“We need to leave,” Lilia urged.
“Who would do this to her?” Delilah whispered hauntingly.
The blaring sound of their phones called to the night. They ducked down as flashlights panned their way, scrambling to mute the sound. Sebastian cursed, slumping against the cold ground as he fought to not be seen.
Lilia’s hands shook as she read the text.
Unknown
Smile for the camera.
It was another photo, this time, of them.
“We need to leave, now,” Augustus hissed.
“How, there are police everywhere. No way we make it out of here without getting caught,” Sebastian whispered back, “This has to be a trap.”
“You don’t say?” Augustus murmured sarcastically from his side, peering over the bush.
The chill of the night air seemed to seep into their bones as the group huddled in the shadows, tension mounting with each passing second. The cemetery, once a place of quiet mourning, now felt like a scene torn from the pages of a gothic novel—a macabre playground for secrets best left buried.
Sebastian’s breath came out in uneven bursts, his normally sharp wit dulled by the oppressive atmosphere. They had seentoo much, known too much, and now the weight of it all pressed down like the surrounding gravestones.
“Enjoying the cemetery?” Lilia whispered, repeating the latest text. “Willow always loved it here. I bet it felt like coming home.”
The words hung in the air, chilling them more than the cold. Before anyone could respond, the crunch of approaching footsteps sent a fresh jolt of fear through the group. Flashlights swung toward them, and Augustus’ attempt to duck deeper into the bushes was too late.
“There! Over by the trees!” an officer shouted.
Sebastian rolled his eyes, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. “Great. Just what we needed. The grand finale.”
Before they could react, they were surrounded, bright lights blinding them, and commands barked in their direction. Hands were pulled behind backs, rough cuffs snapping into place. There was no use resisting; they were caught, like moths pinned to a display, helpless under the harsh scrutiny of authority.
AUGUSTUS WILLIAM CLARK
RECORDED INTERVIEW
Date: 10/30/2022
Duration: 25 minutes
Location: Mills Creek Police Department
Conducted by Detective [REDACTED] from the Mills Creek Police Department
[Recording begins.]
DETECTIVE: (leaning forward, voice stern) Augustus, would you like to tell me what the hell you and your friends were doing snooping around a crime scene?
AUGUSTUS: (looking agitated) We heard the police sirens. We were at Ellie’s Diner, and we were just trying to see what was happening.
DETECTIVE: (raising an eyebrow) You see how badly this looks for you, right? You five were the last ones to see Willow alive before she died. And now, this? I’m going to need way better than ‘we were at the wrong place at the wrong time’ Augustus.
AUGUSTUS:(defensive) That’s the truth. We didn’t dig up her grave. You have no evidence against us.
DETECTIVE: (coldly) Not yet.
AUGUSTUS: (frustrated) We didn’t kill Willow. You’re looking in all the wrong places—-pointing fingers at us when the real killer is probably roaming around.
