Song of the chapter is Illuminate by Wildes

-19-
-Himanshu Arora-
-Present-

_____________

Delmore High
22 November, 2019
7:19 pm

Sirens filled the air and red , blue, white lights surrounded the entire place.

" No one leaves the school until I say so!" Detective Gomez told his men as they ran through the school corridors, trying to calm down the students and the angry parents outside trying to get in. The forensic experts were trying to collect evidence and taking pictures of the corpse and the crime scene.

The eight of us huddled quietly in a cornered area of the library, not uttering a word. The absence of words ricocheted our fear. The fear of the unknown.

I handed Ronnie the glass of water and sat down next to her. Her hands were still trembling and her face was ashen like a winter's moon.

"Ronnie , are you okay?" I asked. It was a stupid question. How could she be okay after what she had witnessed?

"I've been better." Her feeble voice answered.

I intertwined my hands with hers. God knows how much I wanted to give her a tight hug right now.

"He made me think..." Ronnie began with a shaky voice, "he made me think I could save him. He...he sent me on a fucking wild goose chase! "

I squeezed her hand slightly, "Hey, listen...you couldn't have saved him. Nobody could've."

She looked at me, her eyes tired and stressed out, and nodded slightly.

" I don't understand....why him? Why Vivaan? He had nothing to do with-" Avinash raged. Saina caressed his arm and comforted him.

" This is going beyond what I thought." Kartik said. From the corner of my eye, I saw Siya draw a shaky breath.

" So this person just likes targeting people to kill? Like a serial killer right?" Zoya creased a brow.

" I think so. I mean...why else would he target Vivaan?" Ahaan deadpanned.

A moment of silence passed when suddenly Siya asked,
" What if.... Vivaan had something that...was....of importance to the killer?"

We looked at her in confusion as she proceeded, " I mean, like... evidence. Remember the killer sent Veronica a gif of Avinash, meaning that he probably was going to hurt him and not Vivaan. So what if Vivaan found out about this and he killed him to cover up his mistake?"

The possibility of her theory was cent percent. That somehow sent chills down my spine.

" Vivaan used to videotape everything with his handycam , right?" I questioned to no one in particular.

" Yeah, he always had that stupid camera in his hand." Kartik remarked.

" Do you think he caught something on tape ? " Ronnie asked , looking at me.

" It is a possibility." I answered.

" Then we need to get that goddamn camera! It could have some evidence about this killer." Zoya chimed.

" We can't just get the camera, Zoya. The police probably took it as evidence when the took the body out." Kartik argued. Avinash sighed in frustration.

" And even if they didn't, I don't think the killer would be dumb enough to leave evidence just like that. He probably took the camera after he killed him." Ahaan deadpanned.

"Well there must be something! They always make mistakes. Leave clues. We just need to figure out what." Veronica stood up and brushed her overcoat with her hands. " I'm not letting this sicko get away with this. I'm going to look for answers."

I looked at her and then at the rest. Kartik gave me a look and stood up too, "She's right. We can't just let this person win. We need to do something about this. Sitting and talking isn't going to help."

The rest of us looked at each other. "You know what?" Zizi said, removing a strand of her velvet locks from her face and stood up, " Let's find this bitch and end this once and for all!"

Just as she finished that sentence, a cold brooding voice called, "Miss D'Rosario!"

Detective Gomez and one of his officers stood near the library door, their eyes panned at us. "We need you to come down to the station with us."

I was on my heels in no time. I looked at the others and then at Ronnie. She looked equally confused.

"But why? Why just her?" Kartik enquired.

" I ensure you that there is a legitimate reason behind this. We just need to ask Veronica some routine questions." Detective answered.

" Doesn't answer my question. Why just her? Why not all of us? Why not the rest of the students?" Kartik enquired again with a hint of accusation in his voice.

" Mr. Malhotra, I suggest you let the police do their job. We're just trying to help you." The detective answered in a condescending tone.

Ronnie drew a deep breath and handed me the glass of water. "Guys, it's okay. They're just doing their jobs."

Her eyes had a glint of fear in them as she looked at me , trying to assure me that everything was fine. Except it wasn't.

" Fine, I'll accompany you. I'm not leaving you alone." I said and grabbed my coat.

"Yeah, me too." Ahaan said and got up.

" Himanshu,Ahaan you don't have to-"Veronica began before Kartik interjected, "No, they're right. In fact, we're all gonna come with you. Right guys?"

He looked at the rest. After the initial hesitation wore off, the rest stood up too. "Sure, I've never visited a police station. Might as well get that experience!" Zoya said sarcastically.

_______________

After about half an hour of rigorous interrogation, Ronnie came out of the interrogation room. Her face looked even more dejected than usual. Her hands were still shaking as she came and sat next to me.

"Ronnie , are you okay?" I asked but before I could get my answer, Detective Gomez came out of the room. "Himanshu Arora, do you mind coming in for a moment?"Detective Gomez asked in his cold brooding voice.

I looked at him and then back at Veronica. She wasn't looking at me. Her eyes were fixated towards her shoes.

I went in and sat down on the chair kept on the other side of the wooden table. The room was painted in grey and white. It was plain depressing.

Detective Gomez came in after a minute and sat down across from me. He placed his elbow on the table and slightly leaned towards me.

" So Mr. Arora, I have couple of questions that I had asked Ms. Rosario which I want to ask you too." He began.

" Go ahead." I answered.

"Where were you at the time of the murder?" He questioned.

" You mean ,when the body fell on the ground?" I asked.

" Yeah, where were you at that time?"

I tried hard to not showcase my nervousness. I knew he wanted me to break and snitch on someone. But I wasn't going to let that happen.

" I was at the game. I mean, in the field, with everyone else." I said.

" Hm and did something weird happen before the accident?" He asked.

"No, everything was fine. Everyone was waiting for the game to begin." I answered. We'll, to be honest, lied. I wasn't going to tell him about the stalker by any means.

"Okay, would you mind telling me where Miss D'Rosario was at that time?" He asked with a hint of accusation in his voice.

" She was sitting next to me at the bleachers. Then she got up to go to the bathroom. When she arrived at the field's entrance, the body fell from the ceiling." I said and looked at me with uncertainty. So I asked, "Detective what are you really getting at?" I was annoyed by this time to be honest.

He got up from his chair and walked across the table. Sitting at the end of the table, he stared at me for a few minutes.

" I'm not accusing anyone if that's what you're inferring." He said sternly.

" Really? Cause it sure feels like it. Why are you targetting Veronica? There were thousands of students and teachers present in the school at that time. So why are pointing the finger at just her?" I asked with a slightly raised voice.

He sighed and looked at the papers on his table, " I'm just trying to help you out here, kid. I'm just trying to figure this all out."

A moment of silence passed before he continued, "There's a reason why I suspect Ms.
D' Rosario , Himanshu."

I quirked a brow, "What reason?"

He leaned forward and replied, "Two days ago I was at Saina Arora's house for interrogation regarding the Alishka Malhotra case. You know her?"

" Who? Saina?" I asked and he nodded. " Yes, I do. In fact we're actually cousins."

" I know that. But you don't necessarily revolve around the same cliche , do you?"

" No, she's way more popular than me." I replied with a hint of insult in my voice.

" Yeah, I thought so. Well, your cousin kind of snitched on your friend." He said.

I sat up straight as he proceeded, "I asked her whether she doubted anyone who could have killed Alishka. And she said Ms. D'Rosario's name."

My eyes widened as I balled my hands into fists.

" See that's why, I wanted to check my suspicions. But before I could do that, another murder happened. And surprisingly, Ms. D'Rosario was the one who found the body first." He finished.

" Detective,all I can say is that I know Veronica. She could never hurt somebody. Not even in her dreams. She's not that kind of a person." I said.

He nodded and smiled slightly at me, " Sometimes you may think that you know a person. But then they may turn out to be something you could never imagine them to be." I stayed quiet at that as he proceeded, "You can go now. Thank you for being honest."

I nodded and exited the room. As I came out, I noticed all of them waiting for me. They stood up as they saw me.

" What did they ask you?" Ahaan asked.

" I'll tell you guys later. Let's get out of here." I said and almost glared at Saina.

I said and proceeded to walk out of the station . The rest followed.

None of us had brought a vehicle except for Avinash and Saina. As a result, Saina offered," Guys, if you want , we can drop you off."

I clenched my fist and turned, "No thanks. I think you've done enough."

She held my gaze unwaveringly, "What's that supposed to mean?"

" Why Saina? Don't you remember the events of the police interrogation two days ago? Or should I remind you?" I spated.

Her face suddenly changed it's colour and her gaze wavered a little.

" What events? Saina , what is he talking about?" Kartik asked curiously.

" Yeah Saina. Why don't you tell your friends about what you did? About how you threw Veronica under the bus to save your ass?" I snapped. Veronica looked at me with confused eyes. Zoya rolled her eyes. " Why am I not surprised?"

" Zoya, shut up-" Saina began but I cut her off, "Why should she? In fact, I think everyone here should be aware of what you did."

Saina adjusted her coat in response and contorted her distasteful features.

" Why did you do Saina?" Avinash enquiried.

" Fine, I did throw Veronica under the bus." Saina confessed reluctantly. She hitched her chin, meeting my gaze as she continued on. " Two days ago when the police came to my house for interrogation, he asked me if I suspected anyone who could be behind Alishka's murder."

She fiddled with her fingers ignoring the string of curses that Zizi uttered and the scoff Kartik loudly spewed. " And I said Veronica's name."

She stopped fiddling with her fingers, " I'm sorry , Veronica-"

" You're full of shit , Saina." Zoya interrupted.

Saina tilted her head, guffawing. " Excuse me?"

" You were quick to blame V when the finger got pointed at you. Who knows that you wouldn't do the same to the rest of us?" Zoya jutted her jaw. Kartik rubbed his forehead.

Saina's lips parted in disbelief.
"You're kidding. Zoya, I didn't want to-"

" No! You exactly wanted to. You could've said no one but no, you chose to throw Veronica's name in and raise suspicions against her!" I raised my voice.

"Moose, stop it. Let it go-" Veronica interrupted.

" Look Himanshu," Saina hesitated and then regained her composure, "I really don't know what to say. In my defense, I didn't have any idea that this was going to become such a big deal. And honestly, no offense, but none of us even even know Veronica that well. She was always picked on by Alishka and I just assumed-"

"Oh Shut up!" Zizi muttered.
"Stop defending yourself , Saina. And admit it, you're just as devious as your dead best friend was. The only difference is that she did that openly while you," Zoya looked at Kartik and then back at her, "You are just the backstabbing bitch in disguise!"

Saina grimaced opening her mouth to respond but then pressed her lips into a thin line as Avinash's hands looped around her shoulder to stop her from speaking anymore.

I glowered at her one last time before heading towards the main gate of the station. Siya, Ahaan, Zoya and Veronica followed on my heels.

As soon as I stepped out of the gate, my phone buzzed in my pocket. There was a new text message. The familiar UNKNOWN flashed on ths screen. And as I read the text, it took my whole willpower to not throw my phone.

" This would've never worked anyway. Opposites don't cross pollinate. Haven't you watched Heathers?"