˗ˏˋ༻ʚDelphineʼs Povɞ༺ˎˊ˗

“I’m ready.”

That word alone was enough to stop my heart from erupting. It thudded violently against my ribcage, like it wanted to escape. Yet I held onto that statement as if my life depended on it, clinging to it with every ounce of focus I had left.

Krystian, for the first time, felt hesitant as well. Not because of the truth buried in the drive, but because of me. I could sense it in the way his shoulders tensed and his fingers lingered over the keyboard, uncertain. He was hesitating because he knew I wasn’t ready to confront the person who had stolen my sister from me. That alone made my chest tighten further.

“If you say so,” Krystian muttered, a quiet gravity in his voice as he slid the drive into his MacBook. We both watched the notification appear on his screen, blinking patiently, as if aware of the weight it carried. When he clicked on the drive, what appeared next left me utterly confused.

“What’s that?”

“A passcode,” Krystian sighed, leaning back against the chair’s backrest, the weariness in his posture almost visible.

“I don’t get it,” I said, brow creased in frustration. “Why would Ivie give me a drive with a passcode on it?”

Krystian was silent. He stared at the screen like it was some intricate puzzle that could bite if handled incorrectly. “Do you have her number or something?”

“I don’t,” I answered immediately, but then remembered. “The group chat.”

I dug my phone out of my bag and scrolled through the members’ list for Ivie’s number. Luckily, her display name was her actual name. I pressed the dial button several times after copying the number, and several times, she refused to answer, forcing my chest to grow heavier with every unanswered ring.

“What game is she playing?”

“She’s trying to be cautious; I won’t blame her.” Krystian exhaled, pulling the drive from the laptop and shutting it with a faint, deliberate snap.

“What are you doing?” I asked, watching as he slipped the drive into his pocket like a secret he wasn’t ready to share.

“There’s really nothing we can do at the moment without the passcode.” Krystian shrugged. “She wants you to be careful when catching whoever did it, and we both know how rash you are when it comes to using your brain—”

“Krystian!”

“Just saying,” he muttered, shrugging again, that familiar calm edge that only made my frustration flare. “I think trying to look for a way to come up with a password will give us time to work on our level of deduction.”

“Level of what?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.

Krystian finally turned, facing me fully, gaze sharp and unreadable. “Tomorrow, by twelve, let’s meet up at T-four junction.”

His response wasn’t satisfying one bit. It landed in my chest like a cold gust, forcing anger to rise like a tide I couldn’t stop. My hands clenched, my jaw tightened, and a restless, impatient fire settled in my chest, threatening to explode at any second.

˗ˏˋ༻ʚ♡︎ɞ༺ˎˊ˗

Sighing, I dusted the thin layer of dirt off my shoes as I stepped into the living room, only to find it empty. It was nice to see Debby living her life, unburdened, rather than trapped in the house, weighed down by regrets. Despite my stomach growling softly from having nothing to eat since lunch, I didn’t even have the strength to check the kitchen for something to nibble on.

Buzz! Buzz!

My phone vibrated sharply in my skirt pocket as I climbed the stairs, echoing like a small alarm in the quiet house. I pulled it out quickly, heart hoping it was Ivie’s number flashing across the screen.

“Hi Kim, whatsup,” I said, trying to mask the disappointment that threatened to creep into my voice. Easier said than done, of course.

“I need to talk to you asap!” she screeched, her voice cutting through the quiet like a burst of electricity.

“Is it that Important?” I asked as I opened the door to my room, stepping in cautiously. “‘Cause right now, all I need is a shut eye and—”

“Romeo just told me that he likes me!”

I froze mid-step, the weight of the words nearly making me lose my balance as I tried to sit on the bed. “I’m sorry, what?!”

“And then he kissed me, again!”

“Oh my God, slow down,” I said, hurrying to my reading table, my fingers fumbling to switch on my laptop. “Are you in for a video call?”

“I’ll prefer that,” she said, her voice trembling with excitement. Within seconds, Kim’s flushed, almost tomato-red face appeared on the screen.

“Tell me you are joking.” For some reason, this was exactly the distraction I had been craving.

“Why should I?!” Kim screeched, throwing her hands up in the air. She was already out of her uniform, sprawled across her bed like a live wire. “What am I going to do, Delphine?”

A small, warm smile tugged at my lips, remembering the endless cat-and-dog fights she and Romeo always had when I came in, freshly observing Greenville High.

“Do you like him?”

“What?” My question must have caught her off guard; she fumbled like a fish out of water.

“Do you like Romeo?” I repeated, slowing my words, letting them sink.

“I don’t know,” Kim admitted, honesty bleeding through her uncertainty. “But I’ve been thinking about that kiss and the fact that he had to kiss me again—” she paused, burying her face in her palm. “I think I’m growing insane! Why did I tell him that I liked the kiss?!”

“You liked what?!”

Kim stared at me through the screen, lips pushed into a small, guilty pout. “I messed up, didn’t I?”

Sighing, I shook my head. “At least, you were being honest, and the person you were being honest to likes you back.”

“I feel he’s joking with me. Why would Romeo like me of all people?”

“I think anyone with eyes can tell the. . . .” I paused, surprised at the words leaving my mouth. “Tension between you guys.”

Kim wasn’t having any of it. “I don’t know how to face him on Monday. What if I don’t reciprocate his feelings? I mean, there’s Hymn and Krystian who should’ve fallen for me, why Romeo?”

Krystian . . .

Shaking my head, I forced myself to focus on Kim again. “It’s okay to be confused, we’re still teens after all.”

For a few seconds, she sat in thought, her flushed cheeks softening. “Thanks, Delphine, you’re really a best friend material. Glad to have met you. What are you doing tomorrow? Why don’t we hang out?”

“I’ll be busy tomorrow. It’s best to start preparing for the upcoming exam, right?” I gave a little white lie, my chest tightening as I said it.

Kim nodded slowly. “I'd better get to practice for our debate competition at the assembly on Monday.”

The conversation with Kim was a welcome distraction, a small, warm bubble in an otherwise heavy day. But all good distractions end too soon. The call ended, and reality came crashing down, reminding me of the life I couldn’t pause.

˗ˏˋ༻ʚ♡︎ɞ༺ˎˊ˗

I didn’t know the moment I’d fallen asleep, but the gnawing discomfort of hunger in my stomach was what jolted me awake. My limbs felt heavy, but I pushed myself off the bed, phone in hand, thinking of whipping up something quick, probably noodles. Just as I started down the stairs, the sound of laughter drifting from the living room froze me mid-step.

Slowly, I descended, each stair as I peeked into the living room. Debby was there, her laughter spilling around the room, accompanied by a guest.

“Delphine,” Debby turned toward me, her smile warm and full of energy, before I could even say a greeting.

“Good . . .” I hesitated, glancing down at my phone for a moment, as I read the time. “. . . evening, sister, good evening, Inspector Jerry.”

“Good evening, how are you today?” the inspector asked, his smile friendly.

“Very fine, thank you.” My weary gaze travelled from the inspector back to my sister. It was obvious how his attention lingered on Debby, even when his professional duties didn’t demand it. I wondered if she even noticed, though something in her smile hinted that maybe she did.

“I thought you were out with some friends,” Debby said with a light laugh. She stood and reached for me, holding my hands, ignoring the fact that I was still in my uniform. “I’ve got good news, Delphine, very good news.”

“Good news?” I echoed, curiosity tugging at me.

Debby nodded enthusiastically, guiding me to the sofa and letting me sink into it. “We are just coming back from the trial. Trust has been sentenced to twenty-four years in prison.”

“Twenty-four?”

“It’s not a life sentence,” the inspector interjected, drawing my gaze toward him. “But it’s a very, very long time. By the time he’s out, he’ll be good as gone.”

I sat quietly, letting the words settle in my chest. I wasn’t disappointed exactly, just struck silent. The image of that monster locked away for decades gave me a strange, unexplainable satisfaction. It was a relief that I couldn’t put into words.

“Hope you are not leaving anytime soon, inspector. Let me quickly get something for us to celebrate with,” Debby said, rising from the sofa with light, purposeful steps toward the kitchen. I watched as the inspector’s gaze lingered on her, soft and affectionate, but I forced myself to ignore it. He didn’t need my interference in whatever delicate moment that was.

“Inspector . . . sir, I’ve been meaning to talk to you,” I said slowly, my voice measured, trying to summon courage.

The inspector lifted his head from the kitchen’s direction and focused on me. “Go ahead, what do you want to speak to me about?”

“Danielle’s case,” I replied, swallowing a lump in my throat. His mouth opened, probably to respond, but I cut him off, pressing on with an urgent whisper. “I know what you’re about to say. I mean, you ruled it a suicide case, but things don’t add up.”

I watched him carefully, hoping he understood where I was coming from. He wasn’t incompetent. He hadn’t let Debby and me down when it came to Trust. So why did Danielle’s case feel like a puzzle with missing pieces?

“I get what you mean,” the inspector said finally, letting out a heavy sigh. “It doesn’t add up.”

My brows knitted together, confusion mixing with frustration. “If you think that way, why did you rule it as a suicide case when you think that murder is the case?”

“Because it wasn’t my call to make,” he said, voice steady but constrained.

“What if there’s substantial evidence leading to it being a murder case? Not just that,” I leaned in, lowering my voice to a whisper. “What if the evidence points to the killer? What happens next?”

“Then we’ll look into it based on the evidence provided and get the person arrested,” he said casually, though his thick brows furrowed slightly. “Where are you getting with this, Delphine? Do you have a lead or something? This can be dangerous, you know.”

I refused to answer, the silence stretching in the room. His frustration was almost tangible as he opened his mouth again, only to be cut short as Debby returned from the kitchen, a tray balanced carefully in her hands.

“What were you both talking about?” Debby asked, setting the tray on the rounded table in front of us.

The inspector glanced down at his intertwined hands, deep in thought. I could see him trying to read between my words, trying to understand the spark of urgency in my tone. Just getting him interested was already progress; now, it was a matter of delivering proof.

“Nothing,” I said lightly, trying to smooth over the tension. “I was just asking Inspector Jerry if he was single.”

Debby coughed sharply at that, and I reached over to hand her a glass of water. Meanwhile, the inspector’s attention to my words got distracted, as he watched Debby amusingly after displaying such a comical reaction.

“Yes,” he muttered, eyes still warm as they followed Debby. “Yes, I’m single.”

˗ˏˋ༻ʚ♡︎ɞ༺ˎˊ˗

Saturday was meant to be a fun day, but I couldn’t remember the last time I actually had fun. The idea of that word alone felt like a foreign language, one I couldn’t translate. I’d just sent an email to Seidi, telling her about the development of my situation. I knew I wouldn’t get a message from her until Monday, but I just wanted to put her up to date.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, trying to look as normal as a sixteen-year-old could look. My face looked smaller than it had the week before, and my eyes, a touch too bright from too little sleep. Wearing a baggy crazy jean, white sneakers, and a black tank top with a denim jacket identical to my baggy jeans, I tried to fold myself into something ordinary as I stepped out of my room.

Being Saturday, I knew Debby would be booked with lots of clients, which was why she left home early. I strolled to the kitchen to find what I could have for breakfast before meeting Krystain, when my phone rang.

I stared at the caller ID. It was an unknown number I recognised really well.  Quickly, I answered the call and placed it against my left ear.

“Ivie?”

The silence on the other end was heavy, like a held breath. It stretched until my patience thinned. Unlike yesterday, I was trying to be calm, so I let the silence sit and counted my breathing.

“I missed your calls, sorry,” She finally said, her voice hollow and void of every emotion.

Probably, I wasn’t as calm as I told myself. I closed my eyes and tried to tamp down the heat rising in my chest.

“The drive, there’s a password on it,” I said to her, steadying my voice.

“I’m aware.” That almost made me tick, but I knew better than to flare up in that moment. At least, not now.

“Why?”

There was a small pause before Ivie finally spoke. “Cause I was scared he would get hold of the drive one way or another. I wanted to prevent him from seeing what’s in it.” Her voice sounded distant, like a warning passed through glass.

“Then why didn’t you just tell me the code after giving me the drive?!” I finally snapped. Her silence felt like a betrayal. If she’d told me then, maybe I could have shown it to the inspector yesterday, and we wouldn’t be circling like this.

“Because it’s something you know,” was her only response, low and quiet.

“You’re joking, right?” I gritted my teeth, my palm flat against the counter to stop it from shaking, as I knew that it was getting harder by the second to control my anger. “Ivie, just tell me the password, please!”

“Do not make any mistake,” Ivie said in a pleading tone. “Do not make any rash decision, cause I’ll die if you do.”

My blood ran cold as the line went dead. The phone felt suddenly too heavy in my hand as I slid it slowly from my ear and set it on the counter.

Krystian . . .

I flicked through my contacts again and tapped his name without thinking. It wasn’t long before Krystian answered my call. “Don’t tell me you are at the junction already, new girl.”

I shook my head even though he couldn’t see me. “Why don’t we meet at my place instead?”

“Why?” Krystian questioned.

“Just got a call from Ivie, she said the passcode is something I know, but . . . God, I’m so frustrated right now.”

There was a small pause before Krystian’s voice came through the phone, calm and steady. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

The call ended, leaving the house suddenly louder in its absence. I stood alone with the question looping over and over on what exactly the password was. But nothing came. The answer was a puzzle with jagged edges and no obvious place to begin.

˗ˏˋ༻ʚ♡︎ɞ༺ˎˊ˗

I had apologised to Danielle before moving into her room. Somehow, I knew I was going to leave it a mess until later today, or maybe tomorrow, after church, when I’d finally find the strength to clean up.

I hated how her clothes were scattered everywhere, like memories refusing to fold neatly back into the past. But I didn’t stop. I tore through her boxes, desperate for any clue, anything at all that could lead me to the password on Ivie’s drive. Why did Ivie have to make my life so damn complicated?

After minutes of fruitless searching, I collapsed on the heap of clothes covering her bed, staring up at the deck ceiling as if the answers might be written there, hidden in the shadows. This wasn’t the life I wanted. This wasn’t how I pictured my final years in secondary school. I wanted peace. I wanted Danielle to receive the justice she deserved.

A sudden vibration sliced through my thoughts. I shot up from the bed, heart pounding, as I reached for my phone. A message from Krystian lit up my screen, telling me that he was outside and had been pressing the doorbell for a while now.

I fired off a quick reply before bolting out of Danielle’s room, closing the squeaky door behind me like it was whispering her name. My footsteps echoed through the house as I raced down the stairs and yanked open the front door.

Krystian stood there with his brows furrowed. “Why are you—?”

“Come in,” I interrupted, grabbing his wrist and pulling him into the house before he could finish. I didn’t stop until we reached the dining room.

“Wow, new girl, I never thought my presence would be missed this much.” His smirk was barely there, but my confused look made him gesture toward my hand. “You’re still holding my wrist.”

I let go immediately, clearing my throat. “The drive.”

Krystian chuckled under his breath, then slipped his hands into his pockets and pulled them out. “What’s this about? We were supposed to meet so we could head to Computer Village and get the password removed.”

“Hold on,” I said instead. I set the drive on the table and dashed upstairs to my room. My laptop was almost dead, so I grabbed it along with the charger before running back downstairs.

“New girl—”

“I think I get it,” I said breathlessly, plugging the laptop into the socket before sitting beside him.

Krystian leaned back, watching me with that quiet curiosity of his.

“Danielle’s password for everything has always been our birthdays,” I said, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. “Ivie said the code was something I’d know. What if it’s that?”

“It’s worth a shot,” he said simply, no sarcasm this time. The calm in his tone surprised me, has it felt like he actually believed in my theory.

I pressed my palms together under my chin and closed my eyes.

“Are you praying?” Krystian asked, half amused.

“I’m too tired and frustrated to make a mistake,” I muttered. Then I opened my eyes, typed in our shared birthday, and hit enter.

𝙸𝚗𝚌𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚝

The red text burned on the screen. A thorn straight to my patience. I groaned.

“What is it?” Krystian asked, leaning forward.

I ignored him, fingers already moving as I typed Danielle.

𝙸𝚗𝚌𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚝

Now she was toying with me.

“Why would she think I’d know the answer?” I asked, the words slipping out raw. Krystian said nothing. He was too focused, eyes fixed on my laptop screen, as though staring long enough might make the password reveal itself.

I broke the silence with a sudden thought. “I’m an idiot—”

“No, you’re not.” Krystian pointed at the screen, then looked at me. “You’re on the right track, you’re just not using it the right way.”

“What do you mean?”

“What if it’s really about Danielle,” he said slowly, “but not in a way that’s too obvious? Not birthdays or names. What if it’s about how she died? Something only you would think of.”

“I’m still confused.”

“Okay,” he said patiently. “What did the police say about your sister’s death, and what do you believe happened?”

The question pierced straight through me. “They said it was suicide,” I whispered, “but I think she didn’t do that to herself. I think someone . . . killed her.”

The realisation hit me mid-sentence as I lunged for the laptop and typed the words that had haunted me for months.

𝙼𝚞𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝙸𝚜 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙲𝚊𝚜𝚎

I closed my eyes and pressed Enter.

Three seconds. That was all it took before Krystian’s soft exhale filled the silence.

“Oh my God,” I gasped, the relief flooding in. “You’re a genius, Krystian!” I turned to him and, without thinking, threw my arms around his neck. “Seriously, you are!”

For a moment, he didn’t move, but then he did, wrapping his arms around me gently. The warmth of that brief embrace was startling.

“Same with you,” he said softly.

My heartbeat thundered, far louder than it should. I pulled away quickly, clearing my throat.

“Back to the drive,” I said, pretending the air between us wasn’t charged.

“Which of these folders do you think contains what we need?” I asked.

“Let’s start with the first one.”

I clicked it open. The first video began to play, and my hands curled into fists. My nails dug into my palms as the scenes unfolded. Ivie, dancing under neon lights, her body twisting around a pole while men in the crowd leered, reached, and groped like uncivilised animals.

“Why are they acting like hyenas?” I hissed through my teeth as one of them grabbed her roughly.

A figure flickered at the edge of the frame — familiar, but gone too fast to recognise. All I caught was the glint of a fancy wristwatch.

“Final video,” Krystian murmured.

“What’s the point?” I muttered bitterly. “There’s nothing here that points to Danielle’s killer—”

“Hi, everyone.”

That familiar voice froze my breath as the black screen cut to Danielle’s face.

Krystian turned to me; he could sense the shift in my emotions and wanted to find a way to ease the atmosphere. “You were saying?”

But I couldn’t speak. My throat closed up as tears welled in my eyes. There she was . . . alive, smiling, and her voice as bright as ever.

“Did you miss me?” she said.

The question hit like a blade to the chest. It wasn’t meant for me. It was meant for whoever had taken her life. But I nodded anyway, trembling. Because in that moment, there was nothing in this world I missed more than her beside me.

 ˗ˏˋ༻ʚ♡︎ɞ༺ˎˊ˗

Hey guys, missed me?

So there were certain people in the group with amusing and nice theories about the killer and it was fun to read.

After dropping the spoiler and promising to update today, here it is.
So, what for you think about today's chapter?

So, starting from this chapter, I'll be posting comments from the prior chapter that caught my interest.

Comment your thoughts and don't forget to vote, comment and share.

Adios,

See y'all next update ✨