, and then a horrible pain in her leg. With a cry, Dana collapsed to the floor in a heap, clutching her mangled knee. Moaning and hands slick with blood, she slid across the floor as she tried to pull herself to the wall to get enough leverage to stand up.

The killer just stood and watched as Dana managed to stand herself up, teetering dangerously. Just as she got her footing, there was another shot, and she went down again with a bullet in the other knee.

She lay there, crying, useless legs behind her and bleeding, as she pulled herself along the hallway, sliding in her own blood, desperate to find a doorway or anything. Sensing a presence, Dana looked up. The killer was standing directly above her. She could feel the stare of the murderers glare boring into her.

I hate you, she announced venomously, determined to at least get in one last verbal shot before she died.

The killer pulled back one leg and viciously kicked her in the head. Dana coughed, tasting blood. Alice, she whispered to herself, picturing the blondes face one more time, hoping to go out of this world with that image. Feeling her left eye begin to swell and close, she looked up at the killer with one eye. ***** you. I hope you burn in *****, Dana told her murderer bitterly, meaning every word of it.

The killer raised the gun and pulled the trigger. Danas head fell to the ground with a clunk, blood oozing out of the small hole in her head.

*************************************************************

Was that a gun shot? Shane asked, looking up sharply.

Theres another one! Bette added.

This way! Helena shouted, running toward the stairs as the lights flickered back on and stayed on.

The sight that greeted the four of them in the hallway was a shocking one. Dana lay there, dead, her legs nearly blown off at the knees, and a bullet hole in her head. Alice lay slumped over Danas still body, her own body racked with sobs.

Oh, no, Tina moaned, rushing over to comfort Alice.

Shes gone, Alice blubbered, wiping at her eyes, streaking blood along her face on the way.

Okay, thats it, everybody downstairs, Shane ordered.

Obediently, Helena headed toward the stairs.

Im not leaving her! Alice screamed, fighting against Tina.

Its too late, Al, Tina said softly, leading her away.

Bette peered around Danas body, then looked up at Shane. Her guns gone.

Shane looked heavenward as a loud crash of thunder boomed overhead. Damn.

*************************************************************

The five remaining guests sat around the dining room table staring at one another.

Shane cleared her throat. Okay, its pretty obvious whats going on here.

Yeah, and what is that? Alice asked sarcastically, her chin trembling, a streak of blood still on it.

I have an idea of who the killer is, Shane told them, leaning back.

Who? four voices demanded at once.

The killer, Shane began quietly, popping her knuckles, is in this room.

Heads turned and eyes roamed. Finally, Helena turned back to Shane. Where? she demanded.

At this table. The killer is one of us, Shane said.

Thats impossible, Tina stated.

Shes right, Bette suddenly realized, shaking her head in disbelief. Think about it. No one else is in the house. Its just the five of us left. Its one of us!

At this statement, there was silence, the pounding rain penetrating the eerie stillness. They all eyed one another with mistrust. Bettes lip twitched. Helena blinked rapidly. Shane didnt even seem to move.

Suddenly, with one motion, all five had their guns pulled on one another across the table, jerking arms about quickly while trying to decide which particular suspect to aim at.

One of you killed my Dana, and whoever it was is gonna be ***** sorry, Alice promised, her eyes slits as she glared at everyone.

One of you killed my sister, and the same goes for whoever it was, Bette said, moving the gun back and forth between Shane and Helena.

Well, one of you killed my mother, and youll pay dearly, Helena swore, shaking her gun at Tina and Bette.

Shane suddenly set her gun down with a clatter. All right, look, this is getting us nowhere. Weve all lost at least one person we were close to tonight. Her face fell a moment, and her eyes clouded over as she thought of poor Carmen. But thats not the point. The point is that one of is the killer, and we need to figure out who.

No, the point is, there are bullets in this gun, and one of you are going to get them, Helena said stubbornly.

What, do you think the killer is just going to come out and confess, and admit she did it? Alice demanded, sounding nearly hysterical.

Shanes got the right idea. Drop your guns, Bette commanded.

Im not leaving myself unprotected, Helena argued, swinging her gun around toward Bette.

If we get rid of all our weapons and just sit here, none of us can get killed, Bette pointed out through clenched teeth, nearly loosing her patience.

Helena bit her lip and looked around. She saw Tina nod at her. Fine, she agreed with a sigh. But if thats the case, I want the weapons placed not only where we can all see them, but where we cant all reach them easily.

Fine with me, Shane agreed, gathering the guns in the middle of the table.

Wait a minute, Alice said, grabbing her arm. What if youre the killer? Do you really expect us to give you a pile of guns to kill us with?

Shane sighed impatiently. If I was the killer, do you really think Id suggest disarming myself, as well?

Youd have to, or youd look suspicious, Alice insisted stubbornly.

Fine, Shane said, glancing around the table. Tina? Care to help me?

What if theyre in this together? Helena suddenly hissed, eyes wide as she looked at Alice. Alices jaw dropped, as if she hadnt even considered the idea before.

Oh, for ***** suck, Shane shouted, scooping several of the guns and placing them on a high shelf across the room, motioning for Tina to do the same with the remaining two guns. She rolled her eyes as she saw Alice and Helena flinch and clutch each other in fear.

Shane came and sat back down, waiting until Tina had gotten seated again. There, you two, youre still alive.

Hmmpph, Helena moaned. For now, we are.

Now what? Tina asked Shane.

We wait, Shane replied, leaning back and crossing her arms.

Alice fidgeted in her seat. Waiting was not the easiest thing for her. Not only was she not a very patient person, but she also seemed to have a problem with a weak bladder during times of stresssuch as now. She wiggled around some more and crossed her legs, to no avail. She had to go, and she had to go now. Ive gotta pee, she announced.

Hold it, Shane commanded.

Alice was bouncing in her seat now. Cant.

Actually, I wouldnt mind a trip to the powder room myself, Helena spoke up quietly. Alice looked at her gratefully.

See, Yoda, Im not the only one with a weak bladder. Now let me go, Alice said, glaring at Shane.

Shane sighed. Okay, but Im going with you. I cant be sure what you two might get into while youre gone. Bette, Tina, will you two be okay alone?

Both Bette and Tina nodded, so Shane got up and followed the two to the bathroom. While Alice was in the bathroom, Helena and Shane stood outside the door, leaning against the wall while waiting.

Shane, I think theres something important that I need to tell you, Helena began, biting her lip nervously and looking around.

Like what? Shane asked warily.

I think it might be a clue. It may implicate one of us, Helena said.

Like who? What is it? Shane was skeptical.

Well, I found out recently, quite by accident, that Tinas parents are dead, Helena began, fiddling with her necklace.

By accident? Shane questioned.

Okay, okay, so I had her investigated, Helena admitted.

You are too much, Helena, Shane said, rolling her eyes and rubbing the bridge of her nose.

Well, before I get involved with someone, I like to know a little about them. You know, things they might not tell me themselves. Anyway, it doesnt matter now, because she left me for Bette. As I said, Tinas parents are dead, Helena said.

And how does this implicate one of us? asked Shane.

Will you let me finish? Helena stated angrily. They were murdered, she said, leaning close to Shane as she said it, sending a chill running down the lanky womans neck at the way the word murdered sounded with Helenas English accent. It reminded her of an old murder mystery or something.

So? Shane wrinkled her brow. Helena just looked at her, eyebrows raised. Shane realized what the woman was implying. Youre trying to tell me she murdered her parents? Come on!

It could happen, Helena intoned seriously.

And how old was she at the time? Shane demanded to know.

Helenas cheeks seemed to color a bit. Well, um, almost two.

Shane burst out laughing. You expect me to believe that Tina murdered her parents when she was two? With what: her Barbie doll? Shane chuckled some more. Thats ludicrous, Peabody, and you know it.

Helena pursed her lips. Well, I suppose it is. Its interesting though, you know. She paused a moment, then smiled slightly. You called me Peabody.

Shane shrugged. So?

From what I know about you, you only call people by their last name if you like them.

Or have to tolerate them. Or am about to die with them, Shane replied with a wry smile. Then she frowned. Say, Alice has been in there for a long time, hasnt she?

Helena looked concerned, and rapped lightly at the door. Alice?

When there was no response, Shane banged harder. Alice? ***** answer the door! she called, her voice rising as her panic did.

Helena rattled the doorknob. Its locked.

Shane began kicking and beating at the door in earnest, determined to get inside. Helena joined her, and soon, they had the door knocked loose enough from its hinges where they could force it open.