Alliances

We head back to the drama room

So how'd it go? Piper asks

She wants revenge, Sebastian replies, although we don't know who it's directed to or why.

Why revenge?, Piper wonders aloud

She saw me back there, I suddenly spoke up, she knows we were watching her... she had this look in her eyes, it's like she knows what we're up to, I add

I'm sure she just felt your gaze that's all, it's normal to feel people watching you, Sebastian assures

Alright then, piper says, I went through the rest of the results... Taylor was killed by electric shock from a taser evident from the second degree burns on her left arm

Can a taser actually kill a person, I ask, I thought it only has temporary effects

It should, piper replies but according to the records here, Taylor had severe asthma, the shock which the detectives estimated to be three to five minutes long lead to a hundred percent respiratory failure leading to her death

What cruelty, I add disgusted by the killer's methods....this also means that the killer must have knowledge of her medical records

True.. piper agrees

My question is, how did noone hear noises of Taylor screaming or the taser itself

That would be due to the sound proof setup in all the classes, the killer must have chosen the venue for this very reason, piper replies

A taser.... Sebastian spoke up after a while, another police tool involved in this murder...and it reminds me of something Liana did once

What's that, I ask

Lia and I were friends in middle school, he began, there was this bully, big joe who tried to bully her for her small stature as he does other kids..but Lia wasn't like other kids, determined to teach him a lesson, she dismantled my old watch along with her old alarm clock and took out every wire she found, she added some batteries, a capacitor and some other stuff she got from some old devices at home to create an electrical shocker which she controlled with a switch. One day when big Joe wasn't looking, she dropped the primary wire in his shoes and with the switch in her hand, she shocked life out of him, I had to stop her or she could have killed him

Since then, he continues, I became afraid of her and I knew if she wanted to kill someone, she could or at least she's smart enough to.

Okay, I reply but it still doesn't add up, picture this with me for a second... let's say she killed her best friend for some reason, probably having knowledge of her medical history as an advantage, the deed is done successfully, she won,....now what would she want revenge for? I ask trying to make a point

I don't know, Sebastian replies, you're the one who said she wants revenge

And I'm sure of it, I insist

I'm lost, piper says, Amari what are you trying to say?

I'm saying, Liana might know about Taylor's death...she may have found out, she's her best friend you know and now she's angry, now she wants revenge

Well that's a possibility I never thought of, piper says

So we might be wrong, again? Sebastian comments disappointedly

Don't you mean 'you' might be wrong again, piper corrected.

Sebastian gave her a stink eye

Much Later...

Hey... Sebastian whispers to piper and i, look what I found in my locker, he passes a note...'The basement 7:45pm', piper read out

I don't know who it's from, Sebastian adds

It's her...Liana, I reply

She wants to meet up, piper asks, why?

I told you guys, she knows what we're up to, I reply, maybe she has information we need, what is this basement place anyway?

It's a restaurant not too far from school, Sebastian replies..... so are we going there? he asks

I think we all know the answer to that

Same day, Amari's residence..

7:25pm

twenty more minutes, I put on my jacket as I try to slip out of my window

...and where do you think you're going?mum's loud voice startles me

Shit!..

Hey mum, I retreat

answer my question Amari! She continues

I was just....I was.. I'm going to see a friend, I reply staggering

Oh really, she says not buying any of it, that's why you're jumping out your room window? you're going to a party aren't you?

Oh No..no I'm not...I say trying to sound believable.. at least I'm not lying

..what he's so embarrassed to say mum, is; he's going to a boy's sleepover some guys at school invited him too, Alaya cuts in strolling casually into my room

What exactly is she playing at?

And why would that be embarrassing? Mum asks

Because, sleepovers sound girly, I say making an irritated face.. but my friends at school did invite me, and I did say I was going to see a friend, I reply playing along

Next time just let me know instead of jumping through the window like a burglar, mum said

Yes mum, I'm sorry about that

you better make sure you're safe and make sure you're here in the morning...and just so you know, I will call to talk to your 'friend' mum adds walking out

No problem, I reply back

Turning around to face Alaya who was now sitting comfortably on my bed,I ask; what's in it for you, knowing fully well she wanted something in return

Smiling annoyingly she replies, Whatever adventure you're going for tonight, I just need the tea later...deal?

Sure I say as I jump out the window

I glance at my phone, 7:35..

I hurry, searching for a red Honda Sebastian promised to pick me in...I spot it

Sorry for the wait, I say getting In, I notice Piper's already in

So what exactly is the plan? I ask

We get to the restaurant, hear what she has to say and leave, piper replies

Alright then.... Sebastian says stepping on the brakes

7:47... The Basement

Well we're two minutes late thanks to Amari, Sebastian informs

There are a lot of people here, I say looking around the massively filled five star restaurant

May I take your reservation? a waiter suddenly asks

It's okay they're with me, a girl steps in

It's her..

glad you made it, she said neither smiling nor frowning, Seb, she greets...Lia, Sebastian responds while piper and I stand awkwardly

Please come with me, she leads us out of the main room to another resembling an office and shuts the door

Um..are you sure we can stay in here, Sebastian speaks up, this is someone's office

I'm sure she is, I reply annoyed at Sebastian's slow reasoning, this is obviously her parent's place

Oh! he finally caught up

Liana did nothing but continue to stare at us

Uhn..do you have something to tell us, piper spoke first

I should ask you the same, she replied

hun!? It was my turn to exclaim, you're the one who asked us to come here

I gave a place and a time without any explanations or proof that it was from me and you guys are here, you surely have something to tell, she said

Mind games?... she's good

Liana look, I wont ask how you got that note in my locker cuz I know you have your ways. But in truth,we really don't know why we're here, Sebastian said

Fine she says, we're here because of Taylor Michaelson, I know that you guys know what happened to her, it was obvious when your friend was reading me today and I can sense that you guys know much more, you see I'm not oblivious to what's been happening in school recently; students disappearing, school pretending they don't see it, but I've never really cared, I've had no reason to, but now I do, my best friend's gone and I'm not gonna wait for some slow-ass detectives to push this aside as they did the others, I want revenge! but I'm gonna need information which you guys have.

We turn to face each other not knowing what to say, Sebastian walks forward

And how do we know it's not you, how do we know you didn't kill her and plan all this as a cover up?

Seb, is this because of the big joe incident? She said jokingly, I got suspended for two weeks and grounded for a week extra, I think I learnt my lesson.. or if you don't believe me, why don't you ask your mind-reading friend here who's been watching me since we stepped into this room

Sebastian faces me,.. she's telling the truth, I reply

I apologize on Sebastian's behalf, piper says, we've been striking out suspects lately, we all think it's terrible what happened.

It's all good, Liana replied since we all want the same thing, we should work together, it's the only way we can stop this killer

We'll think about it, Sebastian replies, we need to go for now, it's getting late

Alright, wait for me at the entrance, Liana said, I'll pack you a little something for the road, she said walking out

Well she seemed nice in the end, I say

How did you know the restaurant belonged to her parents, Sebastian asked

Piper replied with a 'duh' look, the way she handled the waiter, the family picture on the desk?

Oh! he exclaimed again

Oh and by the way Sebastian, I'm gonna have to sleepover at your place tonight, I add.

Why? he asked

I'll explain on the way back, I say hanging my arm on shoulders we walk out..