Chapter 29: The Truth Is Out

Chapter 29: The Truth Is Out


Tessa as Elena’s POV

“Rosa killed her,” she muttered angrily as she stepped forward.

“What?!” I gasped. “That’s not possible!” I shook my head in disbelief. “She’s been the one helping us all this while... giving us clues,” I added, still stunned.

“Yes, I know,” she said quickly, turning around to make sure no one was following her.

“She also deceived me, Elena,” she sighed deeply. “She told me you killed Gloria. That was why I sent all those threatening messages.”

I stood there, frozen, my brain spiraling. Nothing made sense. The rain began to drizzle above us, like the sky was mourning with us.

“My name is Mira. I’m Gloria’s younger sister,” she said as she stepped closer. I could finally see her better—she was thin, wearing worn-out jeans, and a hoodie that hung loosely off her shoulders. Her sneakers were soaked.

“I don’t know why Rosa did that,” Mira whispered. “My sister trusted her… she let her into her space. But Rosa was lying all along.”

She reached out and held my hand tightly, her fingers cold and trembling. “Rosa is dangerous. I’m only fourteen. Please… can you help bring her to justice?”

“How did you find out, Mira?” I asked, my voice barely steady.

She hesitated. “After Gloria died, all her things were packed into a cabin, including the uniform she wore that day. Last week, I just… felt like checking her things again. And then I found a recorder, hidden in her uniform pocket. She recorded everything.”

“Oh my goodness,” I whispered stunned.

Mira pulled it out from her small bag and hit play.



The Recording

“What did you just send to me?” Elena’s voice rang out.

“What did you see?” Gloria replied, anxious.

“Are you scared now? Can’t even say what you sent?” Elena snapped.

“That was a mistake, Elena. I sent that at my lowest moment,” Gloria answered, with trembling hands.

Elena scoffed, and her footsteps faded… then returned.

“You know what? Do your worst,” she muttered. Her steps receded again.

Then a sharp slap echoed, followed by Bella’s voice.

“How dare you?” Bella said. “Try this again, and you won’t live to see tomorrow.” Her footsteps stormed off.

I quickly told Mira to forward to Rosa’s part.

“Rosa, you’re here,” Gloria said through quiet sobs.

“Yes,” Rosa responded coldly.

“What’s going on between you and Adrian?” Rosa asked.

“Oh please, Rosa. You know there’s nothing between us. Adrian is just someone I compete with in class. We’re not even close,” Gloria replied.

There was a long pause, like Rosa had stepped closer.

“Can’t you just stay away from Adrian? I… I love him so much,” Rosa said.

Gloria gave a short laugh. “You? Love Adrian?”

“Adrian doesn’t look at girls like us, Rosa,” she added gently.

“But I just need you out of his life,” Rosa muttered. Then—a sudden splash of water.

“Help! He…lp me!” Gloria’s voice gasped, then went silent.



I stood still, my heart pounding, when another figure stepped in through the shadows. I exhaled slightly, thinking it might be Zane. But as the figure drew closer, I realized it was someone else—dressed in a dark hoodie.

“Who are you?” I asked, backing up in fear.

She didn’t respond. Instead, she sprayed something in our faces.

I coughed, my eyes burned, and my knees got very weak,  I collapsed to the ground and Mira fell too. 

As my eyes fluttered shut, I heard the girl’s laugh echo through the rain.

Minutes later, I shifted painfully, my limbs were weak and  my head was heavy. Whatever she sprayed made me numb.

Mira slowly sat up but fell back.

“You’re awake?” came a familiar voice—cold, sharp. “I’m sorry, but you both are going to die here.”

It was Rosa.

I recognized her voice instantly. She stood above us, face still covered with a mask.

“This spray will make you weak for four hours,” she said, voice tight.

“S…stop…” I tried to say, but it came out in a broken whisper.

“Stop what?” Rosa snapped. “Is it a crime to love?!”

She knelt beside me, hands shaking. “I loved Adrian. I watched him grow… silently.” Then she looked away trying to hide her tears, “He was close to Lucy but never gave her attention. No girl ever got close to him. And that made me feel better!”

She looked at me bitterly.

“But you, Elena—you got engaged to him! And I still wasn’t angry because you two hated each other. But then… then Gloria got his attention. Why not me?”

Her laugh was bitter, cracked, almost like she was breaking.

My phone started ringing beside me.

She snatched it angrily, smashed it against the wall, then dunked it into a small water tank nearby.

“How…did you…find us?” Mira asked weakly, barely audible.

Rosa scoffed. “I put a tracker in your bag,” she said, laughing again. “I knew you’d come to her once you found out.”

She looked around, frantically. “Adrian can never find out about this. Never. He has to love me. He’ll love me when I gradually pull him closer with Gloria’s murder.”

Then, without warning, she picked up a wooden plank and struck Mira hard.”

“St…op,” I whispered again, my strength draining fast. I tried to crawl toward Mira, but my arms barely moved as a weak groan escaped my lips.

Then suddenly, a figure stepped through the door behind her.

Rosa turned around and tried to run. But he caught her—grabbing her arms and locking them behind her back.

Was it Zane?

The person came closer, kneeling in front of me.

“Are you okay?” he asked gently, lifting my face with both of his hands.

His voice was soft, but it was hard to focus. The sound of sirens blared in the distance.

“Zane” I whispered gently, as I heard the sound get close and everything faded into darkness.