Ana felt like the world was spinning. Her hands shook as she stared at the letter in her hands. Tyler had written this? The words burned into her mind, replaying over and over again. “If you want to live, you need to stay away from me.” What had she missed? What had they all missed?
“Jenna… what are we supposed to do now?” Ana asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She felt like she was drowning in uncertainty, grasping for a lifeline that kept slipping away.
Jenna looked around nervously before speaking. “I don’t know, Ana. I’m scared. If Tyler’s behind this, then… I don’t know how deep it goes. We have to be careful. Someone’s watching us.”
Ana nodded, gripping the letter tightly. This wasn’t just about Ella anymore. This was about something much bigger. Something more dangerous.
“I need to confront him,” Ana said suddenly. Her voice was firm, filled with determination. Tyler needed to explain himself. There were too many unanswered questions, and if anyone could get to the truth, it was Ana.
Jenna shook her head urgently. “No, Ana, don’t. You don’t know what he’s capable of. It’s not safe.”
Ana didn’t hesitate. She had to see Tyler. She had to understand what was happening.
Tyler’s house looked just the same as it always had—quiet, serene, almost like it was untouched by the chaos unfolding around them. But Ana’s heart hammered in her chest. This was no longer a visit between friends; it was a confrontation.
When she knocked, Tyler answered the door almost immediately as if he’d been waiting. His face was unreadable, but there was something in his eyes—something dark.
“Ana,” he said softly, almost too calmly. “What’s going on?”
“I need answers, Tyler,” Ana said, holding up the letter. “What is this? Why didn’t you tell anyone? Why is this happening?”
Tyler’s expression faltered for a second, his eyes darting to the letter. For a brief moment, Ana thought she saw guilt flash across his face, but he quickly masked it. He stepped aside, letting her into the house.
They sat in the living room, the silence between them deafening. Tyler finally spoke, his voice low. “I never wanted you to find out, Ana. I didn’t want anyone to know.”
“Know what?” Ana demanded, her heart racing. “That you’ve been hiding something? That you’ve been lying to all of us?”
Tyler sighed. “I didn’t lie. I just—”
He cut himself off, running a hand through his hair. “You don’t understand, Ana. I thought I was protecting everyone.”
Ana clenched her fists. “Protecting us from what?”
Tyler stood up abruptly, his fists clenched at his sides. “You think this is easy for me? You think I wanted any of this to happen?” His voice cracked, but the anger in his eyes was unmistakable.
Ana’s mind was spinning. What was going on? What could he possibly be talking about?
Before she could say anything, Tyler sat back down, his posture slumped. He looked tired—exhausted. He rubbed his temples as if trying to collect his thoughts. “I… I didn’t kill her, Ana. You have to believe me. I never meant for any of this to happen. Ella was getting too close. She was asking too many questions, and I couldn’t let her find out the truth.”
“The truth about what?” Ana pressed, her voice shaking now.
Tyler took a deep breath, then spoke the words that shattered everything. “The truth about my family.”
Ana froze. The words hung in the air, heavier than any truth she’d ever heard.
“What do you mean?” she whispered, not sure if she was ready to hear the answer.
“My family,” Tyler repeated, “They’re involved in something much bigger than you can imagine. And Ella… she started putting the pieces together. She was going to expose them, Ana. I couldn’t let that happen. I tried to warn her, but it was too late.”
Ana’s mind was reeling. “What are you talking about? What’s your family involved in? What’s bigger than all of us?”
Tyler’s eyes grew distant, and for a moment, he seemed lost in his thoughts. Then, with a deep sigh, he spoke again. “I didn’t want to be a part of it. I didn’t ask for it, but I was dragged in. My dad… he’s part of something illegal. Something dangerous. And I got caught up in it.”
Ana’s head spun. This couldn’t be real. Tyler—her best friend, her childhood companion—was caught in something criminal? The thought was almost too much to process.
“But why didn’t you tell anyone?” Ana asked, her voice almost pleading. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I was scared, Ana,” Tyler whispered. “I was scared of what would happen to me if anyone found out. My dad… he made me promise to keep quiet. But Ella… she didn’t back off. She kept asking questions, and I couldn’t protect her anymore.”
Ana’s thoughts were clouded. Could Tyler be telling the truth? Or was this just another lie? But the fear in his eyes, the raw emotion in his voice—it all felt real.
Just then, Ana’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, her heart skipping a beat as she saw the message from Jenna.
Jenna: “Ana, they know. Someone’s watching us. Get out of there. Now.”
Ana’s blood ran cold. This was far from over. Whoever was behind this—whatever was happening—was bigger than just Tyler. Bigger than her. And it was about to come crashing down on all of them.
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