Imagine it a little larger, but this is pretty much the picture.

"Is she going to be okay?" A blurry voice sobs.

It sounds like it's underwater, muffled and faint. Then, the voices get louder, until I can make out multiple people, but I only pay attention to one: Kiara's. Her sobs tear at my heart and make my senses wake up even more.

A soft groan escapes my lips, as my head starts to throb and pulse.

"She's up!" Someone exclaims.

My eyes slowly open, squinting against the bright rays of light that penetrate my former pitch-black vision.

"Ams?! Oh my goodness, you're okay! You're okay!" Kiara sobs, tackling me into a hug on the floor.

I sit up, hugging my twin back.

"What happened?" I ask once we separate.

"Miss Alice spoke to you, and then she fainted, then you collapsed too. She hasn't woken up yet. What did she tell you?" Kiara explains.

I look down next to me to find Alice on the floor with a pillow under her head and a few other maids and guards fussing over her. I want to help her, but I have to tell everyone about what she saw. 

Then it hits me; Kim's dead, murdered in the bathtub. I honestly find this kind of cliché, like from a horror novel. It unsettles me.

"She told me about where Kim is," I whisper, earning a few gasps.

"Where is she, Lady Amber?" The Queen asks me.

I stand up, looking at the crowd around me. Poor Princess Lillian looks like she's going to fall apart with all the shaking she's doing.

"Sh-she's-" I pause, feeling my breath quicken in dread.

"Where is she, Ams," Annabelle urges, grabbing my hand and squeezing it.

"Dead. Kim's dead. She was murdered in her bathtub, stabbed five times. There's a message on the mirror too... in her blood," I finish, a sob escaping in the end.

Gasps echo throughout the room, before some girls start bawling, or screaming. Lillian has silent tears flowing down her face, but she keeps her composure. The Queen looks horror-stricken, her eyes wide. The King looks upset, yet thoughtful. I look to the princes last, and they both seem sad as well, but like their father, their coming up with things in their head.

"She's d-dead?" Annabelle stutters, her usual peppy and spunky attitude gone.

I nod numbly, before she sobs into my side, clutching at my hand. I hold her to me, feeling someone else sob into my shoulder. My sister's curls tickle my neck, and her tears soak my sleeves, but I could care less. All I care about are my two friends in need. Summer looks broken, her brown eyes glassy and empty, like a mirror that holds no reflection within it.

"Ladies, you have the rest of the day off, but for your protection, we will all be outside for the time being. Guards, sweep the palace for any more threats. Mason, Tyler, come with me; we have things we must discuss," the King says, before kissing his wife and daughter, and leaving with his sons.

"I think it's time we showed you the pool! I will get a group of maids to collect us some bathing suits," the Queen says.

Some girls giggle and squeal, making me doubt how distraught they are about Kim's murder.

"Girls? Will you all go in a large group and collect the Ladies' bathing suits? Please take some guards as well; we don't want anymore deaths," the Queen asks the maids there softly.

They nod, before leaving with five guards. The Queen then turns to us, putting on a bright smile that sadly isn't real.

"I think we should head over to the pool, then."

We all walk after her, some giggly and happy about the pool, others - like me - sad and mourning Kim. 

We head outside, where a grand garden sits. On one side, a metal gate surrounded by trimmed bushes is opened by a guard. The Queen walks through it, and we follow her. A few girls gasp, like I do, when we see the pool. 

It sprawls out with a lazy river, along with three hot tubs. I find it quite... cliché and tacky almost; like something out of a young girl's unrealistic role-playing game. The girls who don't even care about Kim's murder quickly claim pool lounging chairs, laying down to bask in the bright sun while we wait for our bathing suits. The others quietly make their way to seats as well, sitting down and wilting like dying flowers. 

I sit next to Annabelle, Summer, and Kiara, who all have tears in their eyes and stains on their cheeks.

I too, have tear stains and red, puffy eyes. Kim's death was definitely unexpected, gruesome, and downright horrifying. And to think that someone else might end like that...

"Amber?" Someone quietly asks.

I turn to see Alice holding a black and lavender swim suit. I shake my head, feeling uncomfortable. I don't do swim suits, or swimming; it makes me feel exposed. 

"You don't want it?" She asks, a look of confusion crossing her face. "Is it the color? The style? I can get a new one, Miss!"

"No, no, no!" I exclaim, waving my hands in a stopping motion. "It's just that I don't wear swimsuits, or go swimming, really; they make me feel exposed and uncomfortable. Sorry."

"No problem, Miss Amber. I'll get you some shade then. Anything else from your room?"

"A few books, please; and Alice, it's Amber, remember?"

"Right. I'll be right back, Mi- Amber," she says, before walking off with a guard and a maid.

None of the girls are here anymore; they all went to change. The Queen is still here, though, but I don't want to interrupt her.

She looks deep in thought, a small smile on her lips. I frown. Wasn't she just ripped apart by Kim's death.

"Lady Amber, you do know staring is rude, right?" She suddenly says, opening her closed eyes.

"Sorry, Your Majesty!" I apologize, blushing.

"Oh, it's fine, dear. I was just thinking, you weren't even attached to poor Kim, and yet, you mourn her like a close friend. It's an admiring quality. You would make a fine queen if you continue that practice," she says, making a strange noise come out of my mouth.

"Q-queen?! No, no, no, no! I'm n-not queen material! My sister is! Or any other girl here! Not me," I exclaim, shaking my head so much, my curls slap my face.

"You're so funny, Lady Amber! It's quite endearing. I'm sure one of my sons will choose you."

I shake my head, looking down at my lap.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but you're wrong; I'm a nobody. If anything, I shouldn't even be here."

Okay, I know this could continue, but I'll put the rest of the pool scene in the next chapter! I honestly am just really eager to continue watching Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler for those who don't know the Japanese name), so I cut this short. Aha, I'm on the second season and started only two or three days ago. Actually, I've finished four seasons of different animes in the past WEEK or so. I just started watching anime, too. On to the fifth!

Anyway!

Comment, vote, and share plz!

-Mel