Chapter Five

"A strange thing happened! The diary went missing last night!" Verdell stated as soon as Hugo arrived at school.

The previous night, he stayed up only to read the copies of Dr. Frost's diary that Verdell had given him. He was never interested in any crimes or their investigation like Verdell was. But he was interested in Mary Frost, the psychiatrist's case.

Rhea intrigued him. That was why he always wanted to know more about her, not because he had any romantic feelings for her. It was something Hugo reminded himself again and again since the first day they met.

Dr. Frost's diary included details about all her patients and what she thought about them. She wrote more about Rhea than anyone else. She made all about Rhea's behavior clear but held back one thing. She wrote Rhea wanted something from her, but it was dangerous, so she never did it. It was related to the accident of Rhea's father, which killed him. Dr. Frost did not make it clear exactly what she wanted.

Hugo noticed another thing. The fact that Rhea was a psychopath was based on Dr. Frost's imagination only. It was not like she showed much of a sign, except for acting cold. Acting cold was not the same thing as showing signs of psychotic behaviors. Dr. Frost relied more on her feelings than what truly was happening, not a sign of a good psychiatrist.

"Are you listening to me?" Verdell asked, hitting him with his elbow.

"Yes, continue."

"Then, we searched for it everywhere. It was on the table, but after Rhea left, it was nowhere to be found!"

"You are taking it too far. Mrs. Morrison was there and we were there too. If she took it, we would have seen it."

"It's not the end of it. We found it this morning, under the couch."

"There you go. Maybe it fell and then, someone kicked it unknowingly," Hugo said. "Just because you didn't find it for a moment doesn't mean she took it."

"I still don't trust that girl."

Rhea came to school as usual. Hugo did not see her doing anything out of the ordinary. She was quiet as she usually was and talked to the blonde girl a bit, although she did not initiate it as usual.

"You are looking at Rose again."

'So, her name is Rose. I keep forgetting the name of my so-called crush.'

"What if I am looking at someone else?" Hugo asked.

"Rhea? Pfft, stop joking!"

Hugo did not understand which part of his words sounded like a joke. As far as he could remember, he had never truly joked about anything. Verdell and Clara knew it, but even the possibility of someone looking at Rhea for so long without any judgment felt impossible to them.

Hugo did not bother to press the fact that he was truly looking at the girl they called weird and freaky. Because if he did, there would be a question. And he did not know the answer.

After school, Verdell wanted to follow Rhea back to her house. Hugo refused and told him not to do it as it was something a stalker would do.

"What's so wrong about it? It will be just for today," Verdell said.

"No," Hugo shook his head immediately. "There is no way I am stalking her and letting someone stalk her. Do you know how creepy this is?"

"I don't see the problem though," Clara said, licking her hair again.

"Stop licking your hair. It's gross," Hugo said disgustedly and stood away from Clara. "And why are you agreeing with him? It's not like you will join him. Oh, look, your boyfriend is waiting."

"He is just a friend," Clara said.

"With benefits," Verdell added. "Go, go, he is gonna come over. I don't like him."

Verdell hated him because he once beat Verdell up. He was way too big for his age, so not many could stand up to him during a fight.

"You hate him only because you are weak," Clara said. "He is good in bed."

"Shut up and just go."

"Whatever," Clara grumbled and left.

"Now, listen, Hugo. You can leave, but I am gonna follow her. This time, I will find out who Dr. Frost's murderer is."

"It's not her," Hugo said.

"How are you so sure? Oh, she is going, look."

Verdell followed her. Hugo reluctantly did the same. If it was the usual time, he would not have been able to go with Verdell. It was not because of his refusal, but because of his practice. He was a member of the basketball club. He got injured during their last match, so he was out of the squad for the time being.

She did not take the bus. If she did, Hugo would have seen her since he always took the bus. His father once mentioned that Rhea had motion sickness. So, even if her house was quite far from school, she walked all the way.

They followed her for ten minutes without a word. She turned to check twice. Both times Hugo had to pull Verdell so they would not be noticed.

Another guy was going in the same direction as her. He was ahead of them. They did not pay much attention to him because that guy perhaps was on his way somewhere.

"The forest starts here. It creeps me out. You know, Dad says to stay away from that one forest. Twenty years ago, there was a mass murder…"

"Sorry to break it to you, but your target is going exactly there," Hugo said, pointing to their front.

Verdell cursed under his breath. The last thing he wanted to do was go inside that forest. "Nah, man, Imma out of here," Verdell said. "I ain't going in."

Hugo had his eyes fixed on the front. "Yeah, alright. You go ahead. I will come soon," Hugo said, not taking his eyes off.

"What are you looking at? Where will you go?"

"Don't worry. I have seen a stray cat. I will catch it and go soon."

"A cat?" Verdell repeated, squinting his face.

Verdell was allergic to furry animals, no matter what it was. It was quite serious, so he kept his distance from them.

"Alright then. Don't stay for too long and wash yourself after that," he said. "Give me a text after you go home."

"Got it," Hugo said. "You act like my mom."

"I need to make sure you are alive, man!"

Hugo quickly went in the same direction as Rhea while Verdell watched. Verdell left after a minute or so.

He was anxious. He did not have to run much to catch up to Rhea… and the man who was following her inside the forest.

"Rhea!" he called out. It was the first time he called out her name so loudly and more importantly, to the person herself.

Rhea turned, and so did the man. Rhea took a look between the man and Hugo. "… Hugh?"

Hugo flinched, not just because she said his name wrong, but primarily because she said his name in the first place. He almost stopped breathing. He regained his composure quickly and jogged to her.

"You left your biology book in the class," he said.

"You came all the way to give me that?" she asked. "Besides…"

"Rhea, can we talk while walking? I need to talk to you," he said.

Hugo took another look at the man who was walking away slowly with his eyes fixed on Rhea and him. There was clear vengeance in his eyes. It was the same look someone would give if another person ruined something for them.