After school, Liam walked alone. Unusually, Hiyana wasn't with him today-she was sick and excused. But the loneliness was soon covered by the anxiety that had been plaguing his mind. His steps were fast, hurried. Her head was full of questions about NEXARIS.
"If they get here... they'll know..."
Her mind was in turmoil. She wasn't sure what was really going on, but all those feelings were pushing her to get home. Her breathing began to get heavier as the turn toward her house got closer. However, when she was only a few meters away...
Her steps stopped.
The atmosphere of his house was not like usual. There was a police line stretching, a crowd of people whispering in panic, and two patrol cars parked in front of the fence. The red-blue rotator lights continued to rotate endlessly, adding to the chaotic atmosphere.
Liam ran over.
"Excuse me! That's my house! My dad... my mom is inside!" he shouted frantically.
Two officers immediately restrained his body.
"Wait! Who are you?"
"I'm Liam-William Louren! This is my house! Let me go!" his voice broke, almost screaming.
The officers looked at each other, then signaled.
A police officer came out of the house and approached.
"William Louren? Come with me."
Liam swallowed, his body trembling as he was finally allowed to enter.But just one step into the doorway, his breath caught.
His father.
His father was lying in front of the door, body full of stab wounds and open eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.His hands looked like they were trying to protect something before falling helplessly.
Liam immediately fell to his knees.
"No... no way... No!Dad!" He tried to crawl towards his father's body, but two policemen quickly pulled him back.
"Your mother and sister were found in the room," the officer said in a stifled voice.
Liam forced himself to his feet, running towards his room
The door to the room opened.
Inside, her mother's body lay beside the bed, tightly embracing Hiyana-who seemed to be hiding in that embrace. The blood around her had partially dried, and the room was cold. It was too quiet.
"No...!" Liam roared, his knees weak. "Hii...Hiyana! Mom! Wake up! It's me, Liam!Please...!"
He tried to shake his mother's body, then reached for Hiyana's hand-and saw a letter in her grasp. Trembling, he picked it up. On the envelope was written:
To William.
Her voice was choked. "Why... why did you... why did you leave me..."
Before he could open the letter, someone tapped him on the shoulder.
"Son, we need you to come to the office," said a policeman.
Liam turned his head slowly.His eyes were red and swollen.
"Why...?" his voice was barely audible.
"CCTV captured a man in black entering this house before the incident.His body shape and height are very similar to yours."
Liam's face instantly changed.He took a step back.
"Not me...!I didn't do anything!I just got home from school! You've got the wrong person!" he shouted.
Two officers tried to get closer, wanting to take him away, but Liam immediately rebelled.
"Let go! I want to stay here! I don't want to leave them! They're my family!" he sobbed loudly, his voice breaking.
His tears flowed freely as he struggled, hugging the frame of his door like a child refusing to be separated from his parents.
"Don't take me! I have no one else! Please... Please... don't take me..."
But the two policemen finally managed to lift his body and take him to the patrol car. Liam continued kicking and screaming while clutching the letter from Hiyana tightly.
He was placed inside the car, with the doors locked. Outside the window, the red and blue lights of the sirens continued to flash. His vision was blank. His breathing was heavy.
She did not cry anymore. She did not make a sound.
But his hand was still tightly clutching the letter-the only thing left of the family that was now gone.
Liam sat on the cold metal chair, his hands still shaking, his eyes red and puffy. In front of him, two investigators sat with serious faces.
On the table, there was a photo of a CCTV capture showing a figure dressed all in black entering the family home.
"We're not accusing you, William," said one of the investigators, his voice flat. "We just want to know, do you recognize this figure?"
Liam just shook his head weakly. "Not me... I was at school at the time."
"No one can officially confirm your whereabouts until we investigate," said another investigator. "You were not seen on the school's CCTV."
Liam looked down."I went straight home after the last hour... my friend must have been able to tell..."
"What... What... can't you understand my grief?! My family!! That's my family!! How can you accuse me of such a bad thing... How stupid is that?!"
With a ragged breath, Liam pounded on the table, putting the interrogating police officers on alert.
"Sorry, please calm down and be cooperative, because right now anyone can be a suspect."
One of the policemen began to pick up the handcuffs, as if to cuff Liam's hands behind the chair. Before that could be done, the door to the interrogation room opened.
A man dressed in batik entered with a worried face. Behind him, two students-Levi and Kael.
"I'm Mr. Harto, the Vice Principal of Charmary Central High School," he said.
"I've come as a witness. This boy... William Louren... has been at school all day."
Levi immediately stepped forward. "That's right, sir! He sat next to me. We also had recess together."
"And during break, we talked together in the cafeteria. William didn't leave school at all," Kael added.
His face was not as silly as usual, it was serious.
The investigator looked at the three of them, then opened another folder. "We did receive a report from the school, but we still have to confirm it. The time of the murder is estimated to be around two in the afternoon. What time does your class finish?"
"Two minutes to five, sir. We're all still in class," Pak Harto replied firmly.
The principal investigator wrote something on his notes. "Okay. We'll match it with the school's attendance and CCTV data."
Levi glanced at Liam who was still looking down weakly. He touched his friend's shoulder.
"Calm down, we'll convince them."
Kael followed, nudging Liam's arm lightly. "You're not alone. We'll prove it to them."
Liam finally looked up. Trying to calm himself down.
Suddenly the door opened again.
A man dressed in a black suit entered.
White gloves, neat dark hair, tall body with an emotionless face.
"Introduce. I am Thiago Lucien, NEXARIS Intelligence Agent."
Everyone in the room turned their heads.
"Based on our internal investigation, this case is directly related to the biological anomaly entity. Therefore, we will take over this case."
"Wait, what do you mean?" asked one of the investigators.
Thiago pulled out his official ID. "We have evidence that corroborates the anomaly's involvement in this incident.
And based on the results of our investigation... William Louren is on the observation list."
Liam was petrified. His heart was beating fast.
"Evidence? What evidence?" asked Pak Harto.
"Sorry, I can't reveal it here," Thiago replied coldly. "But enough to bring this boy to our facility for further treatment."
"Based on our internal investigation, this case is directly related to the biological anomaly entity. Therefore, we will be taking over this case."
"Wait, what do you mean?" asked one of the investigators.
Thiago took out his official identification. "We have evidence that corroborates the anomaly's involvement in this incident.
And based on the results of our investigation... William Louren is on the observation list."
Liam was petrified. His heart was racing.
"Evidence? What evidence?" he asked.
"Sorry, I can't reveal it here," Thiago replied coldly. "But it's enough to bring this boy to our facility for further treatment."