Till The Count Of Five ✓

Chapter 46

Chapter 46

A hand was raised to hit the cheek. It ended up choking the voice that held lies which drew the truth.

Kiara

14th May 2019, Tuesday
15:16

Skipping seemed like an easy way out, away from Nolan's questioning gaze, away from Ash's paintings, and far far away from the lion. It was difficult to carry the weight of a crime, especially when you assisted the killer in it. My arms wrapped themselves around my torso and comforted my body that I was innocent and the silent air moved with the authority of the wind and sliced open Vee's words that I had carefully locked. It was my fault to stop the help from going in. But I had no choice.

"Does anyone know?" she had asked. I would have a hard time calling her Ma'am again because teachers taught you things. I wanted to learn nothing from her. Nothing.

I had shaken my head, quivering with fear that day and the next, and the next, and after that too, until the fear manifested into the shallow shell that blocked it out. It was a glorified reason why Shay's words did not shake me as badly as they shook Nolan. And you thought I don't care enough for her. I don't care about the living anymore if they're not holding a place in my heart. Shay, I cared about her, just not enough. And it was okay, because I knew others are busy caring, someone had to keep a mind clear of her.

I paused a metre away from the police station and stared at Roy. He saw me and came forward.

"Are you alright, kiddo?"

I shook my head.

"Come on in."

We both walked inside in the all too familiar room. This was the first time I wanted to be here and speak the truth. When Vee had called me, I had been disgusted with myself.

"What is it? Your call was so sudden. Have you been crying? Hey, hey, hey," Roy said.

Tears began to flow out if my eyes. "It's all my fault. I–I didn't know she'd blame Ash!"

"Kiara, what are you talking about?"

I sucked in a breath. "Few months back, the body of a middle aged man was found near our school in the dumpster. He was one of the visiting guests for some competition Dandelion Presidency was holding."

"Yes, I remember that."

"Nidhi Mukherjee killed him."

His face fell. "Kiara, do you realise what you are saying?"

"I saw her do it, Roy. I was present when he interrogated her about manipulating results. One thing led to another and she attacked him. I was there when she removed the footage."

"Removed the footage? So the school lied about the cameras not working."

I shrugged. "I have no idea about that. After she erased the footage, I met Vee. We went to help the man but it was too late. I got scared and ran away. I forced Vee to run too. He–he wanted to help him. I wish I hadn't stopped him. I wish we had stayed and helped Ash."

"Ash?"

"After we left, she came to the school, went to Nidhi Mukherjee's office and saw the man. She... wasn't in the right state of mind."

"Drugs?"

I hung my head low. "I don't know. Maybe. Maybe just alcohol."

"And Nidhi must've seen Ash."