As the car pulled into the driveway, Mrs Black was already standing outside, illuminated by the soft porch light, her expression a mixture of relief and worry. It was too late for comfort, and the tension of the day lingered in the air like thick fog. I stepped out of the car, my legs feeling heavier than they should have.
Mrs. Black met me halfway. "Mia, I was worried. You've been gone for hours."
"I'm fine," I muttered, forcing a tired smile. But even I could hear how hollow it sounded. I wasn't fine. Nothing about today had been fine.
Mrs Black turned to Sebastian. "Thank you for staying with her, Sebastian. I don't know what we would've done without you."
Sebastian, ever the polite one, nodded. "I'm glad I could help, Mrs. Black. Just wanted to make sure Mia got home okay."
There was an awkward silence between us after Mrs Black went inside to fetch Mr Black. Sebastian and I stood there for a moment, the night air pressing in, cool and thick. His green eyes lingered on me, concern etched into his face.
"You alright?" he asked quietly.
I nodded, though we both knew it was a lie. "Thanks... for everything."
He gave me a soft smile, the kind that always seemed to reassure me, even when I wasn't ready to feel reassured. "Get some rest, Mia. We'll talk tomorrow."
I watched him get into the car, waiting for him to drive away before I went inside. But as soon as the door shut behind me, all the noise in my head started again. The flashes of Hannah's lifeless body, the shock of the brutal truth still gnawing at my thoughts, and the uncomfortable silence of unanswered questions.
I crawled into bed, hoping sleep would take me quickly, but the night was anything but restful. Every time I closed my eyes, I could see Hannah hanging from that tree, the word "BLOCKED" carved into her skin. There were screams—faint at first, but growing louder until they felt deafening. I bolted upright, heart pounding, unsure if the sound had come from inside my head or outside.
Morning came with a sense of dread clinging to me. The school had postponed everything for a day, giving us a momentary break, but it did little to settle my mind. I barely noticed the time passing until Mrs. Black called me down.
"Mia, Sebastian's here to see you."
I walked downstairs, still groggy and unsettled from the night before. Sebastian was waiting in the living room, looking calm as ever, but I could tell he was worried.
"Hey," he said, flashing a soft smile. "You okay?"
I shrugged, sitting across from him. "I... couldn't sleep last night. All I could think about was Hannah. How horrible it was... and then I read some articles online. I don't know why, but it just made it worse."
Sebastian frowned, his eyes full of concern. "Mia, you shouldn't do that to yourself. Reading those articles, and looking at pictures, is only going to hurt you more. You've been through enough."
"I know," I whispered, but the images of Hannah's body kept flashing in my mind. I had to shake them off. "I don't know why I can't let it go."
There was a pause before Sebastian leaned forward, his voice gentle. "Hey, there's a fair happening in Redwater. It's a few towns over, and I thought maybe... I don't know, maybe we could go. Andy could come too. Just to get your mind off things?"
I hesitated for a second but then nodded. "Sure. I'll ask Andy."
The fair was everything it should have been—bright, noisy, and full of life. Andy came along, and for a while, I let myself enjoy it. We took photos, laughed at the ridiculous carnival games, and even watched Sebastian win a stuffed tiger by shooting targets. But even as I smiled and nodded along, I still felt distant, like I was watching myself from afar. I wasn't there.
On the drive back, we passed the Frost Mansion, swarming with police and reporters. The reminder of what had happened hit me again like a punch to the gut. But the real shock came when we pulled up to my house and saw a police car parked outside.
Officer Hallowe was standing there, waiting for us. My stomach dropped.
"Mia, Sebastian," he greeted us, his tone too casual for the tension I felt. "We're bringing in students who were close to Hannah. Just a routine inquiry. Won't take long."
Sebastian gave me a reassuring look, and though I didn't want to go, I followed Hallowe to the station. But from the moment we sat down, I knew something was off.
"So, Mia," Hallowe began, leaning forward, his eyes sharp and calculating. "Where exactly were you the night Hannah disappeared?"
I swallowed hard, trying to stay calm. "At home. Studying for exams."
Hallowe nodded, but his expression didn't soften. He scribbled something down in his notebook, then asked, "And your relationship with Sebastian? Is it... something more than just friends?"
I blinked, my mind racing. "What does that have to do with anything?"
Hallowe's stare hardened. "It's relevant to the investigation. Just answer the question."
A hot surge of anger rose in my chest. "Are you serious? You're asking me about my love life while Hannah's dead? What kind of investigator are you?"
"Watch your tone, Jenkins," Hallowe snapped, his eyes narrowing. "You were close to the victim, and there are still things we need to know." He paused and said, "You both were at the crime scene that day and afterwards you both drove to someplace."
My fists clenched on the table, trembling with rage. "None of your business! You didn't care about me when I needed help. You let Chad get away with everything—told me to stay quiet because it was easier for you! You made it look like I was doing it for attention. But now that someone else is involved, suddenly you want answers?!" My voice was shaking with fury. "You found evidence, you ignored it! You let him walk free and now you think you can ask me these questions? You're a joke."
Hallowe's face twisted in irritation, and he leaned in closer. "You're not in control here, Jenkins. And if you don't start cooperating—"
"That's enough," a deep voice interrupted from behind us. I turned to see a tall, authoritative figure standing in the doorway—Sebastian's father, District Attorney Raymond Calloway.
"These kids have answered enough," he said, his tone cold and commanding. "You're overstepping, Officer Hallowe."
Hallowe clenched his jaw, glaring at me, but said nothing more as Mr. Calloway guided us out of the station.
The car ride home was much lighter, and I could feel the tension slipping away, though my thoughts were still tangled. Mr. Calloway smiled kindly at me in the rearview mirror. "So, Mia, what do you like to do when you're not having to deal with all this nonsense?"
I paused, then shrugged. "I don't know... read, maybe. Chemistry. Nothing special."
"You seem like someone with a lot of potential," he said warmly.
A smile tugged at my lips. "I feel like I've seen you somewhere before. I can't remember... Maybe on TV?"
Mr. Calloway chuckled. "Ah, my infamous television appearances. I try to stay out of the limelight, but it seems I can't avoid it sometimes."
Sebastian and I both laughed, the lightness of the moment easing the tension of the day.
When we arrived at my house, Sebastian walked me to the door. He stood there for a moment, as if unsure of what to say.
"Be careful, Mia," he said quietly, his voice filled with genuine concern. "I mean it."
For a brief second, I hesitated. Then, before I could stop myself, I stepped forward and hugged him. It wasn't the kind of hug you give when you're happy or excited—it was desperate, the kind of hug that says, "I don't want to feel this alone anymore." His arms wrapped around me, warm and steady, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I didn't feel like I had to hold everything together.
But just as quickly, I pulled away. I wasn't ready for more than that. Not yet.
"Goodnight, Sebastian," I whispered, stepping back.
"Goodnight, Mia," he replied softly, his eyes lingering on me momentarily before he turned and walked away.
As I watched him leave, I felt a flicker of something I hadn't allowed myself to think in a long time—hope.