The most beautiful roses have their cruelest thorn

Three empty seats

They say the most beautiful rose has its cruelest thorn. But, these roses have a thorn that is more than cruel, it's evil. You'd never think anyone in your family in school would be capable of such a thing.

"I would've never thought anyone could do such a thing." Someone commented.

"Who does this involve?" Another classmate commented.

"Who could be the culprit?" My friend asked me.

"I have no idea," I responded. I was speechless...Even though I have no idea who is the victim far less for the killer, my intuition already has been activated in the empty pit in my stomach. My deep brown eyes looked over my friends' shoulder, to his seat. Him... It was an empty seat, that has never felt this empty in my eyes.

Everyone was instructed to remain in their classrooms, while police hurriedly arrived at the school. It wasn't deemed safe anymore. I remained in dazed silence. I wasn't in the right mind to concentrate. Teaching was put on a pause, and my algebra teacher was busy calling other people as he looked disoriented himself.

Downstairs, the body of Armando Taurus lies on his back against the wall in between room 110, and the flights of staircases. Luckily, there was a witness, who was telling all the officers what she witnessed. Crowded by police, they noted their sights. Though they noted he wasn't trying to defend himself in the act.

It felt like something was missing. I never thought what it would be like to go a day without him... permanently... I knew we had to be questioned. I mean, we were the only children close to him. Having no idea how much time has passed, a vigorous repetitive knock on the door made my heart pounding intensify. An officer, or detective, actually, was let in by the teacher. Strict, yet a tone without hostility, every child was questioned. As an introduction, his name is Detective Lamior. A tall, broad, young man wearing a sharp red, white, and blue suit. He looked about six feet tall, with dark skin, and dark hair flowing down the back of his neck in a slick-back ponytail. Wait, hold on... isn't he... The thought didn't escape my mind. I know this young man.

...

"Was the victim in a relationship with anyone here?" He asked in a no-nonsense tone. The class suddenly went silent. Apprehensive as the tension permeated the air. Need I will be reminded everyone glanced at me? Some mumbles came and went.

"Nobody knows?" Asked the detective, looking around at first, then taking notes in a small blonde notepad. I felt as if my mouth instantly went into my pocket. I needed someone to speak for me. "Yes, he used to be with Mia." Replied a student who was right in front of him. It had to be said. Even though he was standing by the door, I also happened to be in the front row. Meaning, Detective Lamoir was only a few steps away from me.

"Mia, you say? Is she here?" He asked concerned, with a thundering voice. I felt the anxiety thundering in my heart, as it reverberated through my soul. But, it sounded like he was already familiar with my name. Impulsively, I raised my hand, but ever so low. The detective walked up to me. He crouched down to my level.

"M-Mia..." He stuttered. That has to be him. I guess he did work in the police force after all.

"Do you have any idea what was going on? Do you know why he got killed?" For some reason, he was gentle with me. He looked deep into my eyes, and without a doubt, the thought lingering in my head 'I was the suspect'.

"Um, I don't think so." I nervously replied.

"Well...I have a witness who claims it was someone named Mia who committed the crime. A youngun goes by the name Aaliyana Scarlett." He appraised as he flipped through the previous page of his notepad.

"No, I didn't do it. She has it all wrong." I suddenly gained inner concentration once I was on the spot. for some reason, I felt some sort of justice?

"Yeah... Well, Let's see what your dad has to say down at the detention center. Please, let's go." For some reason, he sounded reluctant to arrest me, but at the same time, he sounded accustomed to arresting anyone.

"Wait, you're arresting her?!" Kids exclaimed.

"Well, she's supposedly a suspect. She will need a defense lawyer to prove her innocence in court." Explained Det. Lamior. I was facing the class, standing up, with bad posture. All the kids had shocked and scared faces at the scenario as they all witnessed something unimaginable. I kept staring at every one of the kids, with my frightened, out-of-earth expression, as Lamior applied handcuffs. My attention diverted to the two seats at the corner by the closet on the far left. Aaliyana and Armando's seats were empty. As I was taken out last moment, I couldn't get my eyes off of those seats. It was at that moment, I knew what I was going against, or rather, who I was going against.

It all happened so fast. I felt like a prisoner. But, I was taken downstairs, to the main exit of the school. There were officers, forensics, and other people who wore rather dressy suits around the body talking to each other. I saw the side of Armando at that moment, even though he was quite a distance away. His hazel eyes were closed, and his face seemed paler than I've ever seen him. But, he is no more. As someone who knew him better than anyone else here, I am not prepared to announce he is...deceased. As I look up, a man who was about 5'10, wore a burgundy suit with a black undershirt, and a gray tie, with sophisticated jet black glasses that fits his small eyes, caught my eyes. For some reason, I couldn't look away from him. He looked... mean. others were surrounding him, but I didn't get the chance to see who they were.

As I got down to the detention center, I began to do some serious thinking. Aaliyana blamed me? Why? Why did it have to be me? Did she actually witness it, or was what she told Det. Lamior scripted? I mean, she always cuts class or is late, so anything goes at this point. She won't get away with this. I wonder if anybody else wondered where Aaliyana was, or even if she was okay. But I wonder, was she arrested? All eyes, scarred of fear were all on me. Though, nobody had the slightest clue to what was really going on. I began thinking about Aaliyana. she was light-skinned, about my height, beautiful body for a 13-year old. She was always showing skin and is one of the most popular kids. She was also the type to date every guy in the school. It made me sick. I began to feel corroded as I sat in the visiting room waiting for my supposed attorney. With my phone confiscated, this felt like the perfect crime. but ever since the intercom announced there has been a murder by the last exit of the school, with a witness, something didn't feel right. It was like I had already known that either Armando or Aaliyana was involved before they announced it. But, how could I do it if I wasn't at the scene? I, once again, had to serve justice.

...

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