three updates in three days!! expect this number to drop dramatically from here, like with every book

also, kinda short chapter sorry :// the action kicks up next chapter though, i promise!!!

-𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓽𝔂

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Convincing everyone to help them was a lot easier than Lucia expected it to be. There was a small hassle with Wyatte, who kept insisting he didn't want anything to do with it, that he "just wanted to walk home without getting completely soaked". But they'd successfully gotten everyone on board by the end of the day.

However, that was exactly when their plan began to crumble. Lucia and Aisha had already had a conversation about keeping their suspect list private, and the group had all agreed to meet in the library after school, just the six of them.

As a matter of fact, that was exactly where she was headed when someone cornered her. She had just forced all of her stuff into her backpack and was climbing to her feet. She turned on her heel, just about smacking directly into someone.

He was shorter than she was, and younger too. He had light brown hair and pale blue eyes. He was familiar; she'd seen him in the hallways a couple times. But that didn't mean that she knew him.

Lucia tried to step around him, but he moved into her way.

"What?" she snapped, a bit more harshly than she meant to.

"I heard you talking earlier today..."

"About what?" Lucia wasn't stupid. She wasn't going to admit it; he'd have to say it first.

"About your plans. Your suspect list?"

"So?"

"I want in."

"Why? You didn't know her."

"And you hated her."

"Why should I let you help us? What can you bring to the table?"

The boy paused, a dark grin appearing on his face.

"I don't think anyone would be so willing to help if they knew why you really asked them."

"You wouldn't," Lucia's voice was calm. She was not about to let her plans fall apart by looking desperate. She couldn't have him telling anyone anything, but if he knew how badly--

"You're right," the boy said, "I wouldn't. But I know more than you think."

"Say, sophomore, what's your name?"

"Arthur," he responded, "Arthur Finley."

"Oh, of course. You're the president of the Chess Club."

"Yep," he said, dropping his serious tone for a moment. Lucia did not.

"I imagine you already know who I am."

Arthur merely nodding, rustling his honey brown hair.

"Well, Finley," Lucia held out her hand, "Welcome to the team. Let's get over to the library."

Arthur shook Lucia's hand, and they went.

♠♦♣♥

"Are you sure that's a good idea?"

Sam's words carried a lot more meaning behind them than anyone realized. Introductions were done and over with, and everyone had shared phone numbers in case of an emergency. But that was besides the point.

Arthur had just suggested they go to the cabin.

He was met with a lot of opposition, which was to be expected.

"I don't know about you guys," Lance was saying, "But I'd rather not go to the murder cabin in the middle of the forest."

"Yeah, one time was plenty," Wyatte added with a very visible shudder.

"I don't think we have a choice," Lucia said, standing on her feet. "If we ever want to get any closer to solving this, we have to. There will inevitably be a bunch of evidence there."

"They say the killer always returns to the scene of the crime..." Evan added lowly.

"'The scene of the crime' will be covered in yellow police tape," Sam had a worried look on her face.

"Is there anyone in this group that has a problem with that?" Aisha took to her feet as well, "You all knew what you were getting into when you agreed to do this."

Everyone fell silent.

"It's settled. We're going," Arthur said, "We'll have to go at night, so all the police will be gone. Does tonight work for everyone?"

A general murmur of agreement passed through the crowd.

"Tonight it is, then. Be at the cabin at 10:30 PM. Don't be late!"

♠♦♣♥

"You are most definitely not going!"

"I am!"

"NO!"

"Sam...!"

"Evan! I said no!"

"Since when were you my mother?"

"Our mother wouldn't want you to go either!"

"But she won't know!"

"It's a school night!"

"You're going!"

"I'm old--"

"Don't you say it!"

"Fine! I won't! I sneak out all the time! You do not!"

"When was the first time you snuck out?"

"I was fourt-- That doesn't matter! I snuck out to go to a midnight movie with my friends! You, Evan Riley, are trying to go to a crime scene!"

"That movie theater could've been a crime scene, Samantha! Maybe you just didn't know!"

"What!? That doesn't even make any sense!"

"I am going, whether you like it or not!"

"No, you're not!"

"You're not the boss of me!"

Sam paused, taking in a deep breath. She looked down at her brother, the shine in his eyes. He was excited; she was terrified.

"You're a little too determined sometimes, you know that?"

"Is that permission?" Evan hesitated before crossing his arms, "I-I mean, not like I care if you give me permission or not, because I'm going no matter what."

"Yes, that's permission," Sam said. "IF, you stay by my side the entire time and don't go wandering off anywhere!"

 Evan's mouth shot open to protest, but he quickly shut it again.

"Okay."

◈ ◈ ◈

"What in the absolute hell are you wearing!?"

"I had to get in character somehow...!"

Lance and Aisha had, somehow, been the first two people to arrive. Currently, Lance was wearing all black from top to bottom, and he had two black stripes on each of his cheeks. His slightly-long hair had been tied back.

He looked almost exactly like something out a cartoon, to put it at its simplest. And Aisha was judging him very harshly for this.

"You look like you're about to torment an eight-year-old boy who's parents left him home alone over Christmas...!"

"That was unnecessary!"

"Alright, Marv."

"Aisha!"

"What's going on here?"

That was Lucia, the third arrival. She took one look at Lance and--

"Oh my God, Lance, what--"

"If we're going to be sneaking around, I'm going to look the part!" Lance defended indignantly, crossing his arms.

Lucia let out a very loud sigh, "Okay. Whatever floats your boat, I guess."

Aisha continued to tease, mostly with "Where's Harry at? Have you seen him recently?"

Then Samantha and Evan appeared.

To make the situation better, Evan looked like a mini version of Lance. You probably would've guessed that Sam would be embarrassed of her little brother dressing up, but she was decked out in all black as well.

"Well, Aisha, there's Harry," Lucia said, pointing directly at Evan.

"You guys are all ridiculous," Aisha said, shaking her head.

"But you're in all black, too! We're like one big family!" That was Evan.

"This is what I normally wear. You just--"

Wyatte then popped up, seemingly out of no where. In regular clothing, one should probably note.

"What is this?" he said, staring at the 3/5 people in front of him that had donned all black. "What is happening right now? What am I witnessing?"

"Full investment."

Arthur was the final person who needed to arrive, and when he didn't show for a while, everyone began to suspect that he wasn't going to at all.

"He must've chickened out," Lucia hissed, "I knew he couldn't handle it."

Aisha was a bit... angrier?

"He's 15 minutes late! I swear, if he doesn't show up right now, I'm gonna kick his a--!"

"Hey guys, sorry I'm late. What are we talking about?"

"Nothing, don't--"

"You, actually! Where were you?!"

"Busy."

Aisha was just about ready to "kick his a--!" when Lance stepped in. "Hey, hey, hey. He's here now. Let's just go inside."

Aisha drew in a deep breath, then let go of it with a sigh. "Okay. You're right. Let's go."

She grabbed onto the yellow tape and lifted it, allowing everyone else to duck underneath it before following herself into the front yard.

Then, they all stepped inside.

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