As the crowd gathered to watch Garren being arrested by the police, Naia pushed her way through, searching for someone she needed to talk to.

"Hey," she said, gently grabbing Calix's arm. He was standing nearby, lost in thought, his expression a mix of disbelief and confusion.

Calix turned to her, his voice trembling. "I don't think he did it."

Naia nodded, her voice calm but firm. "I don't believe it either. Uncle Garren couldn't have done something like this."

Calix's hands shook as he spoke. "What am I supposed to do? My sister is missing, and now the only family I trust is being questioned for something I'm sure he didn't do." His voice cracked under the weight of his emotions.

Noticing the growing stares from the crowd, Naia gently pulled Calix aside to a quieter corner. "Let's talk here," she said softly. Placing a hand on his arm, she reassured him, "I'm with you. I don't think Uncle Garren could've done it."

Calix rubbed his temples, his frustration evident. "What can I do? How do I fix this?"

Naia placed a steadying hand on his shoulder, meeting his eyes. "Here's what you can do, you can vouch for Uncle Garren. If you believe he didn't do it, then help him. He needs someone to testify for him."

"How?" Calix asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Think back to that afternoon," Naia urged. "If you remember anything that could serve as an alibi, it might help him. Without a solid defense or a witness, the police will put him in jail." She paused. "Can you do it?"

Calix hesitated, fear flickering in his eyes. "But what if I'm wrong? What if he really did it?"

Naia sighed deeply, her tone resolute. "Sometimes, when you don't know who or what to trust, you have to trust your gut. Right now, you're the only person who can decide. If you believe this is the right thing to do, then do it. Would you really stand by and let an innocent man go to jail?"

Calix shook his head. "No, I don't want that."

"Then act before it's too late," Naia said firmly.

Calix straightened up, still hesitated said, "I'll try."

"Good," Naia said. "Now, go to the police station. Give your statement. It's the least we can do for Uncle Garren right now."

Calix then looked at her curiously. "Why are you so concerned about him? Do you know him personally?"

Naia smiled softly. "He was a good friend of my mom's, and I don't think my mom would be close to someone who wasn't good at heart."

Something in her words reassured Calix. "Thanks," he said, managing a faint smile. "You've somehow helped me sort the things swirling in my head. I'll go to the station now."

Naia nodded, her gaze lingering on Calix as he disappeared into the distance.

"Naia!" a voice called out from behind. It was Rina, her best friend, rushing toward her. "Why did you run off like that? We were so worried!" Rina exclaimed, her tone a mix of relief and frustration.

"I'm sorry," Naia replied. "But I just can't believe Uncle Garren did it." she added.

"You're still not convinced?" Santi asked, stepping forward with a questioning look.

Naia shook her head firmly. "No, I'm not. Something doesn't add up."

"But think about it," Santi said. "He had the motive, he was close to both Cana and Calix, and he knows the area well. It makes sense. It all points to him."

"Maybe it does," Naia admitted, "but something in my gut tells me he's innocent. We need to help him clear his name." She glanced toward Garren's house, just a short distance away.

Rina frowned, concern etched on her face. "Naia, what's with that look? I don't like where this is going."

"We need to check his house," Naia insisted. "There might be evidence there—something to prove he's innocent."

Santi hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's a risky move, but fine. Let's look for proof. If we don't find anything, we're closing this case and move on."

Naia nodded, though Rina's unease still remained.

The group made their way to the house with each step felt heavier with the weight of uncertainty and danger.

"I'll stay here at the gate as a lookout," Damian volunteered. "Rina, you watch the back door."

"Why me?" Rina huffed, raising an eyebrow. "And since when are you giving orders here?"

"Because someone might break in from there," Damian replied matter-of-factly. "It is a crime scene, after all."

Rina groaned but relented. "Fine. Back door it is."

"Naia and I will search inside," Santi concluded.

With their plan set, the group split up, each silently hoping their efforts would uncover the truth.

A FEW HOURS had passed, and the search of the house had turned up nothing. Then, Damian rushed in with urgency in his voice. "Everyone!" he called, as if there was danger approaching.

"Why? We're not done yet. Is someone coming?" Santi asked, looking confused.

Damian spoke quickly, out of breath. "I heard from the neighbors. Calix went to the police to testify about Garren, the fisherman... but he wasn't able to go through with it."

"Why not?" Naia asked, surprised. She had thought Calix would do it for Garren.

"Because they found Cana. She's in the hospital right now."

"Found Cana?!" Naia repeated, her voice filled with disbelief as she tried to process the news.

"Yes, and the police are questioning her. If she testifies about what happened, this case could be solved this quickly."

"Thank God," Naia said, relieved.

"But that's not the only news," Damian added, his voice lowering.

"What more?" Naia asked, her curiosity piqued.

"I've got dash cam and CCTV footage from around the area. I checked it while I was outside, and I found something," Damian said, his tone serious.

"What? Can we see it?" Santi asked, eager to know.

Damian showed them his phone and played the footage. They gathered around, their eyes fixed on the screen. "Do you see it?" Damian asked, watching them closely.

Naia squinted, trying to make sense of it, but she couldn't. "No, what is it?" she asked.

"Watch again," Damian urged.

"Yeah, there!" Santi said, his voice filled with shock. He had spotted something Naia missed.

"And here, this footage. Watch closely," Damian said, pointing at the screen. "Remember, this is the same day we went to the lake?"

"Yes, then what?" Naia asked, still confused.

"That's us in the video," Damian said, showing a clip that clearly showed them. "That's around the time Cana was supposed to have gone missing. When she was kidnapped or something," Damian explained. "We were at the lake during that hour."

"And then?" Naia asked, trying to connect the dots.

"Found it," Santi said, his face lighting up. "This could be a solid alibi. Damian, you're a genius!"

"You taught me this, bro," Damian replied with a grin. "I should be thanking you."

"But the question is, how did he get there? We didn't see him leave," Santi asked.

"That's exactly what we need to figure out," Damian replied.

"Wait, I'm still not following," Naia said, struggling to connect the dots.

Just then, Rina spoke up. "I think I know how," she said, glancing toward the back door.

The group exchanged confused looks. Rina walked toward the back door, and they quickly followed her, eager to see what she had found. What they saw next left them speechless—it was the missing piece that completed the puzzle.

***

At the hospital, Cana slowly stirred awake just as the police arrived. Her body was marked with bruises, and she looked frail and dehydrated. A doctor stood by her side, monitoring her condition, and though she was still weak, her recovery appeared to be progressing. She was alone in the room as her brother, Calix, had left to fetch some clothes for both of them.

"Hi, Cana. We're from the police," one officer said, stepping into the room. "We'd like to ask you a few questions, if you don't mind. We need your statement."

Still in shock, Cana mustered her courage and nodded. "Y-yes, officer. What do you need to know?"

"On the afternoon you went missing, do you recall what happened?" the officer asked.

Cana's hands trembled as she tried to compose herself. Her voice wavered as she spoke. "I..." She paused, her mind struggling to piece together the events. Tears streamed down her face. "I was at Uncle Garren's house. He made me a snack, and I ate a little. After a few bites, I felt dizzy. I... I don't remember much after that. The next thing I knew, I was blindfolded."

The officer leaned forward, his brows furrowing. "You ate the snack he prepared?" His voice carried a hint of disbelief, contradicting the statement they had received from Garren.

"Yes," Cana confirmed, her voice shaking. "I felt dizzy, like I couldn't stay awake. When I came to, I didn't know where I was. I was blindfolded, but..." She hesitated, then whispered, "There's one thing I remember—the smell. It was fishy. Overpowering. It was everywhere."

"Fishy?" the officer repeated, scribbling in his notebook. "Do you remember anything else?"

Cana shook her head, her fingers gripping the bedsheet tightly. "No... That's all I can remember."

The officer paused for a moment, then asked gently, "Did you hear the perpetrator's voice? Did he speak to you?"

Cana froze, her anxiety growing.

"Cana?" The officer's tone softened, trying to reassure her. "Did you hear him? Can you remember anything about what he said?"

Finally, she nodded, her breath shallow, her eyes filled with fear.

"What did he say?" the officer asked.

Cana hesitated, her mind racing. After a moment, she whispered, "He said... he wanted revenge."

"Revenge?" the officer repeated, surprised, his brows furrowing. "For what? Did he say anything else?"

"No," Cana replied, shaking her head. "That's all he said."

"Can you identify him? Can you tell us who it was?" the officer asked, leaning closer.

Cana's hands trembled as she struggled to speak. Finally, her voice broke as she spoke, "It was... my uncle. Uncle Garren. The one I always treated like family." Tears streamed down her face. "I can't believe he would do this to me."

The officers exchanged a glance, and one of them murmured, "It's him. This confirms it."

The doctor then spoke up, "I think that's enough for now. My patient still needs to rest."

"Thank you for your cooperation, Cana. We'll update your brother on the progress," the officer said before leaving.

Once everyone was gone, Cana's sobs stopped suddenly, and her shaking hands calmed. Slowly, she wiped away her tears, her expression changing completely into something cold and calculating. "Idiots," she muttered, yanking the IV needle from her wrist without flinching.

Sitting up, she stretched her arms and rolled her shoulders as if shaking off the weight of her act. Her lips curled into a sly smirk, her eyes glinting with dark amusement. "Fooling people is easy," she murmured to herself. "But deceiving the authorities? Now that's thrilling."

Cana pulled her phone from her pocket and quickly dialed a number. "It's done." she said as soon as the call connected, "They're buying it."

"Good," came the voice on the other end. "But there's a problem."

Cana's annoyance flared. "What now?"

"The new girl in town—Naia Castro. She's getting in our way."

"Naia?" Cana asked, her jaw tightening.

"Yes. She and her friends are at the station right now, I heard they are all willing to testify. They're trying to prove Garren's innocence."

Cana exhaled deeply, tilting her head back in frustration. "I'll handle it," she said curtly. Suddenly, she heard hurried footsteps approaching the door. "Someone's coming. I'll call you back," she added before hanging up.

The door opened, and Calix rushed in, his face pale, eyes filled with unshed tears. "Cana!" He rushed over to her while she was lying on the floor, noticing the IV had been removed. "What happened? Wait, I'll call the nurse."

Cana quickly switched to her victim act, letting her eyes well up, "Brother, the police came. They asked about what happened." she said with a quiver in her voice, trying to stop him.

Calix looked worried. "Yes, I heard, but is it true?" he asked, his voice trembling. "Did Uncle Garren really do that to you?" He gently tried to help Cana stand up.

"Y-yes, brother," Cana stammered, sitting on the bed with tears streaming down her face. "It was him. I'm sure of it."

Calix stared at her in disbelief, struggling to comprehend what she was saying. "Cana, are you sure? Couldn't you be mistaken? Uncle Garren would never hurt you. He's family."

For a brief moment, Cana's eyes flashed with irritation, but she quickly masked it with more feigned hurt. "Are you doubting me, brother?" she snapped. "Look at me! Look at what I've been through. I'm traumatized, and you're still defending him? I can't believe you."

Guilt overtook Calix as he saw the anguish in her eyes. She was an excellent liar, an expert at this—so convincing it was almost terrifying. "I—I'm sorry, Cana," he said, his voice wavering. "I just can't believe he'd do something so horrible."

Cana sniffled, wiping her tears and keeping up her act. "It's fine," she whispered shakily, as though trying to compose herself. "But I think he will be released soon."

"What?" Calix asked, his eyes widening in shock.

"Yes," Cana said, her voice trembling with desperation. "That girl, Naia—she's testifying for him." She leaned closer, gripping Calix's arm as if seeking comfort. "Please, brother. You have to stop her."

Calix stared at his sister, torn and unsure. The world felt like it was spinning too fast, and he didn't know what or who to believe anymore. "I—I'll try," he said at last, his voice hesitant. "Wait up I'll call the nurse so they can fix your IV."

As Calix left, Cana wiped her tears, her lips curling into a cold, creepy smile, as if everything were going according to her plan.