BLACK ROSE (COMPLETED)

39 -

The day after Kerem's funeral, Fatih, Derin, Alya, Sinem, and I had gathered at midday, sitting along the edge of the wall in the schoolyard. They say pain lessens when shared, yet despite our collective presence, the weight of Kerem's loss hung heavy, refusing to lift. His death, particularly for Derin, had shaken us all to the core.

Alya sat beside Derin, gently rubbing her arm in a futile attempt to offer comfort. Derin leaned her head against Alya's shoulder, her body present but her soul seemed far away, lost in the vastness of grief.

I slid down from the wall and stood in front of Derin. "Are you angry with me?" I asked her, my voice tentative, almost pleading.

Without lifting her head, Derin responded, "For what?"

"The day I stepped into the road," I began, my voice catching, "Kerem died trying to save me. His death—it's partly my fault."

Tears welled up in Derin's eyes as she shook her head vigorously. "I don't blame you, Ece. Because stepping into that road wasn't an accident. I'm certain someone forced you to jump. The same person who puppeteered Kerem and Fatih. When I find the one responsible, I'll turn into a snake and devour them without hesitation, just like the rats I hunt behind the mansion."

"Do you remember Kerem's final moments?" I asked, suspicion creeping into my tone.

Derin shook her head, her expression darkening. "No. And that's what hurts the most. I can't even remember the moment my love died. It's all black, a void. I couldn't even say goodbye."

"Isn't that strange, Derin?" I pressed gently. "You were with him every minute. But you don't remember the most crucial moment—his death."

"Of course it's strange, Ece."

"And that makes me think Kerem's death wasn't natural. Someone might have killed him, and made you, the only witness, forget. If it were a natural death, you would've remembered."

"You might be right," Fatih finally chimed in, his voice grim.

I continued, "When you think about it—my leap into the road, Kerem being struck by a car, his death, and Fatih nearly killing me—it all happened within days. The common thread? It all started after Kerem talked to me about the problems between Sinan and Fatih. Everything spiraled after I sat next to Sinan. The closer I got to him, the more trouble followed. That makes Sinan my prime suspect."

"We don't have solid evidence, though," Derin murmured.

"Not yet," I said, feeling the stirrings of a plan. "But I know how we can find it. We just need someone connected to law enforcement."

"My father's the police chief," Alya interjected. "He can help. What's your idea, Ece?"

"My theory is that the killer, the one who manipulated Kerem, forced me into the road and used Fatih to nearly kill me—was at the hospital the day Kerem died. If we can check the hospital's security footage—though I doubt they'd hand it over willingly—we could see if anyone suspicious was there before Kerem's death. Your father might be able to get those tapes for us, Alya."

Derin's face twisted with pain as she squeezed her eyes shut. "Or worse," she whispered, her voice trembling. "What if I killed him? The killer doesn't like getting their hands dirty—they prefer others to do their bidding. Think about what they made Kerem, you, and Fatih do. What if they made me...?"

"Don't even think that, sweetheart," I said, seeing how this thought was crushing her spirit. I knelt in front of her, taking her hands in mine. "We'll find the killer and bring them to justice. I promise you."

Derin bowed her head, and I gently stroked her small hands, offering whatever comfort I could.

Alya pulled out her phone. "Let me call my dad and have him check those security tapes."