"So, you are saying someone tried to kill you?" Officer Woods asked.
In his thirty years of experience, he had never seen a case where a teenage girl was involved as much as Rhea Elrod. Even when another teenage boy claimed someone tried to kill him, the witness was Rhea. Just some days ago, Rhea's mother, a well-known journalist fell from the stairs and went into a coma. Then, Rhea's psychiatrist committed suicide most probably. After that, Rhea's stalker was revealed and he was killed and dismembered. At last, a boy named Hugo Barrett was tried to be killed when Rhea was by his side.
Officer William Woods could not help but wonder if it was all truly a coincidence. He did not suspect Rhea, but he had a gut feeling that she was related to every one of the cases in some way.
"Yes. Rhea pushed me out of the way. The truck was parked just a few feet away from us," Hugo described. "Suddenly, Rhea pushed me away and I saw the truck running away."
"It will take some time to see which truck was there at that time," Officer Woods said.
"I got the truck's number," Rhea said, placing a paper on the table in front of Officer Woods.
Officer Woods eyes the number on the paper. "It's fascinating how quick you are," he said. He truly was amazed.
"Yes," Rhea said nonchalantly. She knew she could always do better, so praises never fazed her.
"Alright, I will look into it."
"My friend almost got killed. So, please take it seriously," Rhea added. She could feel what Officer Woods was thinking. She was worried that he might think it was just teenagers playing around and almost getting hit in the process, then blaming it on the truck driver. "And at that moment, we were just talking. It's not like we ran in front of a moving truck. It was parked behind us. No one warned us or anything. And I believe going that fast is illegal anyway."
"I will look into it. You two can be rest assured, I will find the one at fault," he said. "And, this young man looks hurt. He should get treatment."
"Yes, I will," Hugo said.
"Let us know if you find something out," Rhea said before leaving. She mentioned it for the fifth time.
"Sure."
As they walked out of the police station slowly, the weather turned slightly bad. It was quite windy. It looked like it would start raining in a while.
"Go to a doctor soon," Rhea said. "And don't go anywhere alone."
"Alone? You think someone will try to kill me again?"
"Maybe."
"But why?" Hugo asked.
Rhea looked around and then, stared at him for a while. "I feel like all the things happening are related to me," she said. "That's why I am telling you to be careful. I don't think you want to die this soon."
Hugo had difficulty understanding why Rhea would think that way. Surely, there was a coincidence. But that did not mean someone would try to harm him because of Rhea. No matter how much he thought about it, it seemed impossible. It was not like Rhea was close to anyone who loved her so much that they did not want to see her with anyone, regardless of their relationship.
"Rhea, I understand what you are saying, but… it seems impossible?"
"Alright, just do what you want. It's not my job to keep you alive anyway," she shrugged.
"I mean, there are only a few things that happened and you are somehow related to them… But that doesn't mean it is happening because of you," Hugo said.
"A few…," Rhea repeated, her thoughts taking her far away. She knew it was not just a few. There were more.
There was a reason kids called her the death omen before.
"Hugh, just be careful," Rhea said, "if you want to live, that's it. Ah, it's Hugo. I keep making the same mistake. After all, I knew your name is Hugh my whole life."
"It's fine. My name is Hugh," Hugo said and quickly added before Rhea could open her mouth, "And no one will say anything. It's my nickname. I will make it clear that nothing is going on between us since it makes you uncomfortable."
"Yes, do so," Rhea said. "Anyway, go home or to the hospital. I need to return home."
"Don't you need to buy more plastics?"
Rhea had already used the plastics she bought on the bus. Even though she took her pills, she still threw up on the bus. Hugo had been patting her on the back, even though she did not ask for it.
Rhea's phone rang. She picked it up and held it against her ear. "Where are you, Riri?! Do you know how worried I was when you still haven't come back home?"
"I am at the police station. Come and pick me up if you can," Rhea said calmly despite her brother's urgency and panic.
"What are you doing at the police station?" Ronan asked. "Did you get into a fight or something, Riri?"
"No. I have come here with… a classmate to write a complaint," Rhea replied. "He was almost killed."
"What are you talking about?! Someone tried to kill you?!"
"Not me. My classmate," Rhea said. "Can you pick me up? Or, I will return on my own."
"No, I will come. Stay there. Don't let that friend of yours leave."
"Why not?"
"I don't want you to stay there alone," Ronan said. "I'm coming. Just wait a bit."
Rhea cut the line. "My brother is coming to get me," Rhea said. "Will you leave now, or stay here?"
"Do you need me to stay with you?" Hugo asked. He wished Rhea would say yes.
"Not me, my brother. You can leave if you want to. I'm telling you so I can avoid his nagging," Rhea said. "Ronan is very protective for no reason. He is annoying, but useful sometimes."
"Well, every big brother cares for their little sister."
"We are only one year apart, you know," Rhea said. "One year and three days, to be precise."
"Still, he is older than you. That's why he cares for you."
"Are you staying?"
"Yeah, I have some time in hand," he said.
"Are you sure you don't need to sit down? It's not like I care. I just don't want to be burdened," she said.
"I am not that hurt… although it actually hurts a little," he said.
Hugo never thought Rhea would actually take him back inside the police station. He was mortified, but still, he followed her.
"Rhea…? Do you have something more to say?" Officer Woods asked, surprised. He thought they had left already.
"We have come to sit down. My brother is coming to pick me up," Rhea replied.
"Ah, okay…," Officer Woods muttered. "Sit over there then."
"Alright. Thank you," Rhea said and Hugo gave a nod at him.
"Is it really okay to sit here?" Hugo whispered to her.
"William said it's alright to act like friends," Rhea said.
"William. Ah, William Woods," Hugo said. He had read the officer's name on his name badge. "It's weird how you are going to act like friends with a police officer."
"At least, it's acting, not real," she mumbled, annoyed. "That said, what do you know about my stalker's case? Your friend's mother is a detective, although I have not heard of a single case she solved by herself."
"I know just as much you do."
"How do you know how much I know? I only know as much as Officer Woods and another officer told me."
"If they are trying to be your friend, they must have told you everything."
"Oh, please, no one wants to be someone's friend without any intention. They just want to know more about my side. They want me to open up to them," she said.
"Are you sure about that?"
"Of course!"
"People can be friends without ulterior motives," Hugo said.
"Can they?" Rhea chuckled.
"When you called me your friend, was it a lie?"
"It was. Why? Do you even want to be my friend?"
"I won't mind."
"But I will. I don't want to get close to someone," she said. "I'm allergic to people, you see."
"Is that so?" Hugo sighed. "Is it that bad?"
"Hmm…"
They remained silent. None of them minded silence but rather enjoyed it.
"Riri!"
Hugo was surprised, but Rhea did not look unhinged. "Gosh, are you okay?"
Hugo could only watch as an older brother checked his younger sister to make sure she was not hurt. He was more surprised by the fact that Rhea had a nickname and he did not know that. It was not like he knew Rhea very well, but still, whenever he saw something new about her, he always wished he had known sooner, before anyone else.
"Don't get chummy, Ronan," Rhea said coldly, moving Ronan by the face who was hugging her. "I'm fine. This is Hugh… Hugo. He is my classmate who got hurt and was almost killed. And you came here rather fast."
"Nice meeting you. I am Hugo, Rhea's classmate," Hugo introduced himself.
"Oh, Hugo… So, the classmate you were talking about is Hugo Barrett." Ronan muttered. "Nice meeting you too. I'm Rhea's older brother- Ronan."
"Yes, she told me about you," Hugo said.
"I have heard about you in school a lot. You are quite famous," Ronan said.
Usually, studious kids were not that famous in school, especially as a romantic interest. But Hugo was different. He had an athletic build and a good face. Besides, he was a well-known and important member of the basketball club. Because of that, he had a lot of admirers.
"Yeah, he is famous," Rhea said. "He has got a good body and a handsome face, after all."
Hugo flushed. He had never heard anyone praise him that way to his face. He was sure no one ever praised someone that way. The most unsettling fact was that Rhea was not flirting with him; she was just saying what she thought.
"Hugo surely has got quite a lot of followers," Ronan nodded. "Anyway, it's late. We need to go now. Thanks, Hugo, for staying with my sister. I was really worried about her."
"It's fine. I would not like to leave her alone as well. The days are not good," Hugo said.
"You talk like an old man," Rhea mumbled, looking sideways at Hugo.
"Maybe I can give you a ride back to your place," Ronan said. "I owe you."