A few days after the funeral, everything felt quiet in a strange way.
Too quiet.
Ava and Kira walked out of class together. They were not fighting, but something sat between them like heavy smoke.
As they stepped outside, Jack suddenly appeared near the gate.
He waved at Kira with that calm soft smile again.
Kira waved back politely.
Ava felt her heart jolt in a way she didn't expect.
Why am I reacting like this.
He is just a boy.
Jack walked over.
"Hey Kira. You left earlier that day. I just wanted to check on you."
Kira nodded. "I am fine."
Jack turned to Ava.
"You must be Ava. I have heard a lot about you."
Ava forced a small smile. "Good things I hope."
Jack chuckled.
"Only what Kira said."
Ava blinked. "Kira told you things about me."
Kira's eyes widened slightly like she was caught.
"It was not serious. He asked about the funeral and stuff."
Ava nodded but something twisted in her chest again.
It felt wrong for Jack to know pieces of her.
Pieces that belonged to the past she was still trying to remember.
Jack checked his watch.
"I will let you two go. See you around."
He walked off with a small wave.
The moment he left, Ava felt herself staring at Kira.
"You told him things about me."
Kira frowned.
"He was just being nice. Why are you acting strange."
Ava turned away.
"I am not."
Kira studied her.
"Yes you are."
Ava's heart beat faster and she had no idea why.
⸻
Clue Number One: Judith Might Not Be Dead
Later that evening, Yuri placed a sealed white envelope on the kitchen counter.
"Ava, this came in the mail today. It has your name on it."
Ava took it.
There was no return address.
No stamp.
Just her name written in careful handwriting.
She opened it slowly.
Inside was a single printed page.
Ava froze.
On the page was a photo of the funeral.
But in the background… across the road… blurred but visible…
A girl was standing behind a tree.
The hair.
The posture.
The shape of her face.
Ava whispered. "Kira."
Kira looked over her shoulder.
"What is that."
Ava pointed at the blurred girl.
"Does she not look like… Helen."
Kira stepped back.
Her eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat.
"Wait. Look at the necklace."
Kira leaned closer.
"That necklace. Judith had the same one. She always wore it."
Ava stared hard.
The photo was grainy but the pendant shape was exactly the same.
Ava swallowed.
"Judith might not be dead."
Kira grabbed her wrist.
"Ava. If she is alive… why would she be at her own funeral."
Ava's chest tightened.
"Maybe… she wanted to see who would cry for her."
Kira whispered.
"Or maybe she came to see you."
And the photo slipped from Ava's hand, landing gently on the tiled floor.
**Scene
Judith secretly texting Ethan (from "Helen's POV")**
Helen sat at the far end of the library, hidden behind a tall shelf of old psychology textbooks. Her hoodie was pulled up, her face turned away from the windows. She opened her phone slowly, her hands trembling.
Ava was starting to remember again.
The dreams.
The lake.
The voices she once heard.
And the place she should never go back to.
Judith knew this was dangerous.
She had to warn someone, anyone, before the truth exploded in Ava's face.
She typed a message to the only person who also knew that summer's secret.
Ethan.
Message sent:
"She is remembering. Stop lying to her."
She waited.
A few seconds passed.
Her phone buzzed.
Ethan replied:
"Stop texting me. I told you Ava is not supposed to be involved anymore."
Judith's jaw tightened.
He still did not get it.
She wrote again:
"If she goes near the lake, she will remember everything. And you know what that means."
Before she could hit send, a shadow moved near her table.
She froze, immediately locking her phone.
Kira walked past the shelf on the other side, humming softly in Korean, completely unaware that Judith was only a few steps behind her.
Judith took a deep breath and whispered into her hoodie:
"Ava please… stay away before you remember what he did. Before you remember what Ethan saw."
She deleted the message…
and slipped out of the library without making a sound.
⸻
Ava overhears something she should NOT hear**
Ava walked down the hall of Kira's house, holding a warm cup of tea. She just wanted to rest. Maybe talk to Ethan later. Maybe talk to Kira about her confusing feelings.
But then she heard voices coming from the backyard.
Yuri.
Miyeong.
And Ethan.
Ava stopped.
Miyeong sounded stressed. "Ethan, why are you acting like everything is fine?"
Ethan's voice was low, almost shaky. "Because Ava cannot handle the truth. Not now."
Ava's grip on her cup tightened.
Yuri spoke next. "You promised us you would never talk to her about that day. You know what it will do to her if she remembers."
Ethan exhaled sharply. "I know what I promised. But Judith keeps texting me. She wants Ava to remember everything."
Miyeong whispered. "Judith is dead."
Ethan did not speak for three whole seconds.
Then he answered with something that made Ava feel cold inside.
"Maybe not."
Ava's heart dropped.
Her hand shook so much the cup slipped and fell, shattering on the tile floor.
The voices stopped.
Ethan stepped back inside the house first and saw her standing there, eyes wide, breathing hard.
"Ava… how long have you been standing there."
Ava swallowed, her voice barely coming out.
"Long enough."
Yuri rushed toward her but Ava took a small step back.
"What truth are you hiding. What happened that day at the lake. Why are you saying Judith is alive."
No one answered.
And the silence felt louder than a scream.
—————————-
Ava walked fast down the hallway, almost tripping over her own steps. Her chest felt tight, her head spinning with everything she just heard.
Judith.
The lake.
Secrets.
Lies.
Everyone hiding something from her.
She pushed her bedroom door open and closed it gently, not wanting to slam it… not wanting anyone to hear how badly she was shaking.
Ava leaned on the door with both hands, breathing shallow breaths.
What is going on.
Why are they hiding everything from me.
Why did Ethan say Judith might be alive.
Her eyes burned. She didn't want to cry but her body wasn't listening.
The door clicked softly.
Kira came inside without knocking.
"Ava."
Ava kept her back turned. "Please don't."
Kira's voice softened. "I heard the cup fall. Are you okay."
"Do I look okay."
Kira walked closer. "Just tell me what happened."
Ava let out a shaky breath. "I heard all of you talking. You, Ethan, my mom. You all know something. You are lying to me. Everyone is lying."
Kira froze. She knew exactly what Ava meant.
Ava turned around and her eyes were red.
"Why would Ethan say Judith might be alive. Why are you hiding that summer from me. Why are you all acting like I will break if I remember something."
Kira swallowed hard, guilt filling her face.
"Ava… it is complicated."
Ava stepped away from her. "I am tired of that word."
Kira moved closer anyway. "I am not trying to hurt you."
"You already did."
Kira blinked, stunned. "What."
Ava wiped her eyes. "You kissed me. Then pretended like it didn't matter. You have a boyfriend. You get jealous. You act cold. Then you protect me. Then you lie to me. I don't know where I stand with you."
Kira's lips parted. "Ava… I am confused too."
"No," Ava whispered. "I think you know exactly what you are doing. I am the one confused."
Kira reached out gently and touched Ava's wrist.
Ava didn't pull away. But she didn't hold on either.
Kira lowered her voice. "Ava… I am trying to protect you. Not control you. Please understand that."
Ava looked away. "Then tell me the truth. All of it."
Kira hesitated long enough for Ava to feel her stomach sink.
"Kira," Ava whispered. "Do you think Judith is alive."
Kira's throat tightened. "I don't know."
"That is a lie."
Kira's eyes finally lifted to hers, full of fear and something deeper.
"Ava… something is happening. Something we don't fully understand. And until we know for sure, I don't want you remembering the wrong things. I don't want you to get hurt again."
Ava's voice trembled. "I am already hurt."
Kira stepped closer. Very close. Close enough that Ava could feel her warm breath on her cheek.
"Ava… look at me."
Ava did.
Kira's eyes were soft but troubled. "I am on your side. Even when I mess up. Even when I don't talk. Even when I am scared."
Ava felt her heartbeat slow a little.
Kira continued. "Let me help you piece things together but slowly. Not all at once. I promise I will not let anyone hurt you."
Ava stared at her silently… then whispered with a shaking voice.
"Then do not lie to me again, Kira."
Kira nodded slowly. "I will try. I promise."
Ava finally let go and leaned her forehead against Kira's shoulder.
Just for a moment.
Kira wrapped her arms around her carefully, like Ava was something fragile but important.
Outside the room, someone's shadow paused at the door.
Someone listening.
Someone holding a phone.
And they sent a new message.
This isn't over.