Ch. 9

Nathan covered Merida's eyes as fast as he can when he saw Paris pulled the trigger to her head.

"NO!" Roy shouted but it was too late.

Paris' dead body slumped down the ground, with her blood spreading to the tiled floors.

It was silent for a moment. Until Roy had himself composed once again.

But he can't shake the feeling that it was his fault she died. He knew about what happened to her and Timothy, but maybe because he's getting desperate on capturing the murderer, he's been pointing guns at innocent people.

"Have this place cleaned, take her to the morgue until we informed her relatives." Roy instructed with a shaky low voice and left the area.

The Police Officers silently obliged, even the other mortified workers resumed their works hesitantly as if they are guilty for ignoring what just happened.

Nathan and Merida slowly stood up and was approached by another Police Officer, "We... will try and contact you as soon as possible, take a rest for now." He said and left.

And so the two slowly stood up and left the station.

Merida was still shaking, she didn't know what to do.

"Hey... Are you alright? Did you saw..." Nathan asked worriedly.

"Are all of this happening because of Timothy? So many people died already... H-How... Why?" She asked and cried while staring at her hands.

Nathan embraced Merida and tapped her back, "It's not Timothy's fault... The guy did some bad things but this is no one but that Murderer's fault. Trust the Detective that he'll find whoever that was." After that he let go of Merida to wipe her tears.

"Okay? Now calm down and let's just leave the place." Nathan dragged her while walking her hand.

"Nath... I don't think we should just be so dependent on the Detective." Merida said that made the both of them stop once again.

Nathan looked at her to listen, "I mean, I don't want to be helpless too. And I don't want to hear about someone dying as well... being alone won't be the best move right now, if we're in a group we could fight back if ever the murderer is after us."

"I understand that but... we can't force the others to cooperate with us." Nathan replied but a thought came to his mind.

"Nevermind that, I think I can do something about it... leave it to me for now, just rest we'll talk about it tomorrow." He changed his mind making Merida nod and went to continue their way back home.

The next day, Merida waited outside of Justin's house determined to do something.

And when Justin came out of his house, he was quite shocked to see her waiting. That time they walked to school, it was a mere coincidence caused by them living next to each other.

"Hey Merida." Justin greeted her after he composed himself acting like nothing was wrong.

"Why are you avoiding me?" Merida asked without beating around the bush that made Justin taken aback.

But he still tried the 'I don't know what you're talking about' tactic, "I don't know what you're talking about." He said with a chuckle as he passed by her and went on ahead.

"Don't make me a fool Justin!" Merida shouted with shaky voice on the verge of crying.

Justin stopped and looked at her.

"You think I'm already fine with my boyfriend dying on me like that? You think I'm fine with the murderer on the loose? What if they came after you? What am I going to do then? You're my best friend... I need you." She didn't held the tears from her eyes any longer, they all fell down her cheek.

"Don't you have Nathan with you?" Justin asked coldly, but deep inside... it's killing him to see Merida cry to him like that.

She always seem so strong, as if no one can crumble her strong will... but here she was crying in front of him.

"What did Nathan have to do with this? He's also my friend... he was there to comfort me as well but seeing you avoiding me so suddenly, I can't help but be hurt. If you're jealous with Nathan taking your place... aren't you being childish?" Now Merida is mad at him for that question.

But it made Justin realize that he was being childish. Even if Merida don't love him back, he should still be there for her at least as her best friend.

And so his eyes soften and he slowly approached Merida to an embrace.

Where she continued to cry on his chest, "I'm sorry Merida if I somehow hurt you before... I'm here now... don't worry." Justin stroked Merida's wavy brown hair while she held him tighter.

At school, Nathan was waiting outside of Bryan's classroom before the class starts, leaning on the side of the door.

Bryan immediately approached him as soon as he saw the third year student.

"What are you doing here?" Bryan asked coldly with a low deep voice.

"I want to talk to you later at lunch." And with that Nathan walked away.

This is how Bryan come and get Nathan from his room, and Nathan imitating him irked Bryan a bit. Much like his mocking him.

Or he's just reading too much into it.

Bryan went back to his seat thinking, what was it that Nathan wanted to talk to him about? It's not like Nathan will help him in his pursuit of the murderer. Though he have zero progress on it.

"Hey so deep in thoughts." Ken Sander said, the man he was talking with on the stairs at the party.

"Nah it's nothing." Bryan said while Ken sat down.

Ken wasn't suspected as one of the possible suspects, since he's with Bryan the whole time... and he arrived at the party late and just came that time Bryan approached him.

"Come on... I know that you're still thinking about that murderer, but look at those possible suspects listed... though I don't know how the list was leaked, probably Hailey's gossiping habits but look at those two women who's fighting a few days earlier... Their dead. Take care of yourself too bro." Ken said the-matter-of-fact.

And it got Bryan thinking some more.