It was late at night when the security guard roamed around the campus to check if everyone had left school. He made sure that all the rooms were locked, and the facilities were kept in place. When he entered section A of the junior, the chills blew into his ears. He shivered when he stepped on something wet. The guard carefully directed the flashlight to the floor, tracing the water droplets. The traces led him to a girl lying on the floor.
“Hey, kid!” He shook her body, but there were no signs of movement.
The police arrived and investigated the scene. They identified the body as Lily Holmes. The victim poisoned herself. She left a suicide note, which closed the case.
Elsie’s hands trembled as she read the note.
Dearest Elsie,
You are the first person who comes to my mind. My best friend, enemy, and soulmate. I wish you wouldn’t be too sad without me. Know that I love you and I don’t want to see you suffer. Please be happy.
Her tears flooded her cheeks. “No. No. She can’t do this.” She shook her head. “This is not true.”
Stan watched Cade cradle her head in his arms.
“Lily… Lily will never do that.”
“Elsie, I’m sorry to ask you this. But do you have any idea of her motives to kill herself?” Stan asked.
“I said she will never do that!”
“Stan, please. Not now,” Cade said. He caressed her hair gently.
Stan checked Lily’s belongings. He read all her notes and answered the Math problems she left.
“Are you seriously solving a math problem right now? That’s so thoughtful of you,” Theo commented sarcastically.
“I’m solving the case,” Stan replied.
“You and your imagination.”
Lily was the light in Elsie’s darkness. The light that never went dim. She had the most contagious laugh and the smallest happiness. Lily brought color to her black and white. The reason she’s still enduring all the discrimination at Machalmmond High. Elsie’s life was bearable because of her.
“I know she’s an idiot and she can be narrow-minded. But that’s what makes her charming. Her pure and innocent heart. She could never think of suicide,” Elsie said.
The handwriting on the suicide note was Lily’s. It convinced Cade that Lily killed herself.
“She’s an open book to me. There’s nothing I wouldn’t know about her emotions. She was fine.”
‘No one can ever understand a person. Even the closest friend hides a secret that no one else knows. Some people are good at hiding their emotions. People who smile often are the best at hiding their true feelings until it explodes within them. Suicide chooses no one,’ Cade thought.
But instead, he said, “This is murder.”
“How can you say that?” she asked.
“I believe in you. If you say she didn’t do it, then it’s the truth.”
“Hey.” Theo tapped Cade’s shoulder. “I want to tell you something.”
They walked down the corridor.
“You said Lily likes you. Don’t you think your relationship hurt her so bad that she committed suicide? I mean seeing your best friend with someone you like is no joke. Maybe she felt betrayed. Knowing how weak her heart is, it could be the reason. She can’t bear to see you together,” Theo said.
Stan beat Cade to a pulp when he was jealous of him. He liked Elsie, but he couldn’t say it. Stan must have been frustrated. It was unacceptable that Cade announced their relationship so easily. But Stan had a sound mind. He wouldn’t allow his emotions to control him. Lily was in the same situation, but she was not as tough as Stan. There was a higher chance of emotional instability.
“Don’t ever say that to Elsie. She might blame herself. Keep that idea to yourself,” Cade replied.
Stan approached them and said, “Lily was murdered.”
“Don’t say that to ease Elsie’s pain. Don’t give her false hope,” Cade said.
“I have evidence.”
“Okay. Let’s hear it.”
They gathered around Elsie and delivered the news.
“Elsie. I’m not sure if this is good news or bad. Lily was killed by someone we don’t know yet,” Stan said.
“Are you sure?”
“Look at Lily’s handwriting. The lines were not as straight as she usually write them. It means she was nervous when she wrote that. She was afraid. My guess is someone forced her to write it down,” Stan explained.
“That’s not enough evidence, Stan.”
“I’m not done, Curt. Look at this.” Stan showed them the Math problems he solved.
“I’m more amazed by how you solved 22 items in 20 minutes, Stan,” Theo said.
“When I arranged the letters of the right answer, I formed this sentence.”
The sentence said, ‘Bring her to me or you’ll die.’
“That’s a coincidence. We can’t rely on that,” Cade said.
“They murdered her because of me?” Elsie’s voice cracked.
“No. Listen. If they want you, they could’ve kidnapped you like they always do,” Cade protested.
“They can’t kidnap me because I’m with you! Now they killed my best friend because I’m not showing up. My safety requires the death of another…” Elsie walked out with a blank expression.
“Look what you did, Stan. You made her overthink. You’re so eager to turn suicide into murder and your intelligence can always turn someone into a murderer if you wanted to. But this time, your riddles are not helping. What kind of murderer has the time to create puzzles?” Cade ran to find Elsie.
“The kind who kills for fun,” Stan uttered.
Elsie wandered into the street and almost got hit by a truck. Her skin was pale and her eyes were lost. People stared at her as she laughed and cried randomly. She explored the woods and found an enormous house. Dry leaves covered the roof and wild vines crawled on the walls.
Haunted houses fascinated Lily though she was a scaredy-cat. It was one of her bucket lists to visit one, but Elsie would always stop her because she might have some nightmares about it. The thought of it crumpled her heart even more.
“Elsie…” She heard soft voices calling her name.
“Lily… Is that you? I know you’re there. Stop this prank now.” Elsie stepped closer to the empty house.
“Elsie…”
“Elsie.” Someone held her wrist.
“Let’s go home,” Cade pleaded.
“Where exactly is home?” she whispered.
“Somewhere safe.”
Elsie pointed at the wooden house. “That’s my home… where Lily is. She’s been waiting for me.”
Cade held her hands as tears fell from his eyes. “Elsie. Lily may not be with us in the flesh, but she’s watching you.”
“What do you mean, not in flesh? I told you she’s here. You believe me, right?”
He cupped her face. “Elsie, please get a grip.” His voice trembled. “Lily is my friend, too. My pain may not be as deep as yours, but I cherished her. You’re not the only one who lost her. I don’t want to lose you too.”
The sight of Lily’s lifeless body brought a traumatic memory to Cade. It was the same way his mother died. Mrs. Robertson was locked in a mental institution. Cade requested to take her home on his 8th birthday and celebrate with her. On that same day, her Mom killed herself.
Elsie shoved his hand away. “Leave me alone.” She marched inside the house while Cade stood helplessly.
Stan and Theo came not long after.
“Where is she?” Stan asked.
“Inside.”
“You left her alone in that creepy-looking house? Good job.” Stan immediately ran in search of Elsie.
Theo paired with Cade as they entered the place. The only lights that they could rely on were the rays of the sun coming through the little cracks in the house. Their every step made a screeching sound. Theo couldn’t stop himself from holding onto Cade’s arms.
“Should we really do this? Elsie’s not a kid anymore, you know. She can handle—” Theo jumped when a spider web caught his arm, “herself.”
“Elsie!” Cade called out as he went upstairs.
“Wait for me, Cade! I mean Curt…”
A gunshot made them stop.
“What was that?” Theo asked.
“M-Maybe a hunter. They often hunt for wild animals in this area,” Cade replied. It was what he wanted to believe.
“Why is this house so wide? Are we in a maze or something?”
Old paintings hung in the hallway, almost falling out. A broken mirror was displayed near the window. Their footsteps left a mark on the dusty floor. Tattered and dirty curtains waved when the mild wind passed by.
“Help…”
They gasped.
“D-did you hear that?” Theo asked.
“N-no.”
“Don’t lie to my face, Cade,” Theo blurted.
“Help.”
A shadow emerged at the end of the hallway.
“Someone’s coming!” Theo pulled Cade’s shirt. “Let’s get out of here!”
As the shadow got closer, Cade’s vision became clearer.
“Wait. Elsie?”
Elsie was trembling in fear. Her hands were covered in blood.
“S-Stan… Stan is bleeding.”
“What? Where is he?”
Elsie led them to the bathroom. But no one was there.
“He was here. I saw him with my own eyes lying there. H-He was shot.”
The red liquid was visible on the cracked tiles.
“Cade. Look.” Theo referred to the mirror. Words were written with blood.
‘Everyone will die.’