#2014task

[zeppclin]

・   𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐄  𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖.                                  ⏤   𝟎𝟓.𝟏𝟖.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒.

         zeppelin  sat  in  front  of  the  investigator  ,  a  look  of  guilt  plastered  across  his  face  .  the  question  of  if  he  was  guilty  or  not  was  up  to  debate  ,  wasn't  it  ?  no  . . .  of  course  not  .  he  hadn't  done  anything  wrong  .  he  hadn't  done  anything  wrong  all  those  years  ago  and  nothing  had  changed  . . .  or  had  it  ?  the  male  never  being  one  to  hide  his  emotions  all  too  well  when  it  really  came  down  to  it  .  the  nerves  were  clear  ,  not  exactly  the  mask  zeppelin  wanted  to  wear  on  that  specific  day  .  then  again  ,  how  was  anyone  supposed  to  stay  level  headed  after  that  message  ?  everything  seemed  to  happen  back  to  back  .  one  moment  he  was  bending  over  backwards  for  a  faceless  person  behind  a  keyboard  or  phone  .  and  now  here  he  was  feeling  as  if  he  was  bending  over  backwards  for  a  ghost  behind  a  screen  .           ⏤          feeling  the  weight  of  the  world  on  his  shoulders  .  he  played  with  his  fingers  as  he  sat  in  that  chair  .  eyes  going  from  downcast  to  looking  up  before  quickly  falling  back  to  his  fingers  .  if  people  didn't  know  how  anxiety  ridden  zeppelin  was  . . .  they'd  probably  think  there  was  something  extremely  off  about  him  . . .  then  again  ,  maybe  there  was  ?

the  silence  that  filled  the  room  was  finally  met  with  the  first  question  .         (      𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄  𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄  𝐘𝐎𝐔  𝐓𝐇𝐄  𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓  𝐎𝐅  𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐑  𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐑'𝐒  𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄  ?      )           it  was  an  easy  enough  question  . . .  if  zeppelin  hadn't  been  living  on  a  mountain  of  small  and  not  so  small  lies  since  that  godforsaken  night  .  the  age  old  question  everyone  was  faced  with  when  that  mountain  of  lies  became  too  large  and  tangled  . . .  when  it  had  finally  became  a  web  of  terror  .  this  was  his  black  widow  moment  . . .  the  moment  he  was  taken  out  .  the  life  and  blood  clearly  sucked  from  his  features  as  he  started  to  question  what  he'd  said  all  those  years  ago  .  for  a  mama's  boy  he  really  wasn't  great  at  listening  to  her  age  old  advice  of  telling  the  truth  was  always  the  best  policy  .           ❛      home  . . .     ❜            a  lie  . . .  he  wasn't  home  . . .  he'd  never  said  he  was  home  .  eyes  closed  for  a  moment  before  a  small  breath  escaped  his  lips  and  hazel  eyes  fell  back  on  the  investigator  in  front  of  him  .           ❛      sorry  ,  i'm  just  a  little  . . .  i  was  at  an  end  of  the  year  party  .  wanted  to  have  fun  with  all  my  friends  before  everyone  went  their  separate  ways  ,  like  any  teenager  .     ❜          feeling  his  heart  pick  up  in  pace  .  zeppelin  wasn't  the  smartest  person  in  the  world  but  he  knew  that  he  was  making  a  fool  of  himself  . . .  as  seemingly  ,  always  . 

that  didn't  stop  the  questions  ,  onto  the  next  .  how  someone  could  sit  across  from  him  and  not  feel  the  same  dread  and  doom  .  simply  doing  their  job  ,  asking  what  needed  to  be  asked  and  jotting  down  their  notes  . . .  meanwhile  zeppelin  felt  as  if  his  world  was  crumbling  around  him  .  just  as  he'd  felt  all  those  years  ago  when  he  was  questioned  the  first  time  .           (        𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍  𝐖𝐀𝐒  𝐓𝐇𝐄  𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓  𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄  𝐘𝐎𝐔  𝐒𝐀𝐖  𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐑  ?      )             a  tricky  one  . . .  zeppelin  rolling  through  the  scrolls  in  his  own  brain  . . .  what  had  he  said  ?  what  lie  had  he  spat  out  ten  years  ago  ?  you'd  think  he'd  have  every  lie  memorized  to  a  tee  . . .  but  truthfully  . . .  zeppelin  never  thought  he'd  be  here  again  .         ❛      at  the  party  ,  we  . . .  we  were  close  but  we  really  didn't  hang  around  the  same  crowd  .      ❜         zeppelin  lied  through  his  teeth  ,  they'd  never  been  close  . . .  but  in  a  desperate  attempt  to  save  his  and  his  friends  secrets  . . .  he  let  himself  fly  a  little  too  close  to  the  sun  in  order  to  do  whatever  idiotic  thing  he  felt  would  help  .  lie  after  lie  after  lie  after  lie  . . .          ❛      really  wish  i  would've  seen  him  more  but  a  party  that  big  . . .  you  get  a  little  lost  in  the  crowd  .      ❜          zeppelin  continued  .

           (      𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓  𝐖𝐀𝐒  𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑  𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏  𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇  𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐑  ?      )            eyes  focused  back  on  the  man  in  front  of  him  ,  as  if  he'd  finally  kicked  into  gear  .  zeppelin  seemed  to  calm  in  a  sense  .  a  less  paranoid  look  on  his  face  and  a  more  . . .  tired  look  took  it's  place  .  a  moment  of  feeling  completely  out  of  his  body  ,  watching  himself  from  below  as  he  answered  the  questions  .  wanting  nothing  more  than  to  disassociate  with  the  entire  thing  .  his  brain  working  overtime  to  string  together  everything  he  was  feeling  and  thinking  to  the  point  where  the  motor  seemingly  went  out  .  what  was  real  ?  what  was  fake  ?  what  was  the  truth  ?  what  was  a  lie  ?          ❛      friends  . . .  best  .      ❜        was  all  he  said  ,  another  lie  as  he  was  dismissed  and  stood  up  .  the  only  words  flashing  in  his  head  like  an  alarm  was  GUILTY  . . .  no  . . .  no  ,  no  ,  no  . . .  he  wasn't  guilty  . . .  he  hadn't  done  anything  wrong  . . .  of  course  not  .  he  repeated  once  again  as  he  gave  a  weak  smile  and  nod  to  the  man  before  turning  around  and  leaving  .  feeling  even  less  settled  than  he  had  ten  years  prior  .

[reinedense]

⠀ ⠀ 𝑇𝐴𝑆𝐾   #𝟷   ﹕     𝑡𝘩𝑒   𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑒   𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤   ,

          noah   enters   the   interrogation   room   and   settles   into   the   hard   chair   .     the   sterile   environment   ,   the   investigator’s   stare   ,   the   annoying   buzz   of   the   lights   above   —   it   all   makes   her   uneasy   .     she   feels   as   though   they   are   about   to   dissect   her   ,   to   take   her   apart   piece   by   piece   .     but   that’s   the   price   you �� pay   for   being   involved   in   a   teenager’s   disappearance   ,   isn’t   it   ?     a   decade   may   have   passed   since   that   night   ,   but   the   past   has   a   way   of   catching   up   .     no   matter   how   much   noah   insists   she   had   nothing   to   do   with   it       (   the   dare   box   ,   christopher   wilder   )          the   truth   is   ,   it’s   eating   her   away   —   this   weight   pressing   down   on   her   shoulders   ,   this   constant   reminder   that   she   can't   outrun   her   past   .

          the   investigator’s   voice   finally   slices   through   the   silence          (   WHERE   WERE   YOU   ON   THE   NIGHT   OF   CHRISTOPHER   WILDER’S   DISAPPEARANCE   ?   )          it’s   a   simple   question   ,   really   .     and   noah’s   always   had   a   solid   alibi   :     stella   .     the   only   issue   ?     noah’s   memory   of   that   night   has   a   few   blanks   .     not   a   full   blackout   —   she   remembers   shots   ,   trying   to   outdrink   stella   ,   laughing   ,   dancing   ,   beer   pong   ,   flip   cup   .     but   …     at   some   point   ,   everything   gets   a   little   fuzzy   .     was   she   with   stella   the   whole   night   ?     was   drinking   all   she   really   did   ?     did   she   go   to   the   lake   to   watch   chris’   dare   ?     each   missing   detail   feels   like   a   potential   downfall   .     another   downfall   .     a   threat   to   her   career   she   can’t   afford   .     so   noah   sticks   to   what   she   knows   ,   scoffing   defensively   before   answering   ,     “   with   stella   .     we   were   celebrating   the   end   of   the   year   ,   and   naturally   there   was   a   party   .     so   ,   yeah   ,   lots   of   drinking   ,   a   little   dancing   ,   some   drinking   games   ...     honestly   ,   it’s   all   a   bit   hazy   .     it   happened   a   decade   ago   .     we   were   teenagers   .     but   i   was   with   her   …     the   whole   time   .   ”

          the   investigator’s   pen   scratches   across   the   notepad   in   silent   judgment   ,   the   sound   like   nails   on   a   chalkboard   to   noah   ,   grating   on   her   nerves   .     she   feels   hyper - aware   —   of   herself   ,   of   the   musty   smell   of   the   room   ,   of   the   buzzing   fluorescent   lights   ,   even   of   the   investigator’s   eyes   on   her          (   WHEN   WAS   THE   LAST   TIME   YOU   SAW   CHRISTOPHER   ?   )          and   noah   sighs   ,   her   mind   rifling   through   fragmented   recollections   .     “   fuck   ,   i   don’t   know   .     earlier   that   day   ?     i   dropped   by   to   see   kai   ,   his   brother   —   my   ex   ,   one   of   my   best   friends   ,   and   christopher   answered   the   door   .     we   didn’t   really   talk   ,   though   .     i   wasn’t   there   for   him   .     after   that   ,   i   went   on   to   the   party   and   i   don’t   think   i   saw   him   again   .   ”

          the   investigator   leans   forward   ,   gaze   sharp   and   unwavering   ,   locked   onto   noah’s   face          (   WHAT   WAS   YOUR   RELATIONSHIP   WITH   CHRISTOPHER   ?   )          and   with   a   defiant   tilt   of   her   chin   ,   she   lets   out   a   derisive   snort   .     “   nonexistent   ,   ”     says   ,   lips   curling   into   a   sardonic   smile   that   does   little   to   hide   the   disdain   she   held   for   christopher   wilder   .     “   we   weren’t   friends   .     we   didn’t   talk   .     ran   different   circles   ,   had   different   interests   .     you   know   those   people   you   see   around   sometimes   ,   maybe   they’ll   nod   as   you   walk   by   ,   try   to   flash   a   smile   ,   hoping   for   some   kind   of   reaction   ?     but   you   don’t   even   register   their   presence   ?     that   was   christopher   to   me   .     he   was   just   …     forgettable   .     background   noise   .   ”     offers   a   dismissive   shrug   .     “   sure   ,   i   knew   of   him   .     knew   his   family   ,   sat   across   from   him   at   a   couple   dinners   .     he   was   kai’s   brother   ,   and   that’s   the   most   interesting   thing   i   can   say   about   him   .   ”

           flashes   of   defiance   tempt   the   investigator   to   push   further   ,   but   for   now   ,   the   interview   is   over   .     with   that   ,   pen   is   set   down   ,   a   strained   ‘ thank   you ’   escapes   their   lips   ,   and   a   handshake   later   ,   she   is   free   to   go   .

[kaiwildcr]

・   𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐄  𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖.                                  ⏤   𝟎𝟓.𝟐𝟑.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒.

         being  questioned  by  the  police  ten  years  later  wasn't  exactly  on  the  agenda  .  then  again  ,  when  had  kai  ever  went  by  a  schedule  or  agenda  ?          (     it  wasn't  exactly  his  style  .     )          that  being  said  ,  this  whole  thing  felt  ridiculous  .  it  all  felt  like  a  complete  waste  of  time  .  what  difference  would  it  make  to  gather  them  all  up  like  sheep  and  ask  bullshit  questions  that  would  more  than  likely  get  them  nowhere  .  of  course  ,  kai  didn't  know  what  the  questioning  entailed  but  he  couldn't  imagine  it  being  anything  but  a  waste  .  there  being  multiple  reasons  as  to  why  kai  wanted  nothing  to  do  with  the  police's  sudden  interest  in  a  case  that  they'd  been  so  seemingly  lazy  with  . . .  his  thoughts  on  the  police  had  only  gotten  worse  the  moment  his  family  had  to  deal  with  them  and  his  view  on  cops  had  never  been  great  .  classic  teen  rebellion  caused  the  male  to  end  up  sitting  in  the  back  of  cop  cars  time  and  time  again  but  dealing  with  them  in  this  setting  . . .  it  was  somehow  worse  .  dealing  with  the  half  assed  answers  and  obvious  secrets  they  were  trying  to  keep  from  his  family  . . .  it  was  extremely  frustrating  .  even  if  kai  did  know  what  happened  to  chris  . . .  or  at  least  ,  he  knew  more  than  he  was  letting  on  .  but  it  was  all  more  reason  to  be  pissed  in  kai's  view  .  how  could  all  thes  dumbass  kids  keep  such  a  huge  secret  and  not  one  cop  ever  caught  on  ?  it  was  meant  to  be  their  job  . . .  at  the  end  of  the  day  ,  everyone  was  a  fucking  idiot  ,  it  seemed  .  again  ,  it  could've  just  been  kai's  negative  view  of  everything  and  anything  .  his  complete  lack  of  hope  or  genuineness  in  anyone  .  it  made  it  practically  impossible  for  him  to  stop  and  see  anything  without  this  shit  stained  lenses  .

          ❛      i'll  stand  ,     ❜           kai  answered  when  being  offered  the  seat  in  front  of  the  officer  .  it  being  clear  as  day  that  kai  didn't  want  anything  to  do  with  the  situation  .  he  didn't  want  anything  to  do  with  the  cops  ,  with  the  interview  . . .  he  didn't  want  anything  to  do  with  the  disappearance  of  christopher  wilder  .  something  that  the  brother  wanted  complete  wiped  from  his  memory  . . .  from  his  life  .  the  countless  times  he  caught  himself  wishing  that  he'd  never  had  a  brother  in  the  first  place  .  that  he'd  never  had  a  family  at  all  .  the  cop  simply  nodded  ,  eyes  glancing  down  at  his  clipboard  before  asking  the  first  question  on  his  mini  list  of  questions  that  had  to  be  asked  .          (      𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄  𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄  𝐘𝐎𝐔  𝐎𝐍  𝐓𝐇𝐄  𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓  𝐎𝐅  𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐑  𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐑'𝐒  𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄  ?     ) unable  ot  help  the  way  his  eyes  practically  rolled  behind  his  head  .  kai  shook  his  head  .  feeling  as  though  he  was  being  proven  correct  .  that  this  whole  thing  was  a  load  of  crap  .  nothing  about  it  feeling  sustainable  .  lips  pressed  together  ,  the  male  choosing  to  play  into  his  own  sarcasm  .  a  clear  sign  ,  a  sign  that  he  wanted  the  cop  sitting  in  front  of  him  to  understand  ,  he  wasn't  taking  anything  he  was  asking  him  or  anything  about  the  situation  seriously  .         ❛      hmm  ,  great  question  .  it's  not  like  you  have  a  recording  of  each  and  every  one  of  our  interviews  from  ten  years  ago  that  you  can  go  back  and  look  at  .     ❜         crossing  his  arms  over  his  chest  ,  kai  narrowed  his  eyes  at  the  officer  .         ❛     are  you  gonna  keep  asking  me  questions  you  already  have  the  answer  to  ?  or  are  you  actually  gonna  ask  me  something  that  might  help  you  guys  with  this  investigation  ?  just  asking  to  prepare  myself  .     ❜         letting  the  pause  and  silence  fill  the  room  ,  kai  let  out  a  laugh  that  sounded  more  like  a  scoff  than  anything  else  as  the  cop  told  him  to  just  answer  the  question  .  the  faster  he  answered  ,  the  faster  he  could  get  out  of  there  .  a  true  statement  but  this  cop  obviously  didn't  know  kai  practically  lived  off  his  own  stubbornness  and  rage  .        ❛     right  ,  so  you're  gonna  waste  my  time  ,  great  .     ❜           uncrossing  his  arms  ,  kai  finally  took  a  seat  .  the  unamused  nature  as  he  relaxed  back  into  the  chair  just  as  clear  as  the  sarcasm  and  disinterest  kai  was  giving  off  .         ❛      i  don't  know  ,  officer  .  i'd  go  back  and  check  what  i  said  ten  years  ago  but  i'm  pretty  sure  i  was  at  a  party  with  my  friends  but  you  already  know  that  ,  don't  you  ?     ❜

as  if  the  cop  was  used  to  different  people  expressing  their  frustrations  ,  he  didn't  react  all  that  much  .  asking  the  next  question  ,  checking  things  off  his  list  .           (      𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍  𝐖𝐀𝐒  𝐓𝐇𝐄  𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓  𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄  𝐘𝐎𝐔  𝐒𝐀𝐖  𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐑  ?     ) the  annoyance  was  boiling  and  bubbling  under  the  surface  for  kai  .  wanting  to  take  out  all  his  anger  ,  guilt  and  hurt  out  on  this  random  cop  that  he  hardly  even  knew  .  on  a  man  that  was  just  trying  to  do  his  job  .  doing  what  he  was  probably  told  to  do  from  whatever  higher  ups  .  not  that  that  stopped  kai  from  targeting  the  poor  guy  as  enemy  number  one  in  that  given  moment  .         ❛      fine  ,  i'll  play  along  .     ❜         sitting  back  even  more  in  his  seat  .  kai  raised  his  legs  up  and  crossed  them  as  they  relaxed  against  the  table  in  between  himself  and  the  officer  .         ❛      the  last  time  i  saw  mr.  christopher  wilder  ,  another  great  question  ,  johnny  law  .     ❜         kai  said  ,  motioning  a  finger  at  the  cop  .  the  most  he'd  ever  said  chris'  name  in  the  span  of  years  .         ❛      pretty  sure  i  saw  him  at  home  and  you  should  probably  jot  this  part  down  but  we  got  into  it  before  we  both  went  off  to  dante's  party  .  bet  you  can  do  a  world  of  wonders  with  that  information  .     ❜          he  continued  ,  pulling  his  feet  off  the  desk  as  he  leaned  forward  ,  arms  pressed  against  the  surface  of  the  table  .         ❛      go  ahead  ,  take  your  time  to  get  all  that  down  .     ❜

instead  of  entertaining  kai  ,  giving  the  male  something  the  fuel  off  of  .  the  cop  moved  onto  the  next  question  .  again  ,  probably  experienced  when  it  came  to  handling  people  that  weren't  exactly  the  easiest  people  to  deal  with  .  people  that  didn't  want  to  corporate  with  them  .  something  that  was  more  than  likely  a  lot  more  common  than  anything  else  .           (      𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓  𝐖𝐀𝐒  𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑  𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏  𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇  𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐑  ?     ) that  right  there  ,  that  question  was  all  kai  needed  to  lose  his  mind  .  all  he  needed  to  clench  onto  and  drag  to  the  forefront  .  something  about  that  question  causing  the  male  to  completely  lose  any  composure  he  had  . . .  which  wasn't  much  of  any  .  really  ,  he  couldn't  even  use  his  own  sarcasm  to  hide  the  pure  frustrations  he  felt  .  the  genuine  anger  that  was  boiling  beneath  .           ❛      you  can't  be  fucking  serious  ,     ❜          another  scoff  as  he  stood  back  up  .  practically  slamming  the  chair  into  the  table  as  he  pushed  it  in  .  if  he  wouldn't  be  arrested  right  then  and  there  and  didn't  have  at  least  the  smallest  sliver  of  self  control  ,  he  would've  punched  his  fist  into  the  wall  .           ❛      you  guys  are  a  fucking  joke  .     ❜          a  look  of  complete  disgust  on  the  brunettes  face  as  his  eyebrows  furrowed  together  .           ❛       he  was  my  fucking  brother  ,  does  that  answer  your  bullshit  question  ?  are  you  done  wasting  all  our  time  ?  maybe  go  out  there  and  try  and  figure  out  who's  leaving  damn  evidence  ten  years  later  around  ,  yeah  ?  stop  with  the  useless  questions  and  get  out  there  .  whatever  happened  to  my  brother  isn't  gonna  get  solved  by  asking  this  shit  .  figuring  out  how  evidence  is  coming  out  of  fucking  nowhere  might  be  a  better  place  to  set  your  sights  .      ❜          the  cop  stayed  seated  and  silent  ,  as  if  waiting  for  kai  to  stop  ranting  and  raging  .  kai  clearly  didn't  have  an  insight  to  what  the  cops  where  dealing  with  or  doing  .  they  could've  been  doing  all  they  could  but  that  didn't  stop  kai's  negative  view  of  them  and  own  issues  with  everything  going  on  .           ❛       you  guys  are  fucking  useless  !  there's  something  fucking  going  on  in  this  town  but  you're  all  fucking  deadbeats  .  sitting  on  your  fucking  thumbs  while  there's  someone  out  there  strategically  placing  evidence  right  in  front  of  your  fucking  faces  .     ❜          perhaps  the  anger  kai  was  expressing  was  more  directed  at  himself  .  feeling  as  if  the  lack  of  control  they  all  had  over  whatever  was  happening  was  almost  unbearable  .           ❛      i'm  fucking  done  . . .     ❜  

[lucisaphira]

・   𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐄  𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖.                                  ⏤   𝟎𝟓.𝟑𝟏.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒.

         maybe  it  was  a  sense  of  detachment  ?  or  feeling  desensitized  by  the  whole  situation  ?  then  again  ,  it  could've  been  a  bit  of  both  ?  luciana  had  grown  up  her  entire  life  with  everything  around  her  crumbling  down  .  her  family  was  dysfunctional  at  best  and  traumatizing  at  worst  .  everyone  pushing  down  or  throwing  a  smile  on  their  faces  and  acting  like  the  whole  world  wasn't  on  fire  was  quite  normal  for  the  saphira's  .  so  perhaps  ,  there  was  something  about  all  of  this  that  wasn't  processing  for  the  girl  .  simply  just  more  weight  that  was  getting  placed  on  her  shoulders  .          (       more  things  for  her  to  just  grin  and  bear  it  about  .     )          that  being  said  ,  as  well  as  luciana  was  when  it  came  to  letting  things  roll  of  her  shoulders  when  it  was  harder  to  deal  with  . . .  it  really  was  just  a  defense  mechanism  .  luciana  falling  more  on  the  spectrum  of  someone  that  was  very  sensitive  to  things  .  that  would  eventually  let  everything  eat  away  at  her  .  but  she  was  also  the  type  that  would  ignore  and  avoid  ,  in  her  own  way  .  sometimes  without  even  realizing  she  was  doing  it  .  feeling  as  though  she  genuinely  didn't  feel  anything  about  it  .  that  she  was  desensitized  to  it  .  until  ,  there  was  a  day  where  she'd  explode  and  everything  would  come  out  in  a  much  uglier  fashion  .  something  that  most  didn't  witness  when  experiencing  the  company  of  luciana  who  was  sure  to  put  off  the  most  perfect  and  beautiful  package  she  could  muster  up  .

luciana  smiled  when  she  took  a  seat  across  from  the  police  officer  .  a  gentle  greeting  as  she  brushed  at  the  fabric  of  her  skirt  ,  straightening  herself  out  .  she'd  always  been  taught  that  you  use  your  elegance  and  beauty  in  any  given  situation  .  something  that  the  girl  probably  took  to  heart  much  more  than  was  healthy  for  anyone  .  a  sense  of  discredit  and  disrespect  to  herself  but  alas  ,  she  was  who  she  was  .  not  that  it  really  mattered  as  the  first  question  was  shot  out  at  her  .  the  officer  more  than  likely  trying  to  get  his  job  done  as  quickly  as  possible  .  with  all  the  people  he  had  to  interview  ,  it  made  sense  .           (     𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄  𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄  𝐘𝐎𝐔  𝐎𝐍  𝐓𝐇𝐄  𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓  𝐎𝐅  𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐑  𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐑'𝐒  𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄  ?     ) a  slight  hum  as  she  began  to  think  back  to  that  night  .  it  was  funny  actually  ,  the  way  she'd  blocked  most  of  it  out  of  her  mind  .  it  feeling  like  any  other  memory  that  happened  from  so  long  ago  .  any  old  memory  that  had  no  real  weight  to  it  .  that  didn't  burn  into  her  brain  like  it  had  for  most  .  was  that  the  actual  case  ?  it  could've  been  . . .  or  maybe  . . .  maybe  she  genuinely  was  this  disconnected  from  the  entire  thing  .  mentally  checked  out  of  it  .         ❛      there  was  this  end  of  the  year  party  and  i  remember  i  had  to  go  ,  it  was  a  must  .     ❜           she  began  ,  as  if  she  was  at  a  sleepover  and  gossiping  with  the  girls  about  a  story  that  had  happened  .          ❛      i  thought  the  guy  throwing  it  was  cute  .  even  though  i'm  pretty  sure  he  had  a  girlfriend  and  i'd  never  go  for  a  guy  that's  taken  but  it  didn't  hurt  to  go  and  get  a  glimpse  .  classic  teenage  girl  stuff  ,  you  know  what  i  mean  ?     ❜         she  continued  before  her  shoulders  came  up  and  down  ,  softly  .           ❛      i  ended  up  leaving  early  .  my  brother  had  to  go  to  some  party  of  his  own  and  he  was  my  ride  .  so  i  had  to  do  with  a  couple  hours  before  he  came  and  got  me  and  dropped  me  back  off  at  home  .  i  remember  being  so  upset  i  had  to  leave  early  .     ❜

the  same  composure  luciana  had  before  .  sitting  with  her  leg  crossed  over  the  other  and  her  skirt  perfectly  placed  like  she'd  been  posed  for  a  professional  shoot  .  an  evenness  to  her  voice  that  was  either  calming  or  far  too  calming  .  but  if  her  parents  had  brought  her  up  for  or  to  do  anything  .  it  was  to  be  composed  in  any  situation  .  to  never  let  the  saphira  name  look  less  than  or  weak  .           (     𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍  𝐖𝐀𝐒  𝐓𝐇𝐄  𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓  𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄  𝐘𝐎𝐔  𝐒𝐀𝐖  𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐑  ?     ) it  was  odd  thinking  of  someone  that  had  been  gone  for  so  long  . . .  it  was  even  odder  that  there  was  this  new  evidence  being  found  .  that  a  boy  that  all  she  wanted  was  to  notice  her  all  those  years  ago  was  now  just  a  distant  memory  .  someone  that  became  a  lot  more  than  just  another  boy  that  never  really  saw  luciana  despite  her  trying  .  now  he  was  this  thing  that  kept  everyone  she'd  known  in  high  school  linked  .  and  yet  ,  here  she  was  unable  to  truly  connect  herself  to  the  situation  .  it  didn't  matter  that  she  was  now  part  of  all  of  this  .  that  she  knew  about  the  dares  and  that  she  knew  about  the  pact  they  all  took  a  part  of  .  it  was  like  she  had  told  herself  the  person  then  was  a  completely  different  person  from  who  she  was  today  .  they  weren't  connected  .  like  they  were  different  entities  altogether  .          ❛      the  day  before  ,  at  school  .  he  let  me  borrow  his  pencil  .     ❜         

           (      𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓  𝐖𝐀𝐒  𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑  𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏  𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇  𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐑  ?      ) there  wasn't  much  to  say  about  her  relationship  to  chris  .  like  stated  before  ,  chris  didn't  really  notice  her  .  she  tried  ,  she  thought  he  was  cute  and  sweet  . . .  like  any  boy  that  crossed  her  path  ,  there  was  a  part  of  her  that  daydreamed  about  how  maybe  this  random  boy  was  the  one  .  that  maybe  that'd  be  the  boy  that'd  finally  sweep  her  up  and  save  her  or  let  her  save  them  . . .  luciana's  romantic  daydreams  being  full  of  delusion  and  far  more  issues  than  anything  else  .  but  that's  all  it  was  .  nothing  came  of  her  little  crush  and  she  was  enthralled  with  the  next  .          ❛      sadly  . . .  we  didn't  really  have  one  .  he  seemed  sweet  and  he  was  always  kind  but  we  just  knew  each  other  in  passing  .         ❜         with  that  ,  the  interview  was  seemingly  over  .  

[scottst]

there was something about history that vivian loved . she loved that history kept people alive long after their deaths , and she loved the people who fondly shared their history even more . the history that the police called her into the station to share . . . now that was something she was not fond of . vivian loved history , but she forgot that no matter how fascinating the stories are , it will always be riddled with pain and suffering as well . vivian almost felt like a deposed queen as she walked down the halls of the police station and she couldn't help but wonder if the feeling she felt at the bottom of her stomach was anything like walking to the guillotine . vivian felt seventeen again once she sat down in that room , the prolonged silence eating away at the frays of her nerves with every second that passed .

thankfully , a detective entered the room moments before vivian faltered beneath the pressure of her memories . this was going to be difficult , picking at a wound that refused to heal , but she figured it was for the best . it was the very least she could do to help find chris after everything that happened . after everything she held in . once brief pleasantries were exchanged , the detective smiled , though it didn't quite reach the wrinkled edges of his eyes . it was the kind of smile that told her he just wanted to get to the bottom of things . he flipped open his notebook and looked at her , his impossibly large frame leaning on the table . " now that i have read you your rights . . . would you like to continue ? " vivian nodded , much to the pleasure of the detective who clicked on his pen . " miss costello , where were you on the night of christopher wilder's disappearance ? " vivian slowly ingested the question , played with it word for word , before she could taste the answer on her tongue . she had heard this question before , and for a moment , she was back in 2014 , staring at the detective with the same somber look she had back then . " that night , i snuck out of my house when my parents were asleep to go to a party . i believe it was hosted by dante and elise . i wasn't supposed to be there . . . but chris was so convincing about all the fun i would have , that i decided i would just . . . go . it was around nine thirty when i arrived . i spent time the whole night hanging out with my friends . we played a few games , talked about school . . . you know , typical teenage stuff . "

her dark eyes focused on the detective as he wrote her answer on the notepad , the low hum of the air conditioner drowning out the soft pop of her fingers as she forcibly bent them from the subtle stress that ate away at her body . once he finished writing , the detective looked up at vivian , and opened his mouth to continue . " when was the last time you saw christopher ? " the question felt like a knife to her guilty consciousness and all vivian could do was take the pain in silence . when was the last time she saw chris ? really saw him ? she remembers the conversation they had before he left his house , she remembered the way his laughter brought life to the party , and she remembers the splashing of the water when he lunged into the lake , never to resurface again . what was appropriate to share when all she wanted to do was help ? vivian wasn't so sure about anything anymore . . . " a group of us gathered at the lake after the party . " she began , small hands squeezing together underneath the table as though to remind herself you're going to be okay . "i last saw chris there . he hung out with me around the bonfire for a little bit . he was telling the most ridiculous scary stories . . . but everyone ate them up . " at the time , vivian only laughed at the absurdity of his stories . . . unknowing of the fact that the scariest of them all would unfold not even an hour later . she shook her head at the memory , fondness painting a small smile that fought to make its appearance . how could she not smile at the way he tried to use the flickering flames as a means to dramatize every word he spun ? that was chris , so undeniably warm , so undeniably himself . " he eventually left to hang out with his other friends . . . so that was the last time i saw him . at the lake , near the bonfire . i didn't see much of him following that interaction but that was normal . chris was . . . really popular , after all . " except that wasn't the entire truth , now was it ? she remembered much more . . . much , much more , but that was a thread she couldn't pull at without a heavy price to pay .

vivian felt a knot as thick as rope form around her throat as she thought about chris , and no matter how much she swallowed the little saliva she could produce , it was nowhere near enough to make the feelings go away . the detective slowly nodded as he slowly tapped his fingers on the metal of the table and all vivian could focus on the deafening tap tap tap that reverberated in her ears . " miss costello , what was your relationship to christopher ? " out of all the questions , this one had to be the easiest , but it was its simplicity that made it so hard . " he was my next door neighbor . we lived next to each other basically . . . our whole lives . " vivian let out a shaky breath as her eyes began to pool with tears , fists impossibly white , trembling . " more than that , he was like my brother . . . one of my closest friends . " vivian looked at the detective as a tear trickled down her cheek , embarrassment sweeping through her features once she realized she was crying . " i'm sorry . . . " for the tears , for the dishonesty , for everything . was she apologizing to the detective , to chris , or to herself ? the lines blurred as she swiped at her face . " is there anything else i can do to help ? " vivian offered with a small twinge of hope , and all the man could do was shake his head in a quick no before snapping his notebook shut , indicating the interview was over . vivian knew , however, that this whole ordeal was nowhere near over and there was nothing she could realistically do to help . " thank you for your time , miss costello . for what its worth , every bit of information helps us bring peace and justice to christopher and his family . " vivian could only nod as the man stood up to escort her out the room . before the door clicked behind her , she heard a quick , " have a good rest of your day . "

[catalinaxx]

As she settles into the seat, Cat is smiling, exchanging pleasantries with the officer. She isn't nervous, this is nothing new, and as her entire life as proof, confidence is key. The new evidence is nothing more than an annoyance, hindering her ability to leave this God forsaken town once again.

"Where were you on the night of Christopher Wilder's disappearance?" "I was at the end of the year party," she answers honestly, though she pretends to give a moment of thought, as if she is pulling from a hazy memory now, rather than sprinkling fibs into her alibi. "It was sort of a last second decision to show up. I couldn't stay late, I had volunteer work in the morning and my parents hated when I got home after even eight o'clock... but all of my friends were going, so I went for an hour or two before heading home." A nod. "When was the last time you saw Christopher?" "The last time I saw Christopher," she repeats, her lips pursed, recalling what she had told everyone that asked years ago. "I believe it was a day or two before. I don't remember speaking to him at the party. It must have been at school." It was partially true. She hadn't spoken to him at the party. But she had seen him. "What was your relationship with Christopher?" She pulls out her best sympathetic smile now. "I didn't know him very well, we only really talked in passing. I've always been closer to his brother. Kai is a dear friend of mine." Cat pauses, shakes her head. "I really hope we can finally find the truth, for his sake." A blatant lie this time, but he seems to believe it, matching her smile as he pushes his chair out and offers his hand to shake. "Thank you, Catalina. You're free to go. We'll be in touch if we have any more questions." "No, thank you," she takes his hand in hers, "I only wish I could be more help."

[holgibbs]

"Where were you on the night of Christopher Wilder's disappearance?"

He supposes he shouldn't be surprised to find himself here after all this time, but Hollis had — wrongfully — assumed all that was going to come to light, had. Or maybe that was just hope. Hope had never gotten him very far. The man's eyes bore into Hollis as the silence drags on, and he tries not to come off as too nervous as he responds. "I was with my brother." Not a lie, he recalls the story he told back when it happened, what he had told his brother to say. It wasn't a lie. He was not a good liar. There were just... truths withheld. "We were at the party," he continues, "I mean, I think pretty much everyone was. It was supposed to be a fun night." Until everything had went south. "When was the last time you saw Christopher?" Hollis clears his throat, shifts in his seat, then questions if the movement makes him look like he's hiding something. He is hiding something, isn't he? "That night, sir. The night he... went missing. I didn't talk to him much, I just said hey." His eyes fall to his hands, clasped in his lap. Does avoiding eye contact make him look guilty? Shit. "I regret that now." Among other things. Something is written down, a pause that seems to drag on too long before the next question is spoken. "What was your relationship with Christopher?" "Uh, we... we were friends. Not... super close, you know, but more than acquaintances, I'd like to think. We worked on the school paper together. He was a pretty solid guy." He forces his eyes up, completely honest as he softly states, "I miss him." Preparing himself for the next question, but it doesn't come. The man dismisses him, lets him know he'll be contacted if there's anything else, and then he's walking away, a sad guilt noticeable in his expression to anyone that looks hard enough. Just like he walked away from the scene of the crime.

[abstractguilt]

𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟕𝐭𝐡, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 . . . 𝟐𝐩𝐦

vincent atwood knew that this was very, very bad. notable for his involvement in things he shouldn't have been, especially in his youth, being called by name to the police station was never a good sign. this was one of the few instances vincent knew that his multi-figured bank account and status in the business world would buy him nothing but a one way ticket to being accused of trying to hide something. the skeletons in his closet were well hidden, buried behind stacks of contracts vincent had never read through, manuscripts for business guides he'd never publish, and dust-infested smoking paraphernalia and empty liquor bottles. some skeletons had even been broken into pieces, their bones scattered around; femurs tucked into outgrown dress shoes, finger bones hidden in suit jackets in need of lint rolling. vincent was well-versed in the art of keeping secrets where they were meant to be; hidden & locked away . . . but as he walked into the police station, the draft making the hair on the back of his neck stood up, he had to force down the temptation to cough up the keys he had long since swallowed. anything to keep the truth hidden. anything to keep his involvement, or lack there of, unknown.

shaking the hand of the officer he greeted by name, a firm and masculine greeting, vincent adjusted the grey material of his suit jacket as leather shoes collided with linoleum, steps weighted and heavy, trying to sooth his quick-beating heart and forcing a veil of confidence to grace his features. never let them see you sweat. he went through the mental work of guiding himself into a state of deadly calm, the same way he would right before gliding out onto the ice in his teen years, the same way he would before walking into a business meeting with the full intention of robbing his competitors blind. sitting in the chair that awaited him, vincent adjusted his jacket once more, twisting the rings on his fingers — one being his st. mary's class ring — and then, finally, checking the diamond-encrusted face of his watch. it ticked slowly, time moving steadily by, the glass face gleamed in the fluorescent light of the office he was in as if winking at him. or was it mocking him ??

❛ mr. atwood, thank you for coming in today and for getting that meeting you had rescheduled. given our recent findings regarding christopher wilder, we just want to ask you some questions. ❜ the man's voice was almost friendly, almost apologetic, as if he felt badly about having to WASTE vincent's time. he smiled, nodding his head, silently communicating that it was no big deal, not a problem at all. . .

only that had been no meeting. vincent had just been trying to stall. give himself time — get his story straight.

❛ now, where were you on the night of christopher wilder's disappearance ?? ❜ came the first question, the man's once approachable demeanor dropping, the question having likely been asked to half of the class of 2014 this already. how many of his classmates had been truthful ?? vincent remained unmoving in his chair, linking his fingers, resting them on the desk he sat across . . . mirroring the man in power's position, showcasing that vince was not beneath him — but beside him — in authority. even if it wasn't true. dress for the job you want not the job you have.

❛ the end of the year party, ❜ vincent replied in earnest, tone straight and to the point. the man interviewing him raised his eyebrows, as if silently asking him to elaborate, but vincent just offered a smile; ❛ how many times have you heard that response, officer ?? we were all there, the whole class. anyone who says they weren't is lying to you. ❜

clearing his throat, seeming to not wish to agree or disagree, the officer sat back in his chair and took down a few notes before clearing his throat. next question, the sound announced, and vincent raised his brows in a silent anticipation.

❛ when was the last time you saw christopher ?? ❜

❛ at the party, ❜ vince replied, not moving his eyes away, holding contact with the interviewer's despite the bead of sweat that ran down to the back of his neck. vincent was . . . quite occupied at that party; his hands full with christopher's girlfriend whilst his mind was buzzing from white powder and teenage hormones. not to mention the fact his veins had been pulsing with a such a high alcohol content it was a wonder vincent remembered anything from that night at all. shrugging his shoulders, vincent continued; ❛ we spoke for like . . . two minutes, tops. chris and i, we weren't necessarily close friends so . . . he kept to his circle, i kept to mine. a young teenager has far more important things to focus on at a party than their buds, wouldn't you agree ?? ❜

the man said nothing, the only noise filling the space between them the distant conversations happening outside the sealed office door, the scribbling of the officer's pen on paper, and the hands of vincent's watch ticking at a snail's pace on his now twitchy wrist.

❛ what was your relationship to christopher ?? ❜ came the next question, no commentary provided on his answer to the last. vincent clicked his tongue, shifting his weight back in his chair, eyes moving to the window on the far side as he cocked his head to the side to relieve an ache in the joints of his neck — a few pops eliciting from the movement. ❛ like i told you, ❜ vincent started, boredom setting in his tone and features despite the racing of his heart. ❛ — we were just acquaintances. friends by association, i guess. i knew his brother, kai, we played hockey together. chris would loom around us but, i wouldn't necessarily say that was because he and i were friends.❜ especially not if chris had caught wind that vincent was having a little too much fun with his girlfriend, helena, or that vincent liked to target chris with some of his more adventerous dares just to put his brother , kai , on the spot. that vince would shit talk the younger wilder as both foreplay and a conversation starter just because he COULD. ❛ i knew him but. . . i really didn't, you know ?? are there any other questions, or, are we finished here ?? ❜

vince needed to get out, he needed to get some fresh air ( and a fresh bump ) in his system before he combusted. the man nodded his head, and vincent rose from his seat, extending his hand out for a firm and final handshake; sealing the deal, concluding the conversation. turning on his heel, vincent moved to walk out of the room, stopping once his fingers met the cool metal of the handle. gazing over his shoulder, vincent offered a small smile; ❛ he was a good kid, i hope you guys find out what happened to him. ❜

but he didn't.

not really.

[michaelgeary]

what: police interview date: 25th may 2024

where  were  you  on  the  night  of  christopher  wilder’s  disappearance ?

michael  took  his  police  interview  very  seriously  .  he  had  never  considered  he  might  be  incriminated  but  even  so  ,  he  was  ready  to  share  what  he  could  about  the  night  in  question  .  he  didn't  have  any  catholic  guilt  over  the  event  ,  there  was  nothing  that  could  be  done  to  have  changed  it  .  "  i  was  at  the  party  that  dante  and  elise  hosted  .  they  were  a  powerhouse  and  back  then  ,  it  was  the  place  that  you  had  to  be  .  if  i  think  about  it  now  ,  i  wish  i  had  chosen  more  wisely  and  i  might  not  be  here  telling  you  as  much  as  i  am  today  .  "  

when  was  the  last  time  you  saw  christopher ?

he  didn't  remember  .  that  was  the  truth  .  or  maybe  he  did  remember  ,  a  flash  of  someone  disappearing  into  the  depths  of  the  lake  .  it  was  so  blurry  now  .  often  michael  struggled  to  tell  fact  from  fiction  when  it  came  to  his  narration  of  the  past  ,  the  amount  of  substances  he  had  pumped  into  his  body  making  everything  feel  quite  the  same  .  his  brown  eyes  orb  with  warmth  ,  nothing  about  him  seeming  off  when  he  shares  ,  "  if  i'm  honest  .  really,  honest  ,  i  don't  know  .  i  know  that  he  was  at  that  first  party  and  that  we  went  down  to  devils  lake  …  i  know  that  we  were  all  playing  games  and  drinking  but  i  can't  remember  when  i  last  saw  him  ,  "  he's  sharing  enough  to  seem  credible  ,  the  time  they  spent  at  the  lake  really  what  had  been  focused  on  in  terms  of  where  chris  had  ended  up  .  realistically  ,  michael  knew  that  they  had  enough  information  to  look  for  him  all  these  years  .  he  was  long  gone  …  floated  out  to  sea  .  didn't  they  say  that  some  people  were  never  found  ?  "  back  then  it's  no  secret  that  i  had  my  own  problems  with  drinking  …  drugs  …  whatever  i  could  get  my  hands  on  .  it  breaks  my  heart  that  we  could  have  changed  what  happened  to  chris  but  i  was  too  busy  getting  high  ,  "  it  didn't  really  .  maybe  he  wished  he  could  have  been  a  hero  in  hindsight  ,  maybe  it  even  seemed  like  it  would  have  been  easier  if  he  had  stopped  chris  but  he  didn't  mull  over  it  …  didn't  sit  with  it  and  blame  himself  .  he  had  been  too  busy  in  his  own  little  world  which  revolved  around  only  one  person  :  him  .  now  ,  him  and  god  .  

what  was  your  relationship  with  christopher ?

"  chris  was  a  team  mate  ,  just  somebody  that  i  knew  but  to  other  people  i  was  close  to  ,  he  was  the  whole  world  .  he  had  a  lot  of  really  important  relationships  …  "  but  one  of  them  wasn't  michael  .  it  could  have  been  .  he  and  chris  had  been  in  the  same  circles  ,  been  at  the  same  events  and  michael  had  even  spent  some  time  getting  to  know  him  but  it  had  never  struck  his  interest  .  he  was  just  too  bland  for  michael's  tastes  …  not  enough  of  a  trouble  maker  .  he's  sitting  there  and  seems  to  drift  off  into  his  own  train  of  thoughts  ,  wondering  something  or  another  about  the  past  when  he  snaps  back  into  it  .  "  i  really  hope  you  find  out  what  happened  to  him  .  his  family  deserve  peace  .  his  brother  ,  kai  ,  he's  never  quite  been  the  same  ,  "  as  if  michael  could  talk  about  people  changing  considering  his  180.  

[isamorgan]

police interview: isadora morgan.

isa hadn't been waiting long by the time the police chief popped his head into the room with a smile and an offered coffee in his hands.

of course she'd received special treatment for her interrogation. after all, what else was being the mayor's daughter (and inevitable replacement) good for? it wasn't much, but she'd take the plush seating and casual atmosphere that being questioned in the chief's office provided. there were apologies for dredging up the past, murmured acknowledgments of her busy schedule and graciousness for showing up, and then they were off.

"of course. i'm always happy to assist, though i'm not sure that i'll have much to contribute," she prefaced, but she'd gotten her story straight long ago.

where were you on the night of christopher wilder's disappearance?

"like most of my classmates, i'd gone to an end of the year get together. though you'll have to excuse me for not being able to recall many details of the night - so much has happened in the past ten years," isa confessed, a perfectly executed frown accompanying her words.

of course, she'd begun to reframe the night the second it started to go south. she'd turned a high school rager into a more intimate gathering, a night of drunken shenanigans and terrible mistakes into one last hurrah (at which she would've never thought of doing anything unlawful). given that it was co-hosted by her best friend, how could she not have made an appearance?

when was the last time you saw christopher?

"that night," she answered after a moment of contemplation. obviously she couldn't have seen him after, but she wasn't about to pretend like she hadn't noticed him there. it hadn't been a big enough party for her not to have clocked him.

"i wish i could give a time, but it was probably on the earlier side? i don't think i was there too late. after all, my father had a curfew for me when i was in high school," she continued.

everything was relative (time in particular). she wasn't lying.

what was your relationship with christopher?

and with that, isa knew their time was wrapping up. after all, the police were very well aware of her history with christopher wilder. namely, that she had none.

it was the easiest question she'd been asked thus far, without a doubt.

"acquaintances? friendly but not friends? we mostly knew each other through our parents and sharing some classes, but we weren't close," she answered, sure she was hitting upon essentially the same phrasing she'd used back when she was eighteen years old.

and then... the man's pen was down, a thank you spilling from his lips, a handshake on offer. and she was free to go.

"i do hope that you're able to get the wilder family the answers they so rightly deserve. i know my father is distraught that this case has gone on for so long, but i'm sure he's thrilled to know that you're making progress," she made sure to say with a polite smile on the way out. "please do keep us updated."

[cherrycursed]

police interview.

where  were  you  on  the  night  of  christopher  wilder’s  disappearance ?

a  big  part  of  her  wanted  to  tell  the  truth  ,  let  the  words  spill  out  that  she  was  right  there  ,  a  few  steps  away  as  he  plunged  into  the  waters  that  would  swallow  him  whole  .  she  had  never  seen  somebody  drown  …  well  ,  maybe  when  she  was  a  temporary  lifeguard  at  the  pool  and  a  little  kid  had  jumped  in  with  no  flotation  devices  .  but  when  that  had  happened  ,  there  had  been  flapping  ,  arms  moving  as  water  splashed  and  screaming  …  it  attracted  attention  .  she  had  always  thought  that  drowning  must  be  something  that  caused  a  commotion  but  chris  …  he  had  gone  under  the  water  as  if  he  belonged  there  .  when  the  depths  of  devils  lake  had  swallowed  him  ,  there  were  no  sounds  ,  no  screaming  …  no  arms  grabbing  into  air  or  water  .  he  was  just  gone  .  "  i  went  to  the  party  with  my  boyfriend  ,  kai  wilder  .  chris  was  there  too  but  he  didn't  ride  with  us  .  everybody  was  at  that  party  ,  "  she  didn't  like  thinking  about  it  ,  something  unpleasant  and  bitter  about  nostalgia  .  all  the  good  memories  for  her  were  tainted  by  the  bad  ,  the  horrible  …  the  ugly  .  she  twists  the  pen  in  her  hands  that  had  been  lame  on  the  table  atop  a  piece  of  empty  paper  .  "  then  some  of  us  went  down  to  the  lake  and  chris  came  too  …  we  were  drinking  and  doing  normal  teenage  stuff  …  "  including  a  game  of  dares  that  they  had  stupidly  never  mentioned  .

when  was  the  last  time  you  saw  christopher ?

she  knew  if  she  just  told  the  truth  she  could  put  an  end  to  this  search  ,  that  if  she  just  explained  the  horrible  accident  that  had  taken  place  then  she  could  be  free  of  the  deep  discomfort  she  felt  over  the  hope  of  others  .  she  was  angry  ,  bitter  ,  stubborn  ,  hopeless  but  she  wasn't  a  cruel  person  …  it  made  her  feel  sick  to  the  bottom  of  her  stomach  any  time  someone  suggested  he  was  alive  when  she  knew  he  was  deader  than  dead  ,  somewhere  at  the  bottom  of  a  body  of  water  .  the  image  of  how  she  pictured  him  had  been  haunting  her  since  the  night  of  the  alumni  evening  …  imagining  him  all  pale  and  bloated  ,  expressionless  and  gone  .  "  he  was  at  the  lake  with  us  .  he  was  talking  to  people  ,  laughing  and  joking  …  there  was  a  lot  going  on  ,  i  don't  know  who  he  was  talking  to  last  …  "  all  of  that  true  because  she  hadn't  been  paying  attention  then  but  she  definitely  had  when  he  stood  at  the  edge  of  the  lake  ,  that  signature  smile  on  his  lips  .

what  was  your  relationship  with  christopher ?

"  he  was  my  boyfriends  brother  ,  "  she's  able  to  say  that  one  fast  ,  the  relationship  something  she  had  been  accustomed  to  …  the  degree  of  separation  provided  by  it  ,  erasure  .  but  then  she  swallows  ,  "  but  he  was  also  my  friend  .  a  really  fucking  good  one  .  a  really  amazing  kid  ,  "  she  pauses  ,  "  he  should  still  be  here  right  now  .  "

[classcursehq]

the following characters have been called for their police interview :

isadora ( @isamorgan )

hollis ( @holgibbs )

felix ( @surglace )

dante ( @devilondante )

zahra ( @zahra-burch )

parker ( @parkcrdavis )

cherry ( @cherrycursed )

kai ( @kaiwildcr )

please answer the below questions and tag with 2014task !

where were you on the night of christopher wilder's disappearance?

when was the last time you saw christopher?

what was your relationship with christopher?

[abstractguilt]

𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝟏𝟖𝐭𝐡, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 . . . 𝟓𝐩𝐦

sanem slipped into the police station, adorning her usual black ensemble, slender limbs wrapped in a black fabric she smoothed over with manicured fingers as she approached the officer she was instructed to meet. a ring sparkled on her pointer finger, her late mothers, having been cleansed and polished of the scarlet that had stained it the night her heart had been pierced by quick moving metal. . . ❛ sanem kemal, ❜ she greeted, handing over the summons along with her identification. . . and the older officer gave her an almost pained smile — sympathy glittering in his eyes though remaining unspoken on his lips. he lead her to the back, where her interview was to be held, and though sanem sat with the impression she had nothing to hide . . . that supposed innocene was only in regards to the matter involving chris wilder. the last time sanem had been here, she had been interrogated on the invasion of her home and the massacre of her family. her lips twitched at the memory, one she ( unknown to others ) she doted on far more fondly than she should.

❛ sanem kemal, ❜ the interviewer greeted, adjusting a stack of papers in front of him, eyes remaining downturned. ❛ have you been well ?? ❜ it was a question of formality, not of genuine interest. sanem's glossed lips rose, teeth coming into view as she smiled ; practice, rehearsed, well-polished. ❛ as well as one can be, given the circumstances. ❜

the questioning began not long after that, and sanem sat back in her chair, spine resting comfortably against the worn fabric as she crossed her heel-encased feet at the ankles.

❛ miss kemal, where were you the night of christopher wilde's disappearance ?? ❜ came the first question, the officer's voice emotionless and firm, leaving no room for fine print or unspoken knowns between his syllables. sanem nodded her head, thinking on it, humming to herself as she drummed her fingers on her knees. ❛ i was with my brother, ❜ sanem answered, keeping her voice airy and light. she knew confessing she was at the party christopher vanished at was not going to shield her innocence . . . and it was not a lie that sanem would likely be able to keep up with ( a private, secret hope that people had noticed she was there, more so ) but she told it anyways. with her brother being dead, what could they do to verify her alibi ?? a dead man can tell no lies, after all. . . ❛ we had dinner at home, with my parents, and spent the night celebrating my upcoming graduation as a family. we were very close. ❜

no mention of the dares, she decided. with the rush of the one she had received at the alumni event still making her bones buzz, sanem didn't want to risk exposing that they had made a return in fear that they would vanish for good. the officer looked up at her, and she swore she spotted gleam of doubt in his eyes. ❛ when was the last time you saw christopher ?? ❜ he tacked on, offering no comment or sentiment in response to her first answer. feeling a shift in the room's air, sanem swallowed, lashes fluttering as she looked down at her hands, twisting the ring on her finger. ❛ at school, ❜ she lied again, the memory of christopher's body sinking beneath the water of the town lake enough to make her spine tingle. the sound of the lake's water as it rose around his body before crashing back down, the ripple that disturbed the surface after. ❛ we had a class together but, i didn't see him after that. ❜

❛ — and, what was your relationship with christopher ?? ❜ he questioned, and the hairs on sanem's neck stood up. her relationship with christopher . . . well, they didn't have much of a relationship at all. sanem kept to her own, to herself, not necessarily by choice but . . . that's just how it was being tucked into the shadow's of her elder brother's success. sanem kemal was nothing more than a pretty face, the beautiful daughter of a successful man, the soft-spoken sister of a passionate and extroverted brother. her relationship with christopher wilder was nothing more than classmates, just as she had been nothing more than another spot to fill the well-rounded kemal family portrait. ❛ he was just a classmate, ❜ sanem breathed, suddenly feeling like the air in the space had gone scarce, feeling the color as it drained from her cheeks. the only truth she had confessed this entire time the hardest answer to give of them of all. . . admitting that she once more, was nothing. she had been nothing. she was useless. useless useless USELESS.

❛ do you have any other questions ?? ❜ sanem pressed suddenly, anxiety swelling in her chest, feeling the clamminess of her palms as she rubbed them together. the officer cleared his throat, shaking his head. standing quickly, so much so the legs of the chair squeaked as they skidded across the floor, sanem nodded her head at him and turned to leave. ❛ thank you for your time miss — ❜ he started, but sanem kemal had already slung her purse over her shoulder and was halfway out the door before he had even finished saying her name.

@classcursehq

[classcursehq]

the following characters have been called for their police interview :

vivian ( @scottst )

heather ( @hcarmichael )

luciana ( @lucisaphira )

dion ( @dionnova )

noah ( @reinedense )

elise ( @elisewilscn )

malcolm ( @malcolmiswright )

mary ( @abstractguilt )

mira ( @simply-mira )

please answer the below questions and tag with 2014task !

where were you on the night of christopher wilder's disappearance?

when was the last time you saw christopher?

what was your relationship with christopher?