The Perfect Murder She Planned

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After my top college pick came through, I went hiking with my childhood friend and my best friend.

We spent the whole day out, had a few drinks, and split up at a barbecue joint to head home in the small hours.

I'd just showered and was ready to sleep.

Then Clive Gilbert was knocking outside my door. “Bells, have you managed to reach Olivia Summers?”

“She's been gone all day. The whole class is scared something's happened to her. Message her, please, tell her not to do anything stupid!”

I blinked, and answered without thinking. “Clive, are you drunk?”

“Olivia was with us all day. She was in a great mood. What's there to be upset about? She just went to take a shower a minute ago, humming to herself.”

His voice cut off.

I figured he'd sobered up and gone home to sleep.

Then the next second, his voice came back, thick with fear.:

“Olivia's with you?!”

“But she just posted a suicide note. The class president found her body at the school building!”

……

A jolt ran through me.

My eyes went straight to the bathroom door. It was shut, the frosted glass letting through the patter of running water and a soft blur of light.

I asked, not quite sure of myself. “Clive, you're joking, right?”

“It's the middle of the night. This isn't funny at all. You nearly gave me a heart attack.”

But Clive's voice didn't change. If anything, it got more strained, more frantic.

“Bells, I'm not joking.”

“Open the door first. I don't dare talk loud through it. I'm scared I'll wake her up!”

Gooseflesh rose all over me.

It was summer, but a cold crept into my body on its own, the fine hairs on my arms standing on end.

I ignored Clive's pushing from outside and opened the social feed first.

Right at the top, the very first post, was my best friend's profile picture.

I tapped open the long image she'd posted.

I only read the first line, and it turned me to ice.

【I'm sorry, everyone. I'm sorry, Mom and Dad. I'm sorry to my classmates. But I really don't have the courage to face life anymore.】

Shaking, I kept reading.

It seemed she'd given so much, sacrificed so much.

Three years of high school, and someone who loved looking pretty had cut her hair short, gone bare-faced every day, stopped bothering with herself.

When everyone else wore new clothes out on breaks, she was still moving between cram-school classes in her dull gray uniform.

She was under enormous pressure.

She wasn't that smart. Every exam she gave it everything she had, and the scores still came back disappointing.

Her parents blamed her, her teachers sighed, her classmates doubted her.

Until the girl who'd studied her way into the honors class broke down sobbing.

I read every word of her hurt and pain, and tears wet the screen.

Eyes blurred, I opened the class group chat.

999+ messages had already blown up. I jumped to the top, to the message that tagged everyone.

“Help!”

“I was helping a teacher sort papers today and left my earbuds in the office. When I went back for them, I saw Olivia jump off the roof of the school building!”

Right after, the class president posted a photo.

It was blurred out, but you could still make out red, and a mess of flesh.

I tapped it open to look, like I was punishing myself.

In a corner I found the keychain Olivia always carried.

It was her favorite anime character, something she treasured, never went anywhere without.

The last thread of doubt burned away.

In its place came a thick, heavy grief and fear.

Only then did I remember what Clive had said.

If Olivia was already dead, then who had gone hiking with me, who had come home with me...

I was about to open the door and let Clive in.

Then Olivia came out of the bathroom, done with her shower.

She grinned at me, a strange smile spreading across her face.

“Bella Henson, who are you talking to?”