Girl Psycho

By Paige Porter

A wheelchair bound student is stuck in her sorority house alone when she discovers that an intruder has just killed all of her house mates. Using her wits alone, she struggles to survive against the unseen foe stalking her in the home.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trellis Publishing
• Release date: Jul 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201439521

Book preview

GIRL PSYCHO & OTHER STORIES

PAIGE PORTER

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GIRL PSYCHO

THESE PARANORMAL TIMES

STRAITJACKET

DEAD GIRL’S BRIDGE

THE SANDMAN

SCENE OF THE CRIME

SLASHED

DEMONIC

GIRL PSYCHO

CHAPTER ONE

They finally installed that damn thing, eh? Fiona said as she looked at the electronic lift on the stairwell.

You know, not to be mean but when I joined this sorority of Alpha Delta Pi I didn't think I was going to a ward of gimps, Dina said, holding up a half-empty bottle of Tequila. 

You guys should be ashamed of yourselves talking like that, Kim said. We had to get it installed. The school or state is paying for it so I don't give a shit.

Fiona tried to sit on the lift, angling her butt onto the seat. How does this work?

I think she pushes that lever there, Dina said.

All three young women had been in the spacious sorority mansion for a little over two years. Kim's grandparents had passed the home down to their favorite granddaughter who formed her own sorority and accepted a charter through UC Berkeley.

Fiona could be on a poster for the the idealized vision of a California girl. She had a natural tan, blonde hair and long legs that enabled her to win a cross country scholarship. She walked everywhere wearing huge sunglasses that covered her super model face, willfully hiding her beauty.

Dina, petite with brown hair and freckles, presented a clean-cut appearance the hid the rebel within. She had a twin sister who was all sex at sixteen, a cocaine addict at eighteen and a corpse at twenty. Dina, now twenty-two, found her salvation through music and writing, singing with a local horror-core band.  

Kim looked the part of the student body president and sorority house queen. Blonde like Fiona, with blue eyes and a bright smile. A born leader she had run for student office ever since junior high. The reigning student body president and the richest girl of the group, her word became law even though she pretended she presided over a democracy.

Hands up bitches!

All three women looked startled as Terri entered the house. The only out of state resident in the sorority, Terri talked with an Oklahoma drawl. She also had a nine-millimeter pistol in her hand.

Holy shit, Fiona said. What the hell is that?

It's called a gun, Terri said. Jesus. 

Okay but-

What's it doing in my hand? Terri asked. Donald took me shooting, that's what. Now that he has a rap sheet he isn't allowed to carry it with him so he wants me to take care of it.

Jesus, Dina said, drinking from her bottle of alcohol as if it were a pacifier.

Don't get freaked out, Terri said. You all know we have some pervert threatening us on-line. I am not worried. Because I have seen what this gun can do. And if that perv ever decides that it is a good day for a funeral then he is welcoming to stop by.

I have a gun too, Kim said. Everyone should know. It is been something that I've been meaning to show you all, so thank you Terri for bringing the subject up.

Are you guys serious? Fiona asked.

Yeah, what is this some kind of NRA convention? Dina said as Michelle and Brenda came into the foyer to join them.

Brenda, stood as tall as Fiona and called herself the token Asian of the group. She grew up in the Bay Area but worked as a model in South Korea and Japan before deciding to come to Berkeley.

Michelle, the new resident, had been confined to a wheelchair for a year now. She had suffered the neck injury during a hit and run accident. She had jet black hair and slate blue eyes which peered behind purple-rimmed glasses. Michelle came to UC Berkeley to major in philosophy.

Glad that we're all here, Kim said. I would like for all of you to follow me, there is something we need to discuss.

The young women followed Kim down the long hallway which led into a study. Books lined the shelves on two walls, classics on the left, modern books like Fifty Shades of Grey on the right.

I need to spend more time in here, Michelle said, looking around the place. Like a friggin' library.

Books are cheap, Kim said. You can stock shelves and shelves of one cent books and people will think you're smarter than you really are.

Kim sat down behind the desk at the rear of the room. She took a deep breath then opened the top drawer.

You don't have to be so dramatic, Terri said.

Guns are no joke, Kim said, opening a box to reveal a gun with an ivory handle. I am being the responsible adult here.

That's a pretty gun, Fiona said running her finger across it.

It isn't loaded, Kim said, placing the gun on the table and lifting another tray in the box, revealing silver-tipped bullets. Bullets are underneath. It's a .38 caliber. Don't ask me if that's good or bad. All I know is that it does the trick.

Well, what are you doing with it? Dina said, picking up the gun off the desk. You planning on doing a car jacking?

Wouldn't that be fun? Terri said, tugging a pack of Marlboros from her jeans, shaking out a cigarette and lighting it.

I figured with the rash of college shootings we should get something to protect ourselves. No point in being a target for some idiot. Anything can happen, anything will happen.

Yeah, but that's assuming that the attack happens in our sorority, Fiona said. Most of the shootings happen in or outside the class.

I brought it here to keep us safe, Kim said.

Scary, Dina said, putting the gun down.

I wanted to invite you guys to come down to the gun range next weekend, Kim said, leaning back as she tried to sound cool and authoritative. Get some practice shooting in.

What are we vigilantes now? Fiona asked.

Yeah, Brenda said. I really don't feel comfortable with guns.

Right, Dina said. I don't feel safe with them here.

Have you read our mail? Kim asked. There is some idiot sending us letters vowing to rape us all. The campus security knows about it. The police know about it. But they can't do anything until he does something. Which I think is ridiculous. We don't even know who this guy is. So, for our own protection, we have a gun now. And its our secret. Because we all know how to keep a secret, right?

Whatever, Brenda said. It isn't like we're all going to become sharpshooters. You see something doing something, call the cops.

But what if there is no time? Terri asked.

Then, I don't know.

Listen, Kim said, depressing the message button on her phone.

You little whores, the voice whispered out.

Oh my God, Fiona said. Who's that?

The guy that has been sending us love letters, Terri said.

You little whores are just begging for it, the man's voice sounded raspy, like someone who had swallowed broken glass. Running around with your tight little asses in your tight little blue jeans. Don't think I'm not watching. Jerking off as I watch your hips sway under your little skirts, your titties jiggling underneath those loose t-shirts. I'm just waiting, bitches.  Waiting for the right time because you little whores are begging for it!

Kim pressed the stop button on the machine. There's more but I'd rather not play the rest.

Okay so when are we going to the shooting range? Dina asked.

CHAPTER TWO

Brenda walked alongside Michelle as the wheelchair bound girl decided to try the lift again.

Michelle backed up and hooked her chair into the lift, making sure that the lever lock remained in place.

Brenda looked to try and help, fiddling with the lever.

I got it, Michelle said.

I know, I know, Brenda said, sympathy clouding her brown eyes. Just trying to give you a hand.

Its okay, Michelle snapped as the lift began transporting her upstairs. People see that you're handicapped and now I have do-gooders crawling all over me like cockroaches.

The motorized lift transported Michelle up the stairs, inching up step by step. Jesus, this makes me feel like an old lady. You guys should get some paintings on the wall for me to look at so my ride won't be so boring. I'll be here for awhile.

What would you call that? Brenda asked,  pointing at an impressionist painting that stood in the center of the wall.

I'd call it fucking ugly, Michelle said.

No bad attitudes around here, remember?, Brenda walked alongside Michelle, keeping pace. House rules.

Fuck the house, Michelle said. And easy for you to say.

You're not going to be all grouchy when we hit the lake tomorrow, are you?

I'm not going.

Why not? Brenda asked. You can still swim.

I overheard them talking about me, Michelle said.

What did they say?

Bunch of crap about my, you know, condition.

They didn't mean it.

No, Michelle said. You're right. It was just the wind.

Who cares what they say, Brenda said. Dina's brain is missing from all the drugs she's done and Fiona's brain is out looking for Dina's, if you catch my drift.

Yeah well, even a stupid person is right now and then.

Come on, Brenda said. They didn't mean it. Besides, what is the point of being in a sorority when you don't hang out with your sisters? We're supposed to be creating memories here. 

Brenda the idealist, Michelle said as she dislodged herself from the lift. So this is what the upstairs looks like, eh?

Yep, Brenda said. My room is at the far end. Can't complain. We all have Kim to thank for this.

Fuck her.

Don't be like that, Michelle, Brenda hesitated, as if searching for the right words. It was nothing, I'm sure.

Again, easy for you to say.

I say you go swimming. Did you hear the weather report? It is going to be as hot as a crematorium tomorrow. And besides, I could use the company.

What did Kim mean when she said you all know how to keep a secret?

Brenda shrugged her shoulders. I don't know.

She's said that a couple of times now.

I don't know. Sorority girl talk. We keep secrets, I guess. Now are you coming tomorrow or what?

I have to study.

I don't believe you, Brenda said. I bet your going to spend the whole day moping around the house.

I like moping. You should try it sometime.

Michelle flicked a button and pressed down hard as he wheelchair increased in speed down the hallway.

Weeeeeee! Michelle cried out.

Holy shit, Brenda said. Is that first gear?

Michelle looked back and laughed. She didn't see Terri step out of the bathroom.

Look out!

Owwww, fuck! Terri cried out as one of the wheels trampled over her toes.

Michelle spun back around.  I'm sorry!

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Terri screamed, lifting up her injured foot while hopping on the other.

Are you okay? Brenda ran over, placing a sympathetic hand on Terri's shoulder.

Fuck! Fuck! Terri said as she hopped back to her own bedroom without a response and slammed the door.

Guess not, Brenda said, giving Michelle a funny face.

Michelle wheeled herself back to the lift.

I'm going to go to bed, she said. At least now I can come visit you.

That's the spirit, Brenda said. Now does that mean you're going swimming?

I really do have to study, Michelle said. And get some damn sleep.

CHAPTER THREE

Brenda went to the kitchen and ran a few dirty dishes under the water. Greasy plates that held dried remnants of pizza sauce disgusted her and she stopped.

Why should I always clean up after anyone?

Brenda turned to the refrigerator and poured herself some carrot juice. She tried to think of a way to smooth things over between Michelle and the rest of the girls. An uphill climb, for sure. She could write it off but that would be taking the easy way out. Brenda knew how it felt to be ostracized as the only Asian girl in the sorority. She had gone to an all-white school where the other kids avoided her like a disease. The sorority wasn't all that much different. Brenda didn't have too much in common with the other girls. She thought they were all spaced out, spoiled brats using alcohol and drugs to escape from adult life.

Brenda felt intrigued by Michelle, however, and wanted to help her. A part of her wanted to say that this desire was born out of her Christian duty. Her parents were missionaries in South Korea and raised her in the faith.

Brenda saw a lot of herself in Michelle.

She noticed that when Michelle looked at her she felt as if the girl was looking deep into her soul, as if she were flipping channels on a TV. She saw how Michelle would retreat into silence like she used to in her younger days. Whenever they did have a conversation it would center on the macabre and the cynical. Dina would be the same way but Brenda thought of her tank girl attitude as a front. Michelle though, Michelle seemed like someone who had been fighting inner demons for a long time. Brenda liked to think that she saw the real Michelle beyond the tough girl facade and vice-versa. Someone whose physical maladies symbolized what Brenda felt in her innermost thoughts. A cripple when it came to socializing and connecting with people.

Then she heard footsteps behind her.

When she turned around all she saw was the flash of a gunshot. 

Brenda dropped to the ground, her carrot juice splattering across the floor.  She stared up at the ceiling, eyes unblinking, blood bubbling from her mouth as she died.

Kim wanted nothing more than to put on her sweat pants, curl up in the lotus position and stare at her third eye for an hour. She was feeling the stress and strain of juggling academic life with threats from a stalker. She had always been a high-strung worry wart, a trait that she inherited from her mother. The challenging part was calming her mind, keeping her thoughts from jumping from one problem to another.