Clara

  It wasn't just the building that felt wrong.

  The way Alister moved, calmly, like this was just another errand he had to check off his list. Like stepping into this crumbling, rotting place to meet a man with a gun was normal.

  I stayed behind him. My body tense as I pressed myself against the hallway wall just outside the room, my black heels hanging over my arm by the straps. He didn't see me follow. I made sure of that.

  I knew something was off the second I reached his house for a confrontation and saw him slipping out of the apartment complex in disguise. He hadn't noticed me, too focused on getting away without being seen. But I'd recognized him immediately.

  The brown wig longer grazing the nape of his neck in soft waves, the contact lenses masked the sharpness of his eyes, dulling their usual intensity, and the black face mask covered the lower half of his face. Everything about him looked suspicious. A normal person might not recognize him.

  But I did.

  Even without seeing his face, I'd know that frame anywhere. Lean. Tall. Effortlessly put together. While he's no Zach-who is built and conventionally attractive in an obvious way-there's something about Alister's presence that still draws attention. He stands out. Even in disguise, even in the shadows.

  And because I'm an insanely curious person, and apparently incapable of minding my own business, I followed him all the way. Despite every rational part screaming at me to turn around, to slip back into the alley, disappear before I'm seen and have a sense of self-preservation.

  But I have to know. I have to see for myself what Alister is doing here. Because if I leave now, I'll never get the answers. And some stubborn, reckless part of me wasn't willing to walk away.

  Now, I stood frozen outside the room, heart pounding. The door was left slightly ajar. A sliver wide enough to keep hidden but still hear and secretly capture everything on camera.

  I wasn't supposed to hear this. I knew that. I wanted to look away, to shut out the unsettling realization that this is the very same person I study with, sit in the same room every day, talk to him like it's normal.

  I knew he had a screw loose in his head, but I didn't know how many.

  But the moment the knife plunged into his throat, my stomach dropped. The phone almost slipped out of my moist fingers. I slapped a hand over my mouth, biting down a scream as my lungs burned from the breath I forgot to release.

  Alister wasn't done. He spoke some nonsense casually-as if the man wasn't choking on his own blood. Then, when his phone rang, he answered smoothly, like nothing had happened.

  This is my chance. I turn away, forcing my weak legs to move. I need to leave.

  "Lily, why are you calling me this early?"

  Lily?

  The name barely registered at first, my mind still tangled in everything I'd just heard. But as he kept talking, something in his tone made my skin crawl.

  "Let me guess-door locked, voice low, didn't want anyone listening in?"

  Who was he talking about?

  I strained to catch anything else, but I could only hear his side of the conversation.

  Stop it, Clara! Just get out of here before he finds and kills you too!

  I force myself to stay still, cold sweat sticking to my forehead, waiting for him to say something that might clue me in.

  Then he did.

  "What about the rest of the Austin family? Anyone acting strange?"

  My blood ran cold. The Austin family? My family?

  Everything clicked at once, hitting me like a punch to the gut. He was talking about my father. About my family. There's a maid named Lily at our home who joined last month.

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  A spy inside my house.

  How long has this been going on? How much does he know?

  Alister continued talking as I slowly started to back up "Irrelevant, then. Just-"

  Creak.

  The sound faintly echoed through the hall as my foot stepped on the wrong floorboard.

  Shit.

  His silence fell like a heavy weight. He definitely heard that.

  I had seconds.

  Quickly, I eased backward, slipping into the nearest dark room. I pressed into the shadows. My pulse pounded in my ears as I watched his silhouette on the floor move closer.

  He was just outside the room, a few steps away from me.

  I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping he wouldn't come in. The seconds stretched unbearably.

  Then he exhaled, his voice quieter now. "It's nothing. Just keep an eye out. Let me know if he does anything out of the ordinary."

  A soft beep. The call had ended.

  I didn't dare move. Not until I was sure he's gone. Once I heard his footsteps retreat back into the room, I carefully slipped out.

  I didn't look back. Didn't even breathe properly until I reached the entrance. Once outside the building, I broke into a sprint, lungs burning, as my bare feet pounded against the dirt.

  I made my way to where I had hidden my car, sliding into the driver's seat, the leather hot beneath my fingers due to the raging sun. Without a second thought, I turned the key in the ignition, the engine roaring to life as I slammed my foot on the accelerator.

  I needed to get out of here, away from the places where I might be spotted, where Alister could trace my movements. I didn't even know where I was going, just that I had to get somewhere busier.

  I cut through side streets and alleyways, eventually merging into the heavier traffic of downtown. The crowded city streets offered some comfort. The honking cars and pedestrians everywhere, distracting enough to keep the anxiety gnawing at the back of my mind.

  The footage of Alister, cold as ever, standing over a body he had just killed. I had it all on camera, clear as day.

  What was I supposed to do with it now?

  Hand it over to the police? That would be the easiest and safest thing. But... would handing it over make things worse? How do I know he and Lily are the only ones involved?

  My family was full of secrets, dark ones that could ruin everything if exposed. The pressure of it was unbearable, and the last thing I wanted was for Alister to find out just how deep those secrets ran.

  I gripped the wheel tighter, steering through the bustling streets. I couldn't go to the police. Not yet. I need to know how much Alister knows, what he has uncovered. I need to find out how far he'd dug into our past, and whether he was planning to use that against me-or worse, against my family. If he has people working for him, I'll need to find them.

  But what if he already had all the pieces? What if it was too late?

  Suddenly, a figure darted in front of my car, and I slammed on the brakes just in time, the screech of the tires filling the air as I came to a halt inches from a young girl. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I quickly threw the car into park, hands trembling as I scrambled out of the vehicle.

  The girl had stumbled, falling to the road as the basket of roses she was carrying spilled on the ground. She sat there, trying to gather the flowers, her unruly chestnut hair bouncing around her face. She wore a faded plum dress, clearly worn from use, and looked like she could have been no older than twelve.

  I rushed to her side. "Hey, are you alright? I'm so sorry, I didn't see you!"

  She looked up at me with her chubby face, brown eyes wide with fear. She was still sitting on the ground, clutching the empty basket. "I-I'm okay," she stammered, though she clearly wasn't.

  I knelt beside her, quickly gathering up the roses, making sure they weren't damaged. "Let me help."

  She hesitated, still looking up at me warily. I could see the exhaustion and fear in her gaze, as though this was just another day of hardship.

  "Listen," I said, standing up and offering my hand to her, "I'm sorry for almost running you over. How much for all of your flowers?"

  Her eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"

  I smirk, pulling out my wallet. "This is your chance to run me dry. Go ahead."

  She looked at the basket, before replying, "Fifty."

  I hand her the money, more than what she asked for. Her face lights up in the most genuine way-a pure look of happiness that tugged at something in me. It wasn't about the money. It was the way her face transformed from worry to joy in an instant. "Thank you," she whispered as she walked away.

  My thoughts go back to spiraling, trying to decide whether to go straight to the police and get Alister arrested before he does anything or figure out what he knows first. Because the real danger isn't the footage itself, but how much he could destroy everything if he ever learned the truth about my family. If any of the confidential information leaks, that will be enough to make my uncle start a thorough investigation into it. He won't stop until he uncovers everything.

  I stare at the kid as she runs off with a smile and empty basket.

  I could...not do anything and tell my parents about it. Let them make the decision.

  But knowing them, they'll not only get rid of Alister but his whole family too. I've seen his little sister in events. Though I've never talked to her, she's a very shy person, always sticking close to her mother. She's almost as old as that flower girl.

  There's only one path I can think of at the moment. Where all my worries can be put at ease. I just...have to implement it at the right moment.

  I exhale and trace my fingers over the gem, through my clothes, still embedded in my chest.

  Then there's this little thing. I can't think of any scientific explanation for it. And the only thing that makes sense is that it's magic.

  A reason why I need Alister. He has to help me get rid of it. If I can just temporarily ignore the fact that he's a murderer, I should be able to face him and ask him about it.

  It'll be fine. It's almost time for classes. I'll have to talk to him no matter what.