CHAPTER TEN. Lost faith & heartache

Helena sat on the floor of her dorm, the dim glow of her desk lamp casting flickering shadows over the scattered remnants of her past. The open box in front of her smelled of dust and faded perfume, filled with things she had once thought meant something—handwritten notes, crumpled concert tickets, polaroids with curled edges. Pieces of a life she had tried to leave behind.

And then there was this.

The locket.

She turned the cool metal between her fingers, her pulse slowing to a dull, rhythmic thud. It had been a gift from Lucas, one she hadn't worn in so long. The clasp was stiff with disuse, and when she pried it open, a hollow emptiness greeted her.

Her eyebrows knit together.

There had always been a small photo inside—a snapshot of them at some party, smiling like they were invincible. But it was gone.

Helena frowned and traced the delicate etchings along the edges. Something about it felt off.

She pressed her thumb against the base of the locket.

Click.

A soft, mechanical sound.

A tiny compartment she never knew existed slid open.

Something small and metallic tumbled into her palm.

She barely breathed as she brought it closer to the light. It was a chip, no bigger than her fingernail, sleek and unmarked except for a faint groove along one side. A memory card?

Her heartbeat quickened.

Hands trembling, she reached for her laptop and inserted the chip into the port. The screen flickered before a single folder appeared. No name. Just a collection of files waiting to be opened.

Helena clicked.

Images loaded in slow succession, pixelated at first before sharpening into focus.

And then she saw her.

Vienna.

Helena's breath caught in her throat.

The first few photos seemed normal—Vienna in the library, Vienna walking across campus. But then they changed. The angles grew invasive. Vienna in her bedroom, unaware. Vienna at a party, drink in hand, her eyes hazy and unfocused. Vienna in a dimly lit room, clad only in her underclothes.

Her stomach lurched.

She barely had time to process the horror of what she was seeing before a sharp knock at the door made her jump.

Helena slammed the laptop shut so fast the screen flickered.

The knock came again, more insistent. "Helena?"

She exhaled shakily, pressing a hand against her chest to steady her breathing. The panic in her veins hadn't settled, but she forced herself to move.

She cracked open the door.

Jayson stood there, his tall frame leaning against the doorframe, dark eyes scanning her face with something dangerously close to concern. His hair was tousled, like he'd run his hands through it a dozen times today, and his hoodie was slightly wrinkled, sleeves pushed up to his forearms.

"Hey." His voice was low, casual, but there was a flicker of something unreadable in his expression.

She let out a breath and pulled the door open wider. "Hey."

Jayson's gaze flickered past her to the mess on the floor. "What's all this?"

Helena hesitated. "Just... old stuff."

Jayson studied her, eyes narrowing slightly like he didn't quite believe her, but he didn't push. Instead, he stepped inside, kicking the door shut behind him as he crossed the room. Without hesitation, he sank onto her bed, resting his arms behind his head like he'd done this a hundred times before.

Which—he had.

Helena had always trusted him, even when Lucas was still around. Jayson had been different from the others—less defects and charm, more sincerity .

But right now, he was looking at her like she was unraveling.

"You okay?" he asked, voice softer this time.

Helena swallowed. "Yeah."

His gaze lingered on her for a second longer before he smirked. "Liar."

She rolled her eyes, shoving the box aside. "I just got lost in old memories."

Jayson nodded slowly, like he knew she wasn't telling him everything but wasn't going to push. "Lucas memories?"

Helena exhaled. "Yeah."

Jayson was silent for a moment before he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "People are talking, you know."

She met his gaze. "About?"

"The cops. They're pulling more people in for questioning. How your dear Karissa is the main suspect."

Her heart gave a painful jolt. "I know."

Jayson watched her carefully. "You don't seem surprised."

Helena looked away. " I am..."

Because she had just seen proof that Lucas wasn't just the golden boy everyone thought he was. Because the Watcher knew more than they should. Because nothing about his death was making sense anymore.

Jayson sighed and stood up, stretching. "Come on."

She frowned. "What?"

"You need fresh air."

Helena crossed her arms. "I'm fine."

Jayson gave her a pointed look. "You're sitting on the floor of your dorm, digging through a box of ghosts, looking like you've seen one. You're not fine."

She opened her mouth to argue, but Jayson just smirked. "Come on, Len." He rarely used her nickname, only when he was trying to coax her into something.

Helena hesitated, her mind still racing from what she had just uncovered. But maybe he was right.

Maybe she did need some air.

The night air was crisp against Helena's skin as she and Jayson walked across campus. The pathways were mostly empty, just a few scattered students passing by in hushed conversations. A thin layer of fog clung to the ground, the streetlights casting long, eerie shadows.

Jayson walked beside her in easy strides, hands tucked into the pockets of his hoodie. He wasn't speaking, but he didn't need to. He never did. That was one of the things she liked about him—he knew when to fill the silence and when to let it breathe.

Helena exhaled, trying to push away the image of Vienna's photos burned into her mind.

Jayson suddenly bumped her shoulder, pulling her from her thoughts.

"You're thinking too much," he said, glancing at her.

Helena gave a dry laugh. "I always think too much."

"Yeah, but this is different." He studied her for a second before tilting his head toward the empty soccer field ahead. "Come on."

She frowned. "Where?"

He didn't answer, just started walking toward the bleachers. She sighed but followed, her boots crunching against the damp grass.

When they reached the metal stands, Jayson climbed up a few rows and sat down, stretching his legs out lazily. Helena hesitated for a second before joining him, pulling her knees to her chest.

The field stretched out before them, illuminated only by the faint glow of the moon. It was quiet, peaceful even.

Jayson leaned back on his elbows. "Alright, spill."

Helena blinked. "Spill what?"

He gave her a knowing look. "Whatever's got you looking like you've seen a ghost."

Helena hesitated, gripping the fabric of her sleeves. She wanted to tell him—wanted to unload everything weighing on her—but the words stuck in her throat.

"I—" She exhaled sharply. "It's nothing."

Jayson scoffed. "You're a terrible liar."

Helena forced a smirk. "No, I just lie selectively."

Jayson let out a low chuckle. "Alright, then. Let's play a game."

She raised a brow. "A game?"

He nodded. "I'll ask you a question. You can answer honestly or lie. But if you lie, I'll know."

Helena rolled her eyes. "Sounds fair."

Jayson smirked. "First question. Have you been sleeping?"

Helena hesitated, then shrugged. "Define 'sleeping.'"

His smirk grew. "That's a no."

She sighed. "Fine. No. Next question."

Jayson hummed in thought before leaning forward slightly. "What was the last thing you saw that you wish you could forget?"

Helena stiffened.

For a brief second, Vienna's face flashed in her mind—her hazy eyes, the vulnerability in the stolen photos. She swallowed.

Jayson didn't miss the shift in her posture. His dark eyes locked onto hers, searching.

Helena forced a smirk. "Nice try."

Jayson tilted his head. "So you did see something."

She looked away, gripping her sleeves tighter. "Drop it, Jay."

Jayson studied her for a moment before sighing and leaning back again. "Alright. I'll drop it—for now."

Helena exhaled, relieved.

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the cold air settling over them. She hadn't realized how much she needed this—a break from the weight pressing down on her chest.

Jayson nudged her foot with his. "Hey."

She looked over. His voice softened. "You know you can tell me, right?"

Helena swallowed the lump in her throat. She knew that. But some secrets weren't meant to be shared.

Not yet.

The dim glow of the desk lamp flickered slightly, casting long shadows across Helena's dorm room. Her hands trembled slightly as she typed Karissa's number into her phone. Each ring felt like an eternity. She glanced down at the laptop, where the photos of Vienna still sat—like a haunting whisper she couldn't ignore.

Finally, Karissa picked up.

"Helena?" her voice was urgent, breathless. "What's wrong? You sounded off in your message."

"Just... come over. Please. I need to show you something." Helena's voice was tight, strained. She could feel the weight of the secret pressing against her chest.

"I'll be there in ten. Stay put." The line went silent, and Helena let the phone drop onto the bed, exhaling sharply.

She didn't have to wait long.

Not five minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Helena rushed to open it.

Karissa stood in the doorway, her face tense but determined. Her eyes flickered over Helena's face, taking in the unreadable expression, the faint tremor in her hands.

"What's going on?" Karissa asked, stepping inside.

Helena didn't speak. She simply led Karissa to the desk, where the laptop sat open, the screen still displaying the photos—photos of Vienna, taken from angles that felt invasive, unsettling.

Karissa froze, her eyes immediately drawn to the images. "Are those..." Her voice trailed off. "Vienna?"

Helena nodded, feeling a sickening pit in her stomach.

Before Karissa could ask any more questions, another knock echoed from the door.

Helena felt her chest tighten. "It's Vienna."

Karissa gave her a sharp, questioning look, but before Helena could answer, she opened the door to reveal Vienna standing in the hallway, her face pale and eyes wide.

"What the hell is going on?" Vienna's voice was tight, a combination of confusion and dread.

Helena stepped aside to let her in, and the moment Vienna saw the laptop screen, her entire demeanor shifted. She gasped, her hands flying to her mouth as if to stop herself from speaking.

"That's... those are -!" Vienna's voice cracked as she took a step forward, staring at the screen in disbelief.

Helena bit her lip, her gaze flicking between Karissa and Vienna.

"The Watcher... they only teased about the photos," Vienna whispered, her voice trembling. "How... how do you have them?"

Helena swallowed hard, not knowing how to answer. The words were there, caught in her throat, but it felt like the room was closing in on her.

"Listen to me," Helena said, her voice quiet but urgent. "No one has seen these photos. No one except me." She took a steadying breath, her mind racing. "But there are more photos, Vienna. More than what the Watcher has mentioned."

Vienna's eyes narrowed, searching Helena's face for any sign of a lie. But when she found none, she stepped closer, her gaze still locked on the screen. "What are you saying?"

Helena felt her hands clench into fists. "I don't think you knew you were being photographed."

The words hit Vienna like a punch to the gut. She froze, her eyes widening in shock. The realization hit her like a flood. Her breath caught in her throat.

Karissa, who had been quietly observing the exchange, spoke up. "What are you talking about, Helena?"

Helena's gaze flicked to Karissa, then back to Vienna. She slowly reached out and scrolled the mouse over the photos, bringing up another set. The shots were darker, more intimate, some taken when Vienna hadn't been aware of anyone watching. Some captured her in places where she never thought someone could be lurking.

"Is that...?" Vienna's voice was barely a whisper, a hint of fear creeping in.

"Yeah," Helena whispered back. "And I don't think it was just a one-time thing. I think they've been watching you for a while."

A chill settled over the room. The silence that followed was thick, suffocating, as if the air itself was holding its breath.

Karissa's face hardened. "Who the hell is doing this? Why?"

Helena shook her head, her eyes not leaving the screen. "I don't know. But these aren't just about the Watcher. There's something more to this, something deeper." She glanced at Vienna. "And I think Lucas was involved in it."

Vienna looked like she'd been struck. She took a step back, almost as if she were retreating from the truth. "What are you saying?"

Helena closed her eyes for a moment, trying to steady the whirlwind of thoughts racing in her mind. When she opened them again, her gaze was steady.

"I think Lucas was using these photos as leverage. And now, whoever the Watcher is... they're using them against you. Against all of us."

The words hung in the air, heavy and impossible to ignore. The weight of the situation, of the twisted web they were all caught in, was starting to sink in. Vienna trembled slightly, her eyes glossing over as if the reality of it was too much to bear.

"I don't know what to do," Vienna whispered, her voice shaking.

Helena reached out, placing a hand on her arm. "We'll figure it out."

EJONA SPEAKS !!!

iconic trio Alsooo helena and jayson😊