| C H A P T E R - 12 |

ANASTASIA:"Lara frowned in surprise, leaning forward in our favourite corner of the college cafeteria. Her curiosity was evident as she spoke, "She mentioned Oliver, Blakley, and Mia's names?"I hushed her, signalling to keep our conversation discreet. "We can't let people know just yet!"Lara joined me a few minutes ago while I was engrossed in the notes about the cases I'd been working on. I noticed the strange shades of pink on her cheeks as she walked in, but the workload didn't allow me to dwell on it.Our friendship had grown strong enough for me to trust her with the cases. I nodded, my heart heavy with what we had discovered in Miley's journal. "Yes, she did. Miley was brave to put her thoughts on paper," I sighed. "but sadly we couldn't save her."A pang of concern for Miley hit me. Where could she be? Was she safe? Was she even alive?Lara's puzzled expression mirrored the unspoken question in the air. "Then why hasn't David arrested them?"I shrugged, acknowledging the slow wheels of justice. "David's still working on the case. However, the notes we found in Miley's sister's room need to be verified to confirm if they are indeed hers. Moreover, considering Oliver's advantage and Russo's likely assistance, we must exercise patience. We can't act hastily until we have more concrete evidence," I explained. "I imagine David is meticulously piecing together all the evidence to ensure a solid case against them.""He better hurry with that," Lara replied, anger evident on her face. Though we had become good friends, there were still parts of her I wasn't aware of, and maybe someday she would think I was worthy enough to share. "I can't wait for the day when Oliver will be dragged behind bars."I agreed, sensing her personal grudge against him.The clock showed it was quarter past one, almost done with the first half of our classes. As we sat with our notebooks, deciphering any minute details that could help us, I remembered another enigma that tugged at my heart."By the way, do you know anything about Aurora and Jackson?" I asked Lara, unease creeping into my voice. Who were they, and why did Miley write about them? Were they victims of Oliver's bullying in the past? If so, where are they now? Are they really dead, or somehow alive? Maybe finding them could lead us somewhere.Her brow furrowed, memory seeking out information. "Aurora, Jackson? Not much, but I've heard their names mentioned in some old records. Although I have no idea who Jackson is, Aurora passed away in a tragic accident, right?"I shrugged, my urgency growing in the web of mysteries connecting Miley, Olivia, and Aurora. "Yes, that's what I've heard too. But the strange thing is, that Miley's journal mentions Aurora and Jackson being victims of Oliver. Preston wasn't their first," I said. "So maybe if we could find anything about them, we might discover a deeper connection we're missing."Understanding dawned on Lara's face. "I see your point."My determination remained unwavering. "Exactly. And Lara, I think we need more information about Miley, Olivia, Jackson, and Aurora to help David in this case."Lara leaned back thoughtfully, gazing at me, and her words offered a glimmer of hope. "Well, you're in luck, Ana. I think maybe I know someone who can help us."****After my last class for the day, I again found myself seated with Lara and Nandini in a nearby park. Nandini, one of Miley's fellow batchmates, had graciously agreed to assist us. She was a vision of beauty, with her sun-kissed skin, captivating cat-like eyes, a radiant smile, and hair that flowed like a dark waterfall. Sometimes, I couldn't help but admire the striking beauty of Indians.Despite being a super senior, Nandini didn't mind spending time with us. She had been one of those who were close to Miley. And with her sudden disappearance, she was deeply affected too."Did they find out what happened to Miley yet?" she asked.I nodded in a no, my expression grim. "David is still working on the case; it's hard to tell anything right away," I replied. "But her journal has given us a whole new perspective on this case, actually."Her brows frowned. I understood she had no idea about the journal, but I also know that being Miley's project partner, she was one of her closest friends. Maybe she could help us with this.Looking up at her, I said, "I need your help, Nandini.""Regarding?""Both, Olivia and Miley's case!"Nandini frowned. A little discomfort was shown on her face. "What could I possibly help you out with this?"I sighed. This is my last resort. So I gave my everything. "Look," I began, my expression grim with each passing second. "Both Olivia's and Miley's case had a possibility that it has something to do with The Falcon group and Oliver. We might not have enough proof to catch the culprit, but maybe with our help, if we really dig into the case, Oliver and the Falcon group can be caught.""Falcon group?" she asked. The horror in her eyes tells me that she knew something about them."Do you know them?""I, uh..." Her voice began to quiver.I placed my hands on hers as I requested with all my heart, "Please...."She kept quiet. The war between the truth and lie was clear on her face, and I silently prayed that she would agree to help us. If she really knew something about the Group, then it was just like the cherry on top.Finally, she sighed, with her answer. "Fine. Tell me what you want to know.""Everything," I replied with a sigh too. Thank God she agreed to help us. With determination, I asked, "Starting with the relationship of Miley with The Falcon group."She took a deep breath before starting."Miley was such a good student; she came here with a scholarship," Nandini remarked. "We shared a common history class, and from her records, she was indeed one of the good performers throughout her academic journey. But she couldn't top in her first semester. Not because she lacked, but because of the level of studies done in Preston. She wasn't aware of that.""But she didn't give up. With each passing day, she only got better. Chasing the top, she met Olivia, the topper of Preston. They became really close. Olivia, being from a rich family, often seemed to hang out with Miley. She tutored her, helped her to grow." She took a deep breath."Day by day, their bond only grew stronger. And within a few months, they became inseparable." She said. "During our projects, Miley always talked about how good Olivia was. We often felt like Miley had always secretly been in love with Olivia." She sighed, her voice tinged with sadness. "Olivia, too, seemed invested in her. But...""But?" I asked in curiosity."But unfortunately," she continued, "Mia's attention fell on them. Mia tends to destroy beautiful things. Anything that makes her feel insecure. Later, we all noticed Olivia suddenly started acting weird around Miley. She even stopped communicating with her completely.""Did you know what exactly happened to them?" Lara inquired."People say that Mia helped Olivia find out about Miley's secret crush on her, and then Olivia started avoiding her," Nandini explained. "Later, Miley was found following Mia and her friends. Mia claimed she took her in because she felt bad that Miley was always so lonely. But we all knew how she made Miley feel each day." Her brows knitted in concern. "I saw her always running behind them, doing their errands like a personal slave. Sometimes they laughed at how she would become clumsy due to all the chores."My curiosity was insatiable as I leaned in and posed another question. "And do you have any idea if Mia was involved in the Falcon Group?"Nandini shook her head in a solemn 'no.' "The Falcon group is an enigma, Ana. It's like they're shrouded in darkness. No one who's seen them is here on campus anymore. They only came once upon a time, like on a wild hunt. To select their play for the entire month and then they would vanish in thin air. Both the victim and the culprit."My brows furrowed, and I needed to understand more. "What do you mean?"Nandini explained with a tinge of apprehension, "The Falcon is a secret society in Preston, like a cult. And it's known as the most ruthless group, with rich and powerful people. People say no one has ever gone into it, or come out from it, at least not that anyone knows of. They always operate in the shadows. They pick the weakest students when they feel they need a muse. Take them to a place they call the 'playroom,' and... well, it's not a place for fun."What a horrific story!I leaned back, absorbing the chilling information. "Did you...?" I couldn't complete the sentence, but I was sure she got it."No, I haven't been taken yet. But I have heard," she replied. "Only the strong-hearted people survive the horrific torture."I frowned. "Do you know where this 'playroom' is?"Nandini thinned her lips as she shook her head. "No, and I don't want to know. That's the scariest place. It's like an elusive nightmare within our own campus, hidden away from our eyes, that everyone should avoid.""Have you ever seen Miley and Oliver around?" I asked another question, hoping for a positive answer. Anything that can help me find him as the culprit."Oliver?" Nandini asked in disbelief. She scoffed. "He would never let her come near him. He despises people he considers lower class than him," she completed with a mocking face. "But why do you ask?"I looked down, lost in deep thought. Miley's journal entries had wrapped us in bundles of loose ends. She mentioned a few names. And that somehow is still a question because, without any solid proof, it would be tough to catch them.That's what was so frustrating. Even with names, we are still behind. But she mentioned nine members, and the leader may or may not be Oliver. And I am damn sure that they have a hand in these four cases.But one thing was clear: Preston had been terrorized by these bullies. Lara, the pink-haired girl mentioned in Miley's journal, was no exception.But I haven't told that yet. That was her story to tell. One day, maybe she will."In Miley's journal, we found that she had been sexually assaulted. We are trying to find leads!" I explained without directly mentioning Oliver's name. "And she mentioned a few names along with The Falcon Group. One of them is Oliver."My heart quivered, thinking about what she might have been through with all this. "We need to find out the truth about her."Nandini's face contorted with anger, her words seething through gritted teeth. "Those... those bastards!" She muttered in a low voice, her eyes reflecting a morbid frustration. "I am damn sure Oliver and his gang have a hand in this, if not the Falcon group!""Calm down, we all feel the same way!" Lara tried to resonate. But she was far from calming down."The Falcon Group is like a cancer that's infested our campus for years," she began, her voice heavy with bitterness. "It's been years, Ana, and they've terrorized everyone, and no one's been able to put a stop to them. But it's always been a controversial topic, whether Oliver is a member of the secret group or not. But if you have the proof to show that he is the real culprit, I am sure the whole Preston would stand with you.""How are you so sure?" I countered."Oliver and his lackeys are trouble, and people suspect he is behind the founding of the Falcon Group, but regrettably, nobody knows the exact details. The group never came out of the shadows, leaving us with only assumptions. There are maybe more than fifty cases with the Falcon group reported so far. Some are missing, and some still struggling with life. And taking the opportunity to take a peek at Oliver's lifestyle, he is indeed a suitable candidate."Lara chimed in with conviction. "I'm certain too that it was Oliver and his henchmen. I've witnessed how they target weaker students. I believe, just like Mia mentioned, Oliver, Mia, and their crew are deeply involved."Something in her words holds a fire that is hard to ignore."Right," Nandini confirmed. "Oliver, Kevin, Sam, Shawn, Mia, Blakely, Gweneth, and Tony make up the group."I nodded, absorbing all the information. " If so, then we need to uncover the identity of the ninth member," I declared with unwavering determination.""That fuckers had lived so far!"My own voice was laced with frustration as I responded, "I share your anger and disgust. I just can't understand how they've evaded justice for all these years. How could they get away with it, and why hasn't anyone reported them to the police?"Nandini's expression grew grimmer as she explained, "It's not that we haven't tried, Ana. Case after case, we decided to take action. We filed a report with the police. But it was as if the evidence disappeared overnight. When the police showed up the next day, they found nothing. Even the victim denied everything. In the end, we only drew unwanted attention. And..."My curiosity was piqued, and I leaned in, urging her to continue. "And? What happened then?"Nandini hesitated, her voice trembling as she spoke. "Mia made sure we would never dare to go against her," she whispered, her gaze fixed on her wrists. Slowly, she rolled up her sleeves, revealing the scars of burns etched into her skin, the painful reminders of her past. "I got this last year when we tried to stand against one of our friends, Malyshka. In the end, she attempted suicide."I closed my eyes, tears welling up, as I was confronted with the stark evidence of the cruelty these people were capable of. It was a chilling revelation, and I couldn't help but pray for my father's swift return. As one of the leaders of this town, I knew he would have the power to confront this darkness head-on."Ana," Nandini's voice trailed off, carrying a hint of concern. "I know you have a kind and brave heart. Also, you are probably the first one to take a step against them, and somehow, your background has made you stronger than any of us. But..." She paused, lost in thought. "But please, make sure you're careful at all times."I nodded, acknowledging her warning. I understood that even though I had the courage to stand up against them, and they might think twice before targeting me, I wasn't entirely safe. Falcon Group's obsession with power could drive them to unpredictable lengths. And to expose the culprits, I might have to work twice as hard as I initially thought."Also," Nandini continued, "there was another controversial topic that suggested Lorenzo and Mark might be involved with the group.""That's absurd!" Lara retorted. "Mark and Lorenzo have always been on the opposite side of Oliver's team, and I'm confident they wouldn't be part of such a group."Nandini shrugs. "I am not saying they could be a part of it. But," Her voice trailed off. Discomfort and lines are shown on her forehead, "I have heard they were once taken and had come back. People gossip that they made a deal with the Falcon group, and that is why Mia is more after Enzo."I listened to her."A part of it could be true. Or not. But the way Oliver hates both Jonas brothers seems equally vulnerable."Everything felt utterly and completely twisted right now. The deeper I dug, the more I discovered the corruption that had seeped into this place, with no one willing to be a saviour. The discussion about Miley didn't shed as much light as I had hoped. Nandini had once been close to Miley, but she seemed to have ignored her existence after Mia came into the picture. I partially understood that all Miley had done was to protect them—both Olivia and Nandini. Miley had endured all the pain alone, only to meet a tragic end like this.And if Mia, Oliver, Kevin, and Blakley really are part of the Falcon Group, then we must uncover the identities of the other five members, especially their leader.Even though Lara is certain that Lorenzo and Mark weren't involved, we can't disregard the fact that Lorenzo is being feared as another bully on campus. Or that Mark is a completely mysterious student among all of us. So we should keep a close watch on both teams.Closing our discussion about her, I finally asked, "Could you please help me with one more piece of information?"She nodded, "Anything!""Do you perhaps know who Aurora and Jackson are?"Her face turned a few shades paler, and a flash of horror flickered in her eyes."You okay?"I saw her gulp in fear. She quickly glanced around before turning back to me. Leaning closer, she said, "I am sorry. We are forbidden to talk about them here.""Why? Who are they?""I can't tell you anything about them, Ana," she said, almost whispering."Please, Nandini, it's important," I pleaded. "Miley wrote something about them, and I think she may be related to this.""Even if I want to, I really can't tell you, Ana," she said, almost packing her things and preparing to leave. I sighed in frustration. My pleading didn't seem to work. I sighed, accepting my defeat. That's when she stopped in her tracks, turned around, and said, "If you really wish to know, you can search for articles about the Larksville brutal mystery death on the internet. You might find some information there."