It's Murder

"I'm not there yet!"
 This page contains ***major spoilers*** for the series. If you're not caught up, stay back! Av's not gonna be too thrilled if you react to spoilers prematurely...

## It's Murder

### Director

Potato Flakin

***It's Murder*** is the fourth chapter of *Two-Sided*.

## Synopsis

When a person from Daniela's past suddenly appears right in front of her, she begins to see red - now she's ready to have blood on her hands and the person who gave her pain gone for good.

## Content Warning

*This chapter contains extensive blood and violence, and also contains graphic masochism (self-harm for pleasure) scenes. Viewer discretion is heavily advised.*

## Transcript

It was only just a normal day as I sat on that bench, taking a break from havoc, getting lost in my dark imagination. Then, a girl passed by me, a girl who appeared in my English class and seemed close to Evie and Mya.

Something was telling me this girl was familiar, bells were ringing in my mind. She had this pixie-cut with two front tips hanging forward. While her hair was sandy-brown, her tips were blue and pink. Her spikey bob was a silver that transitioned to black.

She looked so striking in the daylight... And pretty. I surpressed a blush.

But wait a second. This was no ordinary girl. I knew this girl all too well. She looked at me, and I looked into her ice-blue eyes. Our minds clicked instantly.

Now I knew.

*Winterlyn McCormick was right in front of me. My ex-girlfriend who left me in pieces.*

I was shook to my core, but no, Pineshadow's most feared couldn't look like this. I smiled at her with shining teeth and with malice in my amber eyes. She ran off, spooked.

I made a new vow then. I didn't give a dang about Evie and Mya anymore.

I just wanted to *hurt* Winter. Make her suffer for what she did to me. End the pain she *inflicted* on my heart. So, I developed a plan - why not pay her a visit?

Following that day, I walked out of school and slowly began to follow where Winter was walking. She was heading in the direction of the Piney Woods, and opposite to that was the neighborhood. Where could she be going?

Just as I saw her walk onto a path leading into the woods, I got a phone call, and I groaned in irritation. Rex was trying to call me.

"Daniela! Come home *immediately*. You need to do some chores before you go to your hangout or relax at the park, young lady!"

"Well, mother. First off, I don't care, second of all, ew, and third of all, if that's even a thing, it's sad that you're honestly calling so *bye*!" I hung up, imagining how mad she would be at me. Just what I wanted. But, for now, dealing with my ex-girlfriend was my main priority.

Continuing my mission, I followed that path again, and saw Winter enter what appeared to be a cabin. That was odd. But nonetheless, I knew where she lived now, and I was going to return shortly.

I did just that. At night, I set my plan in motion. While my mother was asleep on the couch, drooling like a baby, I snuck out and headed into the Piney Woods. Seeing the cabin, I gently called out to her.

Winter didn't appear, but I was not ready to give up. I saw a bush and decided to check it. Without warning, a figure leapt out at me, snarling viciously and pointing a knife at my throat. I was super glad to see Winter - *very* glad.

"Hello, *baby* - oh right, we broke up. I've lived my best life since you smashed my heart in two. I tried getting revenge on your two friendly dorks for humiliating me, and I got killed by my mother for it! This is all your fault, Winter. You truly are unloved!"

After berating and bickering with her back and forth, I adhered to her strict warning to leave. But not before I left her a chilling threat.

"This isn't over, Winter. Keep your eyes and ears peeled. Keep your weapon thing on you. Keep looking out for me wherever you go. Because I will get you someday for what you did to me, and you'll be toast..."

My mind was rapid-firing messages at me, messages of pride, joy, sadism, kicks, and now, murder. That pain in my heart was throbbing, poking, and hurting. It needed to go before it grew to the point where I was overwhelmed with it.

Some time after that night, I began to develop a plan to end Winter for good. Using my determination and willpower, I would somehow take her to my lowly cabana near the school and torment her until she was too weak to even fight me. She would also serve as bait for Evie and Mya, her friends, and lure them over as well. Those brainless boneheads wouldn't stand a chance, and I would get my way.

With Rex busy writing her documents on her computer, I crept out of the house again, heading to the cabin. I was quiet, very quiet, drawing no suspicion or rousing anything.

Despite my stealth, I accidentally woke her up, stepping too close to her head. She couldn't identify me in the darkness. I saw her pocket knife shining, indicating that she was willing to fight. And if I got hurt, so what? *I literally enjoyed the pain*.

That's exactly what she did. She cut me on the arm, and I felt my flesh being being stained with crimson blood. I wanted her blow, I asked for it, and I got it.

*That pain was so good to feel, and it made me smile.*

Then, I crawled up onto Winter's body and knocked her out cold.

With her done for, I dragged her all the way to my little cabana, tying her up against a pole and making sure she wouldn't speak with a partially stained dishrag tied around her mouth. She couldn't fight back. I laughed at her muttering to herself.

"Pfft, you think that's going to do you any good, Winterlyn?" I taunted her. "Now you'll wait for your friends to show up - and then the *real* fun begins."

Her pain was my pleasure, for *nothing* could measure.

After leaving the cabana for a brief second to check on something, I found Evie and Mya at the door, ready to rescue Winter. Perfection. I knocked the two of them out at the same time with a strong punch to their heads, enjoying how they fell to the ground limply. They were now caught in my trap. I then left to grab something that I hid between two trees nearby - a steak knife.

I was ready for murder. I was a thirteen year old with so much internal pain that I was ready to end it with blood on me, the sweet, victorious blood that would heal my soul.

However, I entered moments later to find that Winter and Mya had busted loose and were trying to free Evie. I was startled that my plan was backfiring. Pain seized me, and so did red-hot rage. I slammed the door shut and began my move. I felt like a big cat ready to pounce on its prey.

Knowing who I wanted, I immediately went for Winter. She was the one person who ripped into my soul. And I was going to mend the damage by ending her life. I told her that she had no one and that she was weak. Pain was dripping away from me. But that feeling wouldn't last.

Mya attacked me, blowing a raspberry at my face, begging me to fight with her. I was slightly startled by her move, thinking she was weak, but she looked determined here. Despite her look, I easily knocked the wind out of her. Evie couldn't even try fighting me, for I apprehended her instantly after.

I had my target, and I was ready to end all that had sheltered in my heart over the time spanning from that breakup. Winter was weak, and her knife was no match for mine. I was ready for the killing blow.

I thought I had it all. Then Mya intercepted it with her shoulder, and I stabbed her instead. Her shoulder was now dripping blood, but she faced me with confidence in her leaf-green eyes. I could tell she had a deep connection to Winter. To be honest, I didn't expect her to be so brave after the many times I bullied her. She was a good person to tussle with. But she was irrelevant compared to my main goal, and I was ready for murder again, preparing to stab Winter.

And then my mother arrived, having been called by Evie. Once again, I was humiliated, embarrassed, and defeated, and god, the feeling made the pain *worse*. I sweared my revenge as I was dragged to my mother's car and driven home. As I still had that knife in my posession, I cut myself on the same arm where Winter got me. The pain only temporarily subsided with the pleasure coming from the cut and the satisfactory blood.

My dark, dark desire to kill Winter grew on me even further, and this would be amplified soon after.

"You *devilish demon*!" Rex scolded me after arriving home, gripping my wrist so tightly that it began to turn pink. "How dare you think that **murdering a student** would make you happy? What happened is in the past. Just move on, Daniela, before I confine you here for life!"

"Pah! You actually doing something to stop me? You're weak, mom. I know you can't truly punish me."

"**YES I CAN**!" Snapped Rex, who now pulled me closer to her by my shoulders. "I thought my daughter was going to grow up to be wonderful. But clearly she's not. You're ruining my reputation, you've ruined yours, and you're making everyone in Pineshadow *hate* you! That feeling should be *horrible* to you!"

"What? I enjoy the attention. Makes me feel good."

"*Don't you dare challenge me*, Daniela! I am your *mother*. Listen to me. You're grounded *indefinitely* and you're doing every single one of the chores I usually do here. Understand?"

This was amusing to me. "Psh, ha! Think that will work? Nope. Anyways, I'm off to my room to delight myself with a fun activity."

"***DANIELA***!" Rex screamed, dragging me back by my buntail. "You are not leaving this *very* spot until you apologize to me."

I could feel the pain in my heart sharpening. If she wouldn't let me leave, I would lose it.

"Let me go, I need to have a break here!" I spat.

"No way, young lady-"

Suddenly, I remembered I still had the steak knife in my hands. A dangerous idea lit in my mind, and I decided to do it, seeing the only way I could get out.

Taking the knife, I slashed myself on the wrist, sighing in peace. Rex was *horrified* to see the red line on my arm and me taking in the pleasure that came with the pain. She screamed, placing a hand on her forehead.

"This is one of the only things that makes me happy. Cause you're only giving me the pain I want to **kill**," I told her.

"Uh... I.... *Fine*! You're not being punished. But don't make me go back on my words, young lady. Go enjoy yourself and leave me alone!"

"Perfect," I quietly said to myself as I walked away.

I was not being stopped from being Pineshadow's most feared.

Shortly after, during the pep ralley near the end of the winter season, I learned that there was a party.

*Students were attending based on grades, not by behavior. I had made the honor roll.*

Mr. Ackers' news filled me up with delight. A new plan was in action. I was going to be a berserk, crazed bully ready for the limelight to fall on her completely. I wanted all eyes on me as I prepared to kill the very thing who gave me endless pain.

I was one of the names called out to attend the party, and I lied to my mother that I wouldn't let her down. Preparing for that night, I dusted off my blue sweater and smiled at myself in the mirror.

*You're perfect, Daniela. Look at the person you've become, stronger, no longer weakened by the world. Tonight, Winter will suffer for what she did to you. Go out there and rock it out, tiger.*

That Friday night, Rex wished me well as I walked into the cafeteria, joining the partygoers. It was a blast. It was loud and colorful - but the only color I saw was red. I could sense the blood dripping off the walls, feel myself tingle with anticipation and ambition.

I saw Winter on the bottom level, alone and by herself. Evie and Mya were nowhere in sight.

She never saw it coming as I ambushed her, lifting her up and suffocating her in my grasp. From there - aggressive torture, both physically and emotionally. I called her weak, called her out for her decisions and the breakup. I felt so proud of myself. After that, I pinned her down. Then, I threw Winter against the wall, and the impact left something special on the ground.

I picked it up. And I snickered to myself in utter joy.

*Her pocket knife.*

The crowd gasped and whispered in shock, and I took in all that juicy attention, licking my lips in delight.

I was getting so much pleasure out of this, and that pleasure was a godly feeling. I charged toward Winter, going for her throat with her own knife. I saw a whole lot of terror in those ice-blue eyes, terror that eased the pain. It was too easy. The pain in my heart was lifting off and away.

Wishing her a final goodnight, I went for the throat, and missed. She had been startled by a noise, and I instead struck her shoulder. But that was enough for me. She writhed in pain as I laughed demon-like. I then pricked my finger with the knife blade, sucking the blood off my skin. I'd erased my own pain and now celebrated with the kind I loved.

No one else could believe what I had done. My mother was probably in the crowd, shocked by my actions. Not like I ever bothered to look in a mirror, for I enjoyed every second. I felt myself walk on a cloud of euphoria, having had the perfect night. My ambitions had been achieved.

Then what happened next was all a blur. Evie goaded me into attacking her, and so we fought. I was kicked and hit, and I will admit - I have a mutual respect for Evie. She's actually dang good, smart, and intelligent. Her fight skills are on point. But it didn't matter to me, and soon, I prepared to kill her.

"**Touch her with that blade, or get hurt, you ponytailed FREAK**!"

*With that, I realized that I did not win this at all.*

Winter bounced right back like nothing happened, confronted me, slashed at me with deep words, and threw me into the wall. I was dazed. She had just stood up to me for everything I did to her. With Evie and Mya by her side - she was unstoppable.

My state faded fast. I got back up, ready to hurt those lumps of trash for making me a fool in front of a crowd.

And when I moved forward, my hands were placed in handcuffs. I gulped nervously.

Police officers were behind me, and they led my wailing, upset self out of the school building. Once again, I failed, and pain had returned to me. I was white-hot with suffering and misery.

"Daniela Burton Vunquist, you are under arrest for attempted murder. You have the right to remain silent."

*I was going to juvenile prison.*

I was going to jail for trying to kill Winter. From afar, I could feel Rex's gaze boring into me, and oddly enough, I could feel Henry's gaze as well. God, this was humiliating. Pain was seizing me. I needed something to hurt myself with - sadism clearly backfired on me.

As I cried inside of my flaming hot mind, I bit my tongue hard. It acted like some medicine to me. Blood washed against my teeth as I approached the Pineshadow Correctional Center for Juveniles, having lost the fight I *desperately* needed to win.

## Cast

* **Eden Riegel** as Daniela
* **Nora Dunn** as Rex
* **Mae Whitman** as Winter

## Trivia

* This chapter's title is derived from *Ber Zer Ker*, a song by WATEVA.
* When Daniela talks to Rex on the phone, she references Maddy from *Euphoria* and Boscha from *The Owl House*.
* This chapter reveals that:
	+ Daniela figured out where Winter lived by following her.
	+ Rex was so frazzled by Daniela openly being masochistic that she was too scared to punish her.
	+ Daniela does have some respect for Evie.
* Daniela feeling Rex's gaze bore into her as she is arrested is a nod to the original concept of her arriving at the party and crying, seeing her daughter about to go to jail.
* As Daniela prepares to attack in her cabana, she says that nothing can measure compared to Winter's pain, which is a reference to the Rihanna song *S&M*.