~~Carson's POV~~
Ashley. I was on my way to fetch her. Yeah, I knew it was bizarre suggesting that someone still struggling mentally could help but oh well. The deed had been done and all roads were leading to IUC right now. She became quite infamous as the "other" victim in the Makayla serial murder case, so it was no rocket science how I managed to convince Mrs. Davies that she could be of immense help.
Here was the theory:
Albeit the fact Ashley still had her fair share of struggles, it could be a snap for Amelia to open up to someone who'd gone through a similar ordeal. Especially now that the duo were from the same school and Ashley was quite known to tons of students there. If hopefully, Amelia recognized her due to this fact, it was bound to be a cakewalk from then on.
Even so, one question was left hanging – would Ashley be cut out for this? The previous Ashley who was warm-hearted before the tragic accident would but I couldn't vouch as much for the recent Ashley. She'd become emotionally distant, even peeved by something as insignificant as other people's presence around her. In view of Makayla's death, that doubt somehow squirmed its way to my mind intermittently. Was it foolishly bold of me to assume I could go there, tell her what I proposed, and get her to jump on the idea effortlessly? What if she shunned it snappily? What if she didn't give any more hoots about the investigation?
That's right, the investigation.
A part of me gunned for this, primarily hoping to repair our relationship by finally giving her a crucial role to play. That was probably what kept pushing me amid the mountain of doubts that loomed in my head.
Getting into the school, the thought of finding her instead displaced all avenues for "second thoughts". With a screech, I brought the car's revving to an abrupt halt and jumped out with as much speed before trotting off in search of her.
Didn't bother calling prior to this because I wasn't sure she'd be willing to pick up. Besides, this was going to be a hearty talk where I'd try to convince notwithstanding her reply; it was not as trivial to be discussed over the phone.
My pace landed me in her lecture hall in no time with a dash. That in turn had eyes swinging to me from various directions. With creased brows all over, I could tell I'd made quite an entrance. When my eyes locked with some, I flashed a stiff smile to dispel the awkwardness.
Standing just before the bleacher, I randomly stretched my eyes to Ashley's seat and found it vacant.
"Excuse me," I paused the guy descending the steps at the time, before he could pass through. "Have you seen Ashley today?" I inquired.
"The other victim? Ashley Sinclair?" he referred casually.
"Yeah." My reply lagged, dawning on me people actually knew her as the "other" victim. No matter how advantageous I deemed it earlier, it still didn't sound nice coming from him.
"Yeah, I saw her this morning, I think."
"But she isn't here right now."
"Wouldn't know." He shrugged indifferently, shaking his head with puckered brows and lips to gesture.
"Alright, thanks," I replied while my eyes returned to browse the space around me once more in an instinctive search for him. "Oh, sorry, sorry." Taking two extra steps forward, I stopped the guy from earlier who'd resumed on his tracks.
"And Daniil?" I asked a bit anxiously when I was yet to find him. Not sure why, but my gut feeling told me something I didn't like.
"Woah, bro!" he fussed. Quite a feisty one.
"Sorry about…"
"Go find a search party or something." He cut me off with a mumble before walking out on me. Having earlier steeped my head shallowly out of courtesy to apologize, with it still down, I sighed softly. 'Kids these days.' I wondered why I was being particularly sensitive today though. That was not meant to suffice in peeving me off so I brushed it aside and roved the lecture hall once more. Daniil was still nowhere within sight.
I rushed off, not exactly knowing what to do next, but I couldn't stand here forever.
"Mr. Carson?" The instant I brushed past the entrance, I heard someone call. Turning around, I saw it was the lady who walked in simultaneously while I was heading out. I hadn't paid her any attention earlier but now I was compelled to.
"You're Carson, yeah?" The petite lady with grey eyes that demanded my attention, asked.
"Yeah," I stressed with skepticism lacing my tone. Who was she and what could she have with me?
"Ah. I am one of the students you interviewed for Makayla's case," she clarified, effectively easing my expression into an 'Ah'.
"Oh, yeah, I see," I replied blandly. Catching up could come later. Right now I didn't have the luxury for any of that.
"By any chance here to see Ashley?" And again, she halted my movements with yet another interesting question. With my body still inclined toward the direction I was heading, I tilted my head to meet her rather guileless eyes with mine querying in contrast.
"Am I right?" she asked, tilting her head sideways slightly.
The innocence her eyes beamed didn't quite match the aura I perceived. Why would I be here to find Ashley? As far as my knowledge could carry me, none of them knew of our special relationship so how was she able to guess that? I could be here for…
Who else exactly? I was probably being on edge because of Daniil. I wanted to find Ashley and make sure she wasn't with him.
"Anyways, she and the hottie left the library to the infirmary some time ago."
I inclined properly to face her, my brows creasing deeper in questioning. This was getting pretty intense. How did she know where they went to and from? Unless she was a…
"I'm not a stalker." My face must have betrayed my thoughts. "Room 16." I knew it. She was no ordinary girl. Knowing where they were before and now could have been by chance. But knowing what room they were precisely? Unless some insane coincidence was into play. However, I knew it was far from being the case.
She whipped her hair in my view, turning around to leave and invariably pulling me out of my head.
My eyes darted; my thoughts drifted.
Room 16.
"The hottie"? Daniil?
C'mon Carson. There could be tons of hotties in her class. But there weren't many she associated with. As much as I tried to think of different scenarios without Daniil in it, my mind kept bouncing back to him. As exasperating as it was, I could only imagine her being with Daniil. Particularly today I was on edge? I earnestly hoped that crazy girl was only exercising her right to spit trash.
I heaved a deep sigh on emerging the infirmary's hallway. Moreover, what would have landed them both here? Together. Did she get hurt? Or wait…
Did he hurt her?!!
Almost agitating, the thought that he couldn't have brought her here if he were the reason, assuaged me.
It didn't take long to locate room 16. Standing before the door, I made a silent prayer, asking God to please let me see someone else who wasn't Daniil. Ashley alone with another guy in an enclosed space was equally galling. But with Daniil?
I exhaled deeply. The "hottie" could even be a girl.
As if.
Before I pulled the door open, I already knew that was just me trying to pacify my interest. Right there was Ashley with my recent nightmare – Daniil.