~The lost one~

Chapter 15

The office, with its quiet luxury, seemed to close in around Simi as Officer Steffan began asking questions. She sat on the grey couch, her fingers gripping the edge as though it were a lifeline. Officer Steffan, his face calm but with an underlying intensity, took his seat behind the mahogany desk. His brown eyes were sharp, scanning Simi's anxious face as he opened the file.

"Simi," Steffan began, his voice steady but gentle, "I need to ask you some questions about your parents. I hope you're okay with that."

Simi nodded, though her heart raced in her chest. She was desperate to avoid the real issues, to keep her secrets hidden. "Yes, I understand," she managed, her voice trembling slightly.

Steffan leaned forward, his gaze intent. "First, can you tell me a bit about your relationship with your parents? Were there any recent changes or behaviors that seemed unusual?"

Simi's stomach twisted. She forced herself to meet his eyes, trying to keep her face as neutral as possible. "My relationship with them was... complicated," she said, her voice wavering. "There were always issues, but nothing new recently. We didn't really talk much about personal stuff."

Steffan's eyebrows knit together in concern. "What about the day of the accident? Do you know what plans your parents had?"

Simi swallowed hard, her throat dry. "Not really. I was on a school trip, so I didn't have much contact with them. They mentioned something about a meeting, but they never gave details."

Steffan's eyes narrowed slightly. "Did they mention any specific appointments or people they were meeting?"

Simi hesitated, her mind racing. "No, they just said it was for business. I didn't question it."

"Did you notice any conflicts or tensions in your family recently?" Steffan asked, his gaze piercing. "Was there anyone who might have had a grudge against them?"

Simi's heart pounded as she recalled the violent outbursts she had tried so hard to forget. She forced herself to shake her head. "No, I don't think so. My stepfather had a lot of business dealings, but nothing out of the ordinary."

Steffan's voice softened, but his eyes remained sharp. "How about the car? Did it have any issues before the accident?"

Simi struggled to keep her composure. "I don't think so. They talked about repairs occasionally, but I didn't pay much attention."

Steffan leaned back, studying her with a mix of sympathy and suspicion. "One last question: Did you ever notice anything odd or suspicious in your parents' lives? Anything that might indicate someone was targeting them?"

A shiver ran down Simi's spine. She thought of Nyx's recent behavior, his erratic rage. "I—" Her voice caught as she struggled to lie convincingly. "I don't know. They were... more stressed recently, but I didn't think it was anything serious."

Steffan's eyes flickered with a hint of concern. "You mentioned they were more stressed. Was there any indication they were involved with drugs or anything illegal?"

Simi's breath quickened. "I don't know about drugs," she said quickly, her voice rising. "But Nyx was definitely more violent. He was... angry a lot."

Her hands began to tremble as she thought back to the recent violence. **Flashback: Nyx's face twisted in rage, his eyes dark and menacing. His fist slammed into her ribs with a sickening thud, pain exploding through her body. As she cowered, he brandished a knife, the cold steel pressing into her shoulder, the pain sharp and searing.**

The memory overwhelmed her, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. The room seemed to spin, her vision blurring. She felt a tightness in her chest, a suffocating panic that made her heart race uncontrollably.

Simi clutched at her chest, her face pale and drenched in sweat. She could barely breathe, her breaths coming in short, shallow gasps. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as she fought to stay conscious.

Steffan's expression turned from professional to deeply concerned. He moved quickly, his strong, reassuring presence grounding her. "Simi, are you alright?" he asked, his voice firm but gentle. He stood up and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Simi's vision was swimming as she struggled to respond. "I... I can't breathe," she choked out, her voice barely audible.

Steffan guided her gently to the couch, his movements calm and deliberate. "It's okay, Simi. Just try to take slow, deep breaths. You're safe here."

He grabbed a glass of water from a side table and handed it to her. "Drink this. It'll help."

Simi took a sip, her hands still shaking. Steffan's presence was a small comfort in the chaos of her mind. He stayed by her side, his eyes watchful as she gradually regained her composure.

After several minutes, her breathing began to steady. Steffan continued to speak softly, his tone soothing. "Take your time. If you need to stop or talk about anything else, just let me know."

Simi nodded, her breaths slowly returning to normal. She wiped her tears and looked up at Steffan, her eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and lingering fear.

Steffan gave her a reassuring smile. "We'll get through this, Simi. You don't have to go through it alone."

As Simi composed herself, Steffan took a step back, giving her space but remaining close enough to offer support. He knew that unraveling the mystery of the accident was just beginning, and that understanding Simi's fears and experiences would be crucial in uncovering the truth.