Chapter 2: Watch It
The next morning, the house looked perfect.
That was the strange part.
Sunlight spilled across the graduation photo area. White flowers framed the burgundy backdrop. Chairs had been arranged neatly beneath the trees.
Everything looked like a celebration.
I looked like the only thing that had been ruined.
My hair was uneven, with one side noticeably shorter than the other.
Monica stood beside Kayla near the backdrop.
Kayla wore a polished graduation-style dress and kept glancing at my hair.
She covered her mouth.
“Oh my God.””
Monica touched her arm.
“Kayla.””
“What?”” Kayla whispered.
“It’s just…”
She looked at me.
“…different.””
I forced a small smile.
“Yeah.””
My father stepped outside carrying his phone.
“There she is.””
Darren smiled when he saw me.
Then the smile faded.
His eyes moved to my hair.
“Arielle…”
I looked down.
“It’s fine, Dad.””
“Who did that?””
Monica answered before I could.
“She had an accident with the scissors.””
I looked at her.
She didn't blink.
Darren frowned.
“An accident?””
“Nothing serious,” Monica said.
“We don't want to ruin her graduation morning.””
Kayla folded her arms.
“I told Mom she should’ve just left it alone.””
Monica shot her a warning look.
I reached into the pocket of my graduation gown.
My fingers closed around the USB drive.
Darren noticed.
“What’s that?””
I walked toward him.
Monica's expression changed.
Only slightly.
But I saw it.
The smallest tightening around her eyes.
I placed the USB drive in my father's palm.
“What is this?”” Darren asked.
“Watch it.””
He looked at me.
Then at Monica.
“What am I watching?””
“Something from last night.””
Monica stepped forward.
“Arielle, don't start this today.””
I turned toward her.
“I’m not starting anything.””
My voice was calm.
“You already did.””
Darren stared between us.
“What happened last night?””
Monica sighed.
“She’s upset. That's all.””
“No,” I said.
Darren's eyebrows pulled together.
“Arielle.””
“I’m not asking you to believe me.””
I pointed toward the laptop sitting on the nearby table.
“I’m asking you to watch it.””
Darren picked up the laptop.
Monica moved quickly.
“Darren, we have guests coming.””
He stopped.
“Give me five minutes.””
“There's nothing to see.””
He looked at her.
“Then five minutes shouldn't matter.””
Monica said nothing.
Darren inserted the USB.
The laptop screen changed.
Security-camera footage filled the display.
My bedroom.
The timestamp showed shortly after midnight.
Darren leaned closer.
I stood beside him.
Monica remained several feet away.
On the screen, the bedroom door opened.
Monica entered.
She moved quietly.
Carefully.
Darren's face tightened.
“Why is she in your room?””
I didn't answer.
On the footage, I appeared to be asleep in bed.
Monica walked toward me.
She paused beside the mattress.
Then she reached into her blouse pocket.
Darren whispered, “What is that?””
A small sealed envelope appeared in her hand.
My stomach dropped.
Because I recognized the envelope.
It was white.
Small.
And written across the front in black marker was one word.
*DARREN.*
My father leaned closer to the screen.
Monica looked toward the bedroom door.
Then she opened the envelope.
She placed something inside.
Darren slowly turned his head toward the real Monica.
“What is she doing?””
Monica's lips parted.
“I…”
The footage continued.
On-screen, Monica sealed the envelope.
Then she slipped it beneath the edge of my mattress.
She stood there for several seconds.
Watching me.
Darren's jaw tightened.
“Why would you put something under her mattress?””
Monica took one step toward us.
“Arielle, turn that off.””
I didn't move.
Darren looked at her.
“Answer me.””
“I can explain.””
“Then explain.””
Monica stared at the laptop.
Her face had lost its color.
On the screen, she suddenly turned toward the camera.
She didn't know it was recording.
She simply stared in that direction for a long, unsettling second.
Then she whispered something.
The audio was faint.
Darren leaned closer.
“What did she say?””
I looked at my father.
“You’re about to find out.””
The audio became clearer.
Monica's voice came through the speakers.
“By tomorrow…”
Darren froze.
Monica's eyes widened.
“…he’ll believe she ran away.””
Silence.
Nobody moved.
Darren slowly looked at me.
Then at Monica.
May you like
And Monica whispered one word.
“Arielle…”
