"The greatest sin a person can do to another is to take away that life"

'Want to experience the taste of death? A miserable one?'.

After reading, that piece of paper slipped from his hands and like his hands his whole body began to shiver.

This is not like the usual threats he got, it's been more than one month he began to get threats like this written on a paper and left that in his bag. He used to take it as a joke, thinking it would be a prank from his friends.

But this time it is different. At midnight, standing in the middle of the empty street, he got it from his hoodie pocket.

So that means there is really someone who is a threat to his life?

Being anxious only made his situation worse by messing up with his thoughts.

'I- it w-was't my f-fault'.

His throat became dry making his words tremble in fear. His sweaty palms and shallowed breath screams how scared he was.

'Your excuse is not valid'

A deep voice heard from the dark.

......

'He's dead?'

David's eyes widened out of shock hearing about Noel's death. He felt like the whole noise around there was revolving around him;

he can't accept the truth.

How come he can accept the fact that one of his best friends whom he just met yesterday is no more?

In a sudden rush he avoided the gaze of everyone around him and started to search for Liam.

'Davi..'

He heard a familiar voice calling him. It's Liam, one his closest friend . The distraught state of Liam shows how weak he became knowing about Noel's death. When his eyes met Liam, he rushed to him. Now all Liam wants is someone beside him to make sure that he is not alone, and David knows that.

'Noel -...'

Not letting Liam finish what he was about to say David grabbed his hand.

'Let's go find ebin'

That's all what David said. Because he knows only Ebin can console them now. David holds Liam's hands literally like dragging him out from the office. Because he is more worried about Liam, who was the closest one to Noel.

'Come over, i am at home'

Hearing that, David ended the call and started driving towards Ebin's home.

All five of them gathered in the living hall of Ebin's home.

David looked at everyone. Liam's eyes were stuck on the empty wall. Amara's face stayed emotionless. With a sigh Lara, who is Ebin's girlfriend, slightly tightened her grip on his hands. Silently gesturing to him to talk.

'Hh.. he was our best friend. We should accept that we lost him. We should move on with the reality.' he paused for a few seconds and started to speak again .

'But the one thing we never knew about him is that.. He is a social media scammer.'

Ebin stopped, and looked at everyone's shocked expression.

'Like you all, it was hard for me to accept that, but it's the truth. The police found all the evidence from his place. The money he had is not what he got from the gaming. He lied to us.. And what he did is not the usual harmless scan. His scamming has taken away many people's lives.'

Hearing all that from Ebin, now everyone is more shocked and in a state of mixed up.

'As his closest friends we might be also considered as suspects. so there is a high chance that the police would reach us. But we know we are innocent and are not included in those scamming things. So there is nothing to worry'

Now everyone is more scared, confused and sad. After some time Ebin told everyone to get ready for Noel's funeral.

They reached there in half an hour.

They felt like it's hard to recognise the lifeless body in front of them is noel.

His face is covered with numerous deep scratches. That showed how much torture he concured.

Lara holds Ebin's hand tightly. Tears formed on their eyes. Only Ebin and David stayed calm. Amara gripped on her skirt in order to calm herself.

Still they can't accept that they can't see him again.

Accept everything he was a good friend.

'Can we leave..?'

Amara asked more like a request, gathering all her courage.

David, who was standing next to her, looked at her and found she was standing still, keeping her head hung down.

His gaze traveled from her face to her hand, and there is the bracelet she is wearing which was gifted by noel. A sudden realization hit him.

Does she have any feelings for him?

Without wasting a second he held her hand and came out from there.

"Amara.."

In the speed of light she hugged him and let her tears flow down.

He understood and started to tap on her bank in order to make her cool down.

Liam who saw this from behind wiped his tears and walked away from there.

......

Even though one week had passed, the police couldn't find the person behind Noel's murder.

Their life went back to normal, but the loss of Noel remained as a never ending sorrow to them.

'Come in'

Said Ebin, hearing someone knock on his cabin door.

Lara came in and passed a file to him.

'Any evidence about Noel's killer?'. She asked, walking close to him.

'Even the police had no clue'. He said signing and leaned back to the chair.

'Who do you think the killer would be?'

She asked with a mischievous smile, sitting on his lap.

'What do you mea-...'

Without letting him complete she placed her fingers on his lips.

'Dont lie to me Ebin. I know its you, and it's for Bella right?.

His heart began to beat faster, shock took place in his face. With wide eyes, he nodded slightly. She smiled and kissed on his forehead.

'How do you know? Aren't you scared of me now?'. He asked with a little bit of curiosity and fear. she smiled again.

'Why should I be scared? He deserves that'. She said and leaned closer to him.

'If you can do that to your sister i can guess how you will protect your women. So iam proud that i got a man who value and respect women'

She smiled. He felt relieved and and smile curved on his lips.

'But you have to be careful, what if they caught you?'. Her smile turned into concern while asking that.

'Don't worry, i handled everthing. As my bestfriend he did dirty to me. Cheated on my sister, blackmailed her, pushed her to the verge to suicide. I killed him for her. For all these years its again proved that i only have one bestfriend its david. but.. But how you get to know that i killed him?'. He asked frowning.

'You can't hide anything from me'. She said winking at him and stood up from his lap.

'I should get back to work'

'Dinner?' He asked, when she was about to leave.

'At my place..'

He smiled and drift his gaze back to laptop.

And a new email popped on his phone. Which gone unnoticed by him.

......

After completing his task david sighned and leaned back to his chair. And searched for his earpods in his bag. But along with his earpods a piece of paper caught his hand. Frowing, he unfolded the paper only to see those four words..

"CONGRATES.. YOUR COUNTDOWN BEGINS.."

{to be continued..}

**********