The Summer at Camp Hill ✔️

Goodbye

"Carmen?" Kai breaks into my thoughts and I jerk my hand away from his to rest it in my lap.

"Did you hear what they just said?" Max whispers. My eyes scan the room and see just about everyone freaking out at the news we just heard.

I take a quick look at Max and nod my head slowly. This can't be happening. She is finally getting the justice she deserves.

* It appears the case of Serenity Smith has been re opened to new evidence that connects to a former Camp Hill employee, Asher Daniels. Lab results have came back and it links his DNA to the young victim. At this time, Mr. Daniels is being arrested and charged with first degree murder on the night of June 21st, 2015 *

"Oh my God." The twins exclaim. "I always knew he was sketchy, but I would have never guessed it to be him."

"Do y'all even remember where she went that night?" Kai swallows before speaking. "I mean, I know where I was that night." He directs his presence towards me.

We were together that night.

And I should have been with her.

"I need some air." I tell them and quickly stand on my feet to rush out the front door.

The breeze fills nice today in Houston which I'm thankful for. It brushes against my skin nicely and I can finally be able to breathe for a change. I find a wooden bench near two big cypress trees and decide to take a seat and have a moment to myself.

The moment to myself didn't last long though.

"Are you okay?" His voice startles me and I glance at him, looking up into those hazel eyes that I use to be so fond of.

My heart doesn't race anymore like it did back then. Every time Kai would look my way, I had to pull myself together and take a few deep breaths. It's sad to say that he doesn't have that affect on me now.

I exhale a deep breath. "No, I'm not. I just can't wrap my head around it."

His leg touches mine the moment he sits down beside me. I'm aware of the tension he's trying to pull on me and I'm really not up for it right now.

"Me either. The whole thing is fucking crazy. Like, Mr. Daniels, out of all people, it was him."

I keep my head down and fiddle my thumbs. "I should have stayed with her. Something was off about him."

"What do you mean?"

"The way he watched Serenity was unsettling. Everywhere she went, he went. Wherever she was, he was."

"Did you say anything to her about it?"

I shake my head in guilt. "I tried to, but I was with you that night."

He tenses at my tone and rubs the back of his neck. "Yeah, about that-

"There you two are." The twins and Max interrupt us. "You've got to hear this."

We gather back around the television as more information about the case has been updated.

* Breaking news regarding the death of Serenity Smith. This information may be triggering for some viewers, so please be advised.

* Apparently, the autopsy was misread and new documents have been posted. Her body was found in the lake of Camp Hill, but that doesn't mean she drowned as stated. She was dead before her body was in the water.

* Mr. Asher Daniels strangled the victim and threw her body into the lake. Six days later, that's when authorities searched the waters and discovered her near a dam.