Chapter 6: Confessions in the Dark

As I got closer, I realized it wasn’t a leaf—it was Lily, covered in blood.

Lily had fallen from the rooftop. The police found the rooftop key on her.

There was no surveillance on the rooftop, and the cameras on the way up were broken, so the police quickly concluded:

"Suicide."

But I knew it wasn’t suicide.

The school and the police knew too.

There were marks on the rooftop railing—Lily had been pushed!

But there was no evidence, and they couldn’t find the culprit, so they closed the case. I was furious!

After the test, people leaving didn’t care about scores—they just talked about:

"Suicide before the SATs, so unlucky!"

"If I don’t do well, I’ll spit on her grave!"

...

Too many words like that, too many cruel voices, all reached my ears. I knelt in pain, wanting to shout:

No, no!

Lily didn’t commit suicide! She didn’t!

She wanted to leave this small town, she had a bright future...

At that moment, I swore:

No matter how many years it took, no matter what happened, I would find Lily’s killer—

I would make them pay!

Now:

Parker pointed at the script, voice trembling:

"This… this isn’t a murder mystery game—this is a real murder case!"

At his words, the room fell silent.

After a while, Marcus spoke up, skeptical: "Parker, have you had too much to drink?"

Parker staggered up, threw the script on the floor, face pale, looking at everyone, stammering:

"I’m done... I’m done for..."

Parker looked crazed. I quickly got up to steady him, but he shook me off, staring at Marcus:

"Don’t tell me you didn’t realize what this script is about!"

"Ten years ago! Lily Barnes!"

Lily Barnes.

That name from Parker’s mouth seemed to break a taboo.

Someone rushed over and punched Parker.

It was Travis.

He glared: "What are you trying to say? What about ten years ago?! What about Lily?!"

"She’s dead! Lily’s dead!"

"So what? The police said it was suicide!"

Parker covered his bruised face, seeming clearer now, and said:

"Yeah, it was suicide."

I stood aside, listening to their cryptic conversation, and asked:

"What are you talking about? Lily? Murder?"

The atmosphere turned cold again. Marcus stood up:

"Let’s call it a day. This script is bad luck. Let’s stop."

I grabbed him: "Why can’t we play? Why does this script remind you of ten years ago? Why..."

Before I could finish, Marcus shoved me away hard.

"Damn it, I said stop playing!"

The usually calm man now had veins bulging on his forehead. He cursed and tried to leave.

CLICK!

He pulled but couldn’t open the door.

Marcus pounded on the door: "Open up! We’re done!"

Parker scrambled to the door, yelling for someone to open up.

In the cramped room, Travis held Lila, both their faces pale.

"Everyone!"

A speaker in the corner broadcast the shop assistant’s voice:

"Everyone, the game is in progress. You can’t leave!"

"Only when you find the real culprit and end the game will the door open! Find the real culprit and the door pops—until then, you’re locked in."