Case of Amber Hark: Death is The New Birth

CHAPTER 12: Looking for the File

GICCA'S POINT OF VIEW

Two days passed and I immediately became well. I can move properly and I no longer feel pain. I was no longer visited by strange dreams during those two nights and by hallucination. Maybe because I was able to rest well? and maybe Eliote's medicines are effective.

Now the cloud was furious, weeping. Everything is shrouded in darkness even at noon. Raindrops kiss the branches of the tree and its leaves. I went out of my room to help my mom with the household chores, but I was surprised to see my friends sitting on the living room's sofa. We never see each other for two days.

They were talking, they just stopped when they saw me. Why are they here? They did not tell me they would visit today.

They looked at each other and seemed surprised at my appearance, "Gicca ..." Ali called softly to me as I frowned.

"Gicca, we have something important to talk about." continued Rique.

I immediately felt a strong beating in my heart. I was immediately overwhelmed with fear and nervousness. My hair stood on end and I was shaking. Based on what I see in the expression on their faces, I sense something bad happened.

"Tell me.." I calmly said as I tried to hide what I feel.

Ali looked around and saw my mom coming back and forth in the living room, "Uh, can we just talk in your room?" she asked me.

I nodded and walked ahead of them into my room. They immediately followed me. I feel weird things going on now. I have a strong feeling that something bad is happening.

Ugh. Why are so many bad things happening in my week?

One by one they positioned themselves around my room—where they feel comfortable. I closed my door and sat on my bed. "What is it?" I asked them without emotion. Two days later, I had no news of what is happening.

Ali sighed and held her head while her eyes are sad. "While the police were busy investigating the crime, Mr. Morris made an announcement about the disappearance of something inside the old room of the university. He did not tell the public what was missing. But we do know what he's referring to. " she said in a nervous tone. She played with her two fingers as she spoke to distract herself from the nervousness she felt.

"The confidential file is what he is looking for," Lance added, now staring intently at nothingness.

I gulped and immediately felt nervous. I grabbed my chest as I took a deep breath. This is what I fear. I can now smell danger. We are holding a confidential file and it is forbidden for normal people like us to see it, but we violated it. I know that our opponents in our violation are the authorities and the people behind the killing of the Hark family. What can we do against them? nothing. This is what I told them, it is bad to be illegal. Risk goes after it.

They didn't listen. Is this what they call enjoyment?

"What do we do now?" I asked as my voice trembled in fear. "Let's surrender the file." I added.

Lance suddenly glared at me, his thick eyebrows met. "We cannot. We won't." he opened his mouth with the emphasis of speech.

I slowly shook my head for the reason that I could not believe what he said. He knew we will be in danger because of that, why does he still want to handle the case? How could he ignore our satefy?

"We cannot go back, Gicca. We cannot withdraw what we planned, we can no longer turn our back. This is serious. If we surrender the case, and return the file to them, we will still face the law. It is better if we pursue to solve the case, they might not give us a punishment or make the punishment less." Ali immersed herself in the conversation.

My forehead furrowed along with a loud thunder outside. I voluntarily stood up. "This is what I told you, but you did not listen to me. Now what? Will you let us perish because of that case? Why do you want to solve that stupid case? Why are you willing to die for it? In fact, that will not help us! That will never be a contribution to our lives! " I shouted as my foot sprang to the floor and my finger spit on them.

Ali spontaneously bowed as I let go of the words, covering her mouth using her hand with her tears walking down. This is my first time shouting at them, I just can't stand it anymore. Our life and our future are at stake here, I have to fight for what is right even though I will be against my friends.

Lance stood up, grabbed both my arms and spoke softly, "That's enough, Gicca. I know we made a mistake. We want to undo what we did but we can't." pronunciation of his mouth.

I forcibly removed his hands from my arms, "Is this what you say enjoyment? Then go and enjoy it!" I said sarcastically and did not feel my tears. I just noticed that my vision was a bit blurred due to the fluid forming in my eyes. Annoying! I get annoyed when my anger turns to tears!

"I'm sorry, Gicca ... It's my fault." Rique spoke as he bowed in shame.

"We can fix this, guys!" I said in a strong tone.

"H-How?" Ali asked without turning her gaze to us. I could hear her sobbing.

"Let's return the file and say we didn't see anything. Because it's true, isn't it? We haven't read the file in full yet."

They were silent at what I said, causing my annoyance to prevail again, "Don't tell me you read that?" I asked irritably, "Lance, have you read the whole d*mn thing?!" I added another question as I turned my gaze to Lance and as I wiped away my tears.

He could not look directly at me, that is confirmation that he had read it all. I turned my back on them and turned my attention to the dancing lightning outside for a moment. I can't explode now, I need to calm myself down because if I get angry and annoyed, we won't be able to talk about it properly. We will not have a good decision as to how this will be resolved

*inhales, exhales*

I faced them again when I felt I could speak again without being emotional. They are still in that position. Ali and Rique both-still bowed, while Lance stood by my side while having his hands on his pockets.

I casted my eyes on Lance, "What did you find in the file?" I asked.

He slowly turned his gaze to me, "A little bit of information about the identified suspects in the murder of the Hark family, Harks background, their blood types, how many of them were at home when that happened and so on." he answered and then he sat down next to Rique.

"We can still return the file and say we know nothing about the content then," I told them.

Ali looked at me slowly with puffy eyes, "They won't believe us if we say that, Gicca. They already know that we took the file because we were the only ones who entered the old room." she said in a somewhat stuttering tone.

"And now, they are looking for us, Gicca. We came here not only to inform you about Mr. Morris' search for the missing confidential file, but also to tell you that we need to hide while the search for us isn't that spread yet... I'msorey if we didn't tell you this right away." Rique interrupts the conversation.

I frowned, did I hear right?

"They're looking for us?" me, seeking light.

Rique nodded sadly, "It's all over the university. Lance was the first to receive the news and he told us right away. Right now, we can't go home anymore, we are all wanted. And, your peaceful home is the first place we thought of going to, since the public doesn't know this place. We can stay here temporarily but we should not stay long, they can still track us down. We need a safer place that cannot be found on the map of the world." he earnestly declared to me.

Immediately the energy of nervousness flowed through me. My eyes widened and I gulped voluntarily in nervous.

This may not be true. I am a noble person, studying hard for the future and I am a good child. I am not an illegal person! No! It is not possible!

I frowned as I stare at their faces. Lance showed no emotion, he just stared at the emptiness as if not afraid of what is happening. Ali, on the other hand, is still in tears, probably she feels sorry now for the plan she had agreed to. Rique, too, bent down and could see the streak of sadness on his face as if he had failed at something.

My goodness! What will happen to us? How is our future? What about the ones we worked hard for?

"Did your parents know that?" I asked sadly as my voice trembled. I still try to bury what we are facing now, it is hard to accept. It is like a dream.

Ali sniffed loudly, "No, they know I'm on vacation with you, guys." she answered me and her eyes watered again.

"No, what I told them is that, I will also go on vacation with my friends which is with you, guys. I know they will know it tomorrow or the day after, I know the news will reach them no matter what." Rique replied as he remained bent over.

About Ĺance? Silent. He no longer has parents. Her father died when he was only nine years old, and his mother worked abroad to support him in his studies.

I exclaimed very loudly, "How can I say this to mom? To dad? I am such a disgrace!" I slapped myself. Now my tears are running down my cheeks.

My parents are praising me though I receive a little of it from dad—that is what I worked for, for years. Especially with dad, I want him to be proud of me like how proud my mom is.

What will they do when they find out that their only child has done something illegal and is currently being wanted? I will not accept this.

Ali looked at me sadly, "We have to leave, Gicca. Otherwise, they will arrest you." she says.

"How can I tell them this?" I wiped away the tears.

Lance approached me and helped me wipe away my tears, "Just imitate what Ali and Rique did. Your parents will still know it, they will know it no matter what." he came closer to me and immediately gave me a tight hug. "I'm sorry I put you into this." he added.

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I do not know what life will I face after this. I have never experienced doing something illegal, and I do not want to engage with it. But, there are things that even if we do not want, it will still happen in our lives.

It is still raining outside, the rain is pouring all day. Darkness already reigned, no smile of the moon can be seen, only cold and the scent of rain can be felt.

We are here in my room. I let mom know that my friends will spend their nights here. She nodded, because she already has a lot of trust in my friends. Dad, on the other hand, will be home soon, then I will just let him know about this.

Now is the perfect time for us to talk about what we will be planning for the current problem we are facing. I told myself earlier not to blame them again for what happened but just to help them think of a good plan to solve it. There is nothing I can do if I just continue to blame them, it'll be a waste of time. Even though they are stubborn and hard-headed, they are still my friends. I need to help them and be with them especially in this situation—which I am included in the mess.

Whatever happens to us, destiny will take care of it. As long as we do everything, and as long as we use our brains to the fullest. But, if our plan will not work, that means we are really destined for jail. *cries*

"They live in a private place. No one can enter their place because their existence cannot be declared publicly. Amber Hark's father, George Hark, was a well-known scientist, he was able to master every branch of science. With his great efficiency, many were tempted to take him for various projects. Everyone wanted him so bad, until his family was almost harmed by the scoundrels who wanted to hire him. Because of it, he was forced to hide his identity and use a different personality and name." Lance narrates what he has read inside the file.

I listen carefully to every utterance of his mouth. Amber Hark's story is quite making me curious. She came from a very smart family. Amazing. I seem to be thinking of a reason why they were murdered, but I do not want to ruin Lance's moment in the storytelling. Besides, I may be wrong in what I think.

We are now sitting on the floor, a thick jacket is covering our body due to the cold ambience. We sat in a circular form so we could all face each other. Ali and Rique also listen carefully to Lance.

"George continued his work related to science, he did it secretly in public, maybe he was finishing a particular project ... The reason given for murdering the Harks was envy. According to the information I obtained, the suspect was George's friend who was also a scientist like him. It is said that George's friend was one of those he trusted, his friend knew their private place."

My hair stood on end as I listened to him, my jaw dropped and my forehead frowned. Their story is amazing, like a novel of good plot.

"Where is he now? Did they caught him?" Ali could not hold back, perhaps her curiosity is swallowing her.

Rique immediately reached for my soft pillow and threw it directly at Ali's face. We were all surprised by what he did, but I know it didn't hurt her because my pillow is just soft. "Shut up, Ali! Let's just wait and see what Lance has to say next. You're too excited." he scolded Ali angrily.

Ali took a deep breath as she frowned, she was about to speak but I preceded her, "Shut up, you two, you cat and rat! Lend your ears to Lance." I scolded them both.

Lance cleared his throat, "Are you all right? Can I continue?" he asked but he received no answer from us.

Our mouths remained shut. "Okay, so that's it, the police investigated George's friend who was identified as Ferdinand Fado—" I cut him off.

I also couldn't help myself, "Fado? That's Eliote's family name!" I interrupted him.

I immediately covered my mouth when Ali and Rique suddenly threw me a mad look. I moved a little and bowed slightly, "S-Sorry... please continue..." I said shyly.

"Okay, again, they investigated this but he was declared not guilty. His record was clean and there was no indication that he was involved in the crime, other than he was the only one who knew George's private place."

"Ferdinand is still alive today, but no one knows where he is. I tried to search him on social media but I could not find him. According to the information I got, he has two children, Miko and Mc—" I cut what he says.

"What the fvck?!" I was shocked when he mentioned the name Mc! I'm so scared now as effin. We all know that I had a dream with Mc even though I do not know him. Do my dreams have something do with Amber Hark's case? How did that happen? Does Amber's soul is with me right now?

"Shut up, Gicca!" Ali's disgusted cry.

I was pouted and bowed again. I was not able to control myself. Sh*t, I still feel the horror now. That name is a bothersome to me. I have a strange feeling every time I hear his name.

I wanna know more. Why is there a Mc in Amber Hark's case? Why is there a Mc in my strange dream? Is this a coincidence or something with supernatural explanation?

"Again, Ferdinand is not guilty. We cannot accuse the people we meet with the same family name... No one knows where Ferdinand's children are..." he cleared his throat and sppke again, "Back to Amber Hark's case, apart from Ferdinand, The police and detectives have not found any other possible suspects. Weird, right? But the lone suspect has been found innocent, he cannot be in jail."

"According to what I read, Amber Hark's body was never found, dead or alive. Even her bones were not found. She is the real living dead. She may still be alive today, but everyone considers her as a dead person." he concludes his story.

"Wasn't Amber only eight years old when that happened?" Ali asked. We can talk now because Lance's story is over.

Lance nodded, "Yes," he replied.

Ali grabbed her chin, "It means she is just as old as we are."

"You're right,"

"Is there no other reason other than envy?" I asked.

Lance nodded, "I have not found any other reason here in the file. It only has limited information, because Amber Hark's case is one of the rare cases in the world. Detectives and policemen had a hard time compiling these few information. They almost risked their lives for these few." he replied.

"Then, how can we solve the case? We do not know anything about that. If the experts had failed, how are we gonna make it?" I asked.

Lance's grin formed on his lips, "We're going to George Hark's private place."

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