Ana’s heart pounded in her chest as she sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the photo of her and Tyler from their childhood. They had been inseparable for years. Now, everything felt like a lie. She couldn’t wrap her head around it—the video from the creek, Tyler’s involvement, and the fact that he had been hiding something from her all this time.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that there was still something she didn’t know. If Tyler was guilty, why didn’t he just come clean? Why keep dodging the truth?
Ana stood up abruptly, pacing the room, trying to think of what to do next. Her mind was racing. There was no way she could confront him again, not after everything that had happened. Not until she had all the answers. She needed more proof.
The next morning dawned cold and gray. Ana tried to act normal around her family, but the unease gnawed at her. She went through the motions—breakfast with her mom and dad, checking in with them about school- but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something big was coming.
Her phone buzzed with a message from Sophie.
Sophie: “Hey, we need to talk. Meet me at the park after school. It’s important. Please, Ana. I can’t keep this secret anymore.”
Her stomach twisted. Sophie was one of her oldest and most trusted friends. If Sophie wanted to talk, it meant something was wrong. The last thing Ana wanted was to add more confusion to the growing storm, but she couldn’t ignore Sophie’s plea.
After school, Ana found Sophie sitting on the park bench, looking even more fragile than usual. Sophie had been through a lot since Ella’s death—everyone had—but there was something different about the way she was acting now. Her usual bubbly demeanor was gone, replaced with an eerie seriousness.
“Ana… I can’t keep lying. I’ve been thinking about this for so long, but I’m scared,” Sophie confessed, her voice shaky. “I—I think Tyler knows more than he’s letting on. And… I think he was involved in Ella’s death.”
Ana’s breath caught in her throat. This was the moment she had been dreading.
“Sophie, what do you mean?” Ana asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I overheard something the night before Ella died,” Sophie said, eyes darting around nervously as if someone might be listening. “Tyler was on the phone with someone—he was talking about Ella. I didn’t hear all of it, but… it didn’t sound good, Ana. I think he was planning something. But I couldn’t say anything because… I didn’t know what to believe. But now… now I think I know.”
Ana’s mind was spinning. Tyler had been planning something. Why hadn’t Sophie told her earlier? And why was she only now coming forward?
“I’m sorry,” Sophie said, almost in tears. “I should’ve said something. I didn’t want to believe it, but now… It’s too late. I’m scared of what Tyler might do. He’s not the person we thought he was.”
Ana felt the weight of the world crashing down on her. Her thoughts were spiraling out of control. Could it be true? Could Tyler—her best friend, her childhood confidant—be capable of something like this? The Tyler she knew was always kind, always there when she needed him. The thought of him being a murderer didn’t make sense, yet here was Sophie, telling her the exact opposite.
Before Ana could respond, her phone buzzed again. This time, it was a message from Jenna.
Jenna: “Ana, we need to talk. I know who did it. I have the proof. Meet me in the alley behind the diner in 30 minutes. I’ll be waiting.”
Ana’s stomach churned. Jenna? Did she know something? Was she just another person trying to add to the confusion, or was this finally the moment Ana had been waiting for?
There was only one way to find out.
Ana walked to the diner in a daze, her mind constantly switching between thoughts of Tyler, Sophie’s revelation, and Jenna’s mysterious message. She barely noticed the few people walking down the street. Everything felt distant. The only thing that mattered now was uncovering the truth.
As Ana turned the corner into the alley, she saw Jenna standing there, looking over her shoulder nervously. Her eyes darted around, scanning the area as if she were afraid someone might be watching.
“Ana, listen to me,” Jenna said, her voice trembling. “I have something that will change everything. But you have to promise me you won’t tell anyone. Not yet.”
Ana stepped closer, her eyes narrowed. “What is it, Jenna? What’s going on?”
Jenna hesitated, then pulled something out of her bag—a small, crumpled envelope. She handed it to Ana, her hands shaking.
“I found this hidden in Ella’s room,” Jenna said quietly. “It’s a letter. From Tyler.”
Ana’s breath hitched. Tyler had written something? Why hadn’t he told anyone about it?
Jenna continued, “I think Ella was onto him. I think she found something she shouldn’t have. And I think that’s why she’s dead.”
Ana’s hands were shaking as she opened the envelope. Inside was a single sheet of paper, written in Tyler’s handwriting. The words were chilling:
“Ella, I’m sorry, but you have to understand. If you keep asking questions, I won’t be able to protect you. I’m already too deep in this. If you want to live, you need to stay away from me. This is bigger than both of us. Please, just forget about it. I can’t let you ruin everything.”
The world tilted again. Tyler had been threatening Ella? No, that didn’t make sense. Tyler was supposed to be her friend. They were supposed to be in this together. But this letter… this letter painted a different picture. A picture of a friendship built on lies, betrayal, and dark secrets.
“What does this mean, Jenna?” Ana whispered, her voice trembling.
Jenna bit her lip. “It means Tyler’s lying to all of us. It means he knows more than he’s letting on, and it means Ella was getting too close to the truth.”
Ana’s world was shattering. She couldn’t breathe. The walls were closing in, and the weight of the truth was suffocating her. Tyler—her best friend—had written that letter. And now, he was in the middle of everything. Was he truly guilty? Or was someone else pulling the strings, using Tyler as a pawn?
ns216.73.216.139da2
and then Add to home screen.