CHAPTER TWO
Kiara stared at her palms that were cold and pale. Her fingernails had a bluish tinge. She could still hear the dull thud of her heartbeat.
“You shouldn’t have said that in class,” Shanaya said, her voice low.
Kiara looked around the office, saw the teachers gathered around one table, throwing uneasy glances in their direction. A few police officers were talking to the principal Mr Wardan. Kiara could see them looking at her through the open Venetian blinds of the office.
“I didn’t mean to.” Kiara felt weird talking. Her lips were cold and numb. “Everytime they start talking about Amara like she was a god, it just feels wrong.”
“That’s what the town wants to believe. If it’s keeping them safe, then let them believe in that.” Shanaya rolled her eyes. “I told you something terrible happens whenever we say anything against Amara. Five years ago, we promised we would never utter her name. “
Kiara looked at Shanaya. “I kept my end of the promise.
Till today. But you? You put the entire blame of what happened to Nari on me.”
“Shut up!” Shanaya said softly, yet threateningly. “They wanted to know what happened to her. We couldn’t tell them the truth now, could we?”
“Your solution was to make me look like a killer,” Kiara accused.
“Oh boo-hoo.” Shanaya threw her a disparaging look, then clasped her hands and crossed her legs. “If everyone thought you were the killer, you would be behind bars. We had to do this. We agreed this was the safest option.”
“For you. And I don’t remember agreeing to this.” Kiara spat.
Mr Wardan’s office door opened, and he along with two police officers, walked out.
“Ms. Kiara and Ms. Shanaya,” the woman police officer said, “You both were friends with the victim…Ruchi Varma.”
Kiara looked at Shanaya who gazed down at her shoes, then stood. Kiara stood as well. She hadn’t been friends with Ruchi ever since their fallout five years ago. Still, she didn’t think it was a good idea to divulge juvenile school politics to the officers who were working on a case.
Ruchi was dead. Someone had killed her based on the wounds found on her body.
“Yes,” Shanaya replied.
The woman police officer glanced at Kiara who simply nodded. “I’m Officer Lekha. When was the last time you saw Ruchi?”
“Just a few minutes ago. We were in class…” Kiara stopped when she saw the officer’s expression. “Did you mean before?” The officer nodded. “Yesterday. At school.”
The officer narrowed her eyes. “And did you decide to meet up after school?”
“No.” Shanaya let out a breath. “We did talk on the phone at around seven in the evening, but that’s it.”
The police officer took out a notepad and scribbled in it. “Did she have any enemies? Anyone who might want to hurt her?”
“We’re in high school.” Shanaya scoffed. “Yeah, sometimes girls can be bitchy and have fights, but we don’t want to kill each other.”
The officer raised her eyebrows as she jotted something in her notepad. “You have no idea how far some girls take their rivalry. Did she have a boyfriend?”
“Not that I know of.” Shanaya chewed on her lip. “What killed her?”
The officer exchanged looks with her colleague. “The investigation is still underway.”
“There were cuts on her neck and face.” Kiara searched for any indication on the officer’s face that she would reveal more, but found only stolidity. “Who could do this to her? How did she even get here?”
“You’ll know more soon when we do.” The officer walked away, while the principal came to them.
“You girls must be in shock,” Mr Wardan said, his voice soft with sympathy. “Your parents were called.” He turned to Kiara. “Your mother didn’t pick up. We are canceling the rest of the classes for the day. You can go home. If you need someone to talk to, the school counselor can help.”
Shanaya checked her phone. “My mother is going to pick me up.” She let out a breath. “I don’t think I’m going to get those images out of my head.”
Mr Wardan nodded in understanding. “You both are neighbors, aren’t you? You both live in the same building?”
Shanaya took a step back, looking away, clearly not interested in offering an invitation to Kiara.
Kiara swallowed and pretended to check her phone. “Actually, my mother just texted. I’ve asked her to come pick me up. I’ll wait for her.”
Mr Wardan looked relieved. “Take care, girls. I’m sorry for your loss. Ruchi was a very dear friend to both of you. Let us pray that her soul finds peace.”
Kiara looked at the freshly cleaned tiles in the office. Ruchi, Shanaya and her were best friends as kids, and that was probably what the principal remembered. He didn’t know that Ruchi was one of the girls who would occasionally bully her and hurl insults at her.
Still, Ruchi was dead now, and Kiara preferred to hold onto the memories of them as kids. Ruchi was a sweet girl once upon a time.
Shanaya left without another word, and Kiara followed her back to the classroom to pick up her things.
The classroom was empty, and Shanaya picked up her bag and books. Throwing an uneasy glance at her, she left. Kiara sat down on one of the chairs and took a deep breath. She didn’t want to turn around and look outside the window where the blood marks were still present. The area outside was cordoned off, and she could hear the muffled voices of the police.
She picked up her bag, and walked out. Phone in hand, she considered calling her mother, but knew she wouldn’t take her call.
Her mother was probably busy on the phone, hurling insults at her ex-husband who dared to get engaged to someone younger and was demanding that his engagement ring be returned.
Outside, the air was crisp. The murmurings of students and the investigation team, broke the dullness of the day.
This was supposed to be a quiet town, with a small population. HarborOne City. Nothing bad ever happened, apart from a few shoplifting cases.
And now someone had died under mysterious circumstances. A cool breeze swept over her, chilling her to the bone. Her shoes crunched dried leaves as she walked faster, desperate to distance herself from the crime scene.
She stopped when she saw a movement behind a tree that stood beyond the school gates. A grayish hand, crept over the trunk, almost hugging it. Around the wrist, she saw a blue ribbon fluttering.
Kiara's mouth went dry. A head moved sideways, but all Kiara could see was long dark hair, being pushed back by the wind. The head moved again, and Kiara saw hollowed out eyes.
Her heart missed a beat, and Kiara felt dizzy. She blinked rapidly, and the bizarre sight was gone. Part of her didn't want to go further. The other part reminded her she needed to get out of here and into the safety of her home.
She strode toward the gate, her eyes on the trees, but there was nothing unusual staring at her. She wondered if she was hallucinating; probably a side effect of what she had experienced two hours ago. She had witnessed someone's death. Of course, her mind was disturbed.
Still, Kiara couldn't shake the feeling she was being watched. She took the road that would lead her home, and kept her eyes on the tree that was leafless at this time of the year.
The wind blew again, and the branches swayed. Dried leaves on the road made a crinkling, whooshing sound. Something fluttered in the wind, and stuck to her wrist.
Kiara clutched at the fabric and brought it up to see a light blue ribbon, twirling in her hand. She gasped, as memories poured into her mind.
Five years ago, she knew a girl who liked wearing blue ribbons.
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