Dark Cupid

Chapter 4

"Speak low. If people hear us, we're in trouble." He said.
"Where have you been?" I said, breaking down, "I couldn't reach you on your phone."
He held me tight as I broke down and said, "Hey Fel, I'm sorry. Everything just happened too fast. I didn't know that I'd get trapped in this."

I sniffed as I held on to his shirt.
"Jessica died." I said.
"I know Felicia, I know."
"How do you know?"
"You think I wouldn't? The police is after me."

I took a look at his shirt. Black. Shivers ran down my spine, again.
"They found your ring with her."
"What?" He checked his hand, "I've lost the ring. It isn't... On my finger... Must've dropped it somewhere. How did it reach to Jessica?"

I took a step away from him. Did I really trust him?
"Why didn't you show up at school, Stanley?"
"What? Oh. Roger was sick. I was with him all morning."

I felt goosebumps again stronger than ever. I stammered,
"I... I ran into Roger.... Sometime ago.... He told me that he hadn't been able to reach you since last night."
"What? He said that? He's lying."
"He's lying. Everyone's lying. It's just you telling the truth, isn't it?"

He didn't answer.
"What were you doing in the woods when the police found her, Stanley?"
"Felicia, I can explain...."
He reached out to me. I dodged him quickly and rushed out of his reach and I kept running till I was out of the abandoned area. Some place where he couldn't reach me.

I rushed home and collapsed in bed. Stanley. My Stanley. Was he a murderer? Did he murder Jessica, one of my best friends? I was confused. I didn't know what to do. I texted Jodie.

Felicia: Hey. Can I come over? Gotta talk about something important. Can't trust anyone but u. Urgent.

She replied in less than two minutes.

Jodie: Sure. B here asap. I'll be waiting.

I dressed up as quickly as I could and rushed to Jodie's place. Jodie was home alone. That was good news. I went upstairs to her room.

"It's about Jessica and Stanley, isn't it?" She asked.
"Yes."
And I narrated everything to her. Rachel calling, me meeting Roger, me meeting Stanley. She quietly listened and said,
"You think Stanley did it?"
"I don't know. His behaviour is strange. I don't know if he's lying. Everyone is against him."
"I don't think he did it, Felicia."
My eyes brightened.

She continued, "I've known him ever since I was a kid. He was phobic to blood, wounds, injury. Even now, an injection needle scares him more than the deadliest of snakes. I don't think he could've stabbed someone with a knife even if he wanted to."
I was already feeling better.

"Moreover, Stanley is a good person. He never even lied, murder is out of question. But still, evidence means more than all of this, Felicia."
"I know, Jodie. But my heart, I believe in Stanley. And I feel bad, I shouldn't have abandoned him that way."

"But I don't know, Fel. Why would he lie about being with Roger? Or why would he be at the crime scene after Jess was killed? Nothing really makes sense."
"I know, Jodie."

Suddenly, my phone rang. I didn't recognise the number. I took it.
"Felicia!" The voice said.
"Stanley?"
"Yes. Listen, I don't have much time. I am calling from a PCO. Felicia, trust me I'm innocent. I don't know why people are trying to get me into trouble, please don't believe them. I need shelter for now."
"I can sneak you in for the next week. My parents are out of town."
"I'll be there in 15."

He cut the call. I told Jodie what happened and said, "I gotta go home, Jodie. He will be there soon."
"Take care."
I nodded and rushed home.

I reached in time and waited for him. Waited and waited. But he never showed up. My phone rang, not an unknown number anymore.
"Hey, mom. You left before I even came home?"
"Yes, Felicia. The time was scheduled. I left you dinner though."
"Thanks, mom."
"You didn't go near the woods, right?"
"No mom, I came straight home from Jodie's."
"No, I mean when you went for a walk?"
"No, I didn't."

"Hey, honey. Your dad wants to talk to you." Mom said and I heard a few whispers and dad came on the line.
"So, how are you buddy?" He asked.
"I'm good, dad. How're things there?"
"Oh, things are great here Felicia... Things are great...."
"Dad?" I asked in a voice full of suspicion.
"Yeah?'
"What is it?"
"Fine. I'll tell you. Are you having a hard time, Fel? You know... Me and your mom were discussing, first one of your friends from school dies, and now one is taken in by the police... I don't know if you're holding up well..."
"Wait, what?" I interrupted, "Who got taken in by the police?"
"You didn't know about it? It's all over the news... Some kid called Stanley... Stanley Web."
I froze dead in my tracks.
"But... But Stanley..." I murmured.
"You knew the kid?"
"What? No... Not really... He was on the track team too."
"I'm sorry, Felicia."
"It's okay, dad. I need to go and have dinner. I'll call you guys later?"
"Yeah, sure. Stay safe, and just know we're here if u need us. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."

I cut the call. No, I wasn't gonna have dinner. I dressed up quick, took the keys to the car and rushed.

"Excuse me." I said.
"Yes?" The officer incharge asked.
"I'm here to see Stanley Web."

So that's the end of this chapter too! Keep reading to find out what happens next.

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Love, Kaninika xoxo