Chapter 9
663 Words
As they began compiling a list of Mia's classmates, Selin asked, "How's Zara doing? Still the same?"
Mia's expression turned neutral. "She's still around, but she's not bothering me."
Jake's eyes narrowed. "Good. We'll still look into her, though."
Selin nodded. "Her warning you about Mike was suspicious."
Mike's brow furrowed. "I don't like that she's been involving herself in our business."
Mia shrugged. "She's just trying to assert her dominance, I think."
The room fell silent as they continued their investigation.
Selin's eyes widened. "Wait, why was Zara suddenly so silent?"
Mia's expression turned thoughtful. "Now that you mention it, she did come to me and confess her crush on Mike."
Mike's brow furrowed. "And then she warned you to stay away from me?"
Mia nodded. "Yes, and after that, she started spreading rumors and making my life miserable. She even put trash in my locker and on my desk."
Jake's eyes narrowed. "That's not just bullying, that's calculated behavior."
Selin's voice dropped to a whisper. "She's trying to isolate you, Mia. Make you vulnerable."
Mike's face darkened. "Zara's involvement just got a lot more suspicious."
Mia's eyes sparkled with realization. "And now that I think about it, her sudden silence is even more suspicious."
Jake's eyes narrowed. "Zara's involvement explains the recent incidents, but what about the cases from three years ago?"
Mia frowned. "And why Emily? She wasn't even in our social circle."
Selin's brow furrowed. "Unless... there's a connection we're missing."
Mike's expression turned thoughtful. "What if Zara's not the mastermind? What if she's just a pawn?"
"Exactly," Jake said, frustration etched on his face. "Everything's becoming more complicated. It's like the thread's tangled, and we can't find the beginning."
Mia nodded. "Zara was a stranger to us when Emily was attacked three years ago. And Emily, Zara, and we weren't even in the same social circle."
Selin's eyes narrowed. "No apparent connection, no clear motive. It's baffling."
Mike's expression turned thoughtful. "Unless... the connection's not personal, but situational."
"Let's rewatch the video," Jake suggested, "and focus on Zara and her friends."
They settled in for the third viewing, eyes scanning the footage.
Mia pointed. "Look, Zara's talking to her friends, but one of them... he keeps glancing at me."
Selin leaned in. "Which one?"
Mia indicated a tall, dark-haired boy. "Him. He's always looking at me, but subtly."
Mike's eyes narrowed. "I see it now. He's trying not to draw attention."
Jake paused the video. "Let's analyze his behavior. Is he always near Zara?"
Selin nodded. "Yeah, he's always lurking in the background."
Mia's voice dropped to a whisper. "And when we're not looking, he's watching me."
Mike's expression turned grim. "We missed this before because we weren't looking for it."
Jake's eyes locked onto the screen. "Time to re-question our assumptions. This boy might be the key."
"Alright, let's dig into the school's records from three years ago," Jake said, determination etched on his face. "We need to investigate every student, teacher, and staff member."
Mia nodded. "I'll help with that. But first, who is this boy?"
Selin frowned. "You don't know him?"
Mia shook her head. "No, I don't recall him being a major player in our social circle. But I've heard rumors..."
Mike's eyes locked onto Mia. "What rumors?"
Mia hesitated. "That he quarreled with his girlfriend over Zara. Apparently, he was really into Zara, but she wasn't interested."
Jake's eyes widened. "And now he's watching you, Mia. This is getting personal."
Selin's voice dropped to a whisper. "We need to find out if he was involved in Emily's attack three years ago."
Mike's expression turned grim. "And if Zara's using him for her own agenda."
Assuming Zara's involved, how do we explain the strange occurrences and Emily's attachment 2 months ago?" Jake asked.
Mia frowned. "Zara wasn't even in college then."
Selin nodded. "That's right. Zara joined this semester."
Mike's expression turned thoughtful. "Maybe Zara's not the direct perpetrator, but someone connected to her."
- Writer
