"... while Ted and Janet Riordan, the parents of Luke Riordan, better known as Golden Boy, and also the parents of Iliana Riordan, better known as Golden Girl, have all but barricaded themselves inside their home. Now, their attorney says they're simply in mourning, but then why are they hiding?" The news reporter asks. "And what did they do to raise such a killer? And why haven't we heard anything from Golden Girl yet?" He eggs on. "Does she feel guilty for fighting off her brother?"

Cate drops the phone down as Andre pinches his nose.

"This is all the way fucked-up." She shakes her head.

"Yeah." Andre agrees.

"Their parents are the sweetest." Cate says, taking a deep breath. "How's she doing?" She refers to Iliana, already knowing the answer and feeling awful she hasn't seen her since that night.

"Bad." Andre replies with, pausing for a moment as they continue walking. "I miss him."

"I miss him, too." Cate frowns.

"Why'd he do it?" Andre asks the same question Iliana has already asked him a dozen times just as he's asked himself a million more.

"I don't know." Cate shrugs.

"He'd know what to do. He always did." Andre says, looking around. He chuckles softly. "And he was a fucking asshole about it."

That causes Cate to smile for a brief moment. "Well..." She stops. "What do you think he'd do?"

"He wouldn't stop til he got to the bottom of it." Andre answers.

Cate smirks. "I'm going to get Iliana." She strolls off like a woman on a mission.

𖤓 𖤓 𖤓

Iliana launches whatever she can get her hands on at the tv in her room, busting it as the news reporter shows a bunch of people outside of her parents home.

"And why haven't we heard or seen anything from Iliana Riordan, better known as Golden Girl yet? Does she feel guilty for fighting off her brother?"

It's bullshit. It's allll bullshit.

Why Luke? Why? Why did you do it?

A knock on her door causes her to jump, and she quickly blinks away her tears. My gosh, has Iliana never cried more than she has these past couple days it seems, not even on camera.

"Fuck off!" She yells at whoever dares to be on the other side of the door. They knock again. She storms over and almost rips the handle off as she throws the door open. "I said fu- oh." She takes a deep breath, coming face to face with her best friend. One of the only people who can truly feel and share her pain. Her face softens. "Cate."

"Hey." Cate smiles weakly.

"Oh thank God." Iliana collapses into her arms. "I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting you." She pulls Cate in and closes the door behind them.

"Andre and I saw the news, and we haven't really got to..." Cate trails off. "I came as quick as I could." She holds Iliana's hands in her gloved ones. "I-" She takes a deep breath. "Cannot even begin to imagine the pain you're feeling right now." Iliana pulls down the sleeves of her cardigan as if she's cold so Cate doesn't see the red patches that are already healing on her skin...

"But you're hurting too." Iliana points out.

Cate chuckles. "You and Andre are the only ones who seem to think so."

"We're the only ones that matter." Iliana pulls her in again and the two girls simply stand there in each others arms, neither having the intention to let go anytime soon.

𖤓 𖤓 𖤓

Iliana rolls her eyes as she swipes away from Dean Shetty's email that she didn't get the chance to talk with her after the meeting and she would really like to talk and check in with her.

Yeah right.

Iliana has never felt anything but odd vibes around Dr. Shetty since she's been here, and knew she was just as ingenuine as the rest of the higher-up's on this campus.

"Are you sure you wanna do this?" Cate asks as they see Andre at the end of the hall.

Iliana swallows. "Yes. If you guys are ready, then I am." She breathes in as she shuts her eyes for a second. Cate told her that her and Andre talked after the meeting and said that something more has to be going on, and they know Iliana agrees.

And if anyone can motivate Iliana to stop throwing a fucking pity party and get the fuck up and do something about it, it was Cate. Not that she said those exact words, but she didn't need to. Cate asked her what she thought Luke would do if the rolls were reversed.

"He'd burn this entire campus to the ground until he found out what happened to me." Iliana smiles to herself.

That's when she knew she needed to pull herself together and find out what the fuck happened, sooner rather than later. Before any possible trace or trail goes dark or cold, or completely disappears all together.

Iliana scoffs as all three of them stop in front of Luke's door, reading 'MURDERER' in big red letters.

"Jesus." Cate lets out. Andre inhales sharply.

Iliana's eyes burn the darkest shade of gold at the word.

She was thrilled Brink was gone, and even more happy that it was Luke who killed him. What he deserves.

Andre looks around for a second before holding out his hand and breaking the lock with his powers. Cate pulls it open and the three quickly enter his room.

"What the fuck?" Iliana gasps at the emptied space. It's like Luke never even existed here.

"Where is all of Luke's stuff?" Cate looks around upset.

"They cleared it out." Andre answers sternly as he looks around.

"Who?" She asks.

"Fuck if I know." He breathes out, circling the room.

Iliana steps forward slowly as she scans the room for a sign of anything. She twists her hand out in front of her, causing the room to light up more than what's shining through the blinds.

"Hmm." Andre walks over to said blinds looking out the window. "Smells like bleach in here."

Iliana nods as she inhales, crinkling her nose at smell that burns her nostrils.

"Why would they do that?" Cate questions.

"They're trying to erase their 'mistake.'" Iliana answers bitterly.

"What the fuck is going on?" Cate looks at them worriedly.

Andre only looks at her and shrugs.

Yeah. What is going on? Iliana repeats in her head, looking at the empty space hopelessly, missing the picture Luke had of them on his desk and the posters he had on his wall.

He's gone. He's actually gone...

𖤓 𖤓 𖤓

𝟶ʙᴜᴛᴛᴇʀʙɪsᴄᴜɪᴛ𝟽 sᴘᴇᴀᴋs!

Hello lovelies <3

Bad bitch Iliana is making her return !! Obviously she's still grieving lmao, no trauma and grief will not be ignored or brushed over hereee, but like- I gotta get the ball rolling as the show does lol. But don't worry, she's not gonna suddenly be magically better, it was her twin for fucksake, but we're moving into vengeful Iliana, yesssss. Bc, also, Iliana is one to suck it the fuck up and put her rep boots on !

Anywaysss, just wanted to cover that haha. Hope y'all enjoyed this chapter!! Don't forget to comment y'all's thoughts, questions, and reactionssss, it's so motivating! See you in the next part, mwauh!