Chapter 4
Autumn Berry– POV
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I honestly thought joining the detective club meant watching from the corner, sipping iced coffee, and occasionally nodding like an intellectual statue.
Apparently not.
I walked into the club room and instantly regretted every life choice that led here. Because on the board, written in huge bold letters, was my nightmare:
*FIELD PRACTICE — TODAY.*
"…What is this?" I pointed accusingly.
"A bonding activity," Rhea said cheerfully in the tone of someone who has never bonded in her entire life.
Liam, typing away, didn't look up. "Rhea decided you need practical experience."
Dorielle smiled sweetly. "We're going outside."
"To solve what, exactly?" I asked.
Theo held up a notebook. "A missing lunch."
I blinked at him. "…A lunch?"
"Yes," he nodded very seriously. "A stolen sandwich."
I stared at them all.
"So this is a joke, right?"
"No," Liam responded. "Food theft is serious."
Rhea clasped her hands behind her back like this was a military briefing.
"Beginner cases build instincts. Today's mission: recover the lunch stolen from Student Lounge B."
A beat.
I looked at Quinn, who had followed me in out of curiosity and now froze mid-sip of juice box like a terrified raccoon.
"Why am I here," she whispered.
"You followed me," I hissed quietly.
"I didn't know you were entering *this*," she hissed back. "I thought you were joining a music club! Or gardening! you I wanted free plants, Autumn!"
Theo lifted a spare club badge. "You want to join too?"
"No thank you!" Quinn squeaked and practically moon-walked out.
Honestly, I would do the same.
---
Rhea gestured toward a desk with items.
Clipboard.
Small notepad.
Pen.
Magnifying glass.
Walkie-talkie.
"This is your kit."
I stared at it like she handed me a starter Pokémon and anxiety.
"I… don't need a magnifying glass."
"Everyone says that," Liam commented.
"Then they drop their pride in five minutes."
I picked it up like it offended me and clipped the walkie-talkie on my shirt.
Dorielle clapped. "You look so official!"
"I look like a confused mall security trainee."
Theo patted my shoulder sympathetically. "Confidence is a muscle. You'll build it."
No I will not, Theo. I am emotionally made of noodles.
---
The student lounge buzzed with noise — drama, snacks, laptops, the usual academic chaos.
We approached a panicking boy clutching an empty lunchbox.
"My sandwich was here! I swear!" he wailed.
I tried to look serious instead of deeply embarrassed.
Rhea nodded. "Autumn, start your investigation."
"Right now?"
"Yes," she replied like this was obvious.
I cleared my throat and faced the boy.
"…What kind of sandwich?"
"Chicken pesto," he sniffed. "Homemade. Organic."
I glanced at the club.
Dorielle mouthed: *Ask suspects.*
Right. Suspects. Totally knew that.
I turned to two girls eating chips nearby.
"Did you steal his sandwich?"
Smooth, Autumn. Very smooth.
The girls blinked at me like I asked if they commit tax fraud for fun.
"No?" one replied.
The other frowned. "Do we look like sandwich thieves?"
I froze. "…You have chips."
Theo facepalmed softly behind me.
Rhea stepped forward, quietly amused. "Observe first, accuse later."
I nodded like that was my plan all along. Which it was not.
---
Okay. Details.
A bag on the floor.
Crumbs near a chair.
One kid wiping mayo from his fingers.
I squinted at him.
"You." I pointed.
He gasped. "What? I didn't—"
"You have mayo," I said, confident for once.
Rhea raised a brow.
Liam paused mid-typing.
Dorielle leaned forward excitedly.
Theo whispered, "Get him."
The boy flailed. "I—I was eating… uh… yogurt."
"Yogurt isn't beige," I deadpanned.
"Fine! I took it!" he blurted. "I was hungry!"
Case closed.
Everyone stared at me.
Liam blinked slowly. "…Good job."
I almost fainted from shock.
---
We returned to the club room. I bragged for exactly four seconds before my laptop dinged again.
My stomach dropped.
One line appeared:
*Cute. Solving cafeteria mysteries now?
You forgot what *real danger* looks like.*
My breath stopped.
My fingers went cold.
Flash:
Hands gripping my backpack.
Someone calling me "liar."
Teachers whispering.
A hallway door slamming.
Gone.
I forced my face neutral.
Rhea watched me too closely. "Something's wrong."
"No," I lied. "Just tired."
Liam leaned over. "Do you want me to—"
"No." I snapped faster than intended. "I can handle it."
Silence.
Rhea's eyes sharpened.
"Autumn," she said softly, but not kindly. "You're not here to handle things alone anymore."
Something inside me flinched.
I hated it.
I looked away. "I don't need—"
Then Quinn burst in, gasping like she ran a marathon while scream-crying.
"Autumn Berry!" she yelled. "Someone scribbled your name on the library board under *Missing Persons Conspiracy*! Are you in a cult? Tell me now so I can emotionally prepare to visit you in prison!"
…
I sighed.
END OF CHAPTER 4