Chapter 215 The Accusation

Chapter 215 The Accusation

Sylvia's heart suddenly sank, and a strong sense of foreboding washed over her.

Where was Garth? She immediately got up and searched around the medical room, but he was nowhere to be found.

She clearly remembered that before falling asleep, Garth had been right beside her.

She hurried out of the medical room and saw Frank and Lisa standing guard outside.

"Where's Garth?" Her voice trembled.

Frank and Lisa's faces tightened, and they both shook their heads.

"I'm going to find John." Sylvia decided quickly. She remembered how Garth had been concerned about John during the day, and her instinct told her that Garth had likely gone to find him.

She quickly found John's place and knocked, but no one answered.

Sylvia was frantic and called John's phone.

The call connected quickly, and John's low, hoarse voice came through, carrying the weariness of a hangover. "What is it?"

"Is Garth with you?" Sylvia asked directly.

John was silent for a few seconds before saying, "Garth? He came to see me during the day, we chatted for a bit, and he went back before dark."

Sylvia's mind went blank, as if a deafening roar filled her ears.

Went back? But Garth wasn't in the medical room now. Something must have happened to him.

"Garth is missing!" Sylvia's voice rose, filled with fear and anxiety. "He's not in the medical room!"

On the other end of the phone, John's voice instantly became sharp, tinged with disbelief and panic. "What? Missing?"

Sylvia didn't have time to explain. She hung up, turned to Frank and Lisa, and said, "Garth is missing. I woke up in the middle of the night and found he had disappeared."

Frank and Lisa's faces grew grave.

Although Sapphire Sky Guild's island had tight security, they knew the complex internal situation.

"Sylvia, let's split up and search," Frank said in a deep voice.

"Okay." Sylvia's heart was racing. She forced herself to calm down, rapidly recalling the routes she and Garth had walked during the day.

Just as the three were about to split up, several sharp screams tore through the air, followed by shouts and hurried voices.

"Someone's dead!"

"Oh my god, Cora!"

"Get help quick!"

"How could this happen?"

Sylvia froze, a cold shiver running from her toes to the crown of her head.

Someone dead? Cora? The image of that suspicious maintenance worker from earlier flashed in her mind, along with the small building he had been watching.

"Let's go check it out!" Sylvia said decisively. She had a feeling this incident might be related to Garth's disappearance.

The three quickly ran toward the sound.

A crowd had gathered in front of an independent two-story building.

In the center of the crowd, a young girl lay on the ground, her face blue and purple, with a clear strangulation mark on her neck.

The girl was called Cora, an orphan on the island who was usually cheerful and well-liked.

Now she lay quietly, eyes wide open, as if she had died with something unsaid.

The people around wore expressions of disbelief, grief, and regret, speaking in low voices.

Sylvia's gaze swept across the crowd, searching for Garth.

Where was Garth? Could he be here? Could he...

She didn't dare think further.

"Frank, Lisa, you search over there, I'll go the other way." Sylvia pointed in two directions, her voice urgent.

She had to find Garth as soon as possible. No matter what happened, she had to protect him.

Just as Sylvia was about to turn, a tall figure rushed out from the crowd and blocked her path.

It was a man wearing maintenance worker's clothes—the same suspicious man she and Garth had seen earlier.

His eyes were bloodshot, his face flushed with agitation, and his expression was filled with anger and grief. He pointed at Sylvia, his voice hoarse and accusing. "It's you! You killed Cora!"

This accusation was like a poisoned blade, instantly piercing the tense silence.

Everyone's gaze turned to Sylvia, suspicion and shock mixing.

"You're talking nonsense!" Frank was the first to react, rushing forward to stand in front of Sylvia, his face full of fury. "You can't just say whatever you want. Which eye of yours saw Sylvia kill someone?"

Lisa was flushed with anger, hands on her hips as she demanded, "What's your name? Which department are you from? Slandering people like this, what are you trying to do?"

The man's name was Sam. Looking at Frank and Lisa blocking his way, the hatred in his eyes did not fade. Instead, it deepened with grief under everyone's attention. He pointed at Sylvia and shouted, "I saw it with my own eyes! It was her! I heard Cora calling for help and rushed over, and I saw this woman choking Cora's neck. She only let go when I shouted!"

He spoke with such conviction, as if he had been right there.

The crowd was already grieving over their companion's tragic death, and now, stirred up by Sam, their looks toward Sylvia turned hostile.

Sylvia's gaze passed over Frank and fixed coldly on Sam's face.

Her heart was anxious over Garth's disappearance, but she forced herself to stay calm.

"Where's the evidence?" She moved Frank aside, stepped forward, her voice not loud but carrying an icy force that reached everyone. "You say you saw it with your own eyes—show me the evidence."

Sam's heart jumped at her calm gaze, but he stiffened his neck and shouted, "I'm the witness myself, what more evidence do you need? Everyone think about it—Cora has been on this island for years, who has she ever had a conflict with? But as soon as this outsider arrives, something happens!"

The word "outsider" struck a nerve in the hearts of the Sapphire Sky Guild members.

They were a self-contained group, naturally wary of outsiders.

"That's right, who is she? How did she suddenly appear here?"

"I saw her walking around with a kid earlier, who knows what she's up to!"

"It must be her who killed Cora!"

Voices rose like a wave, emotions running high. Several hot-headed young men began to close in, as if ready to deal with Sylvia on the spot.

"Everyone calm down!" Frank spread his arms wide, blocking them. "Until the matter is investigated clearly, no one is allowed to act rashly!"

"Get out of the way! Frank, don't think we're afraid of you!"

"You brought back this ominous person, and you still want to protect her?"

The scene was on the verge of chaos.