The Bleeding File

CHAPTER THREE: THE WEIGHT OF TRUTH

The porch light flickered when Mr. Graves opened the door.

One look at my badge and his face collapsed—five years of grief cracking open like rotten ice. "You found something." Not a question. A prayer.

Inside, the house smelled of mothballs and untouched bedrooms. Framed photos lined the walls: Evelyn in debate team blazers, Evelyn blowing out sixteen candles, Evelyn frozen in time.

"She came home scared that night," he whispered, fingers digging into a couch cushion. "Said she'd seen something... unforgivable in the woods. Next morning—" His voice shattered.

I took the list of her closest friends from his trembling hands. Four names.

The last one made my pupils burn: Mark Rylan.

INTERROGATION #1: JESSICA LI

Coffee Shop, 3:17 PM

She stirred her latte with shaking hands. "Mark? He adored Evelyn. They—"

I seized her wrist. My eyes ignited—violet irises bleeding into sclera like spilled ink.

The Vision Forced Down Her Throat:

- Evelyn screaming at Mark behind the gym

- "I SAW YOU WITH THAT FRESHMAN!"

- His smile as he wiped his hands on his varsity jacket

Jessica's scream scalded the café. Latte pooled on the floor as she gagged out: "H-he made us swear she ran away!"

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INTERROGATION #2: COLE DANVERS

Auto Shop, 5:43 PM

Grease-streaked hands tightened around a wrench. "f**k off, cop. Mark's my brother."

I pinned him against a Mustang, my glowing eyes reflecting in his pupils.

The Truth Injected:

- Mark sobbing as he buried Evelyn's sequined top

- "Should've kept your mouth shut, Graves."

- The freshman girl crying in a hospital shower

Cole vomited oil and bile. "Oh Christ... the youth center... he works there now—"

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INTERROGATION #3: SOFIA MARTINEZ

College Dorm, 8:12 PM

She tried to slam the door. My foot stopped it.

"You know," I said, eyes blazing bright enough to cast her shadow on the wall. "You've always known."

**Her Mind Unzipped:**

- Evelyn's texts the night she died

- "Tell my dad I love him if I don't—"

- Mark burning her diary in his fireplace

Sofia collapsed, wailing into her hands. "We were scared of him too!"

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INTERROGATION #4: MARK RYLAN

Youth Center, 10:31 PM

Volunteer of the Year plaque gleaming behind him. Kids' artwork taped to his office walls.

"Detective!" His handshake was warm. "Finally giving Evelyn the attention she—"

I grabbed his wrist. My eyes *detonated*—light pouring out like twin supernovas.

The Final Vision:

- The freshman girl's whimpers under the bleachers

- Evelyn's gasp: "I'M TELLING!"

- Mark's class ring glinting as he strangled her

- "Should've looked the other way, Graves."

Mark's screams brought the night janitor running.

By then, he was already clawing at his own eyes, babbling about the dead girl living in his eyelids now.