Chapter 8: The Secret Celeste Buried
The screen remained frozen.
A photograph of Amara sleeping.
A private moment stolen from her life.
Darius didn’t need to ask why everyone was looking at Celeste.
The message had done exactly what it was designed to do.
Create doubt.
Create fear.
Create suspicion.
Amara looked up at Celeste.
Her voice was barely a whisper.
“Where were you?””
Celeste opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
That was enough.
Darius noticed.
“Answer her.””
Celeste looked at Amara.
“I was at home.””
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“No.””
Everyone turned.
Marcus looked at Celeste.
“You weren’t.””
Celeste’s face hardened.
“You don’t know what happened.””
“I know you left.””
Darius stepped between them.
“Explain.””
Marcus stared at Celeste.
“The night Naomi disappeared, Celeste wasn’t home.””
Amara looked confused.
“You said she came to your house.””
“She did.””
Marcus nodded.
“And after she left?””
Silence.
Celeste looked down.
Darius’s voice became firmer.
“After she left?””
Celeste closed her eyes.
“I followed her.””
Amara froze.
“You followed my mom?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Celeste’s voice broke.
“Because I was scared.””
The answer surprised everyone.
Celeste looked at the photograph.
“Naomi was my best friend. She was carrying a secret. She was afraid. And I thought if I followed her, I could protect her.””
Marcus whispered:
“But you didn’t.””
Celeste looked at him.
“No.””
The honesty hurt.
“I didn’t.””
Darius crossed his arms.
“Where did she go?””
Celeste hesitated.
“To an old warehouse.””
Amara frowned.
“Why?””
“She said she needed to meet someone.””
“Who?””
Celeste looked at Marcus.
“Victor.””
The name fell heavily.
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“That’s impossible.””
“Why?””
“Because Victor told me he was with Naomi earlier that night.””
Celeste looked at him.
“Then he lied.””
A long silence.
Darius processed everything.
“Three people.””
He counted on his fingers.
“Naomi.””
“Victor.””
“And Celeste.””
He looked at Marcus.
“You weren’t there.””
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
“Then how did you know something happened?””
Marcus looked away.
“Because Naomi called me.””
Amara stepped closer.
“She called you?””
“Yes.””
“What did she say?””
Marcus swallowed.
“She said, ‘If Celeste comes, don’t let her leave with him.’”
Celeste went pale.
“Why didn’t you tell me that?””
Marcus looked at her.
“Because when I arrived…”
He stopped.
Darius waited.
“What?””
Marcus’s voice lowered.
“You were already gone.””
Nobody spoke.
Amara looked at Celeste.
“You left my mom there?””
The question destroyed Celeste.
“No.””
“You said you wanted to protect her.””
“I did.””
“Then why did you leave?””
Celeste had no answer.
Because the truth was worse.
“I was afraid.””
Amara looked away.
Celeste continued.
“I saw Victor.””
Darius focused.
“And?””
“He was angry.””
“How angry?””
Celeste’s hands shook.
“Enough that Naomi looked at me and told me to run.””
Marcus stared.
“She told you that?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Celeste looked at him.
“Because she knew he would come after me too.””
The security alarm suddenly stopped.
The silence afterward felt unnatural.
Then Darius’s phone vibrated.
A message.
He looked down.
His expression changed.
“What?””
Celeste asked.
Darius didn’t answer immediately.
He turned the phone around.
Another message.
From an unknown number.
*YOU’RE LOOKING IN THE WRONG PLACE.*
Below it was a photo.
A recent photo.
Marcus.
Standing outside Celeste’s house.
Taken earlier that day.
Darius looked at Marcus.
“You were there.””
Marcus’s face changed.
“No.””
“The picture says you were.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“I wasn’t following her.””
“Then why were you outside her house?””
Marcus looked at Amara.
Because there was something he hadn’t told anyone.
“I was trying to protect her.””
Celeste stared.
“Protect who?””
Marcus looked at the little girl.
“Amara.””
The answer shocked everyone.
Darius stepped forward.
“Why?””
Marcus reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a small envelope.
Another letter.
But this one was older.
“I found this after Naomi disappeared.””
Celeste stared.
“You had a letter?””
Marcus nodded.
“From Naomi.””
Amara’s eyes widened.
“What did she say?””
Marcus looked at the envelope.
“She told me if I ever found you…”
He looked at Amara.
“I had to keep you safe.””
Darius frowned.
“Why didn’t you tell her?””
Marcus looked broken.
“Because Naomi also wrote one more thing.””
“What?””
Marcus opened the envelope.
His hands shook.
Then he read the final line.
And Celeste immediately knew why he had stayed silent.
May you like
Because the words revealed the one thing nobody was prepared to hear.
*The person who betrayed me is someone Amara trusts.*
