The sky wept for Kel, unleashing a torrent that seemed to mirror the collective grief of the small group gathered at the Victoria Island cemetery. The rain lashed against black umbrellas and soaked into the earth, as if nature itself was trying to wash away the pain of loss.

The officiating priest's words were barely audible over the storm, his voice rising and falling like the wind as he spoke of life, death, and the hope of resurrection. Lightning flashed, illuminating the faces of the mourners in stark relief – a tableau of grief frozen for a moment in the electric light.

Funi stood at the forefront, her body wracked with sobs that threatened to tear her apart. Marie, ever the loyal friend, held her close, whispering words of comfort that were lost in the roar of the downpour. Funi's mascara ran in dark rivulets down her cheeks, a stark contrast to her dark skin and the pristine ebony of her knuckles as she clutched a single red rose.

A few paces away, Anthony stood like a statue, surrounded by his group of hoodlum friends. Their dark shades and stoic faces gave them an air of detachment, but even they couldn't fully mask their emotions. Tears mingled with raindrops on Anthony's cheeks, his jaw clenched so tight it looked like it might shatter.

Presence stood a few paces behind the crowd, her dark shades hiding the emotion in her eyes. A week had passed since she'd last seen Kel, and his absence weighed heavily on her heart. Cold raindrops trickled down Presence's neck, sending shivers through her body. She tugged at her black leather jacket, pulling it tighter around her as if to ward off the emotional and physical chill.

"Kel, you idiot," she thought, a mixture of frustration and fondness coloring her inner monologue. Part of her was grateful for the space he'd given her to focus on her exams, but another part ached at his absence. The knowledge of Funi and Anthony's betrayal sat like a stone in her stomach, making it difficult to reconcile the Kel she knew with the one who had been so thoroughly deceived.

Her eyes scanned the crowd, searching for any sign of Kel's ghostly presence. KK stood beside her, a silent pillar of support, but even his presence couldn't fill the void left by Kel's absence. Presence's heels sank slightly into the damp earth as she shifted her weight, her tight leather trousers creaking softly with the movement.

Presence spotted Funi, still weeping in Marie's arms, and felt a twinge of empathy mixed with disappointment. Her gaze then found Anthony, standing apart with his group, his stoic facade betrayed by the tears on his cheeks.

As the ceremony trudged on, Presence's hope for a ghostly appearance sank faster than her heels in the muddy earth. Kel's absence was a presence all its own, heavy and suffocating. Had he moved on? Was he avoiding her? Or was he simply giving them space to grieve?

As the coffin was lowered into the ground, a collective gasp rose from the group. The finality of the moment seemed to hit everyone at once. Funi lurched forward, as if to throw herself into the grave, but Marie's arms became iron bars, holding back the tide of Funi's despair. Her cry split the air like lightning, a sound so raw it made even Anthony's stone-faced crew wince.

Anthony himself took a step forward, his hand reaching out involuntarily before he caught himself. His face twisted in a complex mixture of grief, guilt, and something darker – a shadow that passed over his features like a storm cloud.

The priest called for the mourners to come forward and throw handfuls of dirt onto the coffin. One by one, they approached the grave. Some whispered final goodbyes, others stood in silent reverence. When it was Funi's turn, she kissed the rose she had been holding and let it fall onto the coffin. It landed with a soft thud, a splash of vibrant red against the dark wood.

When it came time to approach the grave, Presence hesitated. She hadn't known Kel in life, and her connection to him now felt both intensely personal and impossibly distant. Eventually, she stepped forward, dropping a single white rose onto the coffin.

"Where are you, Kel?" she whispered, her words lost in the gentle rustle of the wind through the trees.

As she stepped back, a chill ran down her spine - not the cold of the weather, but the unmistakable sensation of a spectral presence. For a fleeting moment, she thought she caught a glimpse of Kel out of the corner of her eye, but when she turned, there was nothing there.

As the ceremony drew to a close, the rain began to ease. Sunlight broke through the clouds, casting a surreal, golden light over the cemetery. It glinted off the wet headstones and created a halo effect around the mourners, as if Kel's spirit was offering one last embrace to those he left behind.

The group began to disperse, moving in twos and threes towards the cemetery gates. Funi remained rooted to the spot, her eyes fixed on the mound of fresh earth. Marie gently tugged at her arm, murmuring about getting out of the rain.

Anthony lingered as well, his gaze alternating between Funi and the grave. For a moment, it seemed he might approach her, but a sharp look from Marie made him think better of it. He turned away, his shoulders slumped under the weight of unspoken words and hidden truths.

As the last of the mourners left, a ghostly figure materialized next to the grave. Kel, in spectral form, watched his friends depart with a mixture of sadness and confusion. His eyes lingered on Funi and Anthony, sensing the undercurrents of emotion that flowed between them but unable to understand their source.

The cemetery fell silent, save for the soft patter of lingering raindrops. Kel's burial was over, but for those left behind, the storm of grief, secrets, and unresolved feelings was just beginning to gather strength.

As the somber group began to disperse, the car park came alive with the low murmur of subdued conversations and the sound of car engines starting. The school bus stood ready, its doors open to welcome the students who needed a ride back. Nearby, sleek, expensive cars gleamed in the post-rain sunlight, a stark contrast to the mood of the day.

Presence stood at the edge of the car park, her eyes scanning for KK's booked Uber. As she glanced back towards the cemetery one last time, her heart leapt. There, by his own grave, stood Kel's ghostly form. A smile unconsciously spread across her face, a moment of joy amidst the day's heaviness.

Without thinking, Presence found herself drawn back towards the cemetery, her feet moving of their own accord. Her mind raced with a thousand questions, each fighting to be first in line. Emotions she couldn't quite name bubbling up inside her.

But before she could take more than a few steps, a figure materialized in front of her, blocking her path. Anthony stood there, his face unreadable.

"We need to talk," he said, his voice low and commanding, like a ticking time bomb in a crowded room.

Presence froze, the smile fading from her face. The weight of everything she knew – the affair, the mysterious USB, the lingering questions about Kel's death – came crashing back down on her. She glanced over Anthony's shoulder, seeing Kel's ghost watching them curiously from a distance.

The moment hung in the air, charged with tension. Presence knew that whatever Anthony wanted to discuss could change everything. She could feel the eyes of other mourners on them, curious about this unexpected confrontation.

Nearby, Funi was being gently led to a waiting car by Marie, her tear-stained face turning briefly in their direction. The look of confusion and hurt that flashed across her features added another layer of complexity to the situation.

Presence took a deep breath, her mind racing. Should she hear Anthony out? Was it safe to do so? And what would Kel think, seeing her talking to Anthony in such a secretive manner?

As she stood there, caught between Anthony's insistent presence and Kel's ghostly gaze, Presence realized that her next decision could set in motion a chain of events that would unravel the entire mystery – or plunge her deeper into danger.

The world beyond the cemetery gates spun on, oblivious to the silent drama unfolding among the gravestones. But here, in this moment, Presence held the power to change the course of their story with a single word.

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