"WILL YOU PLEASE stop declining my offer? Just take my hand, Miss Dayanan."

I rolled my eyes in annoyance and unwillingly took Mike's hand. "Why am I included in this investigation?"

"Protocol," he said casually, without even looking at me. "We interviewed everyone, not just you."

"But I was just in my room because of my injury. You can ask Rayne if you are still in doubt, Mr. Police Officer."

"Really?" he asked, and this time, he averted his gaze on me. "But I heard from Samantha that you went to the gymnasium. What were you up to in the middle of the night?."

The event last night flashed before my eyes. I gulped, and I couldn't come up with a good excuse. I stood in front of Mike, speechless and hoping he would spare me this time.

But Mike just stared back at me with his one eyebrow raised. "It just happened that the CCTV of La Trinidad went off last night, which is very alarming for the safety and security of all students, so I am asking for your cooperation."

"The CCTV went off last night?" I asked no one in particular, but Mike nodded in agreement. "Impossible. Among the elite schools in the country, La Trinidad has the most advanced security."

"Do you think so?"

"Of course," I said, almost unsure about it. "Based on the internet and what the headmistress had been proud of since my first day at La Trinidad."

Mike nodded like he was testing my patience today. "Do you think these articles circulating on the internet are true? Because a lot of illegal drugs, prohibited alcoholic drinks, cigarettes, and even non-Trinadian were seen during your acquaintance party. If you want to know my opinion, I don't think La Trinidad's priority is the safety of the students."

"What do you mean by that?"

He smirked and pointed his lips toward the headmistress, who was talking with the other police officers in the garden. "At the end of the day, all they ever wanted is nothing but money."

"You have a point," I agreed, which was the first time in history.

"Anyway," he looked at me again with a serious look. "Stop changing the topic and answer my question. What were you up to in the middle of the night?"

I pretended to forget about the issue and smiled. "Sleeping on my bed and in my room—"

"Miss Dayanan," he called in a warning tone.

"Okay," I said, surrendering in the process. "If I know, Miss Samantha already told you about what happened. You're just confirming the story."

Mike nodded as he wrote something in his small notebook. I didn't take my chances to glance at what he wrote, but he looked at me instead and raised his eyebrow for the nth time today. I licked my lower lip, took a deep breath, and disclosed the truth to Mike without leaving small details behind.

"Rayne?" I called, but there was no response.

I slowly got up on my own until I was comfortably seated. My eyes drifted to Rayne's bed, which was empty for unknown reason. I waited for a couple of minutes before I began to panic.

What if something bad happened to her?

What if Morgan wanted her dead, too?

I couldn't afford to lose her when I knew I did something bad, bad days ago. My body jolted up on its own, and I began to find Rayne all over the room, starting inside the bathroom. However, there was no trace of Rayne being inside a while back. I tried calling her number, but she left her phone on the bed. I called Deanna, but she didn't pick up for an obvious reason; the person was already in her dreamland.

I was so proud of myself upon reaching the hallway of the dormitory. The hallway was pretty dark like someone was watching me on the other end. My thoughts started to get into my head as it created scenario after scenario, which were horrible. Upon the sudden realization, I took my phone out from the back pocket of my shorts and used its built-in flashlight.

There was no one on the other end.

The hallway was just dark and quiet. My mind was just playing games with me that ended up scaring me.

"I got scared for nothing," I said as I struggled to reach the outside of the dormitory.

I looked up and saw the moon shine so bright. The light guided me on my way to the other building. I needed to check something inside the forbidden forest, even if it would cost my dear life.

When I was about to reach the back gate of La Trinidad, someone inside the gymnasium called my name.

"Mich. . ."

And it was no other than Rayne's angelic voice.

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