The room was quiet, the kind of silence that weighed down on their shoulders like a thick blanket. The six girls—Lemon, Scarlett, Riley, Hazel, Autumn, and Evelyn—sat in a circle, eyes heavy, thoughts even heavier.
Scarlett was the first to speak. Her voice was soft, almost as if she was afraid the walls were listening.
"There's no way this is all random. Five girls, all of them from our university... all dead."
Lemon nodded, her fingers tightening slightly around the mug she held. "Lydia died in the water tanker. She drowned… and the tank was locked from the outside. How is that possible unless someone planned it?"
Hazel took a deep breath. "Sophia was found inside her wardrobe. As if someone forced her in and left her to suffocate. That's not just cruel… it's calculated."
"Then Luna," Evelyn whispered, eyes flicking to the window like the name alone might summon something dark. "Dead in the bathroom stall. No one saw anyone enter. It was like she just vanished and then... found."
"And Georgia," Autumn added. "The same bathroom. Different stall. Different day. Same eerie silence. That's four… and now Laven." Her voice cracked a little. "Killed in her own house. Away from university. This time… it's different."
"They always felt like coincidences before," Riley murmured. "Like… bad luck or accidents. But now? Five girls, one after the other? I'm done pretending this isn't murder."
Lemon hadn't spoken again. Her head was low, eyes trained on the ground. She finally broke the silence. "Laven's death… she died yesterday. That was during the two-day break. The university was closed, and she was at home."
A long pause fell between them as they stared at each other, the pieces clicking in each of their minds.
Suddenly, Lemon's phone buzzed. She looked down, and her heart did a strange little flutter when she saw Leon's name flashing across the screen. Video Call Incoming.
She picked it up, moving a little to the side for some privacy. The screen lit up with Leon's face. He looked tired, darker shadows under his eyes than usual, but still… warm. Familiar.
"Hey," he said, giving a faint smile.
"Hey," Lemon replied, adjusting her hair behind her ear.
"I was just thinking about....the news. About Laven." He paused, then continued, "I don't know why, but I was worried about you."
"I'm fine," she said softly, her voice barely a whisper. "But Leon, it's getting worse. Five girls… they're gone."
His face hardened. "I know. I don't believe in coincidences anymore. I think someone's behind all of this."
There was a pause.
Leon leaned closer to the camera, his voice dropping. "Lemon, you need to be careful. Whoever is doing this… they're smart. And they're close. Maybe even inside Maplewood."
Lemon nodded. "I know. We've started connecting the pieces. There's a board… I'll show you later. We posted Laven's death photo—"
Leon nodded. "I got it from a news source. It wasn't posted publicly, but someone leaked it. I thought… it might help you."
Lemon bit her lip. "It did. We printed it. Connected it with red thread, notes, everything. We're trying, Leon. We really are."
His gaze softened. "I know you are. That's why I worry. Promise me you won't do anything reckless."
Lemon smiled just slightly. "I'll try."
Leon paused. "That's not a promise."
"I promise," she said, tilting her head, "just for you."
He chuckled lightly, rubbing his neck. "Alright then. Take care, Lemon."
"You too," she said softly.
"Bye."
"Bye," she replied and ended the call.
As soon as the screen went dark, Riley leaned in with a sly smile. "Oooh, was that our Mr. Concerned again?"
Lemon turned around, raising an eyebrow.
Scarlett added with a teasing grin, "This drama is getting too romantic… I mean, we were supposed to talk about murder, but someone's out here starring in her own detective love story."
Lemon rolled her eyes. "Shut up."
Hazel laughed, grabbing a pillow and tossing it gently at Lemon. "C'mon, girl, the tension between you two is literally giving mystery-romance-thriller vibes."
Autumn grinned. "Can't lie, though. If someone had to fall in love during a murder investigation, it would be you."
Evelyn mock-gasped. "Maybe Leon is the killer trying to distract Lemon with feelings!"
"Guys, stop it," Lemon said, trying not to laugh, though a small smile tugged at her lips.
Then suddenly the atmosphere shifted again—like a blanket being pulled off to remind them of the cold truth beneath.
Scarlett sat forward. "No but seriously. Five girls. One killer. This is real. And if the killer left Maplewood during the break… they could be anyone. Even someone from our past."
Lemon's smile faded, replaced by thought. "Maybe someone who has been here… but isn't anymore. Or someone who blends in so well, no one would suspect them."
Hazel's eyes narrowed. "And what about Leon? Could he know more than he's telling us?"
"No," Lemon said instantly, but her voice was softer than she intended. "He… he doesn't remember much about the first-year girls either. He left that year, remember? Before all of this."
"But he was here when it started," Evelyn pointed out. "Even if he's not involved… he might have seen something. Or someone."
"I'll ask him next time," Lemon replied. "Gently. We can't scare him away. He's one of the few people trying to help."
Autumn looked at the board, the red threads connecting photo to photo, mystery to mystery. "It's all connected. We're just not seeing the whole picture yet."
Scarlett stared at Laven's photo. "I wonder who's...next."
A heavy silence filled the room again.
Lemon whispered, "Not us. It won't be us."
But in the quiet, every girl felt it—the fear. The unknown.
And the growing realization that the killer was still out there.
Watching. Waiting.