Rina's POV
The air in the house felt thick, as if it was charged with electricity. The news of Maurice's murder hung over us like a dark cloud, and I could feel the weight of it pressing down on my shoulders. I had always prided myself on being the big sister in this house, the one everyone turned to for support and guidance. But right now, I felt like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, peering into an abyss of uncertainty.
We gathered in the living room, the usual vibrant space now eerily silent. The walls, once filled with laughter and the sounds of camaraderie, now seemed to echo with our collective anxiety. I glanced around the room, taking in the faces of my housemates—each one etched with fear and confusion.
"Okay, everyone," I said, trying to keep my voice steady, “we need to talk about what happened to Ms. Maurice. We can’t just sit here and wait for things to unfold. We have to take action.”
The group nodded, but I could see the trepidation in their eyes. Yona, usually so lively and full of energy, sat with her hands clasped tightly in her lap, her gaze fixed on the floor. Dave was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, a frown etched on his brow. The twins, Chloe and Chorie, exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of worry and determination. It was clear that everyone was on edge, and I knew that I needed to instill some sense of purpose in them.
“Let’s start by sharing what we know,” I continued, looking around the room. “I think we should divide ourselves into smaller groups to investigate. We can’t afford to miss anything.”
“What if Zeria overhears us?” Dave interjected, his voice low. “She seems to have this knack for appearing right when we’re talking about sensitive stuff.”
“Exactly,” I said, nodding in agreement. “That’s why we need to be careful. Zeria may not be who she says she is. We’ve all felt that strange vibe from her, right? We need to keep our eyes peeled and be discreet.”
“But what if she’s innocent?” Yona asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “What if we’re just misjudging her? I mean, she’s been helpful in our searches and has been with us ever since Maurice...”
“Helpful or suspicious?” I snapped, perhaps harsher than intended. “This isn’t the time to be naive, Yona. People are dead. We can’t let our guard down just because she’s been kind to us.”
The room fell silent, the weight of my words sinking in. I felt a pang of guilt for raising my voice, but the fear that had gripped us all was too overwhelming to ignore. Yona’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, and I instantly regretted my tone. I knew that my role as the big sister wasn’t just about authority; it was about understanding and compassion as well.
“Let’s just focus on gathering facts,” I suggested, softening my tone. “We need to stay united, regardless of our suspicions.”
The twins nodded, and Dave uncrossed his arms. “What’s our first step, Rina?” he asked.
“First, I want everyone to split up and talk to the other housemates. We need to gather any information they might have about Maurice’s last days. Did she mention anything unusual? Did she act differently?” I looked at each of them, gauging their reactions. “We need to gather evidence that can help us understand what led to her death.”
“Are we really going to question everyone?” Chorie asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty. “What if they get defensive?”
“Then we’ll handle it. We need to know what’s happening in this house. I refuse to let paranoia drive us apart,” I said, my heart pounding in my chest. “We can meet back here in an hour and share what we find. Until then, keep it casual. Nobody should suspect we’re investigating.”
With that, we split up. I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of anxiety and determination. I headed toward the kitchen, hoping to find Christy there. She was always up for a chat, and I knew she might have picked up on something I hadn’t.
When I walked into the kitchen, I found Christy sitting at the table, surrounded by scattered recipe books. She looked up as I entered, her brow furrowing slightly. “Hey, Rina. What’s up?”
“Just checking in,” I said, taking a seat across from her. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m fine,” she replied, but I could see the strain in her eyes. “I’ve been trying to keep my mind busy with cooking, but it’s hard to concentrate with everything that’s happening.”
“I know the feeling,” I said softly. “Listen, I need your help. Have you noticed anything odd around the house lately? Anything about Ms. Maurice before…”
Before I could finish, Christy shook her head. “Not really. She seemed fine, always busy with her work. But she did mention something strange to me a few days ago.”
“Strange? What do you mean?” My heart raced as I leaned in closer.
“She was talking about how the house had this dark energy lately, like something was off. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but now…” Christy’s voice trailed off, and I could see the fear in her eyes.
“Do you remember what she said exactly?” I asked, feeling a chill run down my spine.
“She just kept saying that the walls have ears, and we should be careful about who we trust,” Christy said, her voice shaking slightly.
“Walls have ears…” I murmured, thinking about Zeria. “That’s unsettling. Did she mention anyone specific?”
“No, she didn’t. But she was really stressed. I thought maybe it was just work-related. She had a lot on her plate with the funding for the scholarship program,” Christy replied, glancing at the scattered recipe books as if they might provide answers.
“Thanks, Christy. That’s really helpful,” I said, though I felt the weight of dread settle deeper in my stomach. “Keep an eye out for anything else, okay? We need all the information we can get.”
“Of course. You too, Rina. Be careful,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.
As I left the kitchen, I headed towards the common room, hoping to catch Leon. He always had a keen sense for things, and I needed his insight. When I entered, I found him working on a project, wood shavings scattered across the floor. He looked up as I approached, a welcoming smile on his face.
“Hey, Rina! What’s going on?” he asked, wiping his hands on his apron.
“I wanted to talk to you about Maurice,” I said, taking a seat on a nearby stool. “Have you noticed anything unusual lately?”
Leon hesitated, his brow furrowing in thought. “Well, now that you mention it, I did see her acting a bit strange. She was in a hurry one day, and I overheard her talking to someone on the phone. She sounded really upset.”
“Upset? About what?” I asked, leaning forward.
“I couldn’t catch the whole conversation, but she kept mentioning something about ‘the future’ and ‘not letting anyone down.’ I figured it was just work stress,” he said, his eyes narrowing as he recalled the memory.
“Do you remember who she was talking to?” I pressed, hoping for more details.
“No, I didn’t catch that part. But it sounded serious. I thought maybe it was just about her political duties,” he replied, shrugging. “But now that I think about it, it felt more personal than that.”
“Thanks, Leon. That’s really helpful,” I said, feeling a mixture of unease and gratitude. “If you hear anything else, please let me know. We need to piece together what we can.”
“Will do. And Rina…” He paused, looking serious. “Be careful. Something feels off about this whole situation.”
“I will. We all need to stay vigilant,” I said, standing up. “Let’s meet back in an hour to share what we’ve found.”
As I left the common room, I felt a knot of anxiety tighten in my stomach. Every conversation seemed to lead me deeper into a web of uncertainty, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that Zeria was somehow at the center of it all. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as I recalled the way she had seamlessly integrated herself into our lives. Was she truly as innocent as she appeared, or was she hiding something sinister?
I made my way to the study, where I hoped to find Mitch. He had a knack for noticing the small things that others often overlooked. I found him hunched over a stack of papers, furiously scribbling notes. When he noticed me, he looked up, surprise flickering across his face.
“Hey, Rina! What’s up?” he said, shoving the papers aside to give me his full attention.
“I wanted to ask you about Maurice. Have you noticed anything strange in the house?” I inquired, crossing my arms as I leaned against the desk.
Mitch shrugged, his brow furrowed. “Not really, but I did overhear something interesting. Zeria was talking to someone on the phone late at night a few days ago. She sounded… tense.”
“Tense? What was she saying?” I pressed, intrigued.
“I didn’t catch all the details, but it sounded like she was discussing something important, like plans or something that needed to happen soon,” Mitch said, looking thoughtful. “I just thought it was weird because it was so late.”
“Did she mention who she was talking to?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Nope. She was careful not to say names,” Mitch replied, shaking his head. “But it definitely felt off. I thought maybe it was just her being secretive.”
“Thanks, Mitch. That could be a crucial piece of information,” I said, my mind racing as I considered the implications. “Let’s regroup in an hour and share what we’ve all found.”
“Will do. Just be careful, okay? I don’t trust Zeria,” Mitch said, a serious look in his eyes.
“I won’t let my guard down,” I promised, though I couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that had settled over me.
As I left the study, I decided to check in with Suzy. She was often overlooked but had a keen eye for detail. I found her in her room, organizing her collection of books. When I knocked, she looked up, a smile lighting up her face.
“Hey, Rina! What’s up?” she asked, her enthusiasm a welcome distraction.
“I’m just checking in. Have you noticed anything strange around the house lately?” I asked, taking a seat on the edge of her bed.
Suzy’s smile faded slightly as she thought. “Well, now that you mention it, I did see Zeria in the hallway talking to someone. They seemed really serious, but I couldn’t hear what they were saying.”
“Who was she talking to?” I asked, leaning in closer.
“I didn’t catch a name, but it was late at night, and they were whispering,” Suzy replied, her brows knitted together. “It felt secretive, like they didn’t want anyone to know.”
“Thank you, Suzy. That’s important to know,” I said, feeling the urgency of our situation pressing down on me. “Let’s all meet back in the common room soon to share what we’ve found.”
“Okay! And Rina… be careful, alright? I don’t like this feeling,” Suzy said, her eyes wide with concern.
“I will,” I assured her, leaving her room with a heavy heart.
As I made my way back to the common room, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched, that every step I took was under scrutiny. Zeria had a way of blending in, and it terrified me. The more I thought about it, the more I felt like we were being drawn into her web of deceit.
When I entered the common room, I found the rest of the housemates gathered, their expressions serious. I took a deep breath and gathered my thoughts.
“Alright, everyone,” I began, standing at the center of the room. “Let’s share what we’ve discovered. We need to figure out what’s happening before it’s too late.”
As we took turns recounting our findings, I felt the tension in the room rise. Each revelation seemed to add another layer of complexity to the situation, weaving a tapestry of mistrust among us. Zeria’s name came up often, and I could feel the anxiety bubbling just beneath the surface.
When we finished sharing, I looked around at my housemates. “So, what do we do now?” I asked, my voice steady despite the chaos swirling inside me.
“I think we need to confront Zeria,” Dave said, his voice firm. “We can’t keep waiting for her to slip up.”
“What if she denies everything?” Yona chimed in, her eyes wide with worry. “What if we make it worse?”
“We can’t just sit back and hope she’s innocent. We need to find out what she knows,” I insisted, feeling a fire ignite within me. “If we confront her together, we’ll have strength in numbers. We can’t let her intimidate us.”
“I agree with Rina,” Mitch said, his expression serious. “We need to take control of the situation before it spirals out of hand.”
As we discussed our plan of action, I felt a sense of urgency wash over me. We couldn’t let Zeria continue her charade while we stood idly by. The fear of Maurice’s murder loomed large, and I could sense that we were running out of time.
With our plan set, I led the group towards Zeria’s room, my heart pounding in my chest. The corridor felt long and treacherous, each step echoing in my ears. I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were walking into a trap, but there was no turning back now.
When we reached Zeria’s door, I paused, glancing back at my housemates. “Ready?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
They nodded, their expressions a mix of determination and apprehension. I took a deep breath and knocked firmly on the door.
“Zeria! We need to talk!” I called out, trying to sound confident even as my heart raced.
A moment of silence passed before Zeria’s voice floated through the door. “What is it?”
“We know what you’ve been up to, and we need answers,” I replied, my voice steady.
There was a pause, and then the door creaked open. Zeria stood there, her expression a mask of confusion and feigned innocence. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb with us,” I snapped, my patience wearing thin. “We know you’ve been talking to someone, and we need to know what’s going on.”
Zeria’s eyes narrowed, but she maintained her calm demeanor. “I don’t know what you’re referring to. I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“We’ve all seen you acting suspiciously,” Chloe added, stepping forward. “You were talking to someone late at night. Who were you talking to?”
Zeria crossed her arms, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face. “I don’t have to answer your questions. This is ridiculous.”
“Is it ridiculous, or are you just afraid of what we might find out?” I challenged, feeling a surge of courage. “We need to know if you’re involved in Maurice’s murder.”
At the mention of Maurice’s name, Zeria’s demeanor shifted slightly, her composure faltering for a brief moment. “I had nothing to do with that! You can’t just accuse me without proof!”
“Then help us find the truth,” I urged, desperate to crack the facade she had built around herself. “If you’re innocent, prove it.”
She hesitated, her gaze flickering to the floor. “I… I don’t know anything about her murder. I came here to help, not to hurt anyone.”
“Then why were you talking to someone in secret?” Dave pressed, his voice firm.
Zeria opened her mouth to respond but seemed to think better of it. The tension in the air thickened, and I could sense the walls closing in around us. “I’ll help you,” she finally said, her voice quiet. “But I need you to trust me.”
“Trust is earned, Zeria,” I replied, my voice unwavering. “If you want us to trust you, you need to start being honest with us.”
With that, we entered her room, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were venturing into the lion’s den. As we settled in, I made a mental note to keep my guard up. Whatever happened next, I knew we were entering a dangerous game, and I wasn’t sure we would all come out unscathed.
The investigation had officially begun, and the truth was waiting just beneath the surface.