CHAPTER EIGHT. Allergic reaction

The late sun cast long shadows over the school's outdoor bleachers, where Maeva, Rebecca, and Gwen sat, lost in their own thoughts. The murder investigation had turned their school into something out of a crime show—whispers in hallways, detectives roaming around, people speculating about who could have done it.

But today, Maeva had heard something different. Something that didn't make sense.

She crossed her arms, staring ahead at the empty football field before saying, "I was in the office this morning, right?"

Rebecca arched an eyebrow. "And?"

"And I overheard the detectives talking." Maeva glanced around, lowering her voice. "They found a substance in Lucas's system. Something he was severely allergic to."

Gwen frowned. "But... the cause of death was impact from the fall. That's what they said."

"Exactly." Maeva's expression was serious. "How does that make sense? If the fall killed him, then why did he have something in his system that should've killed him first?"

Rebecca sat up straighter, running a hand through her hair. "Wait. Are you saying—?"

Maeva nodded. "That something isn't adding up. Either the detectives don't have the full picture, or they do, and they're not telling us everything."

A tense silence stretched between them as they absorbed the weight of that realization.

Gwen exhaled, looking over her shoulder as if someone might be listening. "Alright. This changes things." She stood up from the bleachers, brushing imaginary dust off her jeans. "We need more information."

Maeva and Rebecca followed her lead, exchanging uneasy glances.

Rebecca scoffed. "And where exactly do you suggest we find that?"

"The library." Gwen slung her bag over her shoulder. "There are records, old newspapers, research databases—"

"Oh, yes," Rebecca interrupted sarcastically. "Because I'm sure the school library has a handy little section called Murder Mysteries of Our Very Own Campus."

Maeva rolled her eyes. "It's still better than sitting here doing nothing."

Gwen started walking, not bothering to check if they were following. Of course, they did.

The library was quieter than usual, the low hum of students flipping pages and typing on laptops the only noise. Maeva led the way between the bookshelves, her mind still buzzing with the information she had overheard.

Then she saw them.

Karissa and Emmet.

They were sitting at one of the far tables, Karissa leaning forward, her expression sharp as she whispered something to Emmet. He had a lazy smirk on his face, but his fingers were tapping restlessly against the table.

Maeva narrowed her eyes. Interesting.

"Wait," she muttered, stopping Rebecca and Gwen in their tracks.

Rebecca followed her gaze. "Why are they having secret meetings?"

"I don't know," Maeva murmured, watching as Emmet tilted his head, his expression shifting into something more serious.

Gwen sighed. "Do we really want to get involved with them?"

Maeva turned to her, voice firm. "If we want answers, we don't have a choice."

Before either of them could protest, Maeva strode toward the table.

Karissa noticed them first, her eyes flickering with something unreadable before she masked it with indifference. Emmet, on the other hand, barely looked up, like he expected them to be here.

"Mae," Karissa said flatly. "Can I help you?"

Maeva crossed her arms. "I think you're gonna want to hear this."

Karissa exchanged a look with Emmet, who leaned back in his chair, looking amused. "Oh? Do tell."

Maeva leaned in. "Lucas had something in his system. Something he was severely allergic to."

For the first time, Karissa's composure cracked.

She froze, processing the words carefully. Then, in a whisper so soft it was almost inaudible, she said, "Fentanyl."

Emmet snapped his head toward her, his casual demeanor vanishing in an instant. Maeva gasped.

"That's a drug," Maeva murmured, her voice shaky. "Powdered fentanyl can be made to look like other drugs. It's often pressed into pills that look exactly like prescription ones, such as Percocet or..."

Karissa's hands curled into fists as she took a sharp breath. "Xanax."

EJONA SPEAKS !!

Heres a new chapter guys

how i love being an author and writing cliffhangers