The Bewitching Scarlett

Chapter 6

 Chapter 6:

The volatile temperature that morning was the first sign of misfortune. It was just the beginning of January, yet temperature had skyrocketed. As if the heavens grieved for the poor girl's brutal death, the skies watching over Amestris rained. The droplets were like tears of the heavens. It poured heavily. Weather was an extremely uncertain element humans will never be able to overcome. It is unpredictable and temperamental, just like a child.

Drenched, soaked and cold. People who were important to the victim wept and grieved at her side. Officials worked to keep reporters and spectators away from the crime scene. Scarlett and Amara watched as Ellie's parents and group of friends burst into tears. Their wails were cries of despair.

"Amara!!" Rowan sobbed, running into Amara's arms without a hint of hesitation. Seeing a classmate of theirs turning up dead on the courtyard was like a nightmare coming true. "What should we do? We're probably next!"

"It's so sad." Amara wiped her tears with a pink handkerchief, her gaze locked on Ellie's parents. "She was a nice person. It must've broken their hearts when Ellie turns up dead one morning."

Scarlett silently observed the crime scene with a solemn expression. She could see the desperation visible in Rowan's cries. Scarlett's eyeballs had darted sideways. All her efforts to maintain peace at school just went down the drain. Students at Ridgeway Institute experience brilliant campus life for the past three years since Scarlett enrolled. Ridgeway owed their peace to Scarlett, their shadow protector.

"It is sad, but you can help us find who did this." The officer who sneaked behind Scarlett spoke. He had a discerning eye for exceptional individuals, and Scarlett was not an exception. "Come with us, Scarlett."

Scarlett frowned at the officer. A single golden stripe on his uniform, and an old scar near his temple. He was the officer stationed at the entrance. And he was the one who had been watching here since her arrival. He was an officer of major general rank.

"Are you a stalker?" Scarlett questioned instead.

The officer's chuckle turned into a laugh. Scarlett had frowned. Cat-slit like golden irises and raven black hair, just like hers. It's too much of a coincidence. She recalled her mother's favourite phrase: There are no coincidences. Only the inevitable prevails.

"Scarlett, stop being so difficult. Ellie was killed!" Nina whimpered through intermittent hiccups. Anyone could see she had been bawling her eyes out. It was the saddest moment of their lives.

Julian and his pudgy followers trotted onto the site despite the officials' protests. They had charged and knocked Scarlett onto the ground. The books and bag she was holding fell onto the wet grass, her possessions scattered. The small company gathered at the site fumed when Julian and his power-hungry enthusiasts had come to cause more trouble.

"How dare you frame me for murder! You killed Ellie!" He screeched.

"Hey! Who said you're allowed to trespass the crime scene?" the major general grabbed Julian by the collar. "Stop making fake accusations before you're arrested for felony, bud."

"She did it! She did it!" Julian bellowed. He threw fits of tantrums like a child. "You must arrest her! We saw her training Ellie at the dojo last night!"

"Julian, look!" one of his buddies picked up something among Scarlett's fallen belongings. It was made of a combination of plastic and steel. It felt heavy in Isaiah's fat fingers. His guts told him this was not a toy. Julian's followers were pale white. It was a handgun.

A Beretta 92X.

"See?! A gun! She has guns in addition with two swords! She must be the killer!" The major general was unamused. The company was astounded by both Scarlett's possession and Julian's accusations. They didn't have a clue who was right and who was wrong. The fact that Scarlett had weapons in possession was evidence that arisen suspicions.