LOGINI didn't speak to Lizzie again that night.The next day, after finishing my second day of testing, I accompanied her to the police station. She stood frozen at the entrance for a long time, unable to bring herself to cross the threshold.I didn't rush her. I simply stood by her side. After about five minutes, Lizzie took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and walked inside.I waited outside for nearly an hour.When Lizzie finally came out, her eyes were swollen and red, but her posture was visibly lighter, as if a massive weight had been lifted off her shoulders. "Done?" I asked. She nodded. "The cops said I won't face criminal charges since I turned myself in voluntarily and cooperated with the investigation.""Good."I turned and walked toward the bus stop, and Lizzie trailed quietly behind me. The bus was nearly empty. We sat side by side in silence.As we neared home, Lizzie suddenly broke the quiet. "Mike, don't you hate me?"I looked out the window. "I do."She k
I stood outside the testing center gates, my phone clutched tightly in my hand. The midday sun beat down on me, yet a bone-deep chill crawled down my spine. Britney hadn't drugged Lizzie. So what had actually been in that glass of milk? Lizzie had sworn she drank it and immediately passed out, but Britney insisted she never brought her any milk. That meant Lizzie had lied to my face. I tightened my grip on the device until my knuckles turned white and my nails bit into my palm. By the time the afternoon college entrance exam session wrapped up, dusk was already painting the sky. Mom was waiting outside with a lunchbox in her hands."Where's Lizzie?""She said she wasn't feeling well and went home first."I took the lunchbox from Mom without a word.As we drove home, I stared blankly at the streetlights blurring past the car window. I couldn't shake the heavy, suffocating dread that my own sister had betrayed me. When we got back, I walked straight to Lizzie's bedroom door a
The sun had barely broken over the horizon when I stepped out of Sunny Grove. Standing by the roadside, I quickly checked my phone. There was still an hour before the college entrance exam started. I had just enough time.I sent a quick text to Mom. "Mom, I'm fine. I'll head straight to the test center from here."Then I called Dad. It rang for quite a while before he finally picked up. "Dad.""Where are you?" Dad's voice sounded tense. "I'm out taking care of something. Has Mr. Reid contacted you again?"A brief, heavy silence hung over the line. "No.""He won't be anymore. Britney's mom has already handed the police the audio recording of Duncan instructing Britney. Duncan will be taken into custody very soon."Dad went quiet for another long moment before asking, "Really?""Yeah."With that, I ended the call and hailed an approaching cab. Just as I got in, my phone buzzed in my hand. It was a message from that same unknown number. "Good job. But remember, Duncan
My heart sank.If Mr. Reid found Britney's mom, Betty Cole, first and promised to hire the best possible defense lawyer for Britney on the condition that she keep Duncan's name completely out of it, Britney would likely take the fall for everything. I immediately dialed Betty's number. It rang for a long time, but no one picked up. I tried calling again, but to no avail. I put my phone away. "Mom, I need to head out for a bit.""Where are you going? You have to take the exam later…""I'll be back before you know it."I sprinted out of the hotel lobby and hailed a cab at the curb. "Sunny Grove."The cab pulled up at the gates of Sunny Grove. I paid the fare, rushed inside, and rang Britney's doorbell.Silence.I pressed the doorbell button and held it down this time, refusing to let go. The door finally clicked open. Betty stood in the entryway, her eyes bloodshot and swollen, her hair a chaotic mess, wearing a coat thrown hastily over her pajamas. "What are you doing he
I stared at the message, my fingers frozen above the screen. The person who messaged me was the exact same person who had made the predictions in my workbook.Before I could process it, another message popped up. "Go check on the receptionist. She wouldn't have helped Britney without a reason."I stood up and went straight down to the lobby.Two security guards were holding the receptionist in a chair, her face completely pale. The police officers were standing over her, questioning her. "Did you give her the key card?"The receptionist kept her head down and said nothing."We already have the security footage, and Britney has confessed. Even if you don't talk now, you'll have to explain everything at the station."The receptionist finally looked up, her lips trembling. "I-I was forced to do it…""Who forced you?""I-It was Britney's boyfriend. He said his family has powerful connections. He threatened to ruin my career in the hotel industry if I didn't help him…""What did
I paired the camera with my phone. The moment the screen lit up, everyone in the hallway leaned in.Britney was still sitting on the bed, but she started backing away.The video started playing. At 2:03 am, I was fast asleep in bed. The door was closed, with the deadbolt clearly visible. No one knocked, and no one came in.Then the door opened. Britney stepped inside, holding a key card.Someone exclaimed, "Isn't that a hotel key card? How did she get his room key card?"The video continued playing. Britney walked over to my bed, messed up her hair, and deliberately tore a hole in the neckline of her shirt. Then, she lay down beside me and pulled the covers up over herself.Then the minutes ticked by in total silence. At daybreak, she abruptly sat up and let out a blood-curdling scream.The crowd fell dead silent.I glanced over at Britney.Her face had turned ashen, and she was trembling all over.I held my phone up so everyone could see the screen. "You let yourself into







