The Sisterhood of Night

It was in an atmosphere of furious

accusation and hysterical rumor that

this story took place.

We were between fourteen and sixteen years old.

We traveled in bands of five or six.

We met in dark and secret places.

We had taken a vow of silence.

One of us was silenced forever.

Most people remember the media frenzy that erupted

in our town.

But few know the true secret behind the Sisterhood of Night.

Listen carefully.

This is our story.

It all started with one girl's decision to go offline.

Mary Warren was a straight-C student

who was voted, "Most Likely to Become Famous."

Emily Parris was an only child with a blog that nobody read.

She often prayed for new followers though most of

the time she felt like a follower herself.

Next.

Why don't each of you tell me what happened.

She ruined my audition!

Stinking pitch.

"Stinking pitch, that the sea, mounting to the--

--the welkin's ass cheek--

...to the welkin's ass cheek--"

No! I mean "the welkin's cheek".

Mr. Barry, can I start over?

Mary!? How would you like it if someone messed up your audition?

Let's see what you can do.

"If by your art, my dearest father you have

put the wild waters in this roar, allay them.

She stole my phone.

Emily read Mary's texts, posted them

on her blog and made Mary's life one big humiliation.

Didn't you see what Emily posted about Mary's mom?

Mrs. Warren's having an affair with some guy at work.

Did you see Emily's blog?

It's like Fatal Attraction except nobody's died yet!

Everyone move back.

She called me a "blog war" in front of the whole school!

A blog what?

War!

Don't you mean "whore"?

The "w" is silent

It is...

Everyone was waiting for Mary to retaliate online.

But on that night, Mary's Facebook status read:

and she never logged in again.

Dear Diary. Or whatever you're supposed to say.

I can't remember the last time I wrote something that

wasn't on my computer.

I love the solitude of the night.

And I want to plunge into secrecy.

As in to black smoke.

To disappear

It was on this night that Mary began to form

the idea of a sisterhood.

Catherine Huang and Lavinia Hall were the first

two girls to be trusted with the secret.

Last week...

What?

I had this really bad thought.

Bad as in badass or bad/perverse?

Just bad.

like I don't wanna say it out loud.

We're offline.

You can tell us.

Or write it down.

That's what I do.

You really can't tell anyone.

I won't, I promise.

...You have to swear.

It's our secret

Cheers.

Are you kidding?

Are you kidding me?

Everybody, that's the fire alarm.

Single file.

Everybody head for the exits.

Just leave your belongings and

head to the exits.

No pushing.

Oh my God!

Everything that happens here stays between

the three of us.

You have my vow of silence.

You have my vow of silence.

You... have my vow of silence.

Are you ready?

I wouldn't say the Mary/Emily conflict was over

by the end of the year, but they both moved

on to other things.

Mary with her photography and Emily with her acting class

over the summer.

Principal Harvey didn't think I needed to keep

meeting with them.

But no one could have predicted what was going to happen...

Dear God, please help me make some friends at

school this year.

Please send Mary Warren away.

Maybe she can get swine flu - I mean not seriously.

Please help Mary see that she should forgive me

because I was wrong and I'm sorry,

and she should pick me to be in The Sisterhood.

One or the other.

Catherine!

You're going to be late.

I made you a BLT, your favorite.

I buy lunch on Fridays. Mommy knows that.

You're such a little poser.

Alright... well I'll pick you up after school.

Four o'clock?

We'll go see her together.

Okay.

Bye Gong-gong.

Hey kit cat.

Hi.

So my mom went back into the hospital.

And...

her hair is all gone now.

I'm going to see her today.

I just can't.

Are you okay, honey?

Lavinia?

Morning.

Hey.

They should really get that sign fixed for you.

Yeah, I know.

But I secretly like It though.

It keeps me humble.

How's Lavinia doing?

That good, huh...

What's going on? Anything new? Any big changes?

Well, I just started dating.

Oh.

Maybe she should start coming in to talk

to you again, you know?

During lunch like last year...

she said you were a good listener.

Yeah sure. I'm here.

Just think it over and let me know.

Okay.

...Travis, definitely.

They're coming. Here they come.

There were definitely rumors about The Sisterhood.

Nobody knew what it was, which just made the girls

who weren't in it want to be in it even more...

But you had to be chosen by Mary.

I was never really sure how Mary decided

who to pick.

We were all so different.

With me, my family had just moved to Kingston from Oregon.

I remember that whole week, I'd see Catherine Huang kind of

watching me.

And one day it started pouring.

Everyone ran for cover.

But I love the rain.

And I missed it.

Soon after that, Mary and Catherine gave me the secret

sign and you had to figure out where the meeting was based

on a clue.

We'll see you later.

Bye.

Mary said I introduced her to photography.

She said she took photographs to observe a world

that just wanted to observe her,

but what she taught me was how to see the mystery in life.

You know, one of these nights I'm gonna follow you

and find out what you do.

Where were you at lunch?

I had to make up that Math test...

Hey, what do you guys think of Jeff Johns?

I mean, he's cute.

He's always staring at you on the

way to school you know.

Is he boyfriend material?

Okay, who would you guys save from

a burning building, Jeff Johns or Ryan Gosling?

Sorry Jeff!

From the girl who kisses his poster every night...

Oh guys, this is how I practice.

Wait, this is Travis I'm guessing, right?

Of course this is Travis, who else would it be?

You missed it!

Okay, okay, okay. I promise I won't do that.

Keep twirling

Finally.

That's a good one.

Oh yeah you're crazy hot!

You're like so attractive.

Guys!

Keep going.

Hey guys, wait.

Let's do something for the variety show.

Really? Like a dance or something?

Yeah. I mean like I can write the music and you

can make the costumes and Mary, you can--

I'll bust a move.

No, but I mean seriously