Twisted - JJK

ch nine

Looking up, my gaze drifted towards the vast sky. The clouds floated lazily overhead, morphing into tiny little shapes. I felt a sense of calm wash over me as I lost myself in the clouds, their slow movement putting me in a trance.

"Clementine," my mother's voice called out, cutting through the peaceful silence. I carefully sat up, turning around to see my mother urgently waving me inside. "Clementine, come inside. Hurry!" Her tone carried a sense of urgency that sent a ripple of unease down my spine. I scrambled to my feet, the relaxed moment I felt was gone within an instant. My heart began to pound as I jogged toward the house.

"What's going on?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady as I reached our tea room. My mother didn't answer, her gaze flicking between me, a police officer, and Mr. and Mrs. Maddon - Elle's parents. "Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Maddon," I gently said. "Mom, what's happening?" My voice was a mix of concern and fear.

She took a deep breath, running a hand through her neatly, styled hair. "When was the last time you spoke to Elle?"

"Yesterday. Elle, Flo, and I walked to the library around one. I think it was around three when Elle left. She said she had to go home because she had an important dinner with one of Mr. Maddon's clients." The world seemed to stop. "Why what happened?" My mother pulled me closer to the chair, signaling me to sit. Reluctantly, I sat down.

"Elle never showed up at home," Mrs. Maddon wept. I looked over at my mother, she just nodded in agreement, her expression grim. "Did you notice anything odd," she asked.

I went back to my memories, playing that day over and over again. "When I was ready to go home, I noticed her car still parked in the lot, but I just thought she forgot to do something. She wasn't in the library anymore. Flo and I checked before we left." My voice cracked as I tried to recollect the events. I swallowed hard, flashes of my conversation with Elle playing through my mind. Did she mention going anywhere? "I bet she's fine." I was trying to cheer her up, which wasn't helping.

"Do you mind talking to the detective and telling him what happened yesterday? Maybe something will help find her." Mrs. Maddon sighed, rubbing her forehead. She was stressed and scared. I nodded.

My mother took us to my father's study, the scent of old leather and polished wood instantly filling the room. The walls were lined with dark bookshelves, towering over the heavy mahogany desk in the center. It was a place I had always associated with calm, a sanctuary where my father would retreat to work, but today, it felt like a cage.

She gave my shoulder one last gentle squeeze before stepping back. "I'll be with the Maddons if you need me," she said softly, her voice a thin thread of comfort before she slipped out the door. The click of it closing left me alone with the detective.

Detective Carter stood by the desk, his tall frame casting a long shadow across the room. His eyes, sharp and calculating, studied me for a moment before he moved to sit down, the chair creaking slightly under his weight. He motioned for me to sit across from him, and I obeyed, feeling a tightness in my chest that made it hard to breathe. The silence between us was thick, heavy with unspoken questions. My heart pounded in my ears, and I clenched my hands in my lap to keep them from trembling.

"Clementine," he began, his voice low but soft. "I know this is difficult, but I'm going to ask you some questions." I nodded. He pulled out a small notepad from his pocket, flipping it open. The quiet scratch of his pen as he readied himself to write down my words only made the tension worse. I could feel his eyes on me, waiting, watching for any sign of hesitation. "How do you know Elle and the Maddons?"

My mind flickered to the first time we spoke. Elle was so outspoken, the perfect person to befriend an introvert girl, me. I smiled thinking about it. "I've known Elle my whole life. Our families have always been close—her father manages one of my dad's branches, and our moms became fast friends, or so I've been told. Elle and I were born just days apart, practically destined to grow up together. She's not just my best friend—she's like family."

"Tell me about the last time you saw Elle," he said, his voice gentle but firm.

"We didn't have class that day, so we decided to study at the university library." My mind flashed back to yesterday. "I picked up Flo, since she doesn't have a car, and we met up with Elle at the parking lot. We all walked to the library together talking about the homecoming dance and who we were going with. Just normal girl stuff. When we got the library, we went to our reserved room on the second floor. After a couple hours, Elle said she had to leave. Something about an important family dinner with a client."

Detective Carter scribbled something down, his expression unreadable. "Can you go a little more in depth about the conversation? There might be a hint in there somewhere."

I nodded. "I can't remember word for word, but we talked about who everyone was going with. Flo wanted one of my family friends, Namjoon, to ask her. Elle and I disapproved. Elle said that Micheal Pinewood asked her. I mentioned that one of my classmates, Taehyung asked me the day before, but that evening, Jungkook asked me. She got really upset that I would even consider Jungkook, which made me confused because she doesn't even know him, and I rejected him. She's always been protective over me, so I never took anything to heart."

The detective shifted in his seat, tapping his pen lightly against the notepad. "You mentioned Michael Pinewood. How was their relationship?"

I blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Michael? No, not that I know of. In all honesty, I didn't even know she talked to him. He wasn't really her type. Yesterday was the first time hearing about Michael."

The detective shifted in his seat, leaning forward slightly. "Clementine, you're her best friend. If she was in trouble, if something was going on that she was scared to talk about, you would know, wouldn't you?"

The question hit me like a punch to the gut. I wanted to say yes, to insist that I knew Elle better than anyone, but the truth was, I didn't know. I never knew about Michael. Did she think I would make fun of her for liking Michael? She would tell me if something was wrong, right?

"I don't know," I admitted, my voice barely a whisper. I was fighting my inner thoughts. Was I not her best friend? Could she not trust me?

The detective's eyes softened for a moment, but his expression remained serious. "I understand. Sometimes people keep things close to their chest, even from those they trust the most. But if you think of anything—anything at all—let me know. We need to find her, Clementine."

I swallowed hard, nodding again. The weight of his words pressed down on me, the realization sinking in. Elle was out there, somewhere, and I didn't have the answers to help find her. The thought was suffocating, a dark cloud that threatened to engulf me.

"Can you think of anyone who might want to hurt her?" he asked, his tone now more urgent. "Anyone who might have had a grudge or seemed jealous of her?"

I frowned, trying to push through the fog of panic clouding my thoughts. "Elle was... Elle was liked by everyone," I said softly. "She didn't have enemies, at least none that I know of. I mean, she was popular, but I don't think anyone hated her. And she wouldn't do anything to put herself in jeopardy. She's like me, a rule-follower.

He looked at me carefully, studying my face. "People can surprise us, Clementine. Even those closest to us."

I couldn't meet his gaze, my mind spiraling. What had Elle gotten herself into? And how had I missed it?

The detective stood, closing his notepad. "We're doing everything we can to find her. If you think of anything, no matter how small, please call me. Time is of the essence."

I nodded, feeling a hollow pit open up inside me as he left the study. The door clicked shut behind him, leaving me alone with the deafening silence.