<h4>Chapter 124: Chapter 124 Ghosts of the Past</h4>


    Cecilia’s pov


    "Yes, I am," Nicole nodded nervously.


    Harper softened her voice. "I’m Mason’s cousin."


    At those words, Nicole’s face transformedpletely.


    Her pupils dted in terror, her thin body trembling uncontrobly.


    Panic, fear, sorrow shed across her face, followed by a pain so deep that it seemed to hollow her out.


    "W-why are you here?" Her voice trembled. "I’ve told the police everything... I don’t know anything... I didn’t see anything... Please don’t ask me anymore... please stop asking..."


    She hugged her knees to her chest as she crouched down, burying her face.


    The rest of her words became inaudible mumbles, a quiet litany of self-reassurance that broke my heart.


    I shook my head at Harper. Not now.


    Just the mere mention of the boy’s name had triggered such a breakdown - her fragile mental state couldn’t handle any more questions.


    "Nicole, it’s okay. We’re just here to check on you," Harper knelt beside her, speaking in gentle tones as she softly rubbed the girl’s trembling back.


    God, she was so thin. Nothing but skin and bones.


    Gradually, Nicole’s breathing steadied.


    "Could wee inside and sit down?" Harper asked softly.


    Nicole nodded but struggled to stand.


    Harper helped her up and guided her into the apartment.


    I followed closely behind, with Tang and Levan enteringst, closing the door behind them.


    In the living room, Harper settled Nicole onto the couch.


    I sat down and nced around, immediately noticing a strange odor permeating the ce - something like rotting meat.


    Probably from poor venttion; all the windows were sealed shut.


    Tang surveyed the interior with narrowed eyes while Levan pulled out a face mask and put it on.


    "So, Nicole," Harper began, her voice deliberately light as she tried to build a connection. "Is it just you living here? Where’s your family?"


    "It was me and my grandma," Nicole mumbled, her voice thin and weak. "But she’s... gone now."


    Gone?


    The word hung in the air, made infinitely more sinister by the foul odor that permeated the entire apartment. Harper’s friendly expression tightened.


    A cold dread crept up my own spine.


    I saw Levan shift uneasily, inching closer to Tang. But Tang himself was a statue of indifference, arms crossed, casually blowing a bubble with his gum as if we were waiting in a checkout line.


    My eyes met Harper’s, a silent rm passing between us.


    Oh, god. It couldn’t be...


    "Nicole," I pressed, forcing a calm I didn’t feel into my voice. "Where... where did your grandmother go?"


    "My grandma..." Nicole lifted her head slowly.


    The angry scar across her face seemed to twist in the dim light, making the moment even more unnerving.


    My breath hitched. Harper went perfectly still.


    "She went to live with my uncle," Nicole said, her voice dropping with a dull disappointment as she stared at the floor again.


    Harper and I both clutched our chests in relief.


    That smell had really messed with our minds.


    How could she even stand living with that stench?


    Nicole rose and went to the kitchen, returning with several cans of soda which she distributed to everyone before sitting back down. "Thank you foring to see me."


    Harper and I epted the drinks.


    We spent some time asking about her life and offering words of encouragement.


    I mentioned that I could pay for surgery to help reduce her facial scarring.


    Nicole brightened visibly at this suggestion, her entire demeanor shifting toward optimism.


    As the potential benefactor offering to help with her scar, it felt natural to ask how she’d gotten it. Initially reluctant, Nicole gradually opened up under my gentle probing, no doubt influenced by my "generous sponsor" status.


    "It was a girl from my high school," she said, ncing nervously at Harper as her hands twisted together. "I know you’re here about Mason. I... I can tell you, but you can’t say it came from me, or I’ll also be..."


    She couldn’t finish her sentence.


    Now we were getting somewhere.


    "You can trust us," Harper reassured her. "I just want to know what happened to my poor cousin. If you can tell me, I’d be incredibly grateful."


    "Okay!" Nicole nodded vigorously, apparently having made some internal decision.


    She stared at the coffee table, lost in memories. "It was after final exams that day. Thest test ended at 2:30 PM. I was packing my bag to go home when three ssmates blocked my way in the hallway. One of the girls had been targeting me because Mason was always nice to me. She got worse each time. I was terrified of her."


    "They said they wanted me toe hang out with them. I didn’t want to go, but they forced me. I remember it was a big house with a garden, not far from school. When we got there, they made me call Mason toe over. When I refused, she... she..." Nicole’s voice caught. "She had two guys start to... to take my clothes off, and they were going to..."


    Her emotional control began slipping again.


    Harper and I listened with mounting anger.


    This wasn’t just bullying - it was something far more sinister.


    Nicole covered her face as she cried. "I didn’t want to! They took my phone and forced me to call him. I was so scared, so terrified..."


    Harper pulled her into aforting embrace. "Anyone would be scared in that situation. It wasn’t your fault."


    After a moment, Nicole continued, her voice steadier: "Then Mason came. He told them to let me go. The girl said she would only release me if he agreed to date her. Mason refused - he didn’t like her. She was the one who kept harassing him."


    "They started arguing. He made her furious, and she took all her rage out on me. She hit me, cut my face with a knife, then had those two guys drag me to another room."


    "When I finally endured that hell, it waspletely dark outside. I couldn’t walk. They dumped me at a street corner. Some man passing by took me to the hospital."


    "After that... Mason disappeared."


    "I don’t know what happened to him then. I wanted to tell the teachers, report it to the police, but people came to warn me not to say anything, to drop out of school, or my whole family wouldn’t survive."


    "It’s my fault Mason is gone. If he hadn’te to save me, if he’d just ignored me, he wouldn’t have..."


    She couldn’t finish the sentence, dissolving into broken sobs.


    Harper and I exchanged meaningful nces. The picture was bing clear.


    Cici had used Nicole as bait to lure Mason, then murdered him.


    Unable to have the boy she wanted, she destroyed both him and the girl he cared about.


    Nicole survived, but the trauma inflicted on her was worse than death - physical and mental wounds that would never heal,pounded by crushing guilt.


    Cici had been just a teenager then, but already so monstrously cruel!


    "Nicole," I leaned forward, looking directly into her eyes, "if you had a chance now to get justice - for yourself and for Mason - would you take it?"


    Nicole stared back through tear-filled eyes, frozen for a long moment before shaking her head fearfully. "Her family is powerful. We can’t win against them."


    "How will you know if you don’t try?" I challenged her. "Is hiding and living in misery forever really better than fighting back? What could be worse than what you’re going through now?"


    Harper added, "If it fails, that’s on us. But if we seed, you can start over. You have your whole life ahead of you, Nicole."


    Nicole’s breathing quickened as she twisted her fingers anxiously, clearly engaged in an intense internal struggle.


    Finally, her gaze hardened with determination."What do I need to do?"