One Hundred and fifty three

CHAPTER 153

"Look, Ace killed your schoolmates because he failed to kill you, that's according to Ace and that statement was taken as his testimony in the Golden High School serial murder trial, then the campus murders, the people he killed... it was all related to his family. The people who failed or tried to destroy his family, he'd kill."

Alicia tilted her head and folded her arms across her chest. "What are you trying to say, Nick?"

"It means Ace kills with purpose, he has a goal. He doesn't kill outright like all the psychopaths out there. He just kills for the sake of it, but the masked man who shot me in the woods, he's very aggressive and without calculation. They are two different people."

"Are you starting to find a common thread?"

"I believe they are two different people." Nicholas raised his finger, forming a V in the air. "These two different people worked together."

"Are they men?"

"Of course. He is definitely a man. He broke into the prison to help Ace escape, but he must have another purpose," Nicholas said. "I had a meeting with Noel, and we agreed that we will focus on Ace until we find the one common thread that can connect all of these things. We'll look for Ace's whereabouts and we'll use Jill's death as a clue."

"Jill?" Alicia's blue eyes rounded. She looked incredulous at what Nicholas had just said, it was news to her and Nicholas realized that he had just revealed information that he didn't want to share with Alicia before. "You mean... the Jill we know? So, what about her daughter? Did you come and visit the hospital, and check on Lily?"

Silence greeted Alicia, Nicholas having no definitive answer. He looked down weakly, before finally daring to look at Alicia in front of him. The sad look Nicholas displayed made Alicia widen her eyes in disbelief. She closed her mouth, holding back the tightness that suddenly filled her throat.

"She... nothing bad happened to Lily, right, Nick?" Alicia took Nicholas' hand, shaking it slowly, half urgently. "You checked on her at the hospital and she's fine, right?"

"There's a house on the other side of the cliff," Nicholas said, which sounded unrelated to Alicia's question. But Alicia was still listening. "It's where Jill used to live with his daughter after he was freed."

Alicia bit her lip, she felt she already knew the end of Nicholas' inconsequential story, her eyes were teary, but she still sat there and listened. Giving him a worried look, Alicia chose not to say anything in front of Nicholas.

"I'm sorry, but... we found her there, we found Lily in a chest inside that house," Nicholas said, lowering his voice. He was really hesitant to explain that to Alicia.

The room seemed to shrink around them as Nicholas relayed the grim discovery. Alicia's once inquisitive eyes now reflected the storm, the whirlwind of emotions trapped within them.

Her hand that clasped Nicholas' shook as she processed the news. A moment of silence, thick with unspoken words, enveloped them.

"Lily..." Alicia choked on her words, her voice almost a whisper. She withdrew her hand slowly, the weight of the information pressing on her shoulders. A single tear rolled down her cheek, showing the sadness she was trying so hard to hold back.

Nicholas, who was watching her closely, felt the weight of her words crashing down like an unforgiving wave. Regret was etched on her face as she struggled to find solace in the midst of this unbearable truth.

"I wish... I wish there was another way to say it," Nicholas murmured, his voice laden with sadness. "I wish Lily wasn't there. I wish..."

"No." Alicia's voice, though fragile, carried an unexpected determination. She wiped away her tears, determination glittering in her eyes. "We must not focus on wishes. We must focus on finding answers. Justice for Lily. She was a little girl who knew nothing, it shouldn't have happened to her."

A flash of gratitude flashed through Nicholas' eyes, his resolve strengthened by Alicia's unwavering determination. "You're right. We owe it to her, to find the truth and bring those responsible to justice." Nicholas wanted to calm Alicia down, but Alicia seemed more determined than he thought. "We have to find the person who did this dirty thing to Lily."

With one glance, they realized the daunting task ahead. Despite the pain, a newfound determination to unravel the tangled web of mystery rose within them. Alicia rose, her posture erect with determination, while Nicholas nodded, silently reaffirming his commitment.

They both sat in dense silence, the weight of revelation settling around them like a suffocating fog. Nicholas could sense the storm raging inside Alicia, her emotions like a hurricane threatening to devour him. He wanted to give her comfort, but the gravity of the situation held him back.

Alicia's gaze was fixed on a distant point, her mind no doubt racing with memories and potential clues. "I have to see the house," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil within her. "I must know everything, I must look for myself."

Nicholas hesitated, worry etched on his face. "It's not a place you can go alone, especially after what we found there." He looked stern and insistent this time. "You don't need to get involved in other people's deaths anymore, Alicia. That's enough for you."

"I can't just sit and wait. Lily needs justice," Alicia replied, her resolve unwavering. "I need to understand what happened. And I hope you can understand how I feel, Nicholas."

"I know, I know, but I don't want you to join!" Unconsciously, Nicholas raised his voice. He didn't want Alicia to fight him again. "That's enough."

Alicia bowed her head, looking at her long legs to sigh. She was fed up, wanting to let go of all the ties that bound her. But she had no choice but to face up and accept Nicholas' words to her.