One after Another

Chapter Fifteen

Hearing Natalie's deduction, Ali clapped and laughed with a tinge of sadness hidden within.

"How dare you? Why did you kill my sister? " Kenneth coughed with tears in his eyes. He had finally deciphered that the friend in front of him was a killer.

"Wait..." started Natalie, but she was soon cut off by Kenneth's fit of anger.

"DON'T TALK TO ME ABOUT WAITING. I HAVE WAITED TOO LONG"

"She didn't want to do this! She—" Natalie yelled.

"OH YEAH? I DON'T CARE! SHE MURDERED MY SISTER! SHUT UP!" Kenneth screeched, fury boiling in his eyes.

By now, Natalie was already on the verge of tears. Her hands hurriedly wiped away tears that threatened to fall.

"How did you know?" Ali rudely interrupted the angry outbursts from the two in front of her.

Natalie took a deep breath. "Before you killed Kenneth's sister, she left a note with the number "41" on top. Just think what 41 looks like. The "1" looks like a "L". And if you pull the diagonal line a bit, the "4" looks like an "A". Doesn't it?"

She glanced at Kenneth. He clenched his jaw, his eyes piercing Ali deeply. If looks could kill, she would be dead by now.

"I don't have a choice. If you tell the police, that's the end of us."

"Us?" Kenneth had thankfully calmed down, despite still staring daggers deep into her soul.

"You and?" Natalie asked.

"My mother, aka the headmistress of Moltenburg High School..." Ali closed her eyes as she softly spoke, taking a breath in, knowing she had lost.

"Sure, that definitely clears things up." Kenneth sarcastically said, rolling his eyes.

Natalie narrowed her eyes and gave him a frowning look before she whispered, "Sure, it all makes sense now."

"It does?" Kenneth tilted his head to the side.

"If we reported the hallway to the police, her mother will be arrested and Ali may even be banished from Moltenburg."

"So, to save that reputation of yours, it is fine to kill seven people?" said Kenneth, gritting his teeth in anger.

"I'm sorry," said Ali, bowing her head. She genuinely meant it although it seemed stupid.

"Sure you are as if that would bring my sister back," said Kenneth, rolling his eyes.

"That is enough discussion. You are coming with us to the police station, along with that devilish mother of yours," ordered Natalie, pointing at her. "Oh, also the devilish teacher, Miss Buckson, for assisting in crime. After all, she let you leave early, to hold my mother hostage."

"It was just a coincidence! It has nothing to do with her!" Ali argued.

"We'll leave it to the cops to find out. Now, go! You are guilty no matter what. " Natalie ordered.

Ali turned around ashamedly. Kenneth and Natalie followed closely behind, and walked out of the house. Natalie closed the big door behind her, before pivoting herself to face the front.

As they walked along the street, the people scurried past them, each with a different reason to hurry, completely oblivious to the fact that a cold-hearted murderer was walking next to them.

In the end, Miss Buckson was not found guilty due to no evidence. And although Ali and Mrs. Jones was handcuffed and found guilty, the identity of the skeleton that was contained in the hallway in the school was still a mystery. But why would Kenneth and Natalie want to discover that mystery after the whole story they have been through?

After a very long day of finding evidence and debating with a certain lawyer, Kenneth and Natalie stepped out of the police station, glad that their original story had ended. They have succeeded, after a long time suffering through fear and pain.

They stretched their hands behind their backs as they enjoyed the sun radiating onto them, and opening a new chapter of their lives. 

One's appearance does not define who they are.

The end