Detective Carter called both Kyro and Amber and told them to report at the Police Station for questioning.
Amber sat in the sterile, brightly lit room, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. The air smelled faintly of bleach, and the faint hum of the overhead lights felt oppressive. Across from her sat Detective Carter, a man whose calm demeanor was betrayed only by the intensity of his gaze. His notebook lay open on the table, a pen poised and ready to capture every word she uttered.
"Let's go over this again," Carter said, his tone neutral but firm. "You and Kyro were the ones to find Micha's body?"
Amber swallowed hard and nodded. "Yes. We went to her hostel because she hadn't been answering her phone. It… it was unlike her." Her voice cracked, and she looked away, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"Take your time," Carter said, his pen motionless for the moment. "What happened when you got there?"
Amber's mind replayed the scene like a gruesome film. "The door was unlocked. That was the first thing that felt off. Micha always kept her door locked, even when she was inside. We called her name, and her room mate Marshal too, but she didn't answer, no one did. Then we entered saw her…" Her voice trailed off as her throat tightened.
Detective Carter leaned forward slightly. "You saw her lying on the bed?"
"Yes," Amber whispered. "There was so much blood. She was barely breathing. Kyro rushed to her side to help stop the bleeding, while I called for an ambulance, but there was nothing we could do. She was already too far gone, her hollow eyes said it all."
The detective's pen scratched across the paper. He looked up again, his gaze probing. "Did you notice anything unusual in the room? Anything out of place?"
Amber shook her head. "It… it was just disturbingly tidy. Her books were neat and intact, like there had been absolutely no struggle. I didn't notice anything specific."
The door to the interrogation room opened, and Kyro was ushered in by another officer. His jaw was clenched, and his usual calm composure was replaced by a simmering frustration. He took the seat next to Amber, his presence grounding her slightly.
"Mr. Kyro," Carter said, addressing him now. "We've been going over the timeline with Amber. Can you corroborate her account?"
Kyro's voice was steady but tinged with anger. "Yes, everything she said is true. We found Micha in her room, stabbed, barely alive. We called for help immediately."
Carter's pen moved again. "And you're certain the door was unlocked when you arrived?"
Kyro nodded. "Absolutely. Amber mentioned it as soon as we walked in."
"Did Micha ever mention feeling unsafe or having issues with anyone recently?" Carter asked, his tone sharpening.
Amber and Kyro exchanged a glance. It was Kyro who spoke. "She had been arguing with her roommate, Marshal, a lot lately. Nothing too serious, but it was noticeable. They fought about stupid stuff—chores, noise, personal space. That kind of thing."
"Marshal," Carter repeated, jotting down the name. "Do you think those arguments could have escalated?"
"I don't know," Kyro admitted. "Marshal seemed annoyed sometimes, but I never thought it was anything more than petty roommate drama."
Amber added, "They weren't exactly close friends, but Micha wasn't the type to hold grudges. If something happened, I don't think she would've expected it. However, Micha and Marshal got into a pretty serious alteracation recently, last week to be precise, because Marshal found out that Micha has been sleeping with her boyfriend, for almost a year now."
Kyro's head snapped toward Amber, his eyes wide. "What? She never told me that."
"She didn't want anyone to know. Moreover, Alison mentioned it this morning you dimwit. Amber said quietly. "But Marshal knew. Micha said they had a huge fight about it, and Marshal… Marshal told her she'd regret it."
Carter's pen moved swiftly, capturing every word. "So you're saying Marshal had a motive?"
Amber nodded reluctantly. "I don't want to accuse anyone without proof, but it's the only thing that makes sense. The door wasn't forced open, and they'd been fighting. Who else could it have been?"
Carter closed his notebook. "Thank you for your honesty, Amber. We'll be speaking with Marshal shortly and the rest of your group as well. If you think of anything else, don't hesitate to reach out."
Hours later, Amber and Kyro sat in the waiting area outside the interrogation rooms. The rest of their friends had been called in, one by one. Alison emerged first, her face pale and her arms crossed protectively over her chest.
"This is insane," Alison muttered, collapsing into the chair next to Kyro. "They're treating us like suspects."
"They're just doing their job," Kyro said, though his tone lacked conviction.
James came out next, his expression unreadable. He sat down without a word, his hands clasped tightly together.
Finally, Micha's roommate, Marshal, was escorted in for questioning. Amber's stomach twisted at the sight of her. Her face was a mask of indifference, but her eyes flickered with something she couldn't quite place.
When Marshal returned, the tension among the group was palpable. They had reconvened in the campus commons, away from prying eyes. The air between them was thick with unspoken accusations and mounting suspicion.
"This doesn't make sense," Alison said, breaking the silence. "Who would do this to Micha?"
"It has to be someone who had access to her room," James pointed out. "Which narrows it down to us and Marshal."
Amber's stomach churned. "You don't think…" She couldn't bring herself to say it.
"Marshal had a key," Kyro said bluntly. "And they'd been fighting. It makes sense."
"But why would she kill her?" Alison asked, her voice rising. "Over an argument about a guy who's nothing but a waste of air?"
James sighed. "We don't know what it was really about. Maybe it was bigger than we thought. People snap for all kinds of reasons."
"Or maybe it wasn't her at all," Amber said quietly, though she wasn't sure she believed it herself.
Kyro's jaw tightened. "Who else would it be? The door wasn't forced open. There was no sign of anyone else being there."
The group fell silent, the weight of his words settling over them. The idea that Marshal—someone they knew, someone Micha had lived with—could be capable of such violence was almost too much to bear.
"We need to tell the detectives what we know," Alison said finally. "If Marshal really is the only one who could've done this, they need to focus on her."
Amber nodded reluctantly. "You're right. But we have to be sure. If we're wrong…"
"Then we'll deal with that," Kyro said firmly. "Right now, we have to do whatever it takes to get justice for Micha."
As they prepared to return to the station, Amber couldn't shake the unease that gripped her. The image of Micha's lifeless body was seared into her mind, and the idea that someone they knew might have been responsible felt like a betrayal too immense to comprehend. But deep down, she knew Kyro was right.
If they didn't speak up, who else would?