QT: Against My Will-Chapter 509 - 8.26- Cemetery - Monster Heist
The same night, the news of Silvia’s death spread like wildfire in the world, and before the school administration could react, rumors were already circulating that she was murdered. Everyone seemed to have a different version of the story, and speculations ran rampant.
"It was about time someone put her in her place," one of them whispered, a hint of satisfaction in her voice. "I think it was Victor who killed her."
"She spent most of her time in the hospital lately and didn’t cause any trouble," one of them spoke up, her voice quiet but firm. "Why would he want to kill her?"
"Oh, come on. A whore like her had it coming," the first girl rolled her eyes. "She made everyone’s lives miserable. Apparently, she left a love confession on Victor’s dormitory doors as soon as she returned to school. A few LADs noticed her suspicious behavior and decided to follow her into her room. But by the time they got inside, it was too late. She was already dead."
"Victor isn’t the only suspect, though. Nathaniel and another LAD from our school have also been rumored to have been involved."
· · ────────── · ⊱❈⊰· ────────── · ·
A few weeks later...
The cemetery was a sprawling maze of crumbling headstones, gnarled trees, and tangled vines. The misty night air was thick with the musty scent of earth and the distant cries of nocturnal creatures.
A group of young people huddled together at the gate, their flashlights casting flickering shadows on the wrought iron bars. As they pushed through the creaky gate, the sound echoed through the cemetery, making a few of them jump.
"Maybe we shouldn’t have come here at night," Douglas said, his voice trailing off as he looked around the dark and eerie cemetery.
But Laura was resolute. "No, we have to do this for her. And besides, it’s not like she’s going to jump out of the ground and scare us."
Liam was of a different opinion, saying, "I have a feeling that’s exactly what she would do."
Juliet nodded in agreement with Liam. Immediately going into an alert state, they scanned their surroundings for any sign of danger.
The moonlight cast eerie shadows across the gravestones, making it seem as though the dead were watching them with unseen eyes.
Henry shook his head in disbelief, unsheathing his guns, "Don’t tell me it’s another play of hers."
Bertha whipped off her tears, "What do you mean, Henry? This is about paying our respects."
Douglas remained unconvinced. "I don’t know, man. Something about this whole thing feels off. It’s like we’re being led into a trap or something."
They all knew that Silvia had a reputation for playing pranks and leading her team on wild adventures, but this was different. This was a graveyard, and they couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched.
It was they who spread the news to the whole world before the school could put a stop to it. They all remembered Silvia’s strange behavior in the weeks leading up to her death, almost as if she was bidding farewell and settling her debts with them.
Suddenly, a twig snapped in the distance, causing them all to leap into the air. Henry’s grip tightened on his guns, and Liam reached for his flashlight, shining it in the direction of the sound. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞
"It’s just a black cat," said Juliet.
They walked down the overgrown path, the gravel crunching underfoot as they passed row after row of graves. The silence was heavy and oppressive, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves and eerie loud howls.
They finally reached Silvia’s grave, and one by one, they placed small stones on top of the headstone. As they stood in silence, a sense of peace settled over them. Even in death, she had brought them together.
Silvia’s team consisted of people who would greatly benefit from Riley’s and Damon’s death. Whoever sent them what truly happened in the park before the fire to tarnish her reputation again, had to thank that person. Silvia killed Riley and Damon like she said she would, and they could help but laugh out crazily.
"We made it," whispered Henry as they finished placing the stones on Silvia’s grave, "We’re finally graduating tomorrow."
"I can’t believe it," Laura added, "It feels like just yesterday we were starting our first year. I got accepted when I was sixteen. But some could attend as soon as they have an affinity for magic, right? I can’t even imagine the rigorous program."
Juliet nodded and confirmed, "Yes, I was accepted when I was thirteen." The teachers tailored her curriculum to maximize her potential. As an A-F class, she had to stick to it, but as an S class, she was automatically eligible to graduate and only had to wait until she turned 21.
Bertha chimed in, "Isn’t it unfair for people like Silvia and Alain? They started at nineteen and had to cram eight years’ worth of learning into just three."
Laura shrugged and responded to Bertha’s question, "I don’t think it’s necessarily unfair. The school wants to prepare us for the dangers out there, and the longer you stay, the more you’ll be prepared. They kick you out not to be cruel, but to save your life."
Alain shone a flashlight toward the tomb, and as the beam hit a particular spot, he noticed something strange. Without a word, he crouched low to the earth and began to dig in the dirt with his hands, startling everyone around him. His movements were quick and determined as he dug deeper and deeper into the ground, uncovering something of importance.
"What are you doing?" Bertha asked, her voice trembling slightly.
As Alain continued to dig, the others watched in confusion, unsure of what he was trying to achieve. But soon enough, they too were drawn in by his determination, and Liam began to help him, using his hands to claw at the dirt and uncover what lay beneath.
After a few minutes of digging, Liam’s hand suddenly hit something hard. He paused, and everyone gathered around to see what it was. With bated breath, they watched as Liam pulled out a metal box from the ground.
Excitement and curiosity filled the air as Liam opened the chest, revealing a note, a letter, and a key. The others gathered around him, eager to see what he had found. Juliet used her wind powers to unfold the note and read it aloud.
"I SHALL RETURN."
The note proclaimed, with a sense of defiance that sent shivers down the spines of those who read it.
"SHINA NIGHT?" Laura asked, a puzzled expression on her face.
Night... Night?! Night?! Everyone turned their gaze towards Alain. As Alain cleaned up the dirt around Silvia’s tomb, he casually shrugged his shoulders and gestured toward the letter in the metal box.
Juliet unfolded the envelope before everyone, their eyes widened in awe at the prestigious letterhead of the Lycan Assault Division. The paper seemed to exude an overwhelming sense of power and prestige, almost as if it was alive. It was as if the letter was a symbol of something much larger than themselves, something that they couldn’t quite comprehend.
Laura’s hand trembled slightly as she read the contents of the letter aloud. "It says... it says that Shina Night? has been accepted into the Lycan Assault Division’s 7th Special Operation Force." Her voice was barely above a whisper as if she was in the presence of something sacred.
The LAD was one of the most powerful and elite forces in the world, made up of only the most skilled and capable soldiers. It was an honor and a privilege to even be considered for acceptance, let alone receive an official letter.
