Chapter 4: The Death of Kimberly Silversmith

Standing in front of her closet mirror, Kimberly smiled at her reflection, excitement bubbling within her.

Biting her pink-colored lips, she said to herself, “You can do this Kimberly. It's just a party, Sheila will be there, and Jordan...” She blushed at the utterance of his name, “Jordan will be picking me up!” she grinned cheekily, twirling in her new dress she had specially bought for the party.

Kimberly's mind was still spinning from Jordan's confessions from when he drove her home earlier, leaving her feeling nervous, flattered, and utterly surprised.

Turns out, Sheila had been right after all; Jordan had been too shy to approach her, or so he claimed. He invited her to the bonfire party with him to clear the air about his ex, Madison, and spark their newly found connection.

With a final glance in the mirror, she couldn't help but compare herself to Madison, her insecurities threatening to surface. But she shook off the doubts, refusing to let them dim her excitement. 

She draped a sweater over her shoulders and made a quick escape through her window, her heart racing with the rush of sneaking out for the first time. She felt a pang of guilt, but it was soon replaced with the thrill of the night’s possibilities as she hurried to Jordan's car and they drove off to the party.

Upon their arrival at the party, which was already in full swing, Kimberly let out a sigh of relief when she couldn't spot Madison anywhere. Then, her eyes met with Sheila’s, dancing with her supposed boyfriend who looked noticeably older than their peers. 

“See who decided to show up for the partyyy!” Sheila exclaimed in a sing-songy, cheerful tone, sauntering up to Kimberly, her hips swaying to the music’s beat in the background. Jordan, however, leaves abruptly.

“Hi Sheila,” Kimberly chuckled nervously, tucking her hair behind her ears, her eyes darting briefly to where Jordan had disappeared to.

“Kim, make sure you have fun, okay? Hasta luego!” Sheila advised with a wink, then dashed off as soon as her boyfriend beckoned her, leaving Kimberly alone as she got enveloped in the music and crowd.

Jordan returned with two glasses of punch and handed one to Kimberly. He noticed her fidgeting uncomfortably, her eyes scanning the crowd like a lifeline. “This isn't your scene, is it?” he asked, yelling through the loud music.

“No, this is actually my first party ever” Kimberly replied with a weak smile, tugging at the wrists of her sweater.

“I'll try to make it worth your while,” Jordan said, smiling. “Can you dance?” he asked, sipping from his glass.

“No, I'm terrible at dancing,” Kimberly replied, looking down at her shoes, feeling like she wasn't being impressive.

Then she heard him say, “I could teach you if you want, I'm a very good dancer and a good teacher too,” with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. He continued, “Here, hold my glass,” he said, stepping back to create some space as he folded the sleeves of his jacket.

Kimberly was stunned to see Jordan trying to impress her. Just then, she busted out laughing hysterically when he saw him making some truly bizarre but hilarious dance moves. She laughed so heartily, her eyes shining with mirth.

He stopped and drew up close to her, “You look incredibly beautiful when you laugh,” he said, beaming with his prince charming smile.

Kimberly’s face blossomed with a soft radiant glow, a strange but pleasant feeling fluttering in her chest. Jordan was the first boy ever to tell her she was beautiful, her heart skipped a beat. She adored how he made her feel, like a treasured gem.

With the intimate silence that followed, Jordan slid his hands down her waist, his nose inches away from hers. Kimberly shuddered under his touch. She closed her eyes, her lips parting slightly as Jordan’s face drew close to her, but instead of a kiss, she heard him say, “Come with me, I have somewhere to show you,” his voice raspy.

Kimberly felt thrilled and curious as he took her by her right hand, and then they ventured into the woods.

               * * * * * * *

Blissfully happy, she ran through the woods with Jordan, giggling. “Where are you taking me!?” she queried in excitement, seeing how far they'd gone from the party.

“Somewhere quiet,” Jordan replied, locking her eyes into hers, “and private,” he added, a devilish smirk appearing on his lips.

Soon, they came upon a dilapidated, abandoned building, its roof partially collapsed. Its walls were decrepit, charred, and crumbled as if ravaged by fire years ago. Kimberly clung to Jordan in fear, her eyes enormous at the sight of the ominous structure.

“Are we going in there?” she asked, her voice laced with uncertainty.

“Yeah! Trust me, it's not as bad as it looks. Me and the boys come to hang here often. It's actually dope inside,” Jordan assured her with a smile.

This didn't sit well with Kimberly, but she followed her heart. And her heart only fantasized about the things that could happen in a quiet, private place with Jordan. Jordan!! 

“Do you trust me?” Jordan asked, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

Kimberly hesitated then replied, “Yeah,” grinning sheepishly. Jordan’s face lit up, he took her by her hand, pulling her towards the building.

As soon as Kimberly stepped one foot on the stairs, her heart leapt at the creaking sound of the weak floor.

She gripped Jordan by the arm, her eyes wide with worry. Jordan's encouraging gaze met hers, his smile reassuring, “It's safe, it's just old, stop panicking.” Kimberly forced a smile, her grip on his arm loosening, she climbed the rest of the stairs with him. 

On entering the house, Kimberly's eyes struggled to adjust to the darkness. She couldn't see anything ‘dope’ about the interior. It was eerie, dank and musty. Her heart began throbbing with a growing sense of panic and unease. 

She outstretched her hand to reach for Jordan, but he was no longer in her reach. Fear enveloped her. She clung to optimism, thinking he might have gone to fetch a lantern.

“Jordan?” she called out, anticipating to hear his pretty voice assuring her she was safe, but the silence she got in return was deafening.

She turned around to the sound of the creaking doors closing behind her. 

“I'm so sorry Kim, she made me do it,” she heard Jordan say from the other side of the door, he then slammed it shut and locked it from outside. 

Kimberly gasped in shock and utter disbelief of what just happened. She was perplexed. She ran to the door, with her heart in her hands.

“Jordan! Jordan, what are you doing!? Jordan! Don't lock me in here!” she yelled, banging on the door. “Jordan please, let me out!” But he was long gone, “Jordan!!!” Kimberly screamed in dismay.

Just then, a low growl emerged from the darkness behind her. She turned her head slowly, trembling in fear, “ Jordan? Jordan is that you!?” The only response she got was the sound of her own heartbeat pounding wickedly against her chest.

“Who's there?!” she yelled, her voice quivering with fear.

Then the growl responded, louder and closer. She gulped, her panic intensifying. “Jordan!?,”she cried, hoping against hope that it could still be Jordan, but before she could finish that thought, her eyes widened in horror at the sight of the figure that emerged from the darkness. 

A massive wolf loomed before her. Its fur, a dark charcoal gray. Its fiery red eyes, piercing the dark like laser beams, casting an eerie glow on the surrounding shadows. Its presence, both sinister and menacing.

“Kimberly Silversmith.” It growled her name, its gravelly voice sending shockwaves of fright down her spine. “I've been dying to kill you,” she heard it say. The fact that it could speak and knew her name left Kimberly both enthralled and terrified.

Paralyzed by terror, she fell to her knees, her heart pulsating wildy. “Who..what are you!? What do you want from me!?” she wailed. She felt her panic-attack set in, almost triggering her seizures.

The wolf drew closer to her, in a slow deliberate menacing pace, its piercing gaze fixed on Kimberly with an unnerving intensity. “I am Nicholas Lightwood, your vendor of death!” it snarled, baring its teeth in a sinister grin. 

Kimberly began crying hysterically, “Please, don't hurt me,” she begged, crawling towards the door.

In an instant, she shrieked as Nicholas pounced on her, claws outstretched. He grasped her violently with a brutal grip and burst through the door, dragging her with him.

“Your last name is your curse!” He roared, “and this is the day you die!” He snarled, slamming her to the ground. The impact finally triggered her seizures, she began convulsing violently.

Nicholas descended on her trembling body, boring his sharp venomous canines into her neck and then savaged her with his claws, unleashing a torrent of blood that splattered the trees and leaves.

Then, he abandoned her, bleeding profusely and convulsing violently. He bounded into the woods, his howls echoing off the trees.

As Kimberly felt her life slip away from her body, she fixed her gaze on the moon, tears streaming down her eyes. “What was the point of it all?” she thought, her body excruciatingly convulsing in a final, desperate struggle. Her heart rate slowed, its faint beat echoing in her chest like a dying whisper. And her eyes closed slowly, her whole being surrendering into the quiet darkness of the woods.

But then, in that prolonged stillness, a sudden surge of power coursed through her almost lifeless body, jolting her back from the brink of death. Kimberly's eyes flew open, her gasp echoing through the silence.