ONE LAST TIME

Flashes

My eyes filled with tears as the same name echoed repeatedly in my mind: Aaron, Aaron, Aaron.

Flashback

Dear Diary, 
Today will be different. It has to be. I will smile and it will be believable. My smile will say, "I'm fine, thank you". Yes, I feel much better now. I will no longer be the sad little girl who lost her parents. I will start a fresh and be someone new.

With a determined smile on my face, I closed the diary and placed it on the bedside table.  Hannah's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, had let me stay with them for the time being It was time I got a real paying job. As I got down the stairs, the aroma of breakfast filled the air, and I could hear the soft hum of conversation in the kitchen.

"Good morning, Emma!" Mrs. Anderson greeted me with a warm smile as I entered the kitchen. Hannah, always the early bird, sat sipping her coffee. "Ready?" she asked, a twinkle of excitement in her eyes. " I nodded in agreement. After saying our goodbyes, we headed off to college. The fresh semester buzzed with excitement, yet it made my stomach jittery. The corridors echoed with chatter, and Hannah and I split ways to our respective classes. She was into Cybersecurity and Data Privacy whereas, Criminal Law and Forensics had piqued my interest. 

I stepped into the bustling classroom, the air alive with excitement and the hum of conversations. Waving a quick hello to a few familiar faces, I made my way toward my usual seat. Nestled among the throng of students was Rose, her striking red hair impossible to miss. We'd been friends since the beginning of law school. 

I stepped into the bustling classroom, the air alive with excitement and the hum of conversations. Waving a quick hello to a few familiar faces, I made my way toward my usual seat. Nestled among the throng of students was Rose, her striking red hair impossible to miss. We'd been friends since the beginning of law school.

"Hey Rose, it's been ages," I greeted her warmly. 

Rose's eyes lit up, and with a bright smile, she rose from her chair and hurried over to me, wrapping me in a tight, comforting hug. "Emma! I'm so glad you're here," she exclaimed, her warmth bringing an unexpected sense of ease. I returned the hug gratefully before we both settled back into our seats. "How are you doing?" Rose asked, her perceptive eyes studying me with care. "Yeah, I'm doing okay," I replied with a smile, trying to convey a sense of reassurance.

A hush fell over the room, signaling the arrival of our new professor. The door swung open, and in walked a figure that commanded attention. His presence was magnetic, and the aura of confidence exuded from his very stance. He didn't need to say a word to capture the room's attention.

"Good morning, everyone," his voice, smooth and measured, resonated with a confident charm that instantly captured our collective interest. "I'm Aaron, 20. I'll be taking over this class from Miss Summer for this semester." 

Flashback ends

I wiped away the tears clouding my vision and took a deep, shuddering breath, trying to steady my emotions. "The murders, everything... it's about me," I murmured aloud, the words tasting bitter and unsettling as they left my lips. My mind raced, connecting dots that painted a haunting picture. "The killer wants to get to me. They're using Aaron as an excuse."

"Emma..." Atlas began, his voice heavy with concern, but before he could finish, a plea echoed in my thoughts, urging him not to say what I dreaded.

"Aaron might be the killer..."

The words pierced through my mind like shards of glass, leaving me frozen in disbelief. The possibility seemed inconceivable, a horrifying twist that threatened to unravel my sanity. "No, Atlas, it can't be..." I protested weakly, my voice cracking with despair.

Atlas reached out and said  "I know it's difficult to consider, Emma. But-"

"THERE IS NO BUT ATLAS. AARON IS DEAD."