WHERE LOVE SHOULDN'T BE

CHAPTER SIX

MIDNIGHT

Lila read the note again.

Then she folded it.

She opened it again.

The words hadn't changed.

If you want to know what happened to your parents, come to the old chapel tomorrow at midnight.

She looked around the library.

Nobody was watching her.

At least, nobody she could see.

She slipped the note into her notebook.

Her hands were still.

But her thoughts were not.

For years, her parents had been something she rarely talked about.

Not because she didn't love them.

She did.

She remembered her mother's laugh.

Her father's voice.

The way they used to argue about little things and then forget what they were arguing about ten minutes later.

But there were gaps in her memories.

Things she couldn't remember.

Things Brian never talked about.

Whenever she asked about that night, he always found a way to change the subject.

Lila had stopped asking.

Until now.

She closed her notebook.

She wasn't going to the chapel.

At least, that's what she told herself.

"Lila."

She looked up.

Mia stood beside the table.

"You've been sitting here for almost two hours."

"I know."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

Mia pulled out the chair.

"You don't look fine."

Lila smiled.

"I'm just tired."

Mia studied her face.

"You've been strange since yesterday."

"Have I?"

"Yes."

Lila closed her laptop.

"Maybe school is finally getting to me."

Mia laughed.

"Give it another month."

Lila smiled.

For a moment, she almost forgot about the note.

Almost.

Then her phone vibrated.

She looked at the screen.

Unknown number.

Her heart sank.

She opened the message.

You don't have to come alone.

Lila's eyes moved around the library.

Another message arrived.

But you should.

She locked her phone.

Mia noticed.

"Who was that?"

"No one."

Mia frowned.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Lila stood.

"I need some air."

Vincent was standing outside the administration building.

He had been there for nearly ten minutes.

His friend, Daniel, stood beside him.

Daniel was one of the few people who spoke to Vincent without thinking twice about it.

"You've been quiet."

Vincent said nothing.

Daniel looked at him.

"That's usually when you're planning something."

"I'm not planning anything."

"Then you're thinking."

Vincent looked at him.

"You talk too much."

Daniel smiled.

"People have told me that."

Vincent checked his phone.

No new messages.

He had expected one.

Nothing.

That bothered him more than he wanted to admit.

"Do you know anything about the old chapel?" he asked.

Daniel's smile disappeared.

"The chapel?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Vincent looked at him.

"Just answer."

Daniel hesitated.

"Nobody goes there."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

Vincent waited.

Daniel sighed.

"There were rumors about it years ago."

"What rumors?"

Daniel shook his head.

"Forget it."

Vincent's expression hardened.

"Daniel."

"Fine."

He lowered his voice.

"Someone died there."

Vincent stared at him.

"Who?"

"I don't know."

"When?"

"Years ago."

"Who told you?"

"My father."

Vincent looked away.

"Anything else?"

Daniel shook his head.

"Just that the school closed it after that."

Vincent looked toward the old part of the campus.

The chapel was hidden behind several large trees.

He could barely see the roof from where he stood.

He had never noticed it before.

Daniel touched his arm.

"Why are you asking?"

Vincent didn't answer.

His phone vibrated.

He looked down.

One message.

You're closer than you think.

His face went cold.

Daniel noticed.

"What is it?"

Vincent locked the phone.

"Nothing."

That evening, Lila sat at the dining table.

Brian wasn't home.

Again.

She looked at the clock.

9:40 p.m.

She had tried calling him twice.

No answer.

She opened her notebook.

The note was still inside.

She stared at it.

Then she folded it and put it in her bag.

She didn't know what she was going to do.

She didn't want to go.

But there was one thing she wanted more than anything.

Answers.

Even if they hurt.

She stood and walked toward the hallway.

Then she stopped.

She heard the front door open.

Brian walked in.

Lila looked at him.

He looked exhausted.

His shirt was slightly wrinkled.

There was a small bruise near his cheek.

She immediately noticed it.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

"Again?"

Brian looked at her.

"Go to bed."

"You have to stop saying that."

"Lila."

She crossed her arms.

"You've been disappearing every night."

"I'm handling something."

"What?"

"Nothing you need to worry about."

She almost laughed.

"That's your favorite sentence."

Brian walked past her.

Lila followed.

"Can I ask you something?"

He stopped.

She hesitated.

Then asked,

"What really happened to Mum and Dad?"

Brian became completely still.

For several seconds, he didn't turn around.

"Why are you asking me that?"

"I just want to know."

"You know what happened."

"No."

Her voice became softer.

"I know they died. I don't know what happened."

Brian finally turned.

His eyes were hard.

"Who told you to ask me that?"

Lila's heart skipped.

"No one."

He stepped closer.

"Lila."

She looked away.

Brian studied her face.

Then he noticed something.

A corner of paper sticking out of her bag.

He reached for it.

Lila quickly stepped back.

"Don't."

Brian froze.

She had never spoken to him like that before.

"What is it?"

"Nothing."

"Lila."

She held the bag tighter.

"I said it's nothing."

Brian stared at her.

Then his eyes moved to the clock.

"What time are you going to bed?"

"Early."

"Good."

He walked away.

Lila watched him disappear into his room.

She waited.

Then she quietly opened her bag.

The note was still there.

At 11:43 p.m., Lila stood in front of her bedroom mirror.

She had changed her clothes twice.

She had told herself she wasn't going.

Then she had put on her shoes.

She didn't know what was waiting for her at the chapel.

She didn't know who had written the note.

She didn't even know why she trusted it.

But she needed to know.

She quietly opened her bedroom door.

The hallway was dark.

Brian's door was closed.

Lila moved carefully toward the stairs.

She was almost at the front door when she heard a voice behind her.

"Where are you going?"

She froze.

Slowly, she turned around.

Brian stood at the end of the hallway.

His arms were crossed.

His face was unreadable.

Lila couldn't speak.

Brian's eyes moved to her shoes.

Then to the bag on her shoulder.

Finally, he looked at her.

"Where are you going at midnight?"

Lila swallowed.

"Nowhere."

Brian's expression changed.

He walked toward her.

"Don't lie to me."

She stepped back.

"Brian..."

"Who have you been talking to?"

"I haven't been talking to anyone."

"Then why are you dressed like you're leaving?"

Lila said nothing.

Brian stopped in front of her.

His voice dropped.

"Lila, whatever you're about to do..."

He paused.

"...don't."

She looked at him.

"Why?"

Brian stared at her for a long moment.

Then he said something that made her blood run cold.

"Because if you go there tonight, you may not come back the same."

Before Lila could respond, Brian's phone rang.

He looked at the screen.

His face changed.

He answered.

"Hello?"

He listened.

Then his eyes moved toward Lila.

"What?"

A pause.

"Who?"

Another pause.

Brian's face went completely blank.

"You're sure?"

He ended the call.

Lila watched him.

"What happened?"

Brian didn't answer.

He walked to the door and opened it.

Then he looked back at her.

"Stay inside."

"Brian, what happened?"

His voice was quiet.

"They found someone at the chapel."

Lila's heart stopped.

Brian stepped outside.

Then he added,

"And they found your name beside them."