Chapter 39: The Wrong Suspect
1789 Words
Kael's POV
I couldn't sleep. The picture was still open on my phone. Adrienne standing outside his house. The message underneath it kept replaying in my head.
Choose your friend.
Whoever was behind this wasn't just trying to scare me anymore, they were testing me. They wanted me to know they could reach the people around me.
And that meant Milky wasn't the only person in danger. I sat at the edge of my bed, staring at the floor.
Justin.
Linda.
Claire.
Someone at school knew too much. But who? I picked up my phone and opened the picture of the bracelet again. The tiny silver symbol stared back at me. I had seen it, I knew I had. But memory wasn't enough. I needed proof. I grabbed my jacket.
I was halfway down the stairs when my phone buzzed.
Adrienne: Don't do anything stupid.
I stopped.
Me: Too late. His reply came immediately.
Adrienne: Kael. I smiled despite myself.
Me: Relax.
Adrienne: That's exactly what people say before doing something stupid. I ignored him.
……..
The next morning, I got to school earlier than usual. I wasn't there to study, I wasn't there for practice. I wanted answers. I walked through the hallway slowly, watching everyone.
People laughed, talked, and ran to class. Nobody looked suspicious.
Then I saw Jenny.
She was standing near the lockers with two girls, laughing about something. She looked completely normal, too normal. I stopped. Jenny noticed me.
Her face immediately brightened.
“Kael!” She walked toward me. “You're early.”
“So are you.” She smiled. “I always come early.”
I nodded..My eyes dropped to her wrist.
Nothing. No bracelet.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
“You look serious.”
“Just thinking.”
“About what?”
“Nothing.” She smiled.
“You know, you can always talk to me.” I almost laughed.
“Sure.” Her smile widened.
“Maybe you should.” I walked past her.
But something about that conversation stayed in my mind. Not because she had said anything suspicious. Because she hadn't. And somehow, that bothered me more.
>>>>>>>>
Akira's POV
I noticed Kael before he noticed me. He was standing near the lockers, looking around like he was searching for something. Or perhaps someone. I walked toward him.
“Kael.” He turned. His expression softened slightly.
“Milky.”
“You're early.”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Couldn't sleep.” I frowned.
“Are you okay?”
“I'm fine.” I stared at him.
“You're lying.” He smiled faintly.
“Maybe.” I wanted to ask about the message.
About Adrienne. About the person watching him. But there were too many people around. So I lowered my voice.
“Did you find anything?”
“No.” His answer came too quickly. I knew he was lying.
“You're investigating.”
“No.”
“Kael.” He sighed.
“Maybe.” I folded my arms.
“You promised.”
“I promised I wouldn't confront anyone.”
“That isn't the same thing.”
“I know.” I shook my head.
“You're impossible.”
“And you're worried.”
“Yes.” He looked at me for a moment. Then he smiled.
“Good.” I blinked.
“Good?”
“It means you care.” My heart skipped.
“I care because you're my—” I stopped.
Tutor. I couldn't say it, Not here. His eyes narrowed.
“Your what?”
“My... friend.” He stared at me. Then smiled.
“Friend?”
“Yes.”
“Interesting.” I rolled my eyes.
“Don't make it weird.”
“You made it weird.”
“I did not.” He laughed softly. For a few seconds, everything felt normal. Then Jenny walked past us. She looked at Kael, then at me. Her smile disappeared for the briefest second. I almost missed it. Then she smiled again.
“Hi, Kael.”
“Hey.” She glanced at me.
“Milky.”
“Hi.” She walked away. I watched her.
Something about that interaction felt strange, but maybe I was imagining things. I have been imagining shadows everywhere lately.
>>>>>>>>
Kael's POV
At lunch, Adrienne sat beside me.
“I found something.” I immediately looked at him.
“What?”
“Justin wasn't at home last night.” I frowned.
“Where was he?”
“Don't know.”
“Find out.” Adrienne nodded.
“Already trying.” I looked across the cafeteria. Justin was laughing with some guys. He looked completely relaxed, I watched him carefully. Then he looked toward me. Our eyes met. He smiled.
I didn't smile back. He turned away.
“Something's off about him,” I muttered. Adrienne shrugged.
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“You don't have proof.”
“I know.”
“Then don't accuse him.” I looked at him.
“I wasn't going to.” He raised an eyebrow.
“Good.” I looked toward the other side of the cafeteria. Jenny was sitting with her friends.
She was laughing. Then she looked at me. Her smile became softer. I quickly looked away.
Adrienne noticed. “Jenny?”
“What?”
“You were staring.”
“I wasn't.” He laughed.
“Sure.”
“Eat your food.”
“You know she likes you, right?”
“I know.”
“And?”
“And nothing.”
“You don't like her?”
“No.” He nodded.
“Thought so.” I didn't understand why he even brought it up. Jenny had always liked me.
It wasn't new. But I had never felt anything for her, not even close. My eyes drifted back toward Milky. She was talking to Camila. Then Justin walked over. Milky smiled. Something inside me tightened. I looked away.
I hated that feeling.
>>>>>>>>
Akira's POV
After school, I went to my locker. I opened it. A folded piece of paper fell to the floor. My heart stopped. I stared at it.
Not again. I slowly bent down. My hands were shaking as I picked it up, and I unfolded it. There were only three words. You trust him.
I froze. Who? Kael? Justin? Adrienne?
My eyes moved down the page. There was another sentence.
You shouldn't.
My breathing became shallow. I looked around. The hallway was almost empty.
“Akira?” I jumped.
I turned.
Camila stood a few feet away. “What happened?”
I quickly folded the note. “Nothing.” She frowned.
“You look scared.”
“I'm fine.” She walked closer.
“Akira.”
“I said I'm fine.” She sighed. “You're terrible at lying.” I forced a smile. “Maybe.” She glanced at the paper in my hand. “What is that?”
“Nothing.”
“Akira.”
“It's nothing, Camila.” She stared at me for a moment. Then she nodded. “Okay.”
She didn't believe me, I knew she didn't. But she didn't push. We walked toward the exit together.
I kept the note hidden inside my notebook.
I didn't know who I trusted anymore.
>>>>>>>>
Kael's POV
I found Milky's note in her notebook fifteen minutes later. She had dropped it while rushing out. I stared at the handwriting.
You trust him.
My stomach tightened, I immediately thought of Justin. Then I remembered everything.
The questions.
The suspicious behavior, The fact that he had been missing last night. The way he kept getting close to Milky. Maybe I had finally found my answer.
But something still didn't make sense. Whoever was threatening us knew about the tutoring.
They knew about Adrienne. They knew about my house. They knew too much. I looked around the hallway. Empty.
Then something caught my eye. A tiny silver charm lay near the locker, so I picked it up. The same symbol. The one from the bracelet. My heart started pounding. I looked down the hallway. Someone turned the corner.
I ran.
“Hey!”
The person didn't stop. I sprinted after them.
They disappeared around another corner.
I reached it. Nothing. Only an empty hallway.
I looked down. Another silver charm. Same symbol.
I picked it up.
Two charms. Someone had dropped them deliberately. Or...
Someone wanted me to find them.
My phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
I opened the message. You're getting closer.
Another message appeared. But you're looking at the wrong person.
I stared at the screen. My heart pounded.
Then another message appeared. He's not the one you should be watching. I frowned.
Who the hell were they talking about?
Before I could respond, another message arrived.
Ask Justin where he really was last night.
I stared at the screen.
Justin.
So they wanted me to suspect him. Or maybe… He really was involved.
I shoved my phone into my pocket. I was about to walk away when I heard footsteps behind me.
I turned.
Justin stood at the end of the hallway. He stopped when he saw me. For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then he smiled.
“Kael.” I stared at him. “Where were you last night?” His smile slowly disappeared.
“Why?”
“Just answer the question.” He looked around.
Then back at me. “I was home.” I took a step toward him. “Are you sure?” His expression changed. Not fear, something else, It was almost an amusement.
“Why wouldn't I be?” I stared at him.
“Because someone says you weren't.” He went silent..For the first time, Justin looked genuinely unsettled. Then he leaned closer.
“Maybe you should stop believing everything people tell you.” I narrowed my eyes.
“Maybe you should stop giving me reasons not to trust you.” He smiled again.
“Trust me, Kael.” He walked past me.
Then stopped beside my shoulder.
“And if I were you...” He lowered his voice.
“I'd be more worried about the person who already knows everything about you.”
He walked away.
I stood there, watching him disappear.
My phone buzzed again. I pulled it out.
Another unknown message.
Wrong suspect. I stared at the words.
Then another message appeared. But you're getting warmer.
My blood ran cold.
Because whoever was behind this wasn't trying to help me find them. They were enjoying watching me search. And suddenly, I realized something terrifying. This wasn't a game I was playing with them.
It was a game they were playing with me.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD