Chapter 86 Done Pretending

• The rain-soaked air clings to my skin as the police car disappears down the road, taking Ric with it. My heart feels like it's been wrenched from my chest, leaving an empty, aching void. I can barely breathe as the reality of what just happened crashes down on me.
• We can’t stay here. The lakehouse is now a crime scene, and the officers made it clear we need to leave. The words still echo in my head: “This area is now under investigation. You’ll need to find somewhere else to stay.”
• Meera stands beside me, her face pale, clutching her phone like it’s a lifeline. Matt paces back and forth, still carrying the guilt on his face. I don’t think any of us had the slightest hint of something like this going down on a trip that was supposed to heal us. If anything, it has traumatised all of us beyond repair.