Chapter three

Stella's POV

Kate looked pale and sick when I reached her apartment.

" Kate, are you alright?" I asked, concerned. It was unusual to see her like that.

" I need to show you something, but I must warn you that it won't be pretty," my friend replied, and I felt cold sweat rolling down my back. What could be so bad that she felt the need to warn me?

" I came across the video recently released on the internet," Kate spoke again, and I raised my brow. Why would I be interested in seeing a video?

" Come with me."

We entered her small living room, where her laptop was on the sofa.

" I was surfing through the darknet," Kate said, looking at me with concern. She was the type of woman who watched the documentary about serial killers to sleep better, so I was not surprised by her words.

" Kate, I am not in the mood," my voice was dull. I only wanted to go home, take some pills to help me sleep and forget about the last events at least for a couple of hours.

" I found this," my friend turned her laptop so the screen faced me.

My heart skipped a beat. I recognised the room immediately. It was the same room where Adriana was found dead. But now, on the video, she was still alive.

" Are you sure? " My sister's voice was clean and strong, as she looked at someone hidden behind the camera.

" It will help you relax, " I heard a male voice, but could not think of any of her friends who sounded like that.

" Bottoms up," Adrianna giggled, and drank the liquid in the cup.

" Good girl. After this, you won't be so uptight," the same male's voice replied, but I also heard muffled laughter in the background. They were not alone there!

Kate paused the video. " It is getting ugly from now on. Are you sure you want to see it?"

I gave her a stiff nod. I had to see it. Someone was there with my sister. Why did they not help her?

Kate exhaled and pressed play again. The video glitched, and next I saw my sister still on the bed, but she seemed already under the influence of what she had drunk. She kept looking around, as if searching for something.

" Adriana, what is going on?" I heard another voice, this time it belonged to a female.

" I don't feel good," my sister replied, barely able to focus. She glanced at her hands, and I noticed that they were shaking.

" Tabs are kicking in," another male laughed. How many people were there?

" I am dizzy, I want to go home," my sister said, her voice much weaker this time. She had a problem with speaking.

" Don't be such a buzzkill," someone commented, and laughter filled the background again.

" My heart is pounding. Please help me." I looked away upon hearing the plea in Adriana's voice. She looked scared. " Ralf, I think I am going to pass out."

Ralf? Who was Ralf? I have never heard my sister talking about anyone with that name.

" Stop overreacting," The male from the beginning of the video replied coldly.

I watched Adriana lean back and fall on the bed. Her eyes were open, as I remembered when the police found her.

" Is she breathing?" Someone asked in the background. Silence filled the room.

" Go and check."

" You can go and check if you want."

" Screw it. I am getting the fu*k out of here." The video ended. I glanced at Kate, who was studying my face carefully.

" Can you get it on CD for me?" I asked slowly. My friend nodded and placed the laptop on her knees.

" What do you want to do with that?" She asked without looking at me.

" I will take it to the police. Now, they will have proof that Adriana was not alone there. Those people made her drink and then left her without help. Police will have to listen to me now.

Kate pulled out a CD and placed it in a plastic box. " I hope that will help."

We hugged each other, and I left shortly after.

Now, all I had to do was get to the police station and show them the video. It was the proof I needed. Adriana did not overdose. She was a victim of a cruel joke that cost her life, and I was determined to make those people pay for it.

I have reached the police station in less than twenty minutes. One of the officers took me to the chief.

" My name is Stella Sanders. My sister Adriana was found dead a couple of days ago."

Chief Murphy glanced at me and typed something on his computer.

" Yes, overdose. My condolences. Is there anything I can do for you?"

" My sister did not overdose. At least not by choice."

" It is rarely happening by choice," Chief Murphy replied, fixing his glasses on his nose.

" She was given the drugs." I shook my head and pulled the CD out. " My friend found it on the internet."

I placed the disc on the desk. Murphy shot me a surprised look and took the CD with hesitation. He placed it inside the drive, and soon I heard my sister's voice.

We spent another couple of minutes in silence as he watched the record.

" I see," he finally mumbled. " I will keep this as evidence, and we will reopen the case."

" Thank you," I replied, standing up.

" I will keep you informed." Chief Murphy shook my hand, and I left his office.

On the way out, I stopped at the bathroom.

I heard Murphy's voice when I was about to open the door.

" Get rid of it, and make sure the video will disappear from the internet. No one can find out about that. We do not need problems."

I stopped breathing. What the hell was happening?

I leaned against the wall, waiting for the chief to walk away.

I left the police station utterly confused. Why does Murphy try to sweep everything under the rug?

I put my hands in my pockets to keep them warm and found something inside. It was the piece of paper our regular gave me.

' If you need help...' I read the words.

I needed help, desperately.

I dialled the number with shaking hands.