Chapter 3 YOU'RE A MURDERER!

Nerissa's POV

I follow Headmaster Veyn down the hallway without saying a word.

I don't know why someone would write her name there, and the more I think about it, the less it makes sense.

When we reach his office, he opens the door and gestures for me to go inside. I step in while he closes the door behind us before walking over to his desk.

“Sit down.”

I sit in the chair opposite him, keeping my hands together on my lap.

He remains standing for a moment before taking his seat. “Tell me exactly what happened this morning.”

“I … I was still sleeping when I heard someone scream from outside. I opened my door… and saw the dead body.”

“And you didn't hear anything during the night?”

“Not at all.”

He watches me closely. “Did you leave your room at any point in the night?”

“No.”

His fingers tap lightly against the desk. “Have you seen the dead girl before?”

I shake my head negatively in response. “No, sir. I haven't seen her before; I don't even know who she is.”

He studies my face for a few seconds before asking, “Then why do you think her name was written on your door?”

“I don't know anything about that.”

“You're certain?”

“Yes.” I glance toward the closed door behind me. “I don't even know why someone would do something like that.”

“Did you have an argument with anyone recently?”

“No. I've rarely had a conversation with anyone ever since I got here three days ago, to the extent of arguing with anyone.”

“Have you received anything strange recently? Probably a message, a note, anything?” He asks again, disregarding my comment.

I hesitate for a second, thinking about the strange feeling I've had since arriving at Crestwood, but I have nothing I can actually point to.

“No.”

He leans back in his chair; none of us says anything for a moment.

Then he picks up a pen and places it between his fingers. “You can go back to your dorm.”

I look at him. “That's all?”

“For now.” He looks up at me as I pull myself up. “One more thing.” He pauses again. “Do not discuss this with the other students. If anyone asks you questions, tell them you don't know anything. An investigation is going on already, and I don't want rumors spreading around the residence.”

I nod slowly. “Understood.”

“You can go.”

I leave his office and close the door behind me.

The walk back to my dorm feels different from the walk there. And I know the same students are going to be waiting for me; I'm right.

The moment I reach the residence entrance, I sight them standing along the hallway already, talking in small groups, but the conversations become quieter as soon as they notice me.

Nobody comes toward me, nobody says anything; they just stare as I keep walking.

A girl standing near the wall watches me with narrowed eyes before whispering something to the girl beside her. The other girl looks at me immediately, but I pretend I don't notice.

I'm almost at the entrance to my hallway when I hear someone speak behind me.

“I think I saw the dead girl's name on the app yesterday.”

My feet freeze on the spot.

The voice continues quietly, “I didn't think much about it. I thought it was a joke, but she really ended up being removed from the Hunting List.”

I turn around… but nobody is standing behind me; the entrance is empty.

Few students are still gathered at the other end of the hallway, though far enough away from me that none of them could have been the person who whispered directly behind me.

Hunting List?

What the hell is that?

I don't have time to think about it right now, so I just walk toward my room, keeping my head down as I pass the students.

Someone mutters something, but I don't catch it. Another person laughs, but I ignore them; they're the least of my concern right now.

Just as I reach my door, that's when someone shoves me from behind. I lose my balance and crash onto the floor, catching myself with my palms with pain shooting through my hands.

“What the hell!?” I turn around.

A girl standing behind me yells, “You killed her!"

I glare at her. “What? I didn't kill anyone.”

“Then explain why her name was written on your door," another girl asks.

“I don't know!” My voice comes out louder than I expect.

Another student steps forward. “Of course you don't because you ...”

“I really don't know.”

“You expect us to believe that bullshit?”

“I don't care what you believe, but I didn't kill her.” I defend myself.

Someone laughs from the back. “You were standing right beside her body this morning.”

“What are you talking about? That was because she was outside my room!”

A boy points toward my door. “Maya Bennett's name was written there in blood. Who else are we supposed to suspect if not you?”

“I don't know! Maybe the person who actually killed her?”

“Stop lying.”

“Believe what you want to believe, but I'm not lying.” I pull myself up and dust my clothes.

“You're a murderer!" someone yells from the back.

The word makes everyone go quiet for a second. Then another student yells, “She's right.”

“No,” I shake my head. “You don't get to call me that!"

“You're the only person connected to Maya.”

“I wasn't even connected to her!”

“Then why did this happen to you?”

“I don't know!” My voice cracks but nobody cares as they keep on talking over me.

“This has never happened before," someone says again.

“Exactly, not at Crestwood.”

“Not until she came.”

“What does that mean?” I stare at them in the eyes.

The girl who pushed me folds her arms. “It means we know something is wrong with you.”

“You don't know anything about me.”

"Oh, we know more than enough now.”

“I have never even seen Maya before today.”

Someone scoffs. “Sure.”

“Murderer.” Another voice comes from the crowd.

Then another, “Psycho.”

“Stay away from us!"

I look around the hallway, trying to find one person who looks certain, one person who might actually believe me, but nobody does.

Then… Chime.

A phone rings somewhere in the hallway, forcing everyone to stop. Then another phone chimes… then another… then another.

One after the other, the sound travels through the hallway as they reach into their pockets and pull out their phones.

I walk towards the girl in front of me slowly. “What’s that?”

Nobody replies as they all continue to stare at their screens.

One student's face goes pale… another one covers her mouth… then someone gasps loudly.

“What is it?” I look at them in turns, but still nothing.

Then … another student takes a step backward just as another gasp comes from the other end of the hallway.

I look from one terrified face fixed on their phone to another.

Suddenly, every single person shifts their gaze … to me.