| C H A P T E R - 42 |

ANASTASIA:

As we stepped into David's office, the waning light of the evening sun cast eerie shadows, adding a spooky ambience to the room. David appeared visibly exhausted, the toll of relentless days investigating the intricate web surrounding my case, Ronin, and the mysterious ties to Aurora, Jackson, and Miley evident on his fatigued face.

"Oliver likely kidnapped Miley to hide the evidence, Dave," I asserted, my voice carrying the weight of the evidence spread across his desk. "She's the lone survivor from the Falcon Group. They would undoubtedly want her back!"

David nodded thoughtfully, his gaze fixed on the evidence, contemplating the sinister implications. "Possibly," he replied, his tone heavy with the gravity of the situation.

"But why can't we take action now? We have evidence!" Lara demanded, her impatience evident in her words.

"Technically, we can," David said, his voice measured. "But it wouldn't make much difference. In the video, Oliver and Tony remain mysteries. We could take action against Mia, but I'm sure Edwin will intervene to protect her. Moreover, it would give Russo reasons to take precautions. So, we need more than just breadcrumbs. We need solid evidence, strong proof, to build a case they can't dismantle. We can't risk them escaping due to legal technicalities."

"But we have evidence from the video!" I argued, my desperation evident. "At least we could take down Mia."

David sighed, mirroring our frustration. "I understand your urgency, A, but Russo is clever. If we only rely on the video, he'll find a way to escape. He'll deny Oliver's presence, removing him from the equation. Once that's done, Edwin and Russo will work to save the others too." A frown creased his face. "So, until we have something concrete against Oliver and his team, or at least the name of the ninth member, we have to be patient, gather more proof, and strike when we're absolutely sure."

"What do we do in the meantime? Wait for another miracle?" I scoffed, frustration colouring my voice.

"Maybe," David replied, despite the uncertainty. "I have a hunch that someone is helping us. Those anonymous emails and messages might be dropping hints all along."

As David explained his theory, a silent pang of guilt pricked my conscience. I couldn't deny that the same thought had crossed my mind. I know for a fact that the person is none other than the mysterious Devil. I can tell it's his doing, no matter how much David tries to deny the fact that he is just a criminal; I think he is someone seeking revenge. The mysterious figure of the masked man lingered in my thoughts, a puzzle I wanted to solve. The intrigue was undeniable, but it came laced with a sense of guilt as if I were betraying Lorenzo.

Lorenzo desired to claim me, and deep down, I longed for the safety and warmth he offered. Yet, there existed a shadowy corner within my heart, twisted and darkened since the day the mysterious stranger had saved me. I want to uncover the secrets hidden behind his mask, to witness the face behind the shadows, to hear his story and to understand the motives that drove him.

Caught in this whirlwind of conflicting emotions, I found myself adrift in a sea of confusion.

"...but we found something else on Kevin's body," David's voice interrupted my thoughts, bringing me back to reality.

"What did you find?" Lara asked from beside me, her curiosity sparked, her eyes showing the shared urgency. I knew she had been seeking hope to put an end to the Falcon Group's torment from Preston. What happened to her was enough to motivate her.

I assisted Lara by requesting David to investigate her missing sister, and I saw the joy on her face. For a long time, the Falcon Group has terrorized the land of Preston. Maybe now is the time, if we all work together, we can bring them down.

"We found someone else's blood on Kevin," David announced looking a little confused by his own research. We waited for him to finish hoping for a lead to the case. "Hardin Marroni, son of Morrocco Marroni."

"Marroni?" Lara exclaimed, her surprise evident. "Russo's biggest rivals? And isn't Morris, Oliver's enemy, Hardin, a part of that family? Why would Hardin hide his identity? His name alone could have saved him from that hellhole."

David shrugged as he informed, "Maybe because he was too afraid of it because he wasn't like his father or brother or possibly he wanted to make his own name. Normally kids at his age run to make their own name in the arena."

"So you're suggesting Hardin might be involved...or could it be the murder?" Lara's mind raced, her thoughts echoing our collective confusion and fear. "And all this just to make his name in the arena just like his father and brother?"

"Nothing is certain yet. Hardin is missing, and the blood confirms his involvement. He's a suspect in this case."

"These cases are becoming more complex by the day," Lara commented, her frustration etched on her face, mirroring our own. "I mean how can Hardin be a suspect? That boy barely could save himself from Oliver and his gang's bully, you expect me to believe that boy killed three people and fled?" Lara scoffed. "Unbelievable!"

David finally sighed, standing up from his chair. "We will see about that, Miss Garcia!" he said to which Lara rolled his eyes. "With all the evidence we've gathered, we're on the verge of the truth," David said, his eyes ablaze. "Just make sure you guys are safe and inform me if you find anything that is doubtful."

"Aye, Aye captain," Lara replied with a smile while I nodded at him.

----X----

Mia had been indulging in drugs more than ever before, all supplied by Tony. Each time she inhaled the powder, it gave her a sense of safety, no matter how dire her situation had become. She continued to consume the drugs until the shadowy figure vanished into the thick air.

Until her laughter ceased echoing in Mia's ears.

Until she could not see anything anymore.

Her vision blurred, her teary eyes searching for the shadow figure as she took another hit. Laughing like a maniac, she yelled, "Hahaha... See, I've made you disappear! You can't come back any more! I killed you again!"

Mia's bizarre laughter resonated throughout her empty room, filling her mansion with an eerie ambience. Her head hurts.

She dialled a number, but there was no response from the other end.

"Shit," she muttered under her breath, disconnecting the call. She gulped down another shot of whiskey.

Within her hazy vision, the shadow figure reappeared once again.

As if, it was watching her. Smiling at her. As if it found her despair amusing. In a fit of frustration and terror, Mia grabbed the glass and hurled it towards the shadowy figure, hoping it would hit her.

But with a deafening crash, the glass shattered on the floor. "Go away!" she screamed. "Get out of my sight! I haven't done anything! You can't kill me!"

But it was still standing there without moving an inch. Her slurred, drunken voice quivered as she cried in absolute terror. Completely broken, she collapsed onto the floor. Tears streamed down her face as she continued to gaze at the smiling, shadowy figure, which watched over her until she finally blacked out.

-----X-----

ANASTASIA:

Three relentless days had passed since the chilling incident on campus, shrouding us in an atmosphere thick with tension and grief. With every step closer to solving the mystery, we found ourselves entangled further in the labyrinthine web of crime. Each lead we pursued, each clue we unravelled, only seemed to drag us deeper into the sinister depths of the unknown.

The very essence of the investigation had become a cruel game, a chess match against an unseen opponent, leaving us gasping for the win. Every victory was short-lived, eclipsed by the emergence of a new, more baffling challenge.

There was no turning back now, no escape from the intricate puzzle that had enveloped us. The threads of these cases had woven a tapestry of darkness, ensnaring us in its grasp.

There was no return. There was no escape. There was only one way. Untangle the threads, we must, to finally get free.

****

Returning to our clandestine investigation, today I had Nandini and Lara accompanying me. It was almost past evening and the campus was empty. Luckily Oliver, Mia and Tony were still at the campus discussing about annual function at Preston while we took the opportunity to find our way in.

It felt like stepping into a lion's den, a battlefield of my fears where vulnerability clashed with overwhelming uncertainty. Nevertheless, we remained resolute and unwavering. Rony helped us again.

We resumed our investigation where we had left off: the parking lot.

Nandini and Lara had taken up the post of sentry while I meticulously inspected the cars, searching for that elusive red Mercedes. Everyone related to Oliver must know something about him. Even though Blakely, Kevin, Shawn, Sam and Gweneth are no longer in the scene, it is still important to bring out the truth.

For the justice of Miley, Olivia and many more.

"Any luck yet?" Nandini inquired in a hushed tone.

I shook my head, my frustration mounting. "No, not yet." The culprit might be deliberately trying to hide the evidence. But I won't let that deter me. I'll search through his house's parking lot if I have to. "What about you?" I asked Lara.

Shaking her head, she replied no.

Suddenly, Nandini halted before a car, her expression troubled. "What's wrong?" I asked, sensing her unease.

She hesitated for a moment before answering, "I've seen this car before." Her eyes were locked onto a black Mercedes on campus, distinct from the red ones we were seeking. "But it wasn't black before."

I furrowed my brows, intrigued. "Are you sure about that?"

She stared at the car with a mixture of puzzlement and contemplation before responding, "Yes, because I clearly remember the license plate now. JZ007 Mercedes. It was the same car I saw that was chasing Aurora that day."

"What?" I exclaimed, incredulous.

"Yes," she looked at me with a mix of overwhelming emotions. "I was returning home when I saw her running in the road, and a car was chasing her," she said. "I couldn't do anything at that time because the car was going very fast, and then I could vaguely remember the license plate."

"Oh my God!" I exclaimed in surprise. "But the number plate..."

Lara met my gaze and nodded solemnly. "That's right. This could be the red Mercedes Miley wrote about. It's possibly Oliver's."

With newfound determination, I leaned closer to the car, a scent of fresh paint reaching my nostrils. The matte finish of the vehicle appeared freshly painted. To confirm our suspicions, I retrieved a small pocket knife and carefully scratched a corner of the car's surface, aiming to dispel any lingering doubts.

And the shocking truth was revealed.

Under the black paint, it was the red Mercedes we had been searching for. Quickly, I tried to find a way to get into the car but... It was locked!

I sighed. Time was of the essence, and we needed to hurry. I'd lost my ability to think clearly; all I wanted was to take a look inside the car.

"Need a hand?" A sudden voice from behind almost made both of us yelp. Turning around, I found Lorenzo standing there, his face calm, both hands in the pockets of his jeans, and his hoodie covering most of his face. "If you need to open the door, you either need the key or..." His voice trailed off, and he took something from his pocket. "This."

It was a metal wire.

"You know how to open a lock with this?" I asked in almost shock.

Bad boy for a reason.

Rather than giving a reply, he shrugged, walked confidently toward the car, and inserted the wire into the lock.

"I can do many things you are yet to discover, Piccola." he winked and me and I felt a rush of butterflies in my stomach. It was oddly disturbing how both he and the Devil made me do it.

Pushing aside the Devil's thought, I focused on the work at hand.

"Wow, I never imagined I'd see the famous Lorenzo up this close, let alone trying to break into a car!" Nandini teased while kind of gawking at him. No wonder why she was gawking. With that striking look, it seems to be fair.

"Well, this famous guy right here had shown many things up close to Ana, I am sure, isn't it?" Lara teased to which I deadpan at her to make her shut up. But Lorenzo couldn't suppress his chuckle providing them a good reason to tease me afterwards.

I shook my head. Gaining my attention at Lorenzo I watched with awe, while he tried to unlock the door with the wire. Well, he looked sexy. I blushed. Thinking about yesterday's event made me blush harder and I couldn't stop thinking that he was ready to make us official.

But this is not the time to think that, Ana.

"Wait, how do you even know how to do this?" I asked him in confusion, gaining all my attention on him.

He stayed quiet, returning to his usual self, concentrating on the work. I must admit, watching him work was quite captivating. The attractive tall figure was all focused, his biceps flexing, and his long curls falling on his face, making him even more handsome.

After a few seconds, a satisfying click indicated that the door had been unlocked. Lorenzo looked at me with a proud smile on his face. I smiled in pure awe and moved him aside, then opened the car's door to peek inside. However, it looked as good as new.

Nothing was found.

"Maybe we should look in the trunk!" Lorenzo suggested.

Nandini, Lara and I exchanged glances, nodding in agreement. We both went to check the trunk and when we opened the lid, a huge gasp escaped both of our mouths.

There were some explicit items inside. Bras, women's dresses, panties, and among them, a blood-coated baseball bat."

"Fuck." Lara, Nandini and I whispered and yelled in unison. Lorenzo remained calm but attentive.

"You need to call David," Lara informed. "Hurry."

I nodded back, my breaths still uneven from the shock.

As I stared at my phone, I realized that my battery had died. "Damn it," I muttered under my breath. I needed to get my charger. "You guys wait here, I'll go grab my charger."

****

Turning back toward my classroom, I spotted Mia and Oliver standing a little distance while arguing about something. Mia looks utterly displeased and Oliver charges her. What's going on? I decided to give it a go.

"It was your turn to keep it a secret!" Mia yelled.

"How is it my turn? I told you to keep an eye on her. You lost her!" Oliver argued.

"Just like how you lost Miley three years back?"

"She has nothing to do with all this!" Oliver retorted.

"Oh, what do you know about it?"

Are they really talking about Miley? I decided to listen more carefully. I quietly followed them, trying to find the closest spot where I could hear them. I hid behind a tree. However, they were talking in such a hushed tone that it was challenging to make out the words clearly.

Moreover, with the distance, I could barely hear anything. But one thing was certain: whatever they were discussing, it did make Oliver angry. I kept watching.

During the argument, I observed Oliver becoming completely agitated for some reason, and I could guess they were discussing the incident that happened three years ago. Somehow, I had a feeling that I could get the name of the ninth member right here if they kept going. But then, after a moment, Oliver hurriedly left the campus, leaving Mia alone.

I watched her as she cursed under her breath in frustration. She looked in my direction, but I quickly hid behind the tree. Silently and carefully I walked away from the place as I sighed in relief. However, their words still lingered in my memory.

But what were they discussing, and why was she so hyperactive? Was it in any way related to the ninth member of the Falcon Group or the mysterious Mr. X?

****

"Ana!" Lara called out, gaining my attention as she ran towards me. I walked out of the classroom with the charger in my hand. "You okay?" She asked. "It's been quite some time and when you didn't return I thought..."

"I am okay, " I replied, cutting her off. But I couldn't tell her what I heard a few minutes ago.

"Okay," Lara replied. "You were late, so Nandini and I got the pictures. I already shared it with David." She informed me. "Come on, Lorenzo and Nandini are waiting for us. We need to leave, now."

She took out her car keys as I nod at her, still somewhere lost in my thoughts. Turning back I found Mia still standing at her place, I saw the last time, scrolling her phone in a little frustration.

"Got the charger?" Lara asked with a smile. Looking at her I only gave a small nod.

As Lara and I were going back to the cafeteria, a sudden, loud noise disturbed the calmness of the moment. A honking sound followed by the screeching of tires filled the air, shocking both of us. Before I could even turn to see what had gone wrong, the collective gasp and the increasing noise of voices in the crowd made it painfully clear that something terrible had happened.

Together, Lara and I felt the urgent need to find out. We ran towards the source of the disturbance, hearts pounding and minds racing. And then, the harsh truth revealed itself before our eyes.

There, on the ground in a gruesome and unnatural position, was Mia Edwin. The sight sent shockwaves through both of us. A chilling pool of blood had formed around her lifeless body, and her empty eyes stared into an abyss of nothingness.

At that moment, it was unequivocal: Mia Edwin was dead.

And somehow as my eyes fell on the passing truck that had hit her, something churned in my stomach.

A/N: The hunters are now being hunted. Who's next? Stay tuned to know what happens next.