Panic Room

Chapter 8: 'False Accusations'

Kira stood up quickly, Axel flinching slightly as she did.

They both stayed silent, hearing the yelling continue and only grow louder what sounded like heavy footsteps race down the corridor.

Kira glanced between Axel and the door, mentally debating what to do with him, as she knew she needed to go investigate.

"Axel, come with me. Quickly." She stated firmly, Axel nodding frantically and almost knocking over the chair he was sitting in.

Kira took him by the arm, keeping a decent grip on him so that he wouldn't think about doing anything, and they quickly made their way down to where the other three suspects were supposed to be waiting at.

The yelling quieted down after a moment, followed by more controlled and demanding shouting from who seemed to be Sachhi.

Kira stepped into the room, pushing her hair back over her shoulder as she slowly released Axel from her grip.

Officer Sachhi held Claire's arms tightly behind her back, while Officer Crystal and another officer held Juno back, the male officer speaking into his walkie-talkie loudly.

Claire seemed to have a bright red handprint on her cheek as Juno struggled slightly against the officer's grip.

Officer Sachhi on the other hand was shouting at Claire and Juno to both calm down or they have to be completely restrained, and that this scene already made them much more suspicious.

"We are investigating a murder here! This is a serious situation where we leave all your childish antics until the criminal is found and brought to justice."

Officer Sachhi then looked over at Kira, just then noticing her having entered the room.

"Where's Ari?"

Everyone fell silent as Kira asked, Juno and Claire sharing a knowing feared look.

"H-here..."

Kira's eyes snapped to the back corner, near the door she just walked through, seeing Ari with her back pressed close to the wall.

She was shaking almost violently, and staring at Axel like a deer caught in headlights.

"Right, so what happened here?"

Kira asked, in a more exasperated voice, as Officer Crystal released Juno, walking over to Axel and directing him to move over near where Claire was.

He complied, Ari very slowly walking out from the corner, near Kira for protection.

"From what we saw Detective Kira, Juno hit Claire after she apparently was 'asking too many questions about him'."

Kira turns to Juno, who was now scowling, arms crossed as he glared at everyone.

"So, maybe I overreacted. But this is a high tense situation."

He stated coldly, seemingly staring into Kira's soul as he spoke.

She opened her mouth to respond, but Claire interrupted quickly.

"We found a bottle of poison in one of the books!" She yelled, everyone staring at her in shock.

"This isn't the time for jokes Ms. Clark-"

"She's right." Ari said, speaking boldly like she'd done earlier, cutting Officer Crystal off.

Juno then silently held up the bottle and the hollowed out book he'd found it in.

Ari looked over at Axel, who seemed to have frozen, staring wide eyed at the book and poison, before looking over and making eye contact with Ari, who gulped nervously.