*Trigger Warning- This chapter contains mentions about suicide... Proceed with caution.*

When Leila's ribs fully healed, she got ready to go back to her school. Xavier had fixed a schedule with an therapist of his choice for her. She didn't want to go but she wasn't provided a option.

She stepped out of Angelo's car and after mumbling a small bye over her shoulder, she made her way inside.

The usually packed hallways, filled with loud chattering of students suddenly went quiet.

Leila noticed that it got too much quieter since she entered here. It was the same quiet, like that time when Laura attempted suicide and everyone who didn't even know her or ignored her the entire life, was mourning.

There were pointed stares and abrupt whispers blaming Leila that it was her fault too. They didn't even know what happened with Laura that day but they just blindly put blame on Leila saying that she pushed Laura off the building and due to her brothers' influence she got away with it easily.

But today something was strange. They weren't only blaming her of some wrong accusation but they were also looking so fearful and pale.

'What's going on?' Leila thought to herself.

What tore apart Leila the most was Samantha. She was starting to consider her as 'a friend' after Laura, maybe that's the reason why it hurt her the most when she gave her a glare and upon getting caught, her eyes widened in fear and she snapped her head to look away.

Leila made her way to her locker. As she looked at its door, she froze. "MURDERER" in red and bold letters was written on top of it.

Everyone stopped to gauze her reaction silently in fear. The one who felt like daring and had done it was now trembling in little fear but tried to remain a little confident.

'Leila Lambordi deserved that treatment.'

Leila slowly opened the door of her locker but grimaced at the sight of fake blood and trash filled in that.

She looked at it for a long minute before shaking her head.

She slowly removed her bag and put it down, rolling up her sleeves, taking it upon herself to clean her locker.

An action that still earned her various judging stares.

Just as her hand moved, a hand grabbed her wrist.

Looking back, she found Adriano.

"I will count till 5. Whoever did this better come here and start to clean the mess. If I find that person by myself, I will make sure to make him regret being born."

Adriano's words might have sounded calm but they were filled with a deadly warning.

Loud gulps and small whispers were heard.

"One!" That's when everyone noticed that Adriano De'Silas was serious.

Hesitantly, the culprit took a step forward, shaking in fear.

Adriano gave him a small look and pointed at the trash.

Immediately, the person went to work. When he had cleaned everything until there was no sign of any trash, he backed away still full with fear.

Leila looked down at Adriano's hand that was holding her wrist. He wasn't being harsh or anything instead his grip was gentle.

He slowly pulled her towards somewhere and paused in front of a new locker.

Then, he pulled the small slip that held the key-pin, out of his jacket's pocket and gave it to her.

"It's your new locker."

He told her.

Leila gave him a small look of bewilderment. He should have said this before.

Saying no more word, he made his way out of there.

After settling her stuff in there, she made her way to her first class. But on the way, she bumped her way into Julia and Bella.

More like they blocked her way.

"Where's Oliya, Leila?" Bella asked immediately without beating around the bush.

Leila however frowned at her words.

"What are you talking about?"

"Oliya has been missing since past week and your family is clearly involved in it."

At Julia's words, Leila was stunned.

"My brothers?"

Bella wanted to spit out some hateful words that she was trying hard to hold back but Julia placed her hand over her shoulder, instantly calming her and they stormed out of there leaving Leila to collect her thoughts.

Now clearly disturbed and being late for almost 20 minutes from her first class, she decided to skip it and made her way up on the terrace.

She winced as the same horror scene of that day repeated in front of her eyes.

"Oh lookie lookie who's back." Leila recognised the voice immediately.

Looking up, she found Alexander sitting on the railing and smoking.

When did he get here?

Leila thought to herself. Was her mind playing tricks?

Why didn't she see him there?

Suddenly, Alexander snorted.

"Are you crying?"

She didn't answer. She just looked away from him.

"Leila!" Suddenly her head snapped in the direction of terrace again.

Alexander vanished from the spot. But on his place stood Laura.

Suddenly it was that day again.

"I'm so weak Leila. I tried so hard to survive but it feels like some thing inside me is already dead. I don't want to suffer anymore, Leila. I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry, Leila. Please stop right there." Laura whispered.

"W-what are you saying, Laura? I'm sure we can w-work upon this problem together. Next tim--" Laura cut her off.

"There won't be a next time, Leila. I'm really sorry." A tear rolled down her cheek and she took a step back.

"NO NO NO! LAURA NO!" Leila ran towards her and she tried to grab her hand, she merely managed to touch her finger.

"NO LAURA!" Leila shrieked as Laura was falling down. A small smile was formed on Laura's lips but her tears were spilling down.

"Forgive me." She mouthed to Leila, a gasp left her lips as her body made contact with concrete floor. Her fingers merely twitched for a second, before she went completely motionless. Her smile remained on her lips.

"LAURA!"

"NOOOO! LAU---"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP! FUCKING SNAP OUT OF IT!"

Suddenly the image in front of her eyes shattered and she snapped out of her daze.

She slowly looked at Alexander who was gripping her wrists together with his one hand and his another hand is tightly wrapped around her waist.

"Have you grown officially insane now?" He scoffed.

But he wasn't prepared for the tears that filled the corner of her eyes.

He froze.

Leila Lambordi was really crying this time.

He watched silently as in a most painful way her well-built walls crumbled down.

His hold around her slipped as her body felt limp and cold to hold.

Her next words completely froze him. They were unexpected and completely strange coming from her.

"I-it really hurts--" She clutched her chest where her heart was.

"--it hurts too much--"

"--J-just let me d-die."

Just as these words finished, the door of the terrace opened.

Alexander's eyes widened finding the least expected man, none other than Xavier Lambordi standing there.

Thank you for reading... I hope you like these chapters.... Do comment if you have any suggestion... Check out my other works if you have time or interest...

You can get early access of 'The Missing Piece' upto chapter 69 on my Patreon account. Link is in the profile...💖❤