The journey started quietly. Students chatted softly, laughed, and gisted. But the silence between Liam and Elsa was tense. Elsa was completely zoned out, her mind spiraling through the chaos of recent events. She kept replaying Seraphine's words from the other day. Time was running out. Graduation was fast approaching. And if she was truly going to save Mirabel, she had to piece everything together before it was too late.
Elsa sighed heavily.
Liam glanced at her and smiled softly.
"You okay?" he asked gently.
Elsa snapped out of her thoughts and looked at him.
"Oh… yeah… yes. I just have a lot on my mind. I can't seem to put some pieces together."
Liam nodded thoughtfully. "If you're finding it difficult… I can help you."
Elsa looked at him, surprised.
"I mean, you never know," Liam continued. "I might just be the one with the solution."
Elsa went quiet for a moment, then took a deep breath.
"So, there's this book I'm reading…"
"Okay?…" Liam said, now paying full attention.
"And there's this friend of mine. She's working on a new novel and asked me for ideas. But I can't seem to help her. It's about a girl who died, and her friend… she slips through time. And now she has the chance to save her. But she's completely clueless and lost. She doesn't know how or what to do. I've been stuck on this story. I just can't get it out of my head."
Liam hummed, deep in thought. "Hmmm… firstly, I'd say the friend should try to remember every circumstance around the death. How did she die? What seemed strange about it? Stuff like that."
Elsa nodded intensely. "Okay… how she died… what seemed strange about the death…" she repeated, falling deep into thought.
Suddenly, her eyes widened.
"Wait…" she muttered as a sharp thought sliced through her mind.
Mirabel died in her house. She drowned.
But Mira didn't even know how to swim. It had always seemed suspicious.
The autopsy had found scopolamine in her system. The police concluded that she probably hallucinated after taking the drug, which led her to drown. It made sense back then—scopolamine was known to cause hallucinations and strange, abrupt behavior. She thought to herself
But now…
Liam watched her curiously, noting the shift in her demeanor.
"Shit…" Elsa whispered.
"What's wrong?" Liam asked.
"Shh…" she said, trying to think. "How did I miss this? Mirabel would never take drugs like that. And even if she had… now that I'm back in time, I would've noticed something, some sign. But there's nothing. I've slept at her place multiple times. She doesn't act like someone on drugs. Not even close."
Her voice dropped lower. "Does this mean…"
She gasped.
"Does this mean someone killed her?!"
Her hands flew to her mouth.
Liam leaned forward, concern filling his eyes. "You've… been able to piece it together?"
Elsa didn't respond. Tears spilled down her cheeks as realization gripped her like a vice. There was more to Mirabel's death than she'd ever imagined.
Someone had murdered her.
In the first timeline, someone had made it look like an accident.
And now, just a few weeks ago the same person might have attacked her again and staged it to look like a suicide.
Elsa's thoughts raced wildly.
Liam, shocked by her sudden tears, reached out and tapped her shoulder gently.
"Hey, hey…" he whispered. "You okay?"
Elsa gasped and blinked quickly, her mind snapping back. She hadn't even realized she'd been crying. She wiped her tears quickly.
"Sorry about that… I'm just… I'm just really happy I was able to piece the story together," she lied, forcing a smile.
Liam sighed in relief, his hand still resting gently on her shoulder.
"I was scared for a moment."
Elsa chuckled awkwardly. But then, she realized his hand was still on her. Liam quickly cleared his throat and pulled away, adjusting his seat.
After a moment, he smiled.
"I'm glad I could help."
Elsa nodded faintly and turned to look out the window.
But inside, she was shaking.
Was it Seraphine?
Could she have killed Mira in the first timeline too? None of this made sense. Why would anyone want Mirabel dead?
Who was behind this?
Seraphine was the only person Elsa could think of, but would she really go that far?, she doesn't even have proof of her brother's death.
Elsa clenched her fists in frustration.
Meanwhile, in another seat, Susan watched Mirabel closely. Mira had been silent for most of the ride, biting her thumbnail nervously. Susan had noticed her behavior shift after her conversation with Adrian. And when she'd tried to ask, Mira had snapped at her. So she said nothing now, just watched her with quiet concern.
Back near the window, Elsa began to feel nauseous. She quickly pulled out her bottle of mint tea. After taking a few deep breaths, she drank from it.
Liam tilted his head curiously. "What's that?"
"Oh… mint tea."
He blinked. "Huh? Mint tea? How?"
Elsa chuckled. "I know right? Absurd. My mom and her wonders. She makes it for me anytime I'm traveling. I get really bad motion sickness."
Liam chuckled too. "Oh wow. Motion sickness can be so annoying. I hope you're comfortable right now."
Elsa nodded. "Yeah. It's not as bad as it used to be when I was younger. For now, I just feel nauseous, but I won't throw up. This mint tea really helps."
She held the bottle out to him.
"You want to have a taste?"
Liam shook his head and laughed nervously. "No, I'm fine. I'd rather not."
Elsa grinned mischievously. "Come on. It tastes really good!"
After a long hesitation, Liam finally took the bottle and sipped lightly. The moment the liquid hit his tongue, he grimaced and nearly spat it out.
Elsa burst into a mocking laugh. "Nasty, right?"
"What is this?! Why would anyone drink this?" he asked, making a disgusted face.
Elsa shrugged, still laughing, and took the bottle back. "Oh well."
Liam laughed too, unable to resist the moment.
---
After two hours, they finally reached their destination.
Everyone stretched and groaned as they stepped off the bus. Their luggage was offloaded quickly.
Susan ran straight to Elsa. "I have never been so bored on a trip," she grumbled.
Elsa laughed. "Why? Didn't you chat with Mirabel?"
Susan's smile faded. "I think something's up with her. After she spoke to Adrian, she's been quiet. And when I asked, she just snapped at me."
"Seriously? With Adrian" Elsa asked, concerned.
Susan nodded. "I'll talk to her when we settle in. Don't worry."
They all grabbed their bags and followed the teacher inside the resort. Everyone gasped in amazement at the beautiful surroundings.
The resort looked like something straight out of a luxury travel magazine wide palm-lined walkways, blooming tropical flowers, and a soft breeze carrying the scent of saltwater and fresh grass. A grand building stood tall ahead with glass balconies, marble pillars, and soft golden lighting reflecting off the clean tiled floors. Elegant lanterns hung from trees and strings of fairy lights decorated the open lounging areas.
Elsa, of course, wasn't surprised. She had experienced this before.
Inside, their homeroom teacher, Mrs. Tara Dean, was already waiting. She greeted them warmly and began grouping them into sets of three for their rooms. Another teacher helped lead the students to their assigned rooms.
Naturally, Elsa, Mira, and Susan were placed together.
When they entered their room, they dropped their bags with a sigh. Susan immediately let out a loud gasp.
"Whoa! This view!"
The room was stunning. A wide window faced the ocean, allowing golden sunlight to spill across the polished wooden floor. Three large beds with fluffy white duvets lined one side, and there was a mini fridge, soft white curtains, a vanity mirror with warm lights, and a cozy couch in the corner near a flatscreen TV. A glass door led out to a small balcony overlooking the beach.
Elsa smiled widely.
But Mira didn't react. She simply dropped her bag and collapsed onto the super-large bed.
Elsa and Susan exchanged glances and nodded to each other.
Without warning, they both leapt onto Mirabel and started tickling her.
"Ahhh—wait—what are you doing?!" Mira gasped between laughter.
"We came here to have fun, so you have no right to sulk!" Elsa teased as she tickled her.
"How dare you snap at me?! Me? The love of your life?! This is your punishment!" Susan added playfully.
The room erupted with laughter.
"Stop! Stop!" Mira pleaded, laughing uncontrollably.
After a while, they stopped. All three lay down side by side on the bed, Mira in the middle, their hands linked.
"I know you're probably still overwhelmed—your parents' divorce, Seraphine, everything… But can we put those aside and make the most of this trip?" Elsa asked softly.
"Yes, Mira… can we stop giving odd vibes and just have fuuuun?" Susan added, dragging the word dramatically.
Mira sighed and sat up.
"Fine, fine… I'm no longer sulking."
The other two sat up with her, grinning.
---
Evening came. Because of the long trip, the students weren't given any official activities that day. All fun was scheduled to begin the next morning.
Instead, the teachers organized a relaxed grilling evening.
Tables were set up outside, each with small grills, meats, and side dishes. String lights lit up the area in soft golden tones. Students bustled around, chatting, laughing, and savoring the fresh air.
Susan, of course, took over their grill, eagerly serving Elsa and Mira as they laughed and relaxed. For once, Elsa let her thoughts go. She soaked in the moment, laughing, eating, and enjoying the presence of her friends.
By nightfall, everyone returned to their rooms.
Elsa sank onto the couch with a deep sigh. Mira and Susan did the same. The room was peaceful and quiet.
Suddenly, Susan jumped up, making both girls flinch.
"Jeez, Susan! I almost had a heart attack!" Mira exclaimed, clutching her chest.
Susan chuckled mischievously.
"We can't be tired yet, girls…"
She dragged her box toward the center of the room.
"Why do you think I packed all this?"
Elsa and Mira looked at each other and grinned in curiosity.
Susan bent down, opened the box, and revealed a mountain of snacks.
Elsa and Mira gasped.
"This is a lot, Susan!" Elsa exclaimed.
Susan smirked. "It doesn't seem that way to me."
Mira grabbed her favorite gummies.
"Oh, Susan, you packed a lot," she said, smiling.
"I'm honored."
"Alright, let's start the girls' party!" Susan announced.
They squealed in excitement and narrowed their eyes like kids planning mischief.
After a warm bath, they gathered in a circle on the floor, snacks all around them. They chatted, laughed, and reminisced. It was one of those magical nights that stitched friendships tighter.
Mirabel, for the first time in a while, looked genuinely happy.
Even if just for a moment… she forgot what Adrian had said. But it was clear...there was still something she wasn't saying.
Something she didn't want anyone, especially Elsa, to know.
A soft knock came on their door, sudden
and sharp, freezing the room mid-laughter.
"Huh?...who could that be?" Susan asked, her voice edged with curiosity.
Mirabel shrugged without looking up.
"I'll get it," Elsa said, already on her feet and walking to the door.
She flung it open, and froze.
Standing awkwardly outside was Brittany.
Elsa's smile faded like a light switching off. Her lips parted, but no words came out.
Mira and Susan exchanged glances before slowly getting up to see who it was. The moment their eyes landed on Brittany, their faces dropped in disbelief.
Mirabel's face went ghostly pale.
"H-hi…" Brittany stammered nervously, giving a weak, uncertain smile.
No one replied.
"My room is opposite you guys, and unfortunately, I was paired with people I'm not close to," she said, forcing a smile to hide her unease.
"And?" Susan interrupted sharply, her voice cold.
"And… I heard you guys. It sounded fun, so I… I don't know if I can join you," Brittany added, her tone wavering like she already regretted stepping in.
Mira scoffed.
Elsa, still standing in stunned silence, finally spoke, her voice soft and hesitant. "S-sure… come in."
Brittany smiled faintly and stepped inside.
Susan grabbed Elsa's arm, leaning in to whisper. "What are you doing?"
"We can't just send her away… can we?" Elsa whispered back, uncertain.
They all moved back into the room and sat down in a stiff, awkward circle. Brittany joined them, the tension as thick as fog. The air was dense with discomfort. No one spoke. No one even looked directly at her.
The silence stretched, until Brittany finally spoke.
"Honestly… I just used that as an excuse to talk to you guys," she stuttered.
They all turned to her, alert now.
"What do you mean?" Mira asked, her tone guarded.
Brittany took a shaky breath. "I want to apologise."
Confused glances bounced around the room.
"For…?" Mirabel asked flatly.
Elsa's heart clenched. She already knew where this was heading.
"Honestly… I know I shouldn't be saying this, but I feel so guilty," Brittany said, turning to Elsa. "I think… I might've broken you."
Elsa's eyes widened, stunned by the unexpected words.
Brittany continued gently. "Adrian is my cousin. I know you already know that now. We're close...really close. But I never imagined our closeness would make you feel so insecure… or hurt."
Mira cut in quickly, her voice shaky. "Can we not talk about the past? Elsa's already moved on from all that."
"It's fine, Mira. Let her finish," Elsa said firmly.
Mirabel looked down and nervously clutched the hem of her dress, saying nothing.
"We didn't want anyone to know we were related for some reasons, so we just told people we were best friends," Brittany explained softly. "I didn't know it made you uncomfortable. I even assumed Adrian told you we were cousins."
"He didn't," Elsa cut in sharply.
Brittany blinked. "What?"
Susan added, "He never told her anything about it."
Brittany's eyes shifted slowly to Mirabel, who trembled like a leaf.
"I… I thought…" Brittany began.
"Brittany!" Mirabel snapped, her voice rising. "We had fun while it lasted. Can you leave now? We were in the middle of something before you came and started digging up the past."
Elsa looked at her, startled. "Why do you sound so offended? She seems sincere—let her finish," she said.
Susan nodded. "Yes. Let her talk."
"Mira knew," Brittany blurted suddenly.
Elsa gave a soft laugh. "Yes, she knew. But Adrian begged her not to tell me. Right, Mira?" she said, turning to her friend.
Mira's head was lowered. She was trembling, visibly, painfully. But she didn't speak.
Brittany's eyes narrowed in confusion. "Wait… what? Adrian never asked her to keep it secret. In fact, when she found out, she was furious with him for not telling you himself. He said she promised she'd tell you. Later, she told him she had,and you said you were cool with it."
Elsa's smile faded completely. "What?" she whispered, stunned.
Susan's eyes shot wide. She turned to Mira. "Is that true?"
The truth was devastating.
Back then, Mirabel had found out that Brittany and Adrian were cousins. She'd been angry at first, for Elsa's sake. Elsa and Adrian were dating, but they hadn't spoken for almost a month after a fight. Mirabel had been the middleman, relaying messages between them. When she discovered the truth, she told Adrian she'd inform Elsa. He agreed. But what Elsa heard instead was that Brittany was just a friend, and that nothing was going on. Mirabel never mentioned they were cousins.
Eventually, Elsa and Adrian patched things up. She never brought up Brittany again, until the day she suddenly broke up with him without explanation. Adrian had been left confused. He truly thought she was fine with it. That's when he turned to Mirabel, hoping her best friend might have some answers.
And that's when he realized, Mirabel had lied.
The air in the room was charged, electric with tension.
Elsa turned to her best friend, voice trembling. "What is she talking about? You told me… and I said I was cool with it? When?" her voice cracked.
Mirabel fidgeted, fingers digging into her palms. Her eyes filled with tears. "I… I'm sorry, Elsa… I—"
"It's true?" Elsa whispered, barely able to breathe.
Susan laughed uneasily. "No, that's not possible.… no way Mirabel would do that to you. Tell us she's lying, Mirabel. Tell us Brittany is lying."
But Mira didn't speak.
Her silence screamed louder than words.
Brittany swallowed hard, realizing she had said too much. "I… I'm so sorry. I thought you knew already. I swear I didn't mean any harm. I didn't—"
Elsa walked over to Mira and knelt, gently grabbing her shoulders. Her voice cracked. "Look at me."
Mira sobbed harder, staring at the ground.
"I said look at me!" Elsa yelled, her voice raw.
Susan flinched. She had never seen Elsa like this before.
Finally, Mirabel looked up. Her face streaked with tears.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Elsa asked, her voice shaking. "I know you would never do that to me. Right? Brittany's lying. Right?"
"I… I'm sorry, Els. I didn't mean to," Mirabel whispered.
Elsa's eyes widened as her hands dropped.
Her heart broke all over again.
The girl she trusted, her soft, fragile best friend had been lying to her face. She'd stood by while Elsa shattered, she watched Elsa break down for days after the break up, knowing fully well sge had caused it. Why? Why had she lied?
Susan's mouth was open in shock. She, too, was struggling to process everything. It all made sense now....the tension on the bus when Mira spoke to Adrian. The guilt, the fear…
Elsa stood up suddenly.
Brittany rose to follow her, feeling guilty for exposing the truth.
"Elsa…" Brittany said softly, stepping toward her.
Mirabel's sobs grew louder.
Susan sighed in frustration. She didn't even know what to feel anymore.
Then, without warning, Mirabel stood up in annoyance lunged at Brittany, grabbing her hair.
Susan gasped and leapt up in shock.
Brittany shrieked, trying to break free. Mirabel shoved her to the ground and pounced on her, landing slap after slap.
Elsa stood frozen, horrified.
That wasn't her sweet, quiet Mira. That wasn't the girl who cried over butterfly wings or couldn't swat a mosquito.
Susan rushed to separate them. "Mira, stop!"
But Mirabel pushed her aside, screaming as she struck Brittany again and again.
"It's all your fault! Why couldn't you just shut up?! Why did you have to come here and ruin everything?! You're not a saint! Elsa and I were fine—FINE—before you showed up!" she screamed, sobbing hysterically with each hit.
Brittany stopped struggling. She was weak now.
"Mirabel!!!" Elsa screamed.
And just like that… everything stopped.
Mira's breath heaved in and out as the room fell deadly silent.
Elsa whimpered.
Mirabel slowly stood and staggered toward her, trembling.
Elsa backed away, eyes wide with fear. "No…"
Susan stood frozen, stunned.
Brittany lay on the ground, breathing weakly, her lip bleeding.
Elsa turned and bolted out the door, sobbing uncontrollably.
The air hit her like ice.
She ran, her thoughts a storm. That wasn't Mira. That wasn't her.
Where was the gentle, kind-hearted best friend she'd come back to save?
her mind spinning with thoughts she couldn't control. It felt like the girl she had just spoken to wasn't her best friend at all. This version of Mira so cold, so distant—was a stranger. Elsa had never seen this side of her before. Mirabel was nothing like this in the first timeline. What happened to her? What changed?
What happened to the calm, fragile, soft-hearted Mirabel that Elsa had come back to save?
A thousand questions swarmed her mind like bees as she ran blindly through the compound. She finally stopped at a small bridge near the edge of the resort, clutching the wooden rail as her chest rose and fell in panicked sobs.
"Why would she do that to me? Why...why...why?" Elsa cried out, her voice cracking under the weight of her emotions.
Just then, a soft tap landed gently on her shoulder.
Elsa turned slowly, her face wet with tears, and saw Liam standing behind her. Without hesitation, she flew into his arms and buried her face in his chest, sobbing uncontrollably.
Liam's eyes widened in surprise, but he didn't pull away. Instead, he gently wrapped his arms around her, patting her back softly.
"It's okay... you're fine now... let it out," he said in a low, soothing voice.
Elsa broke down in his arms, crying like she had never cried before. Liam held her quietly, not saying much, but his presence was like a blanket wrapped around her shivering soul. He didn't know what had happened, but he could feel how deeply wounded she was.
After a long while, he led her to a nearby bench under a tree. They both sat down. Elsa sniffled, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
Liam reached into his pocket and brought out a neatly folded napkin, handing it to her.
She took it with trembling fingers, softly muttering, "Thanks," before cleaning her face. Her breathing was still uneven, and the air around them was thick with silence.
Liam didn't rush her. He waited. And then, when the moment was right, he spoke quietly.
"You want to talk about it?"
Elsa exhaled a shaky breath. A long pause stretched before she finally nodded.
"You know what was in my head as I ran out of my room?" she said in a fragile voice.
Liam looked at her, eyes calm and full of patience.
"I kept telling myself—she must have had a reason. She wouldn't do that to me. No... she just can't," Elsa said, voice cracking as fresh tears welled up in her eyes. "That's when it hit me. I was only looking for an excuse to justify her actions."
"Who are you talking about?" Liam asked gently.
Elsa didn't respond. She fell into silence, her lips trembling. All she wanted now was to pour everything out. Her heart was heavy, and it ached for release.
She laughed bitterly, a dry, hollow sound. "You know the funniest thing? I would literally do anything for her, anything. But... just this one thing, this one little thing I needed her to do... she couldn't."
Tears streamed down her cheeks again. Liam gently reached out and held her hand.
"She knew how much I loved him. She knew how scared I was to lose him. Why? Why did she do that to me?" Elsa's voice cracked as emotion choked her. "I'm not even angry that she lied... I'm angry that I would do everything for her. And yet... she couldn't do this one thing for me."
Liam listened quietly, brushing her tears away with his thumb.
"I don't even know what to think anymore," Elsa whispered. "I saw a version of her tonight I didn't know existed. I don't even know her anymore. I don't know who she is..."
She broke into sobs once more. Liam swallowed hard and pulled her into another embrace, holding her tightly.
"I'm not exactly sure what you're talking about," he said gently, "but I know one thing I'm sure she loves you deeply. Maybe she had her reasons. Maybe she didn't know how else to act."
As he spoke, tears began to slide down his own cheeks.
Elsa looked up at him slowly pulling away, her eyes red and puffy. "Come to think of it... you're always there. Every time I break down, somehow, you're just... there. You always know how to console me. It's like you're my guardian angel," she said in a low, trembling voice, looking deeply into his eyes.
Liam reached out and cupped her face tenderly, wiping her tears again with the pad of his thumb.
"I'll always find you, Elsa. Wherever you are... whenever you're hurting, even if it's at the end of the earth....I'll always come to console you," he whispered softly.
Elsa had never felt this way before. His words wrapped around her like warmth on a cold night. Why did his voice sound like safety? Why didn't she want to pull away from him? Why did she long to be held in his arms forever?
Suddenly, as if guided by emotion, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his in a soft, trembling kiss. Her eyes shut, and tears spilled silently down her cheeks.
Liam froze in shock for a moment, then slowly closed his eyes and kissed her back. His hands moved gently to cup her face as the kiss deepened, full of emotion and unspoken comfort.
Elsa wished time would stop. She wanted to freeze this moment forever. Just them, just now, no pain, no betrayal, no confusion.
But all too soon, she pulled away suddenly, startled by her own actions. She stood up quickly, her heart pounding.
Liam stood too, confused and concerned.
"I... I'm so sorry about that," she stuttered, her eyes darting everywhere but his face. "Let's... let's just forget that happened. It didn't happen. Okay?"
"Huh?" Liam asked, clearly stunned.
But Elsa didn't wait for a reply. She turned and walked away swiftly, disappearing down the path. Liam stood there silently, watching her leave with a shaky sigh.
She got to her room door and paused, taking a deep breath to steady herself. Her mind flickered back to Brittany she had said her room was just next door. Elsa felt an overwhelming urge to see her, to apologize for the earlier incident.
She knocked softly.
A few moments later, the door opened slowly. Brittany stood there, her cheeks red and swollen from slaps, her lips bruised.
Elsa gasped softly at the sight. "Can I come in?" she asked quietly.
Brittany nodded with a faint, tired smile.
Elsa stepped in and sat on a nearby chair. The other roommates were fast asleep. Brittany sat beside her. A heavy silence followed.
"I'm so sorry," Elsa said suddenly, voice trembling.
Brittany glanced at her, then forced a faint smile. "It's okay. I deserved it anyway."
Elsa shook her head immediately. "No... I want to apologize on her behalf. It's not your fault. You didn't know."
Brittany let out a long sigh. "I've been wanting to say this to you for a long time, and I'm glad this moment came," she paused, voice faltering. "I'm sorry. I feel like I was the obstacle between you and Adrian. I should've known better."
Elsa reached out and gently held her hand. "It's all in the past, Brittany. It's not your fault. Honestly."
Brittany looked at her with glassy eyes and nodded slowly.
Elsa leaned in and gave her a soft hug.
They pulled away after a while.
"After this field trip," Elsa smiled faintly, "let's hang out. Treat me to a meal or a drink since you feel sorry."
Brittany chuckled through her tears. "Sounds good. I can't wait."
They both laughed softly in the dim silence.
After a while, Elsa stood up to go to her room, then Brittany suddenly called out. Elsa turned immediately.
"See you tomorrow," Brittany said, her voice barely steady as she gave a small, shaky smile.
Elsa smiled widely and nodded. "Sure."
She turned and stormed out. But for some reason, Elsa couldn't shake the feeling, there was something genuine in Brittany's eyes. Something raw. And in that fleeting moment, she knew deep down... Brittany was a good person.
She opened the door gently and saw Susan and Mira still awake. Susan immediately got up and rushed over.
"Are you okay?" she asked, voice filled with concern.
Mirabel looked at Elsa nervously. She wanted to move toward her but stayed frozen in place.
Elsa forced a smile and nodded faintly.
She walked to her bed and lay down in her space.
Susan sighed deeply, clearly worried.
Eventually, the lights went off, and the room fell silent.
After wrestling with her thoughts, Elsa slowly drifted off to sleep. The night was calm. The only sound was the gentle rhythm of the nearby water, whispering through the silence.
---
The next morning
Elsa's eyes fluttered open to the sound of loud shouting.
She sat up abruptly, rubbing her eyes. Susan and Mira were still asleep.
Curious and unsettled, Elsa stood and walked to the door. She opened it to find a crowd of students gathered near the water. Teachers were shouting, trying to get them to move back.
Elsa blinked rapidly, still half-asleep, and began to walk toward the commotion.
As she pushed closer, her breath caught.
Her body froze.
There, by the water, lay the lifeless body of Brittany Harlow.
Adrian was on his knees beside her, crying hard, his entire frame shaking.
Elsa's eyes widened, and a choked gasp escaped her throat.
Mira and Susan rushed out behind her and ran toward the scene.
But Elsa couldn't move. Her heart had stopped. Tears slipped down her face.
She had just spoken to Brittany last night. They laughed. They made plans.
And now she was dead?
What happened?
Elsa heard her voice from last night echo in her head:
"Let's hang out... I can't wait..."
This didn't make any sense.
As her classmates panicked, Elsa slowly, tears slowly spilling down her cheeks turned and looked at the one person she now suspected.
Mirabel.
---
A week passed since the tragedy.
Everyone had returned home the same day it happened. After investigation, the police ruled it a suicide.
They claimed she must have drowned herself in the water.
But Elsa knew that wasn't true.
She remembered Brittany's voice, her laughter, her smile, the way she talked excitedly about hanging out. That wasn't someone who wanted to die.
No. Something was wrong.
Something was terribly, horribly wrong.
Elsa and Mira hadn't spoken since that day.
The day of the funeral came, and everyone gathered to pay their respects. Elsa was still in shock.
She arrived at the funeral hall and met Susan and Mira, but said nothing to either of them.
They walked inside together where the casket lay.
Adrian stood near it, pale and drained, his eyes red and swollen. Her family members too were there.
Elsa steadied herself, wiped her tears, and followed the other two girls. They bowed a few times and dropped their flowers in silence.
Afterwards, they stepped outside...
Except Mira.
She remained behind, standing before the casket.
Alone.
For minutes, she didn't move.
Then Adrian walked slowly up to her.
His voice was sharp. Cold.
"You did it, right?" he asked, glaring at her.
Mirabel turned her head slowly, a strange smirk forming on her lips.
"Did I?" she whispered.